2008 Kia Rio vs 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2008 Kia Rio | 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 46 | 672 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 7 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 35 | 118 |
| Investigations | 0 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 11 | 20 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 16 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 29 | 21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 49,249 mi | 79,673 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Rio | Mercedes-Benz C300 |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 27 | 270 |
| Electrical System | 1 | 228 |
| Steering | 1 | 136 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 108 |
| Engine | 3 | 31 |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 22 |
| Power Train | 2 | 16 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 17 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Airbag warning light | 15 | 14 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 82 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 57 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 22 |
| Stalling | 0 | 14 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 13 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 7 |
| Overheating | 0 | 6 |
2008 Kia Rio
2008 Mercedes-Benz C300
Compare all Kia Rio vs Mercedes-Benz C300 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.