2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300 Exterior Lighting Problems

Check Right Tail and Brake Lamps warning light will not go off for months. They are working fine but the light won't go off. Googling on MB World, it shows Mercedes is aware of this problem and a recall is needed to get it corrected being safety issue with warning lights not working properly. See all info. below from owners, conversations and work done by dealers, etc. People note it is a middle school education problem. Please alert me when the recall is confirmed to get this important problem fixed. [XXX] Thank you, [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Headlight harness on drivers and passenger side is melting and my lights are flickering. I was advised to night drive my vehicle at night, because it could start an electrical fire. This is caused by heat from the lights.

The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving and activating the turn signals, the taillights were inoperable. Additionally, the contact stated while driving and depressing the brake pedal to come to a stop, the brake lights were significantly dimmed except for the third brake light. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with electrical failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V177000 (Exterior Lighting); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist because the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, she became aware that the coolant level was low. The contact added coolant to the reservoir. The contact stated that the coolant reservoir burst open. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who replaced the coolant and hose. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. Additionally, the indicator lights became inoperable. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V168000 (Exterior Lighting, Electronic Stability Control, Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the coolant warning light was frequently illuminated due to low coolant. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the engine hose and other engine parts were replaced. Despite the repair, the coolant light returned soon after the initial repair. The contact then took the vehicle to a dealer where the failure was linked to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V168000 (Exterior Lighting, Electronic Stability Control, Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the instrument cluster started flickering and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the power steering and brakes were operable. The contact pulled off the highway and shifted the vehicle into park(P). The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V168000 (Exterior Lighting, Electronic Stability Control, Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.

Mileage: 119,000

While driving and when parked the headlights flicker on and off. I have no headlights while driving at night, during adverse weather conditions and during dawn hours. I could crash into other drivers, or they could crash into me because they can’t see me. When a parking bulb blows it fuses and melts everything together causing the replacement of the entire headlight unit, this has happened twice.

The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the connector for the rear taillights was melted into the bulk assembly mount and needed to be replaced. The contact was then informed by the dealer of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V177000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the dealer confirmed that the recall was previously completed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was promised a call back however, the contact had not yet received a response. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.

Mileage: 93,000

The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that she had experienced several electrical failures with the vehicle including the power seat and power windows, the parking brake, the exterior lighting, and the air bag warning lights. The contact also stated that the vehicle would lose motive power and stall while driving at various speeds with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. Upon investigation, the contact linked that failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V168000 (Exterior Lighting, Electronic Stability Control, Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

I noticed my right tail light has completely went out and related damage to the brown wire connected to the entire casing. Per recall campaign: 2014050001; NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 14V177, "Oxidation on the ground pin connector for the rear tail lamps of subject vehicles can result in a dimming of the tail lights or loss of tail lamp functions. The loss of a rear tail lamp reduces the rearward visibility of subject vehicles, especially with respect to turn signal illumination and may increase the likelihood of a rear end crash". I recently called a new certified Mercedes Benz dealership near me who states this recall has been closed, however, there is no specific indication on whether that was the right or left tail light. Regardless, a recall covers both whether it happens simultaneously or at different increments. My requested resolution: to simply acknowledge the recall to replace this time the right tail lamp. Especially since any wiring issues poses risk of shortage or fire.

MY VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY GIVES ME WARNING/ALERT MESSAGES OF HEADLIGHT/SIGNAL/PARKING LAMP ISSUES. UPON INSPECTION AND TAKEN TO CERTIFIED, RELIABLE MERCEDES REPAIR SHOPS, LIGHTS ARE FULLY FUNCTIONING, YET ALERTS CONTINUE ON MY DISPLAY/DASH. MORE IMPORTANTLY THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) HAS FAILED ON MORE THAN ONCE COSTING VERY CONSIDRABLE AMOUNTS OF REPAIR BILLS, AND IT HAS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING, I PARKED THE CAR WHICH HAS BEEN PERFECTLY MAINTAINED AND WITH LOW MILEAGE, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO EVEN HAVE IT TOWED TO BE REPAIRED.

Mileage: 95,000

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2009 AND OVER THE YEARS I HAVE REPLACED BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, LEFT AND RIGHT AT THE COST OF $800.00 EACH. I WAS TOLD THAT A BULB BLEW FUSING THE WIRES TOGETHER RESULTING IN THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY. THE DRIVER SEAT HEAD REST SIMPLY FELL APART.

Mileage: 3,800

PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR NOT WORKING WHEN SOMEONE SITS ON THE SEAT ALSO PASSENGER SIDE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NOT WORKING AND CAUSING THE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHTS TO STAY ON WHEN VEHICLE IS OFF AND MERCEDES DOES NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT AND SAYS IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I NEED TO PAY TO HAVE THE WHOLE SYSTEM REPLACED

Mileage: 78,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRE CONNECTING THE TAIL LIGHT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE MELTED AND CAUSED THE TAIL LIGHT NOT TO WORK. THE TAIL LIGHT, BLINKER, AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED (MERCEDES-BENZ IN PLANO, TX, 214-473-5643) WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE, BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

HEADLIGHT WIRES ARE CORRODED AND MELTED. THIS SEEMS SIMILAR TO THE TAIL LIGHT RECALL A FEW YEARS AGO THAT CAUSED A FIRE.

Mileage: 120,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE TAIL LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE DIMLY AND/OR SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE LIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000.

Mileage: 186,000

THIS 2009 C300 WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP IN JACKSONVILLE FL AS A RETIREMENT GIFT FOR 20 YEARS OF NAVAL SERVICE. ABOUT A YEAR LATER I NOTICED THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY BLINKING DURING THE DAY. THE NEXT PROBLEM IS WITH THE FRONT HEADLIGHT UNITS EACH TIME A BLUBS BLOWS, IT FUSES EVERYTHING INCLUDING WIRES TOGETHER REQUIRING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT UNIT. THIS HAS HAPPEN THREE TIMES WITH BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHT UNITS. THE DIFFERENCE IN PRICE IS $28.00 FOR A REPLACEMENT BLUB VISE $600.00 PLUS DOLLARS FOR THE ENTIRE UNIT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO PROBLEM CHARGING ME THE COST TO REPLACE A MANUFACTURES DEFECT AND SAFETY ISSUE. THERE SHOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL OF THIS UNIT.

Mileage: 45,000

SOCKETS FOR THE PARKING LIGHTS ABOVE THE HEADLIGHTS MELTED. KNOWING THAT SOMETHING SIMILAR WAS ADDRESSED WITH THE TAIL LIGHTS, SEEMS TO BE RELATED. THE TAIL LIGHTS MELTED THE CARRIER AND THE CABLES NOW THE SAME IS HAPPENING ON THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER OF MB C300 EXPERIENCING A ISSUE. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT OUR CARS CAN CATCH UP ON FIRE.

I BOUGHT MY MERCEDES BENZ AND NOTICE THAT MY TAIL LIGHT AND THE LIGHT ON THE FRONT OF THE CAR WILL TURN ON BY ITSELF WHILE MY CAR WAS PARKED IN THE MORNING MY CAR BATTERY WILL BE DEAD NEEDING A CHARGE. I HAD A RECALL FROM MERCEDES BENZ DEALER AND I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SUPPOSEDLY THEY FIX IT AND THE CAR HAD GOTTEN WORSE. IT HAD BURNED THE HARNESSES AND FOG HARNESS, WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WAS ACTING LIKE SHUTTING OFF THE RADIO AND AC WILL START SHUTTING OFF AND TURNING ON AT THE SAME TIME WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. RIGHT NOW MY CAR ONLY HAVE WORKING THE HIGH BEAM. I BEEN GETTING A LOT OF RECALLS FOR THIS CAR BUT REALLY IT SEEMS LIKE I'M LOOSING MY TIME . *TR

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), 15V711000 (AIR BAGS), AND 16V081000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AROUND 10:30 AM IN MY 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300 ENJOYING THE COMMUTE. AS I APPROACHED THE STOP LIGHT.....BLANK!!!! I LASTLY REMEMBER BREAKING ....TO OPEN MY WATERING EYES TO SEE THAT I HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AND DON'T RECALL ANYTHING AT ALL. AS I GET UP IN REALIZED THAT MY HEAD HURTS AND THERE WAS A SMALL TEAR IN THE STEERING WHEEL AS A SMALL PORTION OF THE BAG DEPLOYED BUT NOT FULLY.. IT APPEARED TO BE A FAULTY BAG THAT HAS CAUSED THIS SERIOUS INCONVENIENCE.

Mileage: 112,000

TAKATA RECALL RIGHT TAIL LIGHT HAS A BROWN BURNT WIRE, AND THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT IS DIM. SO I BELIEVE IT MAY HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. I WAS WONDERING IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I NEED TO PAY FOR OR WOULD THIS BE SOMETHING THAT I COULD GET A RECALL ON? THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WHILE BRAKING.

Mileage: 128,478

TAKATA RECALL RIGHT TAIL LIGHT HAS A BROWN BURNT WIRE, AND THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT IS DIM. SO I BELIEVE IT MAY HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. I WAS WONDERING IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I NEED TO PAY FOR OR WOULD THIS BE SOMETHING THAT I COULD GET A RECALL ON? THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WHILE BRAKING.

Mileage: 128,478

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS OPERATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT WIRING WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

Mileage: 165,000

BACKGROUND: IN 2014, THERE WAS A RECALL OF C-CLASS MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES DUE TO CORROSION ON THE CONNECTORS OF THE REAR TAIL LIGHT CAUSING THE LIGHT TO FAIL. MERCEDES BENZ FIX FRONT LIGHT CONNECTORS - NEW ISSUE: LEFT FRONT PARKING LIGHT IS INOPERABLE AND THE DASHBOARD WARNING MESSAGE CAME ON. WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE PARKING LIGHT BULB REPLACED. THE MECHANIC VERIFIED THE CONCERN, REPLACING THE BULB DID NOT WORK. THE MECHANIC CHECKED AND FOUND THAT THE PARKING LAMP HARNESS HOLDER IS PEELING AND CORRODED CAUSING THE WIRE TO SHORT. MERCEDES BENZ WANTED ME TO PAY $1440.35 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND RECOMMENDED CHANGING THE RIGHT SIDE TOO EVEN THOUGH IT WAS OPERABLE. THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY ENCASES THE FRONT PARKING LIGHT BULBS (EYEBROW LIGHTS - 2 EACH) AND THE HEADLIGHT BULB. THE SERVICE ADVISOR, JEFF DECORTE INDICATED THAT HE SEES THIS ALL THE TIME WHICH IS WHY HE RECOMMENDED REPLACING BOTH SIDES OF THE ENTIRE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES. BULB HOLDERS AND CONNECTORS SHOULD BE REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE OWNER DUE TO THE PEELING AND CORROSION. PLEASE INVESTIGATE, THIS MAY BE POTENTIALLY ANOTHER RECALL EXCEPT NOW IT'S THE FRONT PARKING LIGHTS. PLEASE NOTE THAT MY CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED AT THE REQUIRED INTERVALS BY THE DEALER.

Mileage: 79,223

CAR WAS AT THE PARKING FRONT OF MY HOME, ABOUT TO GO TO WORK , CAR WON'T START , NO WARNING , NOTHING, COMPLETELY DEAD, HAD TO BE WITHOUT CAR FOR A WEEK, REPAIR COSTS 1,200. TOWED TO MERCEDES SERVICE. SPECIFIC ISSUES WAS STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILED. I HAVE SO MANY ISSUES WITH THIS CAR, LIGHTS, WINDOWS, TIRES, CONTROL POWER FAILS MANY TIMES WHEN CAR IS IN DRIVING MODE. SO MANY OWNERS HAS SAME PROBLEMS, IT IS A SAFETY ISSUES WHY THIS WASN'T REPORTED AND RECALL ON THIS ONE. THOUGHT MERCEDES CARS ARE MOST RELIABLE, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S NOT TRUE . *JS

Mileage: 101,472

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE REAR PASSENGER LIGHTING FAILED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CORRODED CONNECTORS AND BULB HOLDERS WOULD NEED TO BE CHANGED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

Mileage: 40,000

REAR LIGHTING CONSULS FAILING WHILE IN MOTION CAUSING RIGHT TURN BLINKER, REVERSE LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND SAFETY LIGHTS TO NOT FUNCTION.

Mileage: 61,000

FRONT PARKING LAMPS POOR CONNECTION WIRES INSULATION COME OFF VERY EASY FROM THE FRAME PLUG, PLUS WIRES ARE TO SHORT TO MAKE CORRECTION(SPLICE) INSIDE THE HEAD LIGHT HOUSING. ALL THIS HAPPENED AFTER THE CAR WAS REPAIR FROM RECALL ON TAIL LIGHTS. I SAW ON THE INTERNET AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAS THIS PROBLEM FOR THIS PROBLEM, I WAS DRIVING ON THE DARK STREET AND ALL LIGHTS WENT OFF LIKE FOR 5 SECONDS, THAT WHY I GOT SCARE, I WAS WITH MY WIFE AND MY 5 MONTHS OLD DAUGHTER, MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD REPORT THIS AS RECALL, IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM I NEED TO CHANGE THE WHOLE HOUSING, I TOOK THE CAR TO DOWNT TOWN LA SERVICE DEPARTMENT, FOR ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION LOCK SWITCH, I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND ALSO A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE SOME ONE WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE C300 MODELS. THANK YOU *TR

Mileage: 25

THE CAR WON'T START WHEN YOU TURN THE KEY. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A MERCEDES MECHANIC AND HE CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG AFTER BEING LOOKED AT FOR A B1 SERVICE. WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD FIX IT. NOW IT WON'T START AGAIN. WHEN TURN THE KEY, EVERYTHING LIGHTS UP AS IF THE CAR IS GOING TO START BUT IT WON'T. IT HAD BEEN STARTING AFTER TURNING THE KEY A FEW TIMES AND EVENTUALLY IT WOULD CATCH. THE PROBLEM STARTED 2 WEEKS AGO, NOW IT WON'T START AT ALL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS SHORTED OUT REPEATEDLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY CONFIRMATION OF THE REPAIR AND THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH DRAINED THE POWER AND BATTERY SOURCE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO PROPERLY ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING CONNECTORS TO THE BULB HOLDERS BURNED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

FRONT LIGHTS SOCKET OVER HEAT AND MELTING. MANUFACTURE AND DEALERSHIP REFUSE TO REPLACE, HOWEVER CAR STILL IN FULL EXTENDED WARRANTY SAFETY ISSUE AND CAN CAUSE FIRE

Mileage: 89,000

INTERMITTENTLY MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WILL GO ON, GAS GAUGE SLOWLY GOES TO EMPTY, REAR BREAK AND BLINKERS NO LONGER WORK, INTERIOR LIGHTING, AND SUN ROOF DO NOT WORK. I CAN NOT LOCK MY CAR SOMETIMES AFTER FOR ABOUT 5 MINS. IF IT HAPPENS RIGHT WHEN I TURN MY CAR ON, I CAN TRY TO TURN IT OFF AND RESTART AND IT MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS RIGHT WHEN I TURN MY CAR ON OR SOMETIMES IT NEVER HAPPENS. *TR

Mileage: 62,000

I CAME TO A STOP BECAUSE MY CAR WAS GIVING ME ERROR CODES FOR CERTAIN PARTS OF THE RIGHT TAIL LIGHTS NOT WORKING(TURN& REVERSE) AND THEN THE FUNCTIONING LIGHTS WERE DIMMED. I TOOK A LOOK AT THE ASSEMBLY WHERE THE LIGHTS WERE PLACED AND NOTICED WHERE THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE PLUGGED IN TO THE BULB ASSEMBLY THAT IT BURNED THROUGH THE ASSEMBLY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FIXED THE RIGHT SIDE BUT NEGLECTED TO CHECK THE LEFT BECAUSE AT THE TIME IT WAS NOT MALFUNCTIONING (AT THAT TIME I WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY). NOW, ON MARCH 8, 2015 (MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY) I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AS WELL MBUSA BECAUSE THE LEFT SIDE IS NOW BEGINNING TO ACT ERRATICALLY, AND ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO BURNING (YET) I WOULD LIKE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I CHECKED THE BULBS WHICH WERE GIVING ME ERRORS AND NONE OF THE BULBS WERE BURNED OUT. I BEGUN TO DO RESEARCH AND I FOUND THERE TO BE A RECALL FROM THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V-177, BUT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL YET I HAD REPORTED THE VERY SAME ISSUE MUCH EARLIER THAN 2014. AS I CONTACTED BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND MBUSA THEY BOTH SAID THAT MY CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL REFUSING TO ACCEPT THAT THEY MADE AN ERROR IN THEIR WIRING AND NEGLECTING TO FIX BOTH SIDES THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN. *TR

Mileage: 36,378

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CHECK SIGNAL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000. THE VIN WAS UNVAILABLE.

Mileage: 68,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO TURN FROM THE OFF TO ON POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CHIP IN THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE KEYS NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. UPDATED 10/22/2014*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACED AND OFFERED ASSISTANCE WITH THE COST OF REPAIR ONLY IF THE REPAIR HAD NOT BEEN PAID PREVIOUSLY FOR. UPDATED 4/1/15 *JS

Mileage: 58,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED INDICATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DATE OF WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING TO SCHEDULE THE APPOINTMENT AND REMEDY THE PROBLEM SPECIFIED ON THE RECALL. UPDATED 08/19/14*LJ

PRIOR TO PULLING INTO MY GARAGE, I SMELLED BURNING ELECTRICAL WIRING. ALL WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH PANEL FOR THE LEFT REAR LIGHTS CAME ON. I OPENED THE TRUNK TO SEE IF A LIGHT BULB BURNED OUT, AND SMELLED THE BURNING WIRES. OPENING THE PANEL COVERING THE LEFT REAR LIGHTS, I SAW A BURN THROUGH SCORCHED CIRCUIT BOARD. ON CLOSER EXAMINATION, I NOTICED THE GROUND WIRE WAS THIN AND THE CAUSE OF THE SEVERALLY OVERHEATED AND PARTIALLY MELTED AREA ON THE LEFT REAR LAMP ASSEMBLY. SINCE THEN, THE MERCEDES DEALER REPLACED THE CIRCUIT AT MY EXPENSE. ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. IT WAS ALSO A THIN GROUND WIRE THAT HAD OVERHEATED AND PARTIALLY MELTED THE CIRCUIT BOARD. *TR

Mileage: 61,999

I RECEIVED A WARNING ON MY DASHBOARD THAT MY RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT, RIGHT TURN SIGNAL AND BACK LIGHT NEEDED TO BE CHECKED AND MALFUNCTIONING. THE MESSAGE CAME AND WENT FOR SEVERAL DAYS. WHEN I OPENED THE COMPARTMENT WHERE THE TAIL BULB CARRIERS AND ASSEMBLY WERE, I SAW THAT SOME OF THE LIGHTS WERE VERY DIM. THE CARRIER ITSELF WAS PIPING HOT. SO MY FIRST REACTION WAS TO REPLACE THE BULBS. I DID. SAME PROBLEMS, NOTHING WAS FIXED. THE NEXT DAY, EVERYTHING CLEARED UP...SO I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE FINE. A WEEK LATER, IT CAME BACK. WHEN I OPENED UP THE COMPARTMENT AGAIN, IT WAS SUPER HOT, AND I NOTICED THAT THE WIRING WAS BROWNING AND IT BURNT MY FINGER. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WILL COST HUNDREDS TO REPLACE AND NOT COVERED. *TR

Mileage: 60,100

I RECEIVED A MESSAGE TO CHECK THE REAR RIGHT (PASSENGER) LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL. I JUST PURCHASED THE CAR USED ON MAY 20, 2014, AND BEGAN GETTING THE DASHBOARD WARNING A FEW DAYS LATER, BUT IT WAS INTERMITTENT. ON MAY 26, 2014, I INSPECTED OF THE BULB CARRIER AND PIN CONNECTOR AND NOTICED THAT THE CONNECTION INVOLVING THE BROWN WIRE ON THE PIN CONNECTOR WAS BURNED AND THE CORRESPONDING CONNECTION ON THE BULB CARRIER WAS ALSO BURNED/DISINTEGRATED AND THE AREA AROUND THE BROWN WIRE WAS VERY HOT. IT IS DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHEN THE FAILURE ACTUALLY HAPPENED. *TR

Mileage: 69,234

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND A MESSAGE LIGHT CAME ON SAYING CHECK REAR RIGHT BRAKE LAMP, TURN LAMP ,AND TAIL LAMP SO I STOPPED BY THE AUTO PART STORE TO HAVE THEM REPLACE THE BULBS AND THEY FOUND THE LIGHT HOLDER AND THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE LIGHTS HAD MELTED. *TR

RIGHT REAR PASSENGER LIGHTING ASSEMBLY CAUGHT FIRE. WIRING HARNESS AND LIGHT BULB CARRIER WERE BURNED. RIGHT REAR TURN AND BRAKE LIGHTS ARE INOPERABLE. *TR

Mileage: 70,140

RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT PIG TAIL OVERHEATED AND SHORTED OUT LAMP HOLDER. YOU CAN SEE THE BURN MARKS WHERE IT WAS TOO HOT. HAS TO BE REPLACED. *TT

Mileage: 33,000

MY EXTERIOR TAIL LIGHTS ALL WENT OUT, THIS INCLUDES FOG LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS AND INDICATOR LIGHTS. PUT IN NEW BULBS AS WELL AS MADE SURE THE WIRES WERE CONNECTED WELL BUT IT REMAINS OUT. *JS

Mileage: 50,400

MARCH 1 2014 I NOTICE MY WIFE DASH WAS LIGHTING UP WITH REAR BRAKE LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I OPENED THE TRUNK AND HIT THE BRAKE COMPARTMENT AND IT CAME BACK ON. APRIL 11 2014 THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND I TRIED DOING THE SAME THING BUT NOTHING. OPENED THE BRAKE COMPARTMENT AND DISCONNECTED EVERYTHING ON THAT SIDE AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. DON'T WANT ANOTHER MELT DOWN BACK THERE IN THE TRUNK. IF THIS IS THE BEST COMPANY OUT THERE JUST ANNOUNCE A RECALL AND FIX YOUR CUSTOMERS FAULTY EQUIPMENT. *JS

Mileage: 31,000

REAR LIGHTING DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK, I HAVE GOTTEN ERROR CODES ONE DAY AND THE LIGHTS WORK THE NEXT. I HAVE READ PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS ON THE LIGHTING ISSUE. ONE TIME ITS A BULB ON THE RIGHT AND NEXT ITS A BULB ON THE LEFT. TODAY THEY ALL WORK.. *TR

Mileage: 58,000

THE DASH WARNED ME THAT MY REAR TAIL LIGHTS WERE MALFUNCTIONING. THE MESSAGE CAME AND WENT FOR SEVERAL DAYS UNTIL IT WAS ON CONTINUOUSLY. I ACCESSED THE ELECTRICAL COMPARTMENT AND THE GROUND SIDE OF PLUG, THE SOCKET AND THE WIRE WAS MELTED AND HAS BEEN ON FIRE. I HAVE PICTURES ON DROPBOX: LINK ATTACHED HTTPS://WWW.DROPBOX.COM/SC/W4TM7B28PHH9LAL/-DZ3HTMLS-. *TR

Mileage: 84,000

COMPONENTS OF THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES HAVE OVERHEATED AND RENDERED THE UNITS INOPERATIVE. AS A RESULT, THE TAIL LIGHTS NO LONGER WORK. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE AND COMMON OCCURRENCE IN AGING ASSEMBLIES OF THIS TYPE. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT HOUSING HAS BURNT OUT AND KNOCKED OUT ALL LIGHTS IN THE CLUSTER. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE, BUT THERE HAS YET TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS. *TR

Mileage: 49,000

THERE SEEMS TO BE A LIGHT SHORTAGE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY. THE LIGHTS WORK , THE ISSUE IS THE PANEL AND THE WIRE IS NOW MELTED AT THE TIP. THE WIRE MELTED INTO THE LIGHT PANEL. *TR

WIRING HARNESS ON REAR TAIL LIGHT MELTED CAUSING THE TAIL LIGHT CIRCUIT BOARD TO STOP WORKING ,CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHTS ,REVERSE LIGHTS AND BLINKER TO STOP WORKING.SPOKE WITH MERCEDES BENZ DEALER SHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT THEY WERE NOT GONNA FIX IT FOR FREE AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS.THIS IS A HAZARD CAUSE I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR,WHEN MY LIGHTS WENT OUT.AFTER LOOKING AT THE MELTED HARNESS WIRE THIS IS ALSO A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER BEFORE SOME ONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. MERCEDES BENZ IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO CORRECT IT.... *TR

Mileage: 70,400

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND SMELLED AN INTENSE BURNING. I HAD BEEN GETTING THE TAILLIGHT ERROR CODES AND THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS A FUSE. DECIDED TO FINALLY RESEARCH ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT IT IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE THAT MERCEDES TAILLIGHTS/WIRING SPONTANEOUSLY CATCH ON FIRE. I REMOVED THE HARNESSES FROM THE TAILLIGHTS AND NOTICED THE PLUG HAD ALMOST BEEN ENTIRELY DESTROYED/BURNED ON THE RIGHT REAR, AND WAS STARTING TO BURN ON THE LEFT REAR. I LOST ALL POWER TO MY TAILLIGHTS AT APPROXIMATELY 11:30 AT NIGHT, AND THE HEADLIGHTS STARTED SHUTTING OFF AND ON RANDOMLY. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE STILL TURNING OFF AND ON RANDOMLY, APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE AUTO DIM SETTING. I HAVE PICTURES OF EVERYTHING, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NOW PAID TO FIX THE TAILLIGHT HARNESSES (A COST OF OVER $240 IN PARTS) BECAUSE MERCEDES HAS NOT WILLINGLY RECALLED THIS FIRE HAZARD AND KNOWN DEFECT. TO BE HONEST, I AM PISSED. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHERE I CAN SEND THE DEFECTIVE PARTS AND/OR PICTURES TO. *TR

Mileage: 102,000

ALL REAR TAIL LIGHTS STOP WORKINGI REPLACED THE LIGHTS. MERCEDES DEALERSHIP SAID THE WIRES HAD FRIED AND THAT THEY HAD SEEN MANY CASES SIMILAR TO THE REAR LIGHTS. $600 TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

THE TAIL LIGHT COMPLETELY MELTED THE CIRCUT BOARD AND STOPPED WORKING. *TR

Mileage: 71,000

THE LAMP CONNECTOR ON THE REAR RIGHT SIDE OF THE LIGHT COMPONENT WENT OUT, WHEN I WENT TO LOOK AT IT, I NOTICED THE CONNECTER PLUG IN AS WELL AS THE LIGHT CIRCUIT BOARD WAS BURNT AND WOULD NOT BE PLUGGED BACK IN. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

WARNING MESSAGE THAT THE BACK TAIL LIGHTS & SIGNAL LIGHTS WERE OUT. AFTER CHECK IT APPEARED THAT THE WIRE HAD MELTED. *TR

Mileage: 86,000

REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ARE STAYING ON WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AND THE PARKING LAMPS BOTH WENT OUT. THE BRAKE LIGHTS OFF WHEN CAR IS OFF BUT WHILE I'M DRIVING THEY STAY ON THE WHOLE TIME. I TOOK IT TO RAY CATENA MERCEDES AUTO SERVICE AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS NO CHARGE AS PART OF A RECALL ON ALL MERCEDES VEHICLES BUT GAVE ME A QUOTE OF 1175 FOR THE MODULE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE MODULE SHORTAGE AND LIGHTS GOING OUT IS MOST LIKELY DUE TO THE WIRING HARNESS FRYING OUT. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE A MODULE THAT WAS DUE TO A WIRING HARNESS FRYING OUT. THAT SHOULD BE A MANUFACTURER ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 46,000

ALL REAR TAIL LIGHTS STOP WORKING, SOME IN THE FRONT NOT WORKING, ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE BURNT I REPLACED THE LIGHTS, THE DASHBOARD ALERT WENT AWAY THEN CAME BACK ON 10 MINUTES LATER. ALSO TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR INOPERATIVE ON DASHBOARD ALERT AS WELL. MY FRIEND WITH A 2008 C300 HAS THE SAME ISSUES WITH HERS TOO. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

LIGHT WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON DASHBOARD FOR REAR LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL. AFTER LOOKING @ THE CONNECTER FOUND IT SMOKING AND MELTED ... IMMEDIATELY UNPLUGGED IT. MB DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE INVESTIGATING . *TR

Mileage: 56,000

ALL THE LIGHTS OUTSIDE OF THE CAR ARE GOING OUT. THE ENTIRE REAR LEFT LIGHT IS NOT WORKING, ALONG WITH FRONT HEAD LIGHTS. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND I KEEP RECEIVING MESSAGES ON THE DASHBOARD. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THERE IS CORROSION ON THE WIRES. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

ENTIRE TAIL LIGHT ON DRIVE SIDE WENT OUT. I LOOKED AT THE LIGHTING HOUSING AND NOTED BURNT WIRES EMITTING FROM THE HOUSING. *TR

Mileage: 55,000

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, I WAS RECEIVING ERROR MESSAGES ON MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ASKING ME TO CHECK THE REAR PASSENGER BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURNING SIGNAL BULBS. ONCE I WAS HOME, I OPENED MY TRUNK AND SMELT BURNING PLASTIC. I OPENED THE ACCESS PANEL TO THE FUSE BOX LOCATED NEAR THE PASSENGER TAILLIGHT AND INSPECTED THE AREA FOR DAMAGE. I NOTICED SOME RESIDUAL SMOKE COMING FROM THE CONNECTOR ATTACHED TO THE TAILLIGHT BULB ASSEMBLY. I REMOVED THE BULB ASSEMBLY AND THE BROWN GROUND WIRE HAD BURNED THROUGH THE PLASTIC ASSEMBLY. I REMOVED THE WIRE HARNESS FROM THE ASSEMBLY AND THE CONNECTOR CRUMBLED DUE TO THE DAMAGE. *TR

Mileage: 48,000

I RECEIVED A WARNING THAT MY LEFT TAIL LIGHT WAS OUT. THE LIGHT WAS NOT OUT AND WHEN THE CAR WAS RESTARTED THE MESSAGE NO LONGER APPEARED. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ASKED SERVICE TO CHECK THE TAILLIGHT. THE SERVICE MANAGER SHOWED ME THE LIGHT PANEL WHICH HAD MELTED PLASTIC AND BURN MARKS ON IT NEAR THE GROUNDING WIRE. HE TOLD ME I NEEDED TO HAVE IT REPLACED AS WELL AS THE CIRCUIT BOARD. I TOLD HIM I THOUGHT IT WAS RIDICULOUS TO HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH A CAR WITH 85K MILES. I JUST REPLACED AN ELECTRICAL PANEL IN THE FRONT 2 MONTHS AGO FOR $700. I ASKED IF THEY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE C AND HE SAID NO BUT HE HAD SEEN A FEW ISSUES WITH THE GROUNDING WIRE. I JUST LOOKED INTO IT TO DISCOVER IT IS UNDER NHTSA INVESTIGATION. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

Mileage: 85,675

RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY COMPLETELY WENT OUT AS A RESULT OF A BAD GROUND WIRE. ON THAT SIDE THERE WAS NO BRAKE LIGHT, NO TURN SIGNAL, NO RUNNING LIGHTS, ETC. AFTER INSPECTION THE GROUND (BROWN OUTER MOST WIRE) WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE PLUG/REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS BURN MARKS AND CORROSION. I USED ELECTRICAL TAPE TO TAPE UP THE EXPOSED WIRE (DUE TO HEAT/SPARKS THE INSULATION ON THE WIRE WAS GONE). CURRENTLY, ALL FUNCTIONS OF THE TAIL LIGHT ARE DIM ( 75% DIMMER THAN THE OTHER SIDE) AND AT TIMES IT JUST COMPLETELY DOESN'T WORK. I HAVE STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR AS A RESULT OF THIS AS I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING AS I FEAR IT MIGHT LEAD TO A SMALL FIRE. *TR

Mileage: 72,000

RIGHT TAIL LIGHT CLUSTER HAD A ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE LAMP CONNECTOR, WHICH ULTIMATELY HAD TO PAY $250 TO REPLACE IN MID DECEMBER 2013. NOW IT SEEMS THAT I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUE ON THE LEFT SIDE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT, REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT AND THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED. THE LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE BULB HOWEVER THE WIRES OVERHEATED AND MELTED, CAUSING THE LIGHT BULB AND ASSEMBLY TO BECOME DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,505.

Mileage: 74,000

TAIL LIGHT PROBLEMS. I STARTED RECEIVING WARNING MESSAGES REGARDING THE TAIL LIGHT MALFUNCTION. WE CHECKED THE LIGHTS BUT THEY WERE FINE. IN JANUARY THE LIGHT WENT OUT. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BULBS WERE NOT ONLY OUT BUT THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO A CIRCUIT ISSUE. AFTER PICKING UP MY CAR, THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL WARNING FOR MY SIDEMARK LIGHT. *TR

APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AGO, THE BACK (DRIVER-SIDE) TAIL LIGHTS WERE MALFUNCTIONING AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE BULB. I DID MENTION THIS TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP WHEN I WENT TO SERVICE ANOTHER ISSUE, BUT THEY STATED THERE WAS NO ISSUES, JUST A BAD BULB. UNFORTUNATELY THIS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES BEFORE A SERVICE TECH NOTICED THAT THE BACK BOARD WAS "FRIED" AND SUGGESTED I GO TO A MERCEDES DEALERSHIP TO GET IT REPAIRED. NOT ONLY AM I PAST THE 5YR, 50,000 MILE WARRANTY, SO MERCEDES WILL NOT COVER THE COSTS, BUT THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD MY CAR FOR 3 DAYS AND CANNOT DETERMINE HOW TO REPAIR THE ISSUE. THEY REPLACED THE BOARD, BUT THEY ARE NOW STATING THAT THEY MAY NEED TO REPLACE ALL OF THE WIRES. I CALLED MERCEDES TO COMPLAIN, BUT WITHOUT A RECALL IN PLACE, THEY WILL NOT COVER THE COSTS TO REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

TAIL LIGHT PROBLEMS. WE STARTED RECEIVING WARNING MESSAGES REGARDING A DRIVER'S TAIL LIGHT MALFUNCTION. WE CHECKED THE LIGHTS BUT THEY WERE FINE. FINALLY IN NOVEMBER THE LIGHT WENT OUT. WE PURCHASED NEW BULBS FOR THE TAIL LIGHT BUT DISCOVERED IT WASN'T THE BULBS. THE TAIL LIGHT UNIT WAS DAMAGED, BURNED, MELTED ETC. WE ARE NOW RECEIVING THE SAME WARNINGS REGARDING THE RIGHT TAIL LIGHT. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

WARNING INDICATOR CAME UP ON INSTRUMENT PANEL TO "CHECK REAR TAIL AND BRAKE LAMPS" THE REAR TAIL, TURN, AND BRAKE LAMPS HAVE FAILED IN MY CAR. THE WIRING HARNESS HAS BURNED AND EMITS EXCESSIVE HEAT TO THE TOUCH. I'M UNSURE OF HOW LONG I WAS DRIVING WITH MY TAILLIGHTS OUT. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

EA13-008: DURING MID-SUMMER THE DASH WARNING MESSAGE STATING "CHECK CENTER BRAKE LIGHT" BEGAN TO APPEAR INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES IT WOULD REMAIN ON;OTHER TIMES IT WOULD NOT. OVER TIME, IT HAPPENED WITH LESS FREQUENCY, THEN WOULD BE MORE FREQUENT A WEEK OR TWO LATER. AT SOME POINT IN TIME I SAW AN ITEM ABOUT A POTENTIAL RECALL FOR MERCEDES RELATED TO WIRING IN THE TRUNK (WHICH IS WHERE THIS LIGHT IS LOCATED). I STOPPED BY THE MERCEDES DEALER AND INQUIRED ABOUT THIS. I AM UNSURE OF THE DATE, BUT THINK IT WAS IN AUGUST 2013. I HAVE ENTERED A DATE IN THAT TIME-FRAME AND CORRESPONDING MILEAGE ON THE CAR. (BUT BOTH COULD BE DIFFERENT.) THE DEALER'S SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THAT HE HAD SEEN NOTHING ON THIS TOPIC. HE CHECKED THE CAR AND, OF COURSE, AT THAT TIME THE MESSAGE WAS NOT DISPLAYING ON THE DASH AND THE CENTER BRAKE LIGHT WAS WORKING WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. OVER THE INTERVENING MONTHS, THE MESSAGE DISPLAYED SOMETIMES AND NOT OTHERS. WHENEVER IT DISPLAYED AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO SO SAFELY, WE WOULD CHECK THE BRAKE LIGHT ITSELF. WHENEVER THE MESSAGE DISPLAYED THE LIGHT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. IN DECEMBER 2013, THE FREQUENCY OF THE MESSAGE APPEARING (AND LIGHT NOT OPERATING) INCREASED. ON DECEMBER 30, 2013, I HAD AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE MERCEDES DEALER AND AGAIN REPORTED THE PROBLEM. OF COURSE, AGAIN, THE MESSAGE WAS NOT DISPLAYING AND THE CENTER BRAKE LIGHT WAS WORKING. LATER THAT SAME DATE, THE DEALER REPORTED THAT THEY HAD FULLY TESTED THE LIGHT AND THE WIRING AND IT WAS WORKING OKAY. HOWEVER, ANOTHER ISSUE WE HAD RAISED WITH THEM NEEDED ADDITIONAL TIME TO RESOLVE. SO, WE LEFT THE CAR WITH THEM FOR A FEW DAYS (NEW YEAR'S WEEK). WHEN THE DEALER PHONED (ON 1/3/14) TO REPORT THE CAR WAS READY TO PICK UP WE WERE TOLD THAT WHEN THE CAR WAS TEST DRIVEN THE MESSAGE HAD DISPLAYED AND THE LIGHT DID NOT WORK. EVER SINCE, THIS IS NOW A CONTINUING PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 49,678

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2009 MERCEDES C300 THAT HAS ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT MALFUNCTIONING. THIS FIRST HAPPENED IN 2011 WHEN THE DUMMY LIGHT TOLD ME THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS OUT. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A LOCAL AUTO SHOP TO HAVE THE LIGHT REPAIRED AND WAS TOLD BY THE SHOP THAT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO CHANGE THE BULB BECAUSE THE PANEL WITH THE LIGHT WAS MELTED AND SMOKING ' THEY SUSPECTED THAT THE BULB WAS SHORTED OUT. THEY RECOMMENDED TAKING IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, AS THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I DID THIS AND WAS TOLD BY MERCEDES BENZ OF ST. CHARLES IL THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE MELTED'AND THAT THE PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WORK WAS DONE AT THE ST. CHARLES IL DEALER AROUND NOVEMBER OF 2011 AND WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE NAPERVILLE IL MERCEDES DEALER ABOUT A MONTH AGO BECAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS OUT. I WAS EXPECTING TO HAVE A QUICK LIGHT CHANGE AND PAY AROUND $20. I WAS INSTEAD TOLD THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRES LEADING TO THE BRAKE LIGHT HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND THAT THE WIRES WERE MELTED. I WAS TOLD THAT IF A NEW BULB WERE PUT IT, IT WOULD JUST SHORT OUT AGAIN. I WAS THEN GIVEN AN ESTIMATE FOR OVER $500 FOR THIS REPAIR, AS MY CAR HAD RUN OFF THE WARRANTY A WEEK EARLIER. I HAVE NOT YET HAD THIS REPAIR DONE, AS IT IS COSTLY. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT IS A CONCERN WITH THE 2009 MERCEDES C300. THIS PROBLEM, WHICH HAS NOW OCCURRED TWO TIMES IN MY MERCEDES, IS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA13008). *TR

Mileage: 45,000

TAIL LIGHT PASSENGER SIDE - GROUND WIRE ISSUES - PLATE MELTED - TAIL LIGHT ERRORS - NOT WORKING - NO TURN SIGNAL OR BRAKE SIGNAL DUE TO FAULTY TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY (HEATING ISSUES) 1 204-820-09-77 LAMP CARRIER 1 211-545-03-28 PLUG 1 014-545-82-26 PIN BUSHING. *TR

Mileage: 44,800

ON 6/10/2013 I HAD ERROR CODE AND PASSENGER SIDE PINS & CARRIER ASSEMBLY FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED DEALER CHARGED ME $393.90 FOR THE JOB. ON 6/10/2013. ON 12/28/2013 I GET AN ERROR MESSAGE THAT THE LEFT SIDE TAIL LIGHT IS OUT. *TR

Mileage: 31,200

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE HEARD A POPPING NOISE. UPON INVESTIGATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE PASSENGER TAILLIGHT BULB FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVER'S FRONT INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 47,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2009 MERCEDES C300. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED ON THE VEHICLE ADVISING HER TO SERVICE THE REAR LIGHTING. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER LIGHT WIRING WAS BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51400. UPDATED 2/11/14*CN

Mileage: 51,400

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CHECK TAIL LIGHT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

Mileage: 32,000

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 55 MPH MY PANEL ALERTED ME TO CHECK MY RIGHT REAR TAIL LAMP ,TURN SIGNAL , FOG LAMP AND PARKING LIGHT. I CHECK THE RIGHT TAIL LAMP AND ALL OF THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT WERE NOT WORKING. I WENT TO REPLACE ALL OF THE RIGHT REAR LIGHT BULBS AND FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR AT THE END OF THE WIRING WAS COMPLETELY MELTED TO THE LAMP CARRIER. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD I AM VERY CONCERNED THIS COULD HAPPEN TO BOTH REAR TAIL LAMPS AT SAME TIME WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY IT CAN CREATE A ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE TAIL LAMPS ARE NOT WORKING. IT ALSO CAN BE A FIRE HAZARD. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY MERCEDES-BENZ BEFORE THERE IS DEATH. *TR

Mileage: 62,900

BRAKE LIGHT, TURN SIGNAL, & PARKING LAMP ALL NOT WORKING. THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR AT THE END OF THE WIRING WAS COMPLETELY MELTED AND BLACK WHEN THE MECHANIC TOOK IT OUT. COULD BE A FIRE HAZARD. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

THE GROUND WIRE FOR BOTH REAR TAILLIGHT BULB PLATES GETS SO HOT, THAT IT MELTS THE CONNECTOR WHICH THEN CAUSES A FAILURE OF ALL TAIL LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS AND INDICATOR LIGHTS. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, THEN ALL THE CHECK LIGHT BULBS WENT ON FOR THE REAR LEFT SIDE GOT HOME AND NOTICED THERE WAS A BURN MARK ON THE LIGHT CONNECTOR. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 11/02/2013 HAD LEFT REAR LIGHT CONNECTOR AND WIRING REPLACED A WEEK LATER, THE RIGHT REAR SIGNAL CHECK LIGHT BULB CAME ON. GOT HOME CHECKED THE CONNECTOR WHICH HAD A BROWN BURN SPOT ALSO AND LOOSE WIRING IN THE BACK OF THE CONNECTOR SO NOW I HAVE TO GO HAVE THE RIGHT CONNECTOR AND WIRING REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 56,250

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, NOTICED THAT WHEN I USE MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL IT WAS FLICKERING FAST ON THE DASH BOARD, THEN WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED ON DASH, CHECK TURN SIGNAL, CHECK BRAKE LIGHT, CHECK FOG LAMP. WHEN I GOT HOME, CHECK ALL BULBS ON THE LEFT REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLY, ALL BULBS ARE INTACT. NOTICED THE BROWN WIRE WAS A LITTLE CORRODED AND LIKE A BURNT CONTACT ON THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY. STARTED THE CAR AGAIN, EVERYTHING IS WORKING OKAY. NOW EXACT SAME MESSAGES APPEARS MORE THAN OFTEN WHEN IM DRIVING THE CAR. CONCERNED ON WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE BURNT PLASTIC CONTACT POINT ON THE LIGHT HOLDER. I RESEARCHED THROUGH THE INTERNET AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 39,000

YESTERDAY (10/27/2013) I HAD TO CHANGE OUT MY REAR RIGHT SIDE BRAKE LAMP, WHICH I SUCCESSFULLY DID RIGHT AFTER I SAW THE MESSAGE POP UP ON MY DASHBOARD. THEN TODAY (10/28/2013) IN THE AFTERNOON I TURNED ON MY CAR AND ALL THESE MESSAGES POPPED UP REGARDING MY RIGHT SIDE TURN SIGNAL, RIGHT SIDE REVERSE LIGHT, RIGHT SIDE FOG LIGHT AND THE OTHER BULBS IN THE RIGHT SIDE BULB HOUSING. I THEN OPENED MY TRUNK AND CHECKED IT OUT, AND NOTICED THAT THE FAR LEFT SIDE WIRE OF THE CONNECTOR CONNECTING TO THE BULB HOUSING WAS BURNED LUCKILY IT DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE. I TRIED TO TAKE IT OFF BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO AT THE MOMENT, BUT I WAS ABLE TO TAKE IT OUT AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS. THERE WAS A HORRIBLE SMELL COMING FROM IT AND I TRIED TO CLEAN OUT ALL THE GUNK IN THE CONNECTOR BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO. PLEASE GET THIS ISSUE FIXED AND CALL OUT A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE DOESN'T ACT FAST ENOUGH AND LEAVES THE CONNECTOR PLUGGED IN AND CAUSES IT TO CATCH ON FIRE. *TR

RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT WIRING HARNESS PLUG BURNED AND MELTED. BROWN WIRE END OF PLUG. *TR

Mileage: 63,400

FOURTH OCCURRENCE OF ALL RIGHT REAR INDICATOR LIGHTS GOING OUT ALL TOGETHER IN THE PAST 2-3 MONTHS. JUST DID SOME RESEARCH AND IT APPEARS NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING THIS. I AM TAKING THIS IN TO THE DEALER TOMORROW HOWEVER, SEVERAL OWNERS OF THE 2009 C CLASS ARE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM DUE TO A BAD CONNECTION TO THE REAR LIGHT UNIT WHICH IS CAUSING SHORTAGES AND FIRES. IT IS VERY EVIDENT THAT MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 58,300

RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT WAS DIM; STRONG SMELL OF BURNING WIRING IN THE TRUNK, WIRING HARNESS WAS HOT TO THE TOUCH, AT LEAST ONE WIRE ON THE HARNESS WAS CHARRED / BURNED. DASH WARNING LIGHT EVENTUALLY CAME ON. BROUGHT TO M-B DEALER; NOT COVERED BY ANY FACTORY WARRANTY, RECALL OR THE 3RD PARTY EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

Mileage: 46,000

RIGHT REAR LIGHT CONNECTOR AND LIGHTING HOUSING BURNED AND IS NOW INOPERATIVE. PRIOR TO THIS THE LIGHTS WOULD DIM IN AND OUT BEFORE COMPLETELY BURNING OUT. WHEN I OPENED THE TRUCK TO LOOK AT IT THERE WAS A BAD BURN SMELL AND SPARKING COMING FROM THE FIXTURE. *TR

Mileage: 60,090

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE BRAKE LAMP, TURN SIGNAL, FOG LIGHT, AND SIDE MARK LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

Mileage: 53,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND NOTICED THAT THE WIRE THAT CONTROLLED THE TAIL LIGHT WAS MELTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS AND THE TAIL LIGHTS STOP ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. *TR

Mileage: 58,000

CAR ILLUMINATED A WARNING TO CHECK REAR LEFT TAILLIGHT. UPON INSPECTION, NOTICED THAT THE WIRING IS STARTING TO RETRACT FROM THE CONNECTOR AND LEFT AND RIGHT ASSEMBLIES HAVE NOTICEABLE BLACKENED AREAS WHERE THE WIRING IS CRIMPED INTO THE CONTACT THAT IS INSERTED INTO THE CONNECTOR. THIS IS SIMILAR TO OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED. *TR

Mileage: 75,800

AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE THE DASH BOARD LIT UP INDICATING TO CHECK MY REAR RIGHT TAIL LAMP, RIGHT SIDE MARKER, RIGHT BRAKE LAMP, RIGHT HEAD LAMP, RIGHT FOG LAMP. MY HUSBAND THEN COULD FEEL THAT THE BROWN WIRE IN THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE HARNESS ITSELF IS HOT TO TOUCH AND YOU CAN SEE THE WIRES BECAUSE THE COATING AROUND THE WIRES HAS BEGAN TO MELT AWAY.I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM. I HOPE THIS ISSUE WILL BE RESOLVED. *TR

Mileage: 78,000

RECEIVED A MESSAGE THAT REAR LEFT BRAKE LIGHT, FOG LIGHT, TURN SIGNAL WERE OUT. TURNS OUT THE WIRE THAT GOES INTO THE HARNESS HAS MELTED AND SHORTED OUT. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TWO MONTHS LATER WITH THE REAR RIGHT LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN.

BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR A REPAIR OF THE STEERING COLUMN ON 3/9/2013 TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR, WHICH THEY TOOK CARE OF. BUT, THEN ABOUT A MONTH LATER STARTED TO GET WARNINGS FROM THE DASHBOARD TO CHECK MY RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT AND DIRECTIONAL. THEN IT WAS THE RIGHT REAR SIDE LAMPS, TAILLIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, REVERSE LIGHTS AND DIRECTIONAL, EVERY TIME I START THE CAR AND/ OR WHENEVER ONE OF THOSE LIGHTS IS ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING. WAITING FOR A RECALL AND SAW THAT MBUSA REQUIRES EXACT INFORMATION FOR THE COMPLAINTS. *JB

Mileage: 48,000

TURNED ONE VEHICLE AND MESSAGE STATED TO CHECK LEFT REAR SIGNAL, SIGNAL LIGHT APPEARED TO BE LOW. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 30 MILES ENTIRE REAR LEFT SIGNAL/BREAK/SIDE LIGHT WAS COMPLETELY UNFUNCTIONAL. ON AUGUST 30TH A VISUAL INSPECTION SHOWED WIRING TO BE FRAYED AND A BURNT MARK ON THE PLASTIC WAS OBSERVED. *JS

Mileage: 74,000

MY PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT WAS DIM, SO I WENT TO CHANGE OUT THE BULB. UPON REMOVING THE COVER INSIDE THE TRUNK, NOTICED THE BROWN GROUND WIRE TO THE TAIL LIGHT WAS EXTREMELY HOT, AND HAD MELTED THE PLASTIC HARNESS TO THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS POSTS ON FORUMS ONLINE ABOUT THIS, YET MY LOCAL MERCEDES DEALERSHIP CLAIMED I WAS THE FIRST THEY HAD SEEN. I HAD TO PAY IN FULL TO HAVE THE HARNESS AND BOARD REPLACED. PLEASE ENCOURAGE MERCEDES TO RECALL THIS MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. I'M LUCKY MINE DIDN'T GET TO THE POINT THAT IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND STARTED SMOKING LIKE MANY OTHERS I HAVE READ ABOUT. I'M GUESSING MY DRIVERS SIDE IS NEXT? *TR

Mileage: 52,000

ON 8/8/2013 MY INFORMATION DISPLAY INDICATED MY RIGHT TAILLIGHT, BLINKER AND BRAKE LIGHTS WERE OUT. WHEN I OPENED THE COMPARTMENT TO SEE WHAT TYPE OF BULBS TO REPLACE I FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE MUCH BIGGER THAN EXPECTED. THE PLASTIC HOUSING THAT HOLD THE WIRING PIN, THE WIRING PIN AND THE BROWN GROUND WIRE WERE ALL BURNT UP CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO FAIL. I THAN OPENED THE LEFT TAIL LIGHT COMPARTMENT AND THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING, THERE IS ALREADY SIGNS OF THE HOUSING BURNING. I REMEMBER SMELLING SOMETHING BURNING IN THE CAR A FEW WEEKS AGO. I NOW KNOW WHAT IT WAS. I AM SURPRISED IT DID NOT CATCH FIRE. I CONTACTED MERCEDES SERVICE ONLY TO FIND I AM RESPONSIBLE PAYING TO HAVE THIS ISSUE CORRECTED. I ONLY HOPE THE LEFT SIDE DOES NOT CAUSE A FIRE BEFORE I AM ABLE TO GET IT FIXED. THIS IS CLEARLY AN UNSAFE ELECTRICAL ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 53,000

THE INFORMATION SYSTEM IN MY CAR GAVE ME THE SYMBOLS FOR THE RIGHT BACK LIGHTS. I STOPPED TO CHECK AND REALIZED MY LIGHTS WERE OUT. I OPENED THE WIRING IN THE TRUNK AND REALIZED THAT THE BROWN WIRE ON THE OUTER SIDE BURNED THROUGH THE CONNECTOR AND THE LAMP CARRIER. *TR

Mileage: 52,000

TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR ON 3/3/2013 DUE TO THE VEHICLE HAD LOCKED FOR NO REASON AND WOULD NOT DRIVE. HAD TO TOW IT TO DEALERSHIP. TURNED OUT IT WAS A STEERING HOUSING ISSUE WHICH THE DEALERSHIP TOOK CARE OF, THEN A MONTH LATER, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS ON THE RIGHT REAR STARTED HAVING ISSUES; STARTED GETTING ALERTS THAT THE RIGHT TAILLIGHT, RIGHT TURN SIGNAL, RIGHT REVERSE LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, AND SIDE LAMP WERE OUT OR NEEDED TO BE CHECKED. ALSO NOTICED THAT BECAUSE OF THIS, WHEN YOU SET THE ALARM, THE RIGHT REAR WON'T LIGHT UP. HAVE NOT BROUGHT IT BACK AS OF YET, WAITING FOR RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 49,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES CL-300. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT HAD BECOME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AND NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHT WAS MELTED. THE DEALER STATED THE HEADLIGHT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63722.

Mileage: 63,722

BOTH REAR RIGHT AND LEFT TAIL BULB HOLDERS CONNECTOR AND PIN DAMAGED REPLACED LAMP CARRIERS AND PLUGS. UPON INSPECTION THEY LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE BURNED WITH A TORCH. *TR

Mileage: 29,056

AFTER THE CAR WAS WARMED UP, THE MESSAGE DISPLAY REPORTED TAIL LIGHT OUTAGES IN THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC. THE PIG TAIL AND CIRCUIT BOARD THAT HOLDS THE BULBS SHOWED BURN MARKS WHICH CAUSED THE CIRCUITS TO SHORT OUT. THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD AND PIG TAIL ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 55,000

THE PASSENGER SIDE TAILLIGHT CONNECTOR, PINS & CARRIER ASSEMBLY FAILED AND TO BE REPLACED. I WAS CHARGED $393.90 FOR THE JOB. *TR

Mileage: 27,371

A MESSAGE ON THE DASH CONSISTENTLY APPEARED, ADVISING TO CHECK RIGHT REAR LIGHTS: BRAKE, FOG, TAIL ETC. WE CHECKED THE REAR LIGHTS AND FOUND THE PLASTIC BOARD THAT HOLDS THE LIGHT BULBS AND WIRING HAD MELTED. WE PURCHASED A NEW BOARD FROM A MERCEDES DEALER. AFTER I INSTALLED IT, IT MADE GOOD CONNECTIONS. THE MESSAGE CONCERNING THE RIGHT LIGHT HAS NOT COME BACK ON. HOWEVER, THE LEFT BRAKE, FOG AND TAIL MESSAGE CAME ON. WHEN CHECKED, THE LEFT BOARD AND WIRING WAS ALSO MELTED. WE PURCHASED ANOTHER NEW BOARD FROM MERCEDES. HOWEVER, I WAS ABLE TO REESTABLISH A CONNECTION USING THE OLD BOARD, AND DID NOT USE THE NEW BOARD. NOW THE RIGHT FRONT FOG LIGHT HAS A SIMILAR ISSUE THAT HAS NOT BEEN INVESTIGATED OR REPAIRED. *TR

Mileage: 54,000

RECEIVED IN-DASH NOTIFICATIONS THAT ALL LIGHTS ON LEFT SIDE OF CAR WERE OUT. TOOK TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, WHICH FOUND THAT LEFT REAR TAILLIGHT HOUSING HAD MELTED. HAD NEW LIGHTING CARRIER INSTALLED AND WIRES REPAIRED. *TR

Mileage: 53,000

I HAVE A 2009 MERCEDES C300. I JUST READ A NEWS STORY THAT THIS MODEL MAY BE RECALLED BASED ON NUMEROUS REPORTS ABOUT FIRE OR BURN SMELLS COMING FROM THE REAR LIGHT. MY REAR RIGHT BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT LAST WINTER. WHEN I TOOK IT INTO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP, THEY TOOK THE PANEL OUT WITH THE LIGHT BULBS AND THERE WAS A BURNT RESIDUE AROUND THE BULB THAT WAS BLOWN OUT. THEY REPLACED THE UNIT AND THE WIRING, BUT I HAD TO PAY FOR THE SERVICE. THEY THOUGHT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A RECALL, BUT AFTER CHECKING THEIR COMPUTER, THEY DID NOT SAY THAT IT WAS RECALLED, SO I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. NOW THE REAR LEFT LIGHTS ARE MUCH DIMMER THAN THE RIGHT SIDE. THE DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED THAT I HAVE THAT REPLACED AS WELL, BUT ONCE AGAIN AT MY COST. IF THIS DEFECT HAS BEEN SIGHTED IN OTHER VEHICLES FROM THIS MODEL YEAR, THEY SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER A RECALL BEFORE THE LIGHTING PANEL ACTUALLY CATCHES FIRE AND CREATES A BIGGER ISSUE FOR THE COMPANY. *TR

Mileage: 55,000

THE LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT HAD A BULB THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST UNDER $10. IT NEEDED MORE THAN A BULB AS THE WIRING HAD MELTED AND IT REQUIRED A NEW LEFT REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLY KIT WITH A NEW HARNESS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AT A COST OF $300. THE AUTO SHOP TECHNICIAN SHOWED HOW THE WIRING HAD COMPLETELY MELTED AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE COMPLETE REAR LIGHT MODULE. THIS HAD TO BE A DEFECTIVE PART AND MERCEDES HAD NOT ISSUED A RECALL TO COVER THE COST. THE MELTED WIRES POSE A FIRE HAZARD. *TR

Mileage: 55,000

WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING THE RIGHT TAIL LAMP, BRAKE LAMP, FOG LAMP DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. UPON INSPECTION, THE GROUND WIRE INSULATION AND CONNECTOR ON THE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAD MELTED FROM OVERHEATING. WE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ALL LIGHTING ON THE RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY. *TR

Mileage: 36,089

ELECTRICAL SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD LEAD TO FIRE. LEFT REAR TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY UNIT MELTED DUE TO IMPROPER GROUND DUE TO FAULTY WIRING HARNESS. TALKED WITH MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. I ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL AS THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AND WAS ADVISED THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUES. WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM IS SO COMMON THAT MERCEDES HAS A REPAIR KIT BUT WANTS ME TO PAY $200 TO HAVE THE SAFETY ISSUE FIXED. MERCEDES REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL SOMEONE IS KILLED AND FORCED TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL TO FIX THIS DEFECT. IF YOU GOOGLE 2009 C300 BRAKE LIGHT RECALL YOU WILL FIND COUNTLESS PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE INCLUDING IDENTICAL PHOTOS OF THE MELTED BULB ASSEMBLY UNIT. I WOULD HOPE FOR THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE THAT THE NTSB COULD REVIEW THIS ISSUE FURTHER BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUS INJURED. *TR

Mileage: 63,245

THE LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. I HAD TO REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS ATTACHED TO THE BULB BRACKET. THIS WAS REPLACED ON 2/13/2013. EXACTLY ONE MONTH LATER, THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING ON 3/13/2013. I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE SAME ASSEMBLY OF PARTS. I HAVE NO DAMAGE TO THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. MERCEDES BENZ HAD A RECALL ON THE (MERCEDES BENZ M-CLASS YEAR 2009) FOR THE REAR LIGHTS. *TR

Mileage: 73,937

WARNING INDICATORS FLASHED FOR ALL THE RIGHT SIDE REAR LIGHTS. WHEN I WENT TO CHANGE BULBS DISCOVERED THE COVERING ON WIRES HAD MELTED ALONG WITH THE PLASTIC HARNESS. TOOK IT TO DEALER NEXT DAY AND THE HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR A LITTLE OVER $150. IT IS HAPPENING ON THE OTHER SIDE ALSO. SERVICE REP HAS SEEN ON OTHER C300S. MB DENIES THIS IS A DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 61,000

WARNING ON DASH SHOWS RR BRAKE LIGHT IS OUT AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS IS OUT. WENT TO LOOK AT THE BACK OF THE CAR TO SEE IF THE LIGHTS WHERE ON AND THE RR LIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS DIM. OPEN THE PANEL WHERE THE BULBS ARE AND THE WIRE HARNESS WAS FRIED. THIS MIGHT BE A FIRE HAZARD. *TR UPDATED 03/27/13*LJ UPDATED 04/02/2013 *JS

Mileage: 50,451

AT SOME POINT IN TIME THE LEFT REAR TAILLIGHT STARTED TO DIM DRAMATICALLY. I OPENED THE ENCLOSURE TO CHANGE THE BULBS THINKING THEY WERE BURNT OUT AND FOUND THE WIRE HARNESS AS WELL AS THE BULB DOCK HAD MELTED BECAUSE OF OVERHEATING. A FUSE DID NOT BLOW AND THE CARS COMPUTER NEVER GAVE ANY INDICATION OF THIS ISSUE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE SYSTEM COULD ACTUALLY CATCH ON FIRE AND IT IS IN THE TRUNK AND NOT FAR FROM THE GAS TANK. AFTER RESEARCHING ON MB WORLD THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM AND FLAW. I THINK IT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AND DETERMINE IF THERE IS A GREATER ISSUE HERE. *TR....UPDATED 03/27/13 *BF UPDATED 04/03/2013 *JS

Mileage: 70,000

MY CAR COMPUTER WAS SHOWING A MESSAGE THAT THE RIGHT REAR SIGNAL LIGHT, FOG LIGHT NEEDED TO BE CHECKED. MY HUSBAND CHANGED THE BULBS AND THE MESSAGE WAS STILL THERE. THESE LIGHTS WERE NO LONGER OPERATING PROPERLY. TOOK THE CAR FOR SCHEDULED SERVICE AND BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE MECHANIC AT A MERCEDES BENZ DEALER/AUTO SERVICE. HE TOLD MY DAUGHTER THAT HE REMOVED THE ACCESS PANEL AND FOUND THAT THE CONNECTOR TO A BULB CARRIER, WIRE HARNESS AND BULB CARRIER WERE MELTED DUE TO A SHORT AT THE GROUND WIRE OF THE 7 PIN CONNECTOR. I CALLED THE SERVICE MGR HE COULD NOT TELL ME OR EXPLAIN WHY THIS HAPPENED OR ITS CAUSE. DISAPPOINTED BY HIS LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPLANATION OF THE CAUSE, I CONTACTED MBUSA. AT FIRST THE PERSON THAT ANSWERED TRIED TO BRUSH ME OFF " THIS CAN HAPPEN". WHEN I INSISTED FOR A BETTER ANSWER OR EXPLANATION SHE REFERRED ME TO A "[XXX]"1-800-367-6372 EXT.[XXX]. WHO STATED THAT SHE WOULD SPEAK TO OTHER TECHNICAL PEOPLE AND GET BACK TO ME. WHEN SHE GOT BACK TO ME, IT WAS BASICALLY SHE WAS GOING TO SPEAK TO THE SERVICE MGR. AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT SERVICED MY CAR.HE CALLED ME ON 2/01/12 NOT CLARIFYING THE CAUSE,JUST RE-ITERATED WHAT HE HAD PREVIOUSLY STATED. I CALL [XXX] WHO SIMPLY STATED THAT THIS HAS NEVER BEEN REPORTED BEFORE, BUT IT CAN HAPPEN, AND STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD GIVE ME A $200.00 DISCOUNT AT THE NEXT SERVICE DATE. I WANTED AN EXPLANATION OF THE CAUSE, COULD THIS HAPPEN AGAIN, COULD THIS LEAD TO FURTHER MELTING, THAT COULD LEAD TO A FIRE, A BIGGER SHORTAGE, AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. I WAS TOLD BY THE MGR. AT DEALERSHIP, HE CANNOT FORESEE THE FUTURE AND HE COULD NOT PREDICT IF THIS WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. I WAS TOLD THAT A DEFECTIVE PART IS NOT A MAJOR ISSUE.NO ONE OFFERED TO LOOK FURTHER INTO THE DEFECTIVE PART AND TRY AND FIND OUT WHAT REALLY HAPPEN. IF A PART IS DEFECTIVE, IT SHOULD BE EVALUATED OR EVEN ASK FOR THE PART . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE LIGHT AND TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE TAIL AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS AS WELL AS THE SRS AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT, ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE WIRE CONNECTOR FOR THE TAIL LIGHTS WAS MELTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,500. KMJ UPDATED 01/10/12*LJ UPDATED 03/29/2013 *JS

Mileage: 62,000

THERE IS NO FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE BUT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. FOG LIGHT LENS THAT IS MADE OF GLASS HAS NO SAFETY BARRIERS TO PROTECT IT FROM BREAKAGE AND IT IS MOUNTED VERY LOW. WITH THE CRACK OF THE LENS, THE FOG LIGHT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED AND THE COST TO CHANGE IS IT $248. MERCEDES IS REFUSING TO ACCEPT IT AS A DESIGN DEFECT. IF I DO NOT CHANGE THIS DUE TO COST, IT IS A BIG HAZARD ESPECIALLY FOR OWNERS LIVING IN FOG PRONE AREAS LIKE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA WHERE I LIVE. IF NOT CHANGED, THERE ARE CHANCES OF ACCIDENT ON THE ROAD DURING FOG DAYS. MERCEDES HAS CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE FOG LIGHTS IN THE FOLLOWING YEARS (AFTER 2009) OF C300. MERCEDES SHOULD CHANGE THIS DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND FIX IT FOR FREE FOR 2009 YEAR AS WELL FOR FREE. EVEN AFTER I PAY $248 TO GET THE LIGHT CHANGED MYSELF, IT WILL CRACK AGAIN SINCE IT IS MADE OF GLASS AND NOT COVERED BY ANY PROTECTIVE BARRIER. SO, EVEN AFTER PAYING TO GET THE FOG LIGHT REPLACED IS NOT GOING TO FIX THE DESIGN DEFECT.

Mileage: 25,330

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED THERE WAS WATER INSIDE OF THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS TURN SIGNALS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SHE HAD TO PAY THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,000.

Mileage: 18,000