NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
CONNECTOR (HARNESS) IS MELTED AND SHORTED THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR TAIL LIGHTS AND IS NOW INOP. *TR
I DROVE MY CAR HOME FROM WORK. EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE AND TEN MINUTES LATER WHEN I WENT TO GO BACK TO WORK, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I COULD GET ALL THE ELECTRICAL WORKING , BUT THE CAR WOULD JUST NOT START UP. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK, AND IT NEEDS REPLACED.I GOT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY STEERING LOCK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR ANYMORE. IMAGING DRIVING IN A BAD PART OF TOWN SUDDENLY YOUR "STEERING LOCK" MALFUNCTIONS OR MY WIFE IS DRIVING AND IS STUCK IN A BAD PART OF NEW ORLEANS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE NECESSARY REPAIR . THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
THE ONBOARD COMPUTER INDICATED THAT THE R REAR TURN SIGNAL HAD FAILED. VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE WIRING INSIDE THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY SHOWED THAT THE CONNECTOR FOR THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS WHICH DELIVERS POWER TO THE TAIL LIGHTS HAD MELTED. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE BULB, CARRIER, PLUG AND SOCKET PARTS. ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON THE C CLASS MERCEDES FOR THIS MODEL YEAR. *TR
MY RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT CONNECTOR BOARD IS MELTED. ALL MY LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AT ONCE AND DEALER STATED ITS A FAULTY CONNECTOR BOARD THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SAME ISSUE SO MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED. MB NEEDS TO RECALL THIS ISSUE BC IT MAKES NO SINCE I HAVE TO PAY 400.00 FOR A WELL KNOWN ISSUE THAT IS HAZARDOUS WHICH THE DEALER ADVISED. *TR
ALL EXTERIOR LIGHT BULBS KEEP BURNING . -SEAT BELT STAYS ON EVEN IS USED. AIR BAGS COMES ON AND OFF. THE ENGINE MAKES LIKE HIGH IDOL NOISE LIKE THE CAR WANTS TO MOVE EVEN ITS BRAKE. *TR
ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2013, MY 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300 WITH 32,050 MILES WOULD NOT START DESPITE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. EACH TIME I WOULD TRY AND START IT EVERYTHING CAME ON IN THE CABIN BUT THERE WAS A COMPLETE DISCONNECT TO THE ENGINE WHICH WOULD NOT EVEN CRANK. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE CAME OUT MY HOME AND DETERMINED THE BATTERY WAS FINE, I THEN HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED INTO THE DEALER. DURING THIS VISIT, THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL UNIT AND IT WAS THERE FOR A FULL WEEK. IN OCTOBER 2014 AND AT 39,000 MILES, THE PROBLEM BEGAN AGAIN IN THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT START INTERMITTENTLY AND I HAD TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY AGAIN REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL UNIT WHICH TOOK ANOTHER WEEK. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN FOR AN ENTIRE DAY DESPITE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS AND I WAS STRANDED. ANOTHER TOW AND BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN, THIS TIME THEY STATED IT WAS ALSO THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH (EIS) AND ELETRONIC STEERING LOCK (ESL) THAT WERE FAULTY AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $2000. I ARGUED WITH THEM EXTENSIVELY ON WHY ALL THESE PARTS WERE FAILING ON A VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL YEAR. AFTER TWO ADDITIONAL WEEKS IN FOR SERVICE, THE VEHICLE WAS JUST RETURNED TO ME. BESIDES A KNOWN MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THESE PARTS WHICH MB HAS NOT ADDRESSED, THIS ALSO REPRESENTS POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARDS FOR DRIVERS IF YOU BECOME STUCK IN A REMOTE OR DANGEROUS AREA OR IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND CANNOT CALL OUT FOR ASSISTANCE. BASED ON THIS EXPERIENCE AND THE MANY SIMILAR REPORTED AT THE HTTP://MBWORLD.ORG FORUM, THE NHTSA SHOULD COORDINATE A SAFETY RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES WITH MB. THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN ONE RECALL ON THIS MODEL YEAR RELATED TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE TAILIGHTS WHICH COULD CATCH FIRE, MY VEHICLE ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *JS
ALL RIGHT REAR LIGHTS FAILED. STARTING TO GET MESSAGES OF REAR LEFT LIGHTS FAILING, BUT NON HAVE ACTUALLY FAILED YET. I TOOK OFF THE BACK PANEL IN THE TRUNK TO CHANGE THE BULBS AND FOUND THE WIRING HAS MELTED THROUGH THE PLASTIC HOUSING UNIT, IT LOOKS LIKE THE WIRES AND THE UNIT HAVE BEEN BURNED. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER, HE SAID IT WAS STARTING TO HAPPEN TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR TOO. THIS IS COSTING ME $500 FOR THE ENTIRE REPLACEMENT! I'VE READ SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. I'M AMAZED THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ISSUED YET. BURNING UP WIRES IN THE TRUNK HAS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD! *TR
AS REPORTED MULTIPLE TIMES BY OTHERS, TAIL LIGHT CONNECTOR IS INSUFFICIENT TO HANDLE THE HEAT EMANATING FROM THE GROUND (BROWN) WIRE. CONNECTOR BURNS. CABLE COVERING MELTS. ALL TAIL LIGHTS (INCLUDING BRAKES, TURNING AND REVERSE) STOP FUNCTIONING. - SAFETY ISSUE- (NOT TO MENTION GAS TANK SITTING NOT TOO FAR FROM SOURCE OF FIRE) PRELIMINARY SYMPTOMS: RANDOM WARNING MESSAGES IN DASHBOARD ABOUT LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONING. ONE TAIL LIGHT DIMMER THAN THE OTHER. REPAIRS REQUIRED: NEW CONNECTOR/NEW PINS PLUS REGROUNDING TO AVOID CERTAIN RECURRENCE AUTHORIZED DEALERS KNOW WELL ABOUT THE PROBLEM. "RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED" "RECALL IS SURELY COMING" BUT WILL NOT REPLACE IF OUT OF WARRANTY REFERENCES: PRIOR REPORT CHAIN NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10499828 PICTURES AND MULTIPLE INFORMATION HTTP://MBWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/C-CLASS-W204/465331-TAIL-LIGHT-CONNECTOR-MELTED.HTML. *TR
HTTP://JAMAICA-GLEANER.COM/GLEANER/20130717/BUSINESS/BUSINESS81.HTML HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL PASSENGER REAR LIGHTS - WIRE HARNESS IS BURNT AND NOT WORKING . SPOKE WITH MB DEALERSHIP/SERVICE DEPT , THEY SAID I WILL NEED TO HANDLE THE REPAIR OUT OF MY OWN POCKET . I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE MY CAR AS THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS/SIGNAL ARE NOT OPERATIONAL AND NO FUNDS FOR THE REPAIR . THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE TO THE CONSUMERS AND NEED TO BE RECALL IMMEDIATELY !!! *TR
CARS AUTOMATED WARNING SYSTEM INDICATED PROBLEMS WITH RIGHT REAR LIGHTING SYSTEM ("CHECK RIGHT REAR TURN SIGNAL ETC"). TOOK CAR TO MECHANIC. THERE HAD BEEN A SHORT IN THE RIGHT REAR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM...PLASTIC CIRCUIT BOX EXHIBITED SIGNS OF A SHORT AND MELTED PLASTIC. MECHANIC REPLACED WIRING, CIRCUIT BOX AND LIGHTS. COULD VERY EASILY HAVE HAD A FIRE IN THE TRUNK OF THE CAR. *TR
DRIVER INFORMATION SYSTEM SHOWED THAT THE REAR RIGHT BRAKE LAMP WAS OUT. WHILE CHECKING THE REAR TAIL LIGHT TO REPLACE THE BULBS WE CHECKED THE HARNESS AND IT WAS COMPLETELY MELTED! THEN I KNEW WHY I HAD SMELT A BURNING SMELL BEFORE. I CALLED MY NEAREST MERCEDES DEALER SHIP AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST AROUND $475 TO $700 TO FIX. I DIDN'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS TALKING ABOUT BUT IM OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS SHOULD BE FIXED BY MERCEDES. ITS ABSURD AND NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO ATTENTION FOR OUR SAFETY. *TR
DRIVER INFORMATION SYSTEM SHOWED THAT THE REAR RIGHT BRAKE LAMP WAS OUT. WHILE CHECKING THE REAR TAIL LIGHT TO REPLACE THE BULBS WE CHECKED THE HARNESS AND IT WAS COMPLETELY MELTED! THEN I KNEW WHY I HAD SMELT A BURNING SMELL BEFORE. I CALLED MY NEAREST MERCEDES DEALER SHIP AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST AROUND $500-$600 TO FIX. I DIDN'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS TALKING ABOUT BUT IM OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS SHOULD BE FIXED BY MERCEDES. ITS ABSURD AND NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO ATTENTION FOR OUR SAFETY. *TR
WARNING LIGHT CAME ON TO CHECK RIGHT SIDE TAIL AND BRAKE LAMPS. WARNING SIGN TO ALSO CHECK RIGHT TURN SIGNAL. IT APPEARS THAT THESE COME ON AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 30S-1MIN. WHEN OPENED UP THE RIGHT BACK LIGHT KIT, THE PLASTIC HARNESS HOLDING THE BULBS AND WIRES IS BURNING SLIGHTLY AND SLIGHTLY CHARRED. LIGHT BULBS ARE WORKING AS THEY DO INITIALLY TURN ON, BUT THEN GO OFF AFTER 30S-1MIN. ALSO LIGHT COMES UP ON CHECK REAR LEFT TAIL AND BRAKE LAMPS. BUT THESE WORK FINE, AND THE LEFT BACK LIGHT KIT PLASTIC HARNESS APPEARS NORMAL AND FINE. *TR
THE LEFT TAIL LIGHT CONNECTOR AND THE PLATE CONNECTION MELTED. REPORTED THE ISSUE TO MB DEALER AND MB CAC BUT THEY REFUSED TO ACCEPT IT AS A DESIGN FLAW. THE EXPLANATION GIVEN TO ME WAS IT MELTED BECAUSE OF HEAT OF LIGHT BULBS. THE SAME FLAW HAS BEEN REPORTED ON MANY FORUM AND I THINK IT IS A RECALL ITEM. *TR
RIGHT TAILLIGHT FAILURE. THE ENTIRE TAILLIGHT IS NOT WORKING SO I REMOVED THE COVER IN MY TRUNK TO LOOK IF ANY OF THE BULBS WERE BLOWN. WHEN I REMOVED THE COVER IT SMELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING. AFTER FURTHER EXAMINING THE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY YOU CAN SEE WHAT THAT THE WIRES WERE EITHER BURNT OR SHORTED OUT AND THE PLASTIC CONNECTORS HAVE A BROWN TO BLACK FILM ON THEM. NOT SURE IF THIS HAS BEEN A RECENT ISSUE BUT WANTED TO SEE IF THIS WAS SOMETHING WAS BEING INVESTIGATED AS A POTENTIAL RECALL. *TR
BURNING SMELL AND MELTED CONNECTORS ON REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. *TR
KEEP GETTING THE "CHECK RIGHT REAR TAIL AND BRAKE LAMP", "CHECK RIGHT REAR SIDEMARKER LAMP", AND "CHECK RIGHT REAR TURN SIGNAL". THE BLINKER WILL WORK FINE, THEN AFTER 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING IT BLINKS VERY FAST AND THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. SOMETIMES NONE OF THE LIGHTS ON THE RIGHT REAR PANEL WILL TURN ON, SOMETIMES THEY WILL. OR THEY WILL WORK FOR 10 MINUTES AND THEN GO OUT ALONG WITH THE WARNING SIGNS. I LOOKED AT THE BULBS TODAY TO SEE IF ANY WERE BURNED, AND THE HARNESS WAS BURNED AND BROWN! I HAVE SMELLED SMOKE A FEW TIMES WITHIN THE LAST MONTH AS WELL. THIS ISSUE IS GETTING WORSE. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD AND MUST BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE ADVISE! *JS
RIGHT READ BRAKE LAMP HARNESS MELTED CAUSING MALFUNCTION OF THE BRAKE LAMPS. WARNING INDICATOR IN THE DASH. I AM WORRIED ABOUT A FIRE. ALSO LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS STOPPED WORKING FOR NO REASON. CHECKED THE BULBS AND THEY ARE BOTH GOOD. *TR
STARTED OFF AS A RT. TAIL LIGHT MESSAGE, A STRANGE FLASHING RT. TURN SIGNAL ( RAPID FLASHING). AS I WENT TO INSPECT THE TAIL LIGHT BULBS, I FOUND THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY PLATE MELTED AT THE CONNECTOR TO THE LIGHT PLATE. THE BROWN WIRE WAS SO HOT FROM THE EVIDENCE THAT IT MELTED THE PLASTIC ALL AROUND. THE BROWN WIRE IS FRIED BLACK. COULD HAD STARTED A FIRE. *TR
INSIDE DASH WARNING SAYING "CHECK REAR RIGHT SIGNAL LIGHTS" AND RIGHT SIGNAL FLASHES QUICKER THAN NORMAL. UPON INSPECTION, LIGHTS WERE WORKING BUT BULB HOLDER INSIDE LIGHTS AND CONNECTION HARNESS WAS MELTED WHERE THE BROWN WIRE WAS. UNABLE TO REMOVE HARNESS OUT BECAUSE THE CONNECTOR WAS MELTED ON. SMELLED LIKE FRESH BURNT PLASTIC. SEVERE FIRE HAZARD! *TR
DRIVER SIDE BULB BURNED OUT. REPLACED BULB. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHTS DIMMER THAN RIGHT SIDE. REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE BULB WITH NEW ONE BUT REMAINED DIM. NOTICED THAT BULB ASSEMBLY GETS VERY HOT AND ALSO NOTICED A DARK SPOT THAT APPEARS TO BE INDICATION OF BURNING LIKE A SHORT CIRCUIT. *TR
THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE TAIL LAMP ON THE RIGHT SIDE WAS FRIED & FILLED WITH SMOKE AND NOW THE TAIL LAMP GOES VERY DIM & ALMOST OFF, BUT REPLACING WITH NEW BULB DOESN'T HELP. *TR
JUST SAW ON THE INTERNET THE INVESTIGATION ON 2008 C350 AND FAULTY BRAKE LIGHTS. EVER SINCE ABOUT 2009-2010 WE'VE BEEN PLAGUED WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR, BUT ALWAYS WE GET WARNINGS ABOUT THE TAIL BRAKE LIGHTS. WE'VE HAD THE CAR TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES, AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL EXPENSIVE REPAIRS CHANGING OUT BOARDS. STILL....EVERY TIME YOU START THE VEHICLE YOU HAVE TO CLEAR THE TAILLIGHT ERROR MESSAGES. TO BE FAIR WE'VE NOT HAD ANY BURNING OR MELTED PARTS, MAYBE WE'VE JUST GOTTEN LUCKY. BUT THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE DESIGN/MANUFACTURE OF THE SYSTEM. PLEASE INVESTIGATE FURTHER AND IF WARRANTED START A RECALL!!!! *TR
REAR DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHTS (BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, AND RUNNING LIGHTS) ARE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. UPON INSPECTION, LIGHTS ARE BARELY FUNCTIONING OR NOT FUNCTIONING AT ALL WITH NO INDICATION OF FAULTY BULBS OR FUSES, AND WIRING HARNESS CONNECTING THE TAIL LIGHTS TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS EXTREMELY HOT. *TR
LEFT TAIL LIGHT OUT. FOUND MELTED NEGATIVE CONNECTOR ON PLUG TO LEFT TAIL LIGHT. I REPAIRED THIS BY CONNECTING TO A DIFFERENT POINT ON THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. FOUND TODAY, 14.AUG 2013 THAT REVERSE LIGHT WILL NOT WORK. INVESTIGATED AND FOUND NO POWER TO THE PLUG FOR THE REVERSE LIGHT BULB,WHICH HAS BEEN CHECKED BY VOLTMETER. *TR
RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT DASH MONITOR INDICATED A PROBLEM. FOUND THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT CIRCUIT BOARD GROUND WIRE BURNED AND SMOKING. PLASTIC CONNECTOR AND LIGHTING CIRCUIT BOARD MELTING. APPEARS THAT THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT DRAW IS GREATER THAN THE GROUND WIRE CAN HANDLE. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR FIX. NO RESPONSE AS YET, BUT BASED ON OTHER ONLINE REPORTS, IT APPEARS UNLIKELY THEY WILL SUPPORT A WARRANTY CLAIM FIX. *TR
MY MESSAGE CTR ON MY MERCEDES C 300 (2008) STEERING WHEEL SAID TO CHECK RIGHT, REAR TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHT. I HAVE CHECKED THE LIGHTS AND HAD A MECHANIC CHECK LIGHTS, AND ALL SEEM FINE. I HEARD THE REPORT ON WBZ RADIO ON 7-15-2013 ABOUT REAR LIGHTS ON MERCEDES 2008, AND 2009 POSSIBLY CAUSING FIRES, AND WONDER IF THE MESSAGE ON MY CAR MAY BE WARNING OF A POSSIBLE FIRE OR FUTURE FAILURE.. I CALLED THE MERCEDES SERVICE DEPT. AND THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM! I CALLED WBZ RADIO IN BOSTON, AND THEY DIRECTED ME TO NHTSB WEB SITE. THE MESSAGE TO CHECK REAR LIGHTS STILL COMES ON. *TR
THE ENTIRE CAR LOSES POWER, NOTHING WORKS. *JS
MERCEDES C350 2008 52,000 MILES.CAR SUDDENLY WOULD NOT START. LIGHTS WORKED, CONSOLE SCREEN CAME ON, NAVIGATION SCREEN POPPED UP. IT WASN'T BATTERY,NOT BOTH CAR KEYS.CANNOT GET OUT OF PARK,STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. HAD TO TOW TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP 70 MILES AWAY. BAD STEERING WHEEL LOCK (ICM)IGNITION CONTROL REPLACEMENT COST $1500. MECHANIC PRIOR LOOKED AND TRIED ORDERING PART. WOULDN'T SELL IT TO HIM BECAUSE IT WAS SUPPOSABLE A RECALLED PART!? DEALERSHIP SAID NO RECALL OR WARRANTY, OUT OF POCKET. THEN WHEN INFORMED REPAIR DONE, I WAS TOLD COMMAND CONTROL NOT WORKING $500 TO FIX. I BOUGHT MERCEDES BECAUSE ITS SUPPOSE TO BE RELIABLE.VERY DISAPPOINTED. GOING BACK TO BMW ACCORDING TO MB BLOGS IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH 2088 C CLASS. THERE'S A BULLETIN NOTICE ON THIS ISSUE ALSO CALLED EIS !! *TR
2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300 RIGHT REAR LIGHTING FAILURES IN THE BRAKE AND/OR TURN SIGNALS OF MY VEHICLE. THE FAILURE CAN CAUSE THE LIGHTS TO DIM AND OR CAUSE THE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE AT ALL. *TR
HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING BECAUSE OF FAULTY, BURNT WIRES. MERCEDES WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY. SAID WIRES ARE COVERED BUT NOT HEADLIGHT ALTHOUGH THE WIRES ARE INSIDE HEADLIGHT AND CAUSED THE LIGHTS TO STOP WORKING. HAPPENED ON BOTH MY HEADLIGHTS. *TR
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS MESSAGES ON MY 2008 C300 MERCEDES REGARDING TAIL LIGHT/ BRAKE LIGHT OUT. I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHTS/ RUNNING LIGHTS ARE MUCH DIMMER THAN THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHTS. I HAVE INSPECTED THE WIRING HARNESS ASSEMBLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND NOTICED SIGNIFICANT DISCOLORATION WITH THE "BROWN WIRE" AND ASSOCIATED CONNECTOR; THE CONNECTOR HAS ALSO BEEN "HOT" TO THE TOUCH. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER NEXT WEEK TO HAVE IT INSPECTED/ EVALUATED. I REALLY BECAME MORE CAUTIOUS FOLLOWING THE RECENT NEWS ARTICLE REGARDING 2008-2009 MERCEDES TAIL LIGHT ISSUES. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED/ CORRECTED. *TR
WIRES ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS MELTED AND BURNT. CONCERNED ABOUT A POSSIBLE FIRE AND MY HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING. MERCEDES WILL NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY. CAN PROVIDE PHOTOS. *TR
INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATES ISSUES WITH VARIES LIGHTS. REPLACE BULBS WITHOUT RESOLUTION. TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO INDICATED "FOUND RIGHT REAR TAIL LAMP BULB CARRIER CONNECTOR PIN BURNT AND LEFT REAR CARRIER BULB CONTACTS DISTORTED. REPLACED RIGHT REAR BULB CARRIER, CONNECTOR AND PINS AND REPLACED LEFT REAR BULB CARRIER ONLY. ALL LIGHT WORK AS DESIGNED AT THIS TIME. ON 07/18/2013, FRIENDS REPORTED TO ME THAT MY FRONT LOWER ROUND PARK LIGHTS WERE OUT. THE LEFT ONE WAS ON AT FIRST THEN IT WITHOUT LIKE THE RIGHT ONE. NO REPORT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. *TR
THE PASSENGER TAIL LAMP BULB CARRIER, GROUND WIRE, AND CONNECTING PLASTIC HARNESS ALL MELTED CAUSING MY TAIL LAMPS TO APPEAR DIM AND EVENTUALLY MELTED TO THE POINT THE PASSENGER BRAKE LIGHTS, REAR RUNNING LAMPS, REAR PASSENGER TURN SIGNAL AND REAR FOG LAMP ALL COMPLETELY QUIT FUNCTIONING. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ DEALER AND THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY OR GOOD WILL EVEN KNOWING IT TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. I PURCHASED THE PARTS THAT THEY CLAIMED HAVE BEEN UPDATED (ALTHOUGH THEY APPEAR TO BE EXACTLY THE SAME) AND HAD THEM REPLACED. TIME WILL TELL WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS A PERMANENT FIX TO THE PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RADIO AND THE WIRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 109,000. *TR
MORE PROBLEMS WITH MODEL 204. THERE IS A NO EXPIRE RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 200802003 FOR THE ISSUE I HAVE HOWEVER MY VIN IS NOT PART OF IT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. PLACED MY KEY AND CAR WON'T START, NO CRANK. GOT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY STEERING LOCK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR ANYMORE. IMAGING DRIVING HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY FROM HOME AND SUDDENLY YOUR "STEERING LOCK" MALFUNCTIONS! SCARY. *TR
THE RIGHT REAR BULB ASSEMBLY AND HARNESS HAVE MELTED AND ARE ONLY INTERMITTENTLY FUNCTIONAL. *TR
THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TAIL LIGHT HARNESS CAUGHT FIRE AND MELTED. THERE ARE COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS AND REPORTS ON THIS ISSUE, BUT MERCEDES REFUSES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OR DO A RECALL. MOST INCIDENTS OCCUR BETWEEN 50,000 AND 60,000 MILES AND IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. YOU CAN GOOGLE THIS ISSUE AND SEE THE WIDE SPREAD COMPLAINTS ON THE MELTING WIRING HARNESS. THERE ARE ALSO SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS ON MB FORUM. BELOW IS ANOTHER WEBSITE WITH SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF MELTED TAIL LIGHT WIRING AND NON-WORKING TAIL/BRAKE AND TURN SIGNALS. I'VE CONTACTED RELIABLE MERCEDES IN SPRINGFIELD, MO AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEIR SHOP HAS REPAIRED MANY MERCEDES C300'S WITH MELTED TAIL LIGHT WIRING, BUT SAID MERCEDES WILL NOT FIX RECALL THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A TREMENDOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOUR AGENCY ADDRESS THIS MATTER WITH MERCEDES. HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2009/MERCEDES/C300/ELECTRICAL_SYSTEM/PROBLEM.ASPX. *TR
THE LEFT REAR LIGHT WAS NOTICED TO BE DIMMER THAN THE RIGHT ONE. ONCE THE LIGHT CLUSTER WAS OPEN UP, A BURN /MELTING OF THE ELECTRICAL SOCKET WAS NOTICED. *TR
MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE IN MANY FORUMS. I WONDER IF SOMEONE HAS TO BE INJURED OR KILLED (IF NOT ALREADY) BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. THE CAR ARBITRARILY AND WITHOUT NOTICE DIES AND WILL NOT RESTART. IT LEAVES THE DRIVER COMPLETELY VULNERABLE, WHEREVER IT OCCURS. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED IN MY SITUATION. NOTHING WORKED, I HAD TO CALL, TO BE TOLD THAT THIS IS A BATTERY ISSUE. IT WAS NOT, AS DETERMINED BY THE TOW TRUCK COMPANY AND THE DEALERSHIP, AFTER THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THEM. IS THIS EVER GOING TO BE INVESTIGATED AND RECALLED BEFORE FURTHER DAMAGE AND/OR INJURY OCCURS ? *TR
I HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE WARNING SIGNALS INDICATING THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS AND TURNING LIGHTS HAVE FAILED. I INITIALLY THOUGHT MY BULBS WERE BLOWN BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS STRANGE THAT ALL OF THEM WOULD BLOW AT ONE TIME. UPON CHECKING THE PANEL IN THE TRUNK I NOTICED THAT THE WIRES LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE BURNING. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER AND THE SAID THEY HAVE NOTICED THE ISSUE BUT DO NOT KNOW THE CAUSE. I ASKED IF THIS WAS RECALLED AND THEY STATED NO, AND THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. AFTER DOING FURTHER RESEARCH I NOTICED OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES. I DO NOT THINK THAT IT IS FAIR THAT THE CONSUMER SHOULD HAVE TO INCUR THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH SUBPAR MANUFACTURING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS. *TR
PASSENGER TAIL WIRE HARNESS HAS MELTED TO THE CONNECTOR AND THE LAMP HOLDER. THIS IS BECAUSE THE CONNECTOR PINS USED FOR THE GROUND WIRE CANNOT SIMPLY HANDLE THE LOAD. I AM NOT SURE HOW THE PASSED THE MB QUALITY CONTROL. THIS COULD EASILY BE A FIRE HAZARD. MB DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED THE SAME PIN CONNECTOR TO FIX BUT I'M SURE THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. I AM FILING THIS INCASE MY CAR BURNS BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE WARNING PANEL ILLUMINATED REFERENCING THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. *TR
I RECEIVED MESSAGES ON MY DASH STATING TO CHECK REAR LEFT TURN SIGNAL AND REAR LEFT TAIL/BRAKE LAMPS. UPON PULLING OUT THE REAR LEFT (DRIVER'S SIDE) TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY, WHICH HOLDS ALL THE BULBS, I NOTICED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS WOULD FLASH WHEN I JIGGLED THE WIRES BUT NOT STAY ON. I PULLED THE HARNESS PLUG FROM THE SOCKET ON THE ASSEMBLY HOLDING THE BULBS AND NOTICED A BLACKENED BURNT SPOT AND MELTED PLASTIC ON THE PLUG ITSELF, AND ALSO A BURNT SPOT INSIDE THE PLUG SOCKET WHICH ALMOST BURNED THROUGH THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY UNIT. I HAVE PICTURES OF BOTH THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY UNIT PLUG AND SOCKET SHOWING THE BURNED MARKINGS. THIS IS A VERY CONCERNING ELECTRICAL SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD LEAD TO A FIRE. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE SIMILAR TO 2 OTHER INCIDENTS REPORTED IN THE NHTSA DATABASE FOR THE MERCEDES BENZ C300 2008 MODEL YEAR (INCIDENT #S 10475771 AND 10466181). *TR
SEATBELT BUCKLE OF THE DRIVER SEAT TRIGGERS THE SENSOR THAT DISPLAYS SRS MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER SAID THAT AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY WHEN THIS SENSOR IS TRIGGERED.
RANDOMLY I STARTED RECEIVING CHECK BULB MESSAGES FOR THE REAR LIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES OF MY CAR. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT AS I DON'T THINK THEY HAD EVER BEEN CHANGED SO I CHANGED THEM AND ALL WAS FINE AND THEN A FEW WEEKS LATER THE MESSAGES STARTED TO POP UP AGAIN. I RECHECKED THE BULBS TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE SECURELY IN PLACE AND THEY WERE SO I STARTED DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. PRESENTLY THE ENTIRE LEFT REAR SIDE IS OUT AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE WIRING HAS OVERHEATED AND BEEN SINGED (LOOKS LIKE IT HAD BURNED).WHEN CALLING ALL THE LOCAL SOUTHERN CALI DEALERSHIPS (ORANGE COUNTY/LONG BEACH) NONE OF THEM WILL ADMIT TO IT BEING A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND FIXING IT FOR FREE BECAUSE THE PARENT COMPANY, MERCEDES BENZ, HASN'T YET. I HAVE NO DESIRE TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER OCCURRED IN THE FIRST PLACE. MY MAJOR CONCERN IS ABOUT POTENTIAL FIRES IN THE TRUNK DUE TO THIS. ALL IT WILL TAKE IS ONE SPARK TO CATCH ON SOMETHING IN THE TRUNK AND THEN WELL CAR IS ON FIRE. AS MUCH A MERCEDES BENZ CLAIMS TO BE ABOUT SAFETY, I'M SHOCKED, ONE AT THE DESIGN FLAW AND TWO THAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS OF PRETENDING LIKE THE THOUSANDS OF OWNERS WHO HAVE REPORTED THIS ARE MAKING IT UP. THEY NEED TO GET ON THIS ASAP. *TR
DRIVER INFORMATION SYSTEM SHOWED THAT THE REAR RIGHT BRAKE LAMP WAS OUT. WHILE CHECKING THE REAR TAIL LAMPS FOR OPERATION, ALL OF THE LAMPS ON THE PASSENGER TAIL LAMP WERE INOPERATIVE (BRAKE, TURN, REVERSE, PARKING). UNDER FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE PROBLEM, THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHTS APPEARED TO BE DIM AND FLICKERING. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER REAR TAIL LIGHT CONNECTORS WERE FOUND MELTED AND EMITTING SMOKE AT THE CONNECTORS BROWN WIRE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE CLOSEST MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP (MERCEDES BENZ OF ARLINGTON). THE DEALERSHIP HAD QUOTED $500 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR TAIL LAMP BULB HOLDERS AND CONNECTORS. A REPAIR WAS MADE BY AN INDEPENDENT SHOP USING DEALER BOUGHT PARTS, BUT WE FEAR THAT THE PROBLEM MAY RETURN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES C CLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT ONE MONTH LATER, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V303000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.