2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Complaint Log

TAKATA RECALL . AIRBAG NOT REPAIRED IN A TIMELY MANNER

I BOUGHT MY CAR USED AT CAR MAX WITH ABOUT 24000 MILES. I NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE OUTSIDE THE CAR WHEN CAR IS ON. FREQUENT CLICKS ON THE PUMP WHEN FILLING UP FUEL. I NOTICED THIS AROUND 40,000 MILES BUT I KEEP FORGETTING TO HAVE IT CHECK BY THE DEALER. I PASS THE LAST SMOG CHECK THAT IS WHY IT DID NOT BOTHER ME. THE FREQUENT CLICKS ON THE PUMP WHEN FILLING UP IS WORSE AND IRRITATES MY WIFE WHEN SHE FILLS UP GASOLINE. SHE AND I HAD TO PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE TO SEAL NOZZLE TO FILL UP GASOLINE. THE FREQUENT CLICKS HAPPENS EVEN AT THE BEGINNING EVEN ON AN EMPTY TANK. IS THERE ANYTHING SERIOUS ABOUT THIS MATTER. I READ ITS COMMON WITH E350 MODEL. IS THERE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS STRONG GASOLINE SMELL ON 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300 AND FREQUENT CLICKS AT THE PUMP WHEN FILLING UP GASOLINE? IS THERE ANY SAFETY ISSUE REGARDING THIS MATTER? ANY POTENTIAL RECALL?

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

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

I'VE NOTICED A SEVERE GASOLINE SMELL (INSIDE AND OUTSIDE) AND VEHICLE WILL STALL AT TIMES WHEN STARTING THE CAR, SO WE TOOK IT A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND GET IT FIXED. THEY FOUND LEFT FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS LEAKING FROM A PLASTIC WELD. IT SEEMS LITTLE ODD TO HAVE THIS TYPES OF ISSUES AT A SUCH YOUNG AGE OF THE CAR. *TR

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

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

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.

LIGHTS IN THE BACK RIGHT PANEL ARE NOT WORKING.... GOT MESSAGE STATING THEY WERE OUT....CHECKED THEM AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IS BURNED AND LOOKS LIKE WIRES ARE FRIED. *TR

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO GET THE STEERING COLUMN UNLOCKED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED, AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

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

MY TAIL LIGHTS STARTED TO GOING IN AND OUT. WHEN I WENT TO CHECK THE BULBS ALL BULBS ARE GOOD AND THERE IS BURN MARKS ON THE CASING HOLD IN THE BULB AND WIRING FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHTS. THERE IS A SHORT IN THE TAIL LIGHT WIRING. *TR

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,100.

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

BROWN WIRE IN LEFT TAIL LIGHT CONNECTOR MELTED THROUGH THE CONNECTOR AND TAIL LIGHT FAILED TO OPERATE, INCLUDING TURN SIGNAL. *TR

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

A DASHBOARD WARNING INDICATOR CAME ON, INDICATING MY RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. I OPENED UP THE TRUNK, AND LOCATED THE HARNESS THAT HOLDS THE REAR TAIL LIGHT BULBS. THERE WAS A BURN MARK IN THE HARNESS THAT HOLDS THE LIGHT BULBS. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD ME THE WIRING SHORTED OUT, AND IT NEEDS REPLACED. I HAVE THE PDF FILE THAT THE DEALER SENT ME INDICATING THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED.... THERE IS AN OUTSTANDING NHTSB COMPLAINT FILED ALREADY... HTTP://BLOGS.AUTOMOTIVE.COM/NHTSA-PROBING-MERCEDES-BENZ-C-CLASS-FOR-TAIL-LIGHT-FAILURES-144659.HTML. *TR

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.

REAR TAIL LIGHT WIRING HAS BURNT UP CAUSING FAILURE OF THE TAILLIGHT. THIS HAPPENED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE RIGHT SIDE ACTUALLY BEGAN PUTTING OUT SMOKE WHEN THE BURNT CONNECTOR FAILED. THIS FIRE COULD HAVE SPREAD WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR. *TR

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. IN ADDITION, AS THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, REMOVE KEY WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

2 YEARS AGO MANAGER TOLD ME THE WIRING OF THE HEAD LAMPS WAS MELTING BUT HE CAN ONLY REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT( BOTH). I TOLD HIM THAT A CAR WITH 30000 MILS THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. NOTHING HE CAN DO. THE CAR HAS STARTED TO BURN ON THE INSIDE , SMOKE COMES OUT OF THE ENGINE. CAR TRANSPORTS CHILDREN. TO AND FROM SCHOOL. EERY OTHER ONTH LAMPS BURN OUT, HAPPENING SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. FINALLY WENT TO SHOP AGAIN TODAY AND THEY PUT IT ON PAPER. WIRE COATING FALLING APART, CAUSES BURN OUT OF LAMPS. THIS IS A HUGE DANGER AND SHOULD BE RECALLED NOT PAID BY USER. HAVE SENT 2 OTHER COMPLAINTS TO NHTSA WITH NO RESOLUTION. WHY????? ADDITIONALLY CAR HAS HAD TAIL LAMP PROBLEMS SINCE THE BEGINNING WITH ONE RECALL. ADDITIONALLY THE SEAT COVER OF THE DRIVER SIDE IS COMING APART IN PIECES SINCE YEAR 2. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN?

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

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

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.

TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE APPROXIMATELY 3 THREE YEARS AGO! NO REPLACEMENT YET!? I'VE CONTACTED MERCEDES 4 OR 5 TIMES AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED! I GUESS MY CAR ISN'T EXPENSIVE ENOUGH! WHAT MORE CAN I DO? I DON'T WANT TO DIE IN A MINOR FENDER BENDER!

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

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.

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE COMPUTER CHIP KEY POD AND THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DISABLED, STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY HAD AN ELECTRICAL FAULT. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP, UNABLE TO TURN IGNITION ON. NO ADVANCE NOTICE THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MERCEDES DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, ALMOST 50 MILES AT A COST OF $240. THE REPAIR WAS $707.00 AND INVOLVED REPLACEMENT OF STEERING COLUMN LOCK ASSEMBLY. THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BY MERCEDES AND THEY HAVE NOT ANNOUNCED A RECALL EVEN THOUGH THIS PROBLEM SEEMS PREVALENT ON THE INTERNET. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS HAVING A VEHICLE THAT CANNOT BE OPERATED, NOR REPAIRED BY ANYONE OTHER THAN AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. THIS PROBLEM STRANDS THE DRIVER AT A PLACE WHEREVER THE PROBLEM MAY OCCUR. I HAD THE DEALERSHIP RETURN THE FAULTY PART IF NHTSA WOULD LIKE TO INSPECT IT. THE MERCEDES BENZ STEERING COLUMN LOCK PROBLEM IS NOT FROM WEAR AND TEAR, MORE LIKELY A SOFTWARE PROBLEM BETWEEN THE IGNITION AND THE KEY. AS A CONSUMER, I FEEL RIPPED OFF TO THE TUNE OF $1,000 TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM THAT MERCEDES KNOWS ABOUT, YET HAS NOT INITIATED A RECALL TO REPAIR THE FAULT. *TR

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND SECONDS LATER, ALL OF THE WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CIRCUIT BREAKER HAD BURNED OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. *TR

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