2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 complaints

SRS MALFUNCTION FOR FRONT LEFT SEAT MESSAGE POPPED UP RECENTLY. ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY A MECHANIC IS WAS FOUND THAT THE ERROR CODE WAS 9B51 WHICH MEAN THAT THE FRONT LEFT SEAT BELT BUCKLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS ISSUE IS(AS EXPLAINED BY THE MECHANIC) THAT IN AN EVENT OF A CRASH THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY, WHICH IS PRETTY SERIOUS. ALTHOUGH I WAS STILL UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY FOR MILES (50,000) MY YEARS WITH THE CAR WAS ABOVE THEIR YEAR LIMIT(4 YEARS). I HAVE SEEN EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE BEING REPORTED BY MANY BENZ C300 YEAR 2008+ OWNERS REPORTING THIS ISSUE IN MANY FORUMS ONLINE AND THERE'S A MENTION OF THIS ISSUE TO NHTSA AS WELL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS ABLE TO TURN FROM THE ON AND OFF POSITION BUT WOULD NOT START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,952.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK ENGAGED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSE THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,800.

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND I FELT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HAVING WEIRD PROBLEM WHEN I WAS TRYING TO TURN, AFTER I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND IT DIDN'T TURN BACK TO ITS OWN POSITION, SO I HAD TO TURN IT BY MYSELF. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE POWER STEERING PUMP OR THE RACK HAD PROBLEM, BUT THEN I BOUGHT TO THE SHOP AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE PUMP AND THE RACK WORKED FINE AND THEY DID RUN COMPUTERIZE ON MY CAR AND COULDN'T SEE ANY PROBLEM, BUT WHEN HE DROVE HE DID FELT SOMETHING IS WEIR FROM THE STEERING WHEEL STIFFNESS AND STILL NOW WE ALL DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME MY CAR IS STILL VERY NEW, IT HAS BEEN 6 YEARS, IT HAS ONLY 39,654 AND IT SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM YET AT THIS TIME. *TR

ON WAY HOME FROM WORK IN POURING DOWN RAIN, I STOPPED AT SUPERMARKET. WHEN I RETURNED TO VEHICLE AND TURNED THE IGNITION TO START CAR, NOTHING HAPPENED. IT WAS DEAD. AFTER TRYING FOR THIRD TIME, WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED, "REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION." WHEN TOWER ARRIVED, THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK. GARAGE MECHANIC ELIMINATED BATTERY PROBLEM AND RECOMMENDED IT BE TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP, 50 MILES AWAY. I AM WAITING FOR THEIR MECHANIC TO DISCOVER ROOT CAUSE. I DO NOT LIKE THE UNEXPECTED PROBLEM OF BEING STRANDED. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF A PRE-WARNING. IF MERCEDES-BENZ DOES NOT OWN THIS, I WILL TRADE IT SOLELY ON GROUNDS OF RELIABILITY AND WILL NOT PURCHASE A MERCEDES-BENZ AGAIN. *TR

IGNITION/ENGINE AND COMPLETE SYSTEM FAILURE. SAFETY ISSUE. THE CAR LOSES ALL CONTROL, INCLUDING BRAKES AND STEERING. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE INJURED OR DIE (IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY HAPPENED) BEFORE THIS ISSUE IS ADDRESSED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCK/IGNITION COMPONENT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

WHILE ON HIGHWAY I NOTICED BURNING PLASTIC SMELL COMING FROM REAR OF CAR. WHEN I PULLED OVER AND OPENED MY TRUNK, I NOTICED THAT THE TAIL LIGHT WAS SMOKING. WHEN I DETACHED THE LIGHTING PLATE I NOTICED THAT THE BROWN WIRE CONNECTOR HAD MELTED THROUGH THE LIGHTING PLATE AND THAT ALL OF MY TAIL LIGHTS WERE VERY DIM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PARTS WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN WERE DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

AM CONCERNED WITH THIS 2008 MERCEDES I OWN WITH SIMILAR ISSUES AS GMC CARS WITH THE IGNITION/KEY/ENGINE JUST STOPPING...CAR LOST ALL POWER AND WHEELS LOCKED. THE CAR WAS DRIVING WELL ONE MOMENT THEN STOPPED. WAS NOT INJURED BUT WAS LEFT STRANDED AT NIGHT GETTING OFF WORK WITH NO CAR....HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED OUT OF PARKING LOT WHICH WAS QUITE DIFFICULTY WITH WHEELS LOCKED....AND TAKEN TO MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. IT WAS REPAIRED FOR 800.00$...AND I ASKED IF THIS WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND WAS TOLD "PROBABLY"....HAVE NOTICED ONLINE THIS HAS BEEN A KNOW ISSUE IN THE 2008 MODEL.....MY QUESTION IS WHY IS MERCEDES NOT HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR FAULTY PART LIKE GMC IS.....AND I HAVE HEAR THIS HAS HAPPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MOVING TOO....THAT SCARES MY GREATLY.....THE DEALERSHIP OF NASHVILLE WOULD NOT EVEN ADDRESS ANY CONCERN WITH ME ABOUT THIS.... *JS

SHAME ON YOU MERCEDES BENZ! IT APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE THAT THE STEERING LOCK GOES OUT LEAVING YOUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS STRANDED WITH NO ABILITY TO START THE CAR. OK! NOW, I AM TOLD THE COST TO REPAIR IS $1450 FOR THE PART AND THE LABOR. LOOKS LIKE MY NEXT CAR WILL BE A BMW! (STEERING LOCK WENT OUT AT 80K- LEAVING THE CAR UNABLE TO START). *TR

GOOD MORNING, I AM EMAILING YOU REGARDING AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON MAY 13, 2014 ON THE LIE 495. MY VEHICLE, A 208 MERCEDES C300 STALLED IN THE EMERGENCY LANE AND THE WHEEL LOCKED SOON AFTERWARD. I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE MY CAR, CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ME. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS SITUATION GOES NOTICED. THIS ISSUE CONSISTS IN THESE VEHICLES AND I URGE FOR IT TO GET RECALLED. THE ISSUE IS THE "STEERING LOCK COLUMN". THIS CAUSES THE WHEEL TO LOCK AND BECOME IMMOVABLE. I AM AWARE THAT AN INCIDENT SUCH AS MINE HAPPENED TO A FRIEND WHO HAS THE SAME VEHICLE. IT IS NOT SAFE AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE IT RISKS SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C-300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE PROBLEM RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NUMEROUS LIGHT ISSUES CONNECTED TO THE REAR AND FRONT LIGHTING. DIMMING - LOW STRENGTH - AND COMPLETE NON-FUNCTION OF THE REAR LIGHTS AND FRONT LIGHTS ALSO. SO MANY EVENTS THAT REQUIRED REPAIRING. INCIDENTS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT REQUIRING REPAIR. INABILITY TO UTILIZE THE VEHICLE IN THE EVENING. IT WAS A GREAT CAR - BUT I FELT A LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN IT'S SAFETY BECAUSE OF AND WHAT I PERCEIVED AS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I DECIDED, AFTER MUCH CONSIDERATION, THAT THE CAR NEEDED TO BE TRADED IN. IT WAS PURCHASED BY [XXX]IN NEWPORT BEACH. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

STEERING LOCKED! NO RESPONSE FROM THE MAIN PANEL, I CAN JUST LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOORS. *TR

RIGHT TAIL LIGHT WARNING SIGNALS APPEARED, UPON EXAMINING THE TAIL LIGHT CONNECTION IT APPEARED BURNED AND MELTED. ALL RIGHT TAIL LIGHTS WERE OUT INCLUDING SIGNALING. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AROUND 8PM HERE IN CANADA WHEN I WAS PULLED OVER FOR A FLICKERING DRIVER-SIDE TAIL LIGHT. THE OFFICER WARNED ME THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. MY WIFE TOLD ME AFTER DRIVING BESIDE ME THAT THE LIGHT FLICKERS INTERMITTENTLY, AND WHEN IT IS NOT, THE PARKING LIGHT ITSELF IS MUCH DIMMER THAN THE PASSENGER-SIDE TAIL LIGHT. I'VE TRIED REPLACING THE BULBS, BUT NOTHING CHANGES. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, I'VE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH 2008-2011 MERCEDES C-CLASS MODELS. I'VE FOUND THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRING FOR THE TAILLIGHTS IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY GROUNDED, CAUSING MELTING OF THE WIRING HARNESS, AND IN SOME CASES, CAUSING A FIRE. I'VE CALLED MERCEDES DEALERSHIPS HERE IN VANCOUVER, BUT BECAUSE THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, IT IS AN EXPENSIVE ISSUE TO FIX. IT IS ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD TO MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR

THE REAR LIGHTS CONTINUE TO FAIL - BRAKE LIGHTS, STOP LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS AND BACKUP LIGHTS FAIL REPEATEDLY. THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR ANNOUNCES LIGHTS ARE OUT AND WHEN I CHECKED THE BULBS ARE INTACT BUT AND THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON BY JIGGLING THE WHOLE LIGHTING HOUSING. THEY GO OUT AGAIN AS SOON A TRAVEL RESUMES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE GROUND WIRE AND THE TAIL LIGHT CONNECTORS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,200.

TAIL LIGHT CONNECTORS OVERHEAT AND MELTED THE LIGHT HOLDER ASSEMBLY. FIRE RISK. *TR

GOOD AFTERNOON. I CURRENTLY OWN A 2008 C300. I NOTICED MY REAR TAIL LIGHT WARNING INDICATOR CAME ON ABOUT A MONTH AGO. UPON CHECKING THE BULB, I NOTICED THE JACKET ON ONE OF THE WIRES GOING INTO THE CONNECTOR WAS FRAYED. I PUT SOME ELECTRICAL TAPE ON IT HOPING THAT WOULD SOLVE THE ISSUE. 1 MONTH LATER, I AM NOW HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN. I WENT TO CHECK ON THE LIGHT AND NOTICED THE FRAYING WAS GROWING WORSE AND THE WIRE WAS SO HOT I WAS CONCERNED IT WAS GOING TO START A FIRE. I HAVE SINCE REMOVED THE BULB TO PREVENT A FIRE FROM STARTING. IN DOING SOME RESEARCH, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE ON THIS VEHICLE. BEING THAT THIS IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO A FIRE AND EVEN THE LOSS OF LIFE, I AM CURIOUS HOW AND WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS DEFECT. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THIS ISSUE PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU *TR

I BEGAN TO GET WARNINGS THAT THE LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE LEFT REAR SIGNAL INDICATOR IN THE DASH BLINKED RAPIDLY, AND THE COMPUTER GAVE WARNING MESSAGE. WHEN I REMOVED THE BULB PANEL I NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS PLUG WAS BURNT AND THE PLASTIC HOUSING THAT HELD THE BULBS WAS BURNT. THE BROWN WIRE ON THE END OF THE HARNESS CONNECTOR WAS BURNT AND THE METAL TAB THAT THE CONNECTOR CONNECTED TO WAS MELTED ALONG WITH THE PLASTIC PLUG. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BULBS WERE CHANGED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE WIRING HARNESS AND THE LIGHTING BOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

THE REAR WIRING FOR THE TAIL LIGHT LIGHTING SPARKED. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR SMELLED STRONGLY OF BURNING PLASTIC. AFTER A QUICK LOOK OVER I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING ALARMING. THE VERY NEXT DAY ALL OF THE LIGHTING ON THE REAR RIGHT TAIL LIGHTS WENT OUT, ALL INDICATORS CAME ON IN THE DASH SHOWING THAT ALL BULBS WERE MALFUNCTIONING. AFTER PULLING THE HOUSING UNIT OUT, I FOUND THAT THE WIRE WAS BURNED AND SO WAS THE UNIT THE WIRES ATTACHED TO; MELTED AND BURNED. WIRING SHOULD NOT CATCH ON FIRE, THIS COULD HAVE EASILY SPREAD AND WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO FIX, THEY CUT THE WIRE TO ATTACH MORE BUT CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. *TT

REAR PASSENGER TAIL LIGHTS IN MY 2008 C300 WERE DIM AND GOT DASH WARNING LIGHT TO CHECK REAR LIGHTS. A COUPLE BULBS WERE OUT SO WHEN I LOOKED AT THE ASSEMBLY AND PUSHED ON IT THE LIGHTS THAT WERE OUT LIT UP TEMPORARILY AND I NOTICED THE CABLE HARNESS THAT PLUGS IN IT WAS CORRODED ON THE END AND THE BROWN WIRE AT THE END WAS EXPOSED (MELTED?) AND THE BLACK PLUG LOOKS WARPED (MELTED?), LOOKS LIKE A COMMON PROBLEM BASED ON FORUM REPORTS. *TR

RIGHT SIDE TAILLIGHT WIRING MELTING, LIGHTS NOT WORKING. *TR

DASH PANEL READ AN ERROR OF TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS OUT ON RIGHT SIDE. DROVE HOME FROM WORK , APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES, SMELLED WIRES BURNING. WAITED TOOK CAR TO AUTOZONE TO GET BULBS REPLACED. BY THE TIME I ARRIVED, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE COMPARTMENT. THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAD CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED THE PLUG AND THE BOARD. *TR

RECEIVED WARNING ON DASH TO CHECK REAR DRIVER TAIL LIGHT. TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AND WAS TOLD THE WIRES FROM THE TAIL LIGHT WERE MELTED FROM THE ELECTRICAL PANEL AND MY CAR IS RUNNING ON BACK UP LIGHTS. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL BACK LIGHT SYSTEM SINCE THE MELTED WIRES WOULD EVENTUALLY DAMAGE THE ENTIRE BRAKE LIGHT SYSTEM. THE COST TO REPAIR $900. CAR SMELLS BURNT INSIDE, AND IN THE TRUNK. I AM AFRAID OF A FIRE, AND GETTING REAR ENDED IF MY BRAKE LIGHTS STOP WORKING. *TR

REAR TAIL LAMPS INTERMITTENTLY INOPERATIVE/DIM. INTERMITTENT BURNING SMELL IN TRUNK AREA NEAR LAMP HOUSING.

AS I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT BOTH MY WIFE, KIDS AND MYSELF SMELLED A STRONG ODOR IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR. IT WAS WORSE TOWARDS THE BACK SEAT WHERE THE KIDS WERE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND GOT THE FAMILY OUT OF THE VEHICLE (MERCEDES BENZ C300 2008) AND SAW THAT GREY SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE TRUNK OF THE CAR. WHEN I OPENED THE TRUNK I NOTICED THAT THE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE RIGHT TAIL LIGHT. THE CABLE THAT FEEDS ELECTRICITY TO THAT PANEL SHORTED AND CAUSED A SMALL FIRE WHICH TURNED OFF THE MINUTE I SHUT THE VEHICLE DOWN. I THEN TRIED PULLING OUT THE CABLE FROM THE LIGHT PANEL AND IT DID NOT BUDGE BECAUSE IT MELTED AND FUSED TOGETHER WITH THE LIGHT PANEL. *TR

GETTING INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MESSAGES ABOUT TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHTS TO BE CHECKED. I REPLACED BULBS AND HAVE THE SAME MESSAGES. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE SENSOR MONITORS RESISTANCE AND THE BULBS MAY BE FINE. GETTING MESSAGE FOR BOTH SIDES NOW AND I AM VERY CONCERNED READING SOME OF THE OTHER RESPONSES THAT WE HAVE A DEFECT IN THIS CAR THAT COULD CAUSE INJURIES OR FIRES, THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL FROM MERCEDES. DANGER! DANGER! *TR

RIGHT & LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY WIRING HARNESS PLUGS HAVE MELTED WHERE ATTACHED TO THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY, CAUSING BRAKE, TURN SIGNAL, HAZARD, AND RUNNING LAMPS TO NOT WORK INTERMITTENTLY. BROWN WIRES GET TOO HOT TO TOUCH. SAFETY ISSUE WITH ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS. *TR

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

THE TAIL LIGHT AND BLINKERS OUT AND I AM GETTING SEVERAL ERROR MSGS. ON MY DASHBOARD STATING THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH MY LIGHTS. I CANNOT DRIVE MY CARE WITHOUT LIGHTS ARE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND LEGAL ISSUE. *TR I TOOK MY CAR INTO WALTERS MERCEDES BENZ IN RIVERSIDE LAST WEEK. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ISSUE IS CAUSED BY A MELTED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR . I CALLED MERCEDES BENZ USA CORPORATE AND WAS ASSIGNED TO [XXX](REGIONAL CASE MGR). HE TOLD ME THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE $500 REPAIR. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I AM NOT HAPPY WITH PAYING FOR A REPLACEMENT OF A FACTORY DEFECTED PART. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT IF YOU LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

CHECK RIGHT TAILLIGHT INDICATOR APPEARED ON DASH. REAR RIGHT LIGHTS OUT. INSPECTED TO FIND ALL BULBS WERE OPERATIONAL BUT WIRE HAD OVERHEATED AND MELTED INTO HOUSING. *TR

RIGHT TAIL LIGHT CONNECTOR, BROWN WIRE HAS MELTED AND HAS AFFECTED THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE BULBS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR TAIL LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED AND A BURNING ODOR WAS EMITTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

FROM REVIEWING THE SITE, THIS IS THE SAME COMPLAINT YOU HAVE ALREADY HAD ABOUT THESE CARS. IT APPEARS TO ALREADY BE UNDER INVESTIGATION. IN OUR CASE, A NUMBER OF THE REAR LIGHTS, INCLUDING LIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR, WENT OUT AT ONCE. THIS MEANS TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, SIDE LIGHTS. THE FIRST CLUE WAS THAT MULTIPLE WARNINGS CAME UP ON THE DASH. WE STOPPED CAR, AND ON INSPECTION, SEVERAL LIGHTS ALSO HAD STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE WAS NO OBVIOUS VISUAL OR OLFACTORY SIGN OF OVERHEATING OR FIRE. *TR

REAR LIGHT HOUSING ASSEMBLY WIRING SMELLING LIKE SMOKE, OPEN THE TRUCK AND PLASTICS HOUSING WAS MELTING AND VERY HOT. *TR

THE BROWN WIRE IN THE RIGHT HAND BRAKE LIGHT MELTED THROUGH THE WIRE HARNESS AND STARTED TO MELT THE LIGHT BOARD. THIS IS A FIRE WAITING TO HAPPEN, I SMELT BURNING IN MY CAR WHEN I WAS DRIVING. THE BREAK LIGHT NO LONGER WORKS. *TR

MULTIPLE SYSTEM WARNINGS ON DASH SAYING TO CHECK RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LAMP, AND SIGNAL LIGHT. UPON REPLACEMENT OF LIGHT BULBS, NOTICED THAT THE GROUND WIRE CABLE COVERING WAS MELTED AS WELL AS BURNS AND MELTING ON THE BULB HOUSING UNIT. ALL RIGHT REAR LIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY OR DIMLY AND NOW DON'T WORK AT ALL. NOW, THERE ARE SYSTEM WARNINGS FOR LEFT REAR LIGHTS AS WELL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS A FIRE CAN START IN THE TRUNK OF THE CAR AS WELL AS HAVING REAR LIGHTS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL WITH NO WARNING. VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WON'T REPAIR AT NO CHARGE UNLESS THERE IS A RECALL. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES, BY BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND AUTHORIZED DEALERS. RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. *TR

WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED IN INSTRUMENT PANEL ADVISING TO CHECK REAR RIGHT HAND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS, ON INITIAL INSPECTION IN THE TRUCK THEIR WAS A SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC EMIGRATING FROM THE RIGHT HAND SIDE REAR LIGHT CLUSTER ON REMOVAL OF THE FUSE PANEL COVER AND INSPECTION THE WIRES WHICH CONNECT THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE LIGHTING BACKPLATEI I WAS UNABLE TO HOLD THE CONNECTOR WITH A NAKED HAND DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE TEMPERATURE. AFTER LEAVING THINGS TO COOL DOWN FOR 60 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR FROM LIGHTING CLUSTER BACK PLATE TO FIND THAT THE EARTH PIN (BROWN WIRE EXTREME RIGHT HAND SIDE ) WAS MELTED AND ALSO THE PIN TO WHICH IT MATED TOO HAD ALSO BEGAN TO MELT THE PLASTIC WHICH SUPPORTED THE PIN ON HE LIGHTING BACK PLATE. THE EARTH (BROWN WIRE) IS OF AN EXTREMELY LOW GAUGE FOR THE POTENTIAL LOAD THIS WIRE WOULD POTENTIALLY NEED TO CARRY UNDER MAXIMUM LOAD (ALL LIGHTS LIT). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE BECAUSE THE SOCKETS HAD MELTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

REAR LIGHTS CIRCUIT BOARD BURNT AND WIRE FOR LIGHTS MELTED. *TR

RIGHT REAR LIGHTS WENT OUT ON CAR, STARTED SMELLING MELTING PLASTIC. STOPPED AND CHECKED THE PLUG THAT WENT INTO THE LIGHTS HAS MELTED. *TR

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

MY RIGHT REAR TAIL LAMP WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE DIRECTIONAL WAS BLINKING RAPIDLY. THE MALFUNCTION REQUIRED THE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF THE RIGHT REAR BULB CARRIER. THE CAR WAS NO LONGER ON WARRANTY AND I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET. I UNDERSTAND THAT TAIL LIGHT FAILURE IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR, USUALLY CAUSED BY WIRING DEFECT. THE DEALER NEVER INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THIS MODEL. I HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE MALFUNCTION HOWEVER THEY WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCK FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL AND MY INSTRUMENTS INDICATED MY REAR TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS ETC WENT OUT. I CHECKED AND SAW THE WIRE HARNESS WAS BURNT AND THE WIRES GOING INTO THE CONNECTOR WERE MELTED. *TR