2009 Mercedes-Benz C300 complaints

DRIVER SIDE REAR LIGHTS DIMMER THAN THE OTHER SIDE THAN WENT OUT, WHEN OPEN THE COMPARTMENT, SMELLED MELTING PLASTIC. CHECKED THE PLUG THAT WENT INTO THE LIGHTS HAS MELTED. ALSO BURN MARK LEFT ON LIGHT HOUSING. *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 BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY DECELERATED AND RESPONDED TO BRAKING ATTEMPTS. 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 38,500.

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

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

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

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 WOR

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

I WAS GETTING MY CAR DETAILED. WHILE WAITING ON ANOTHER CUSTOMER HAD CAR VACUUMED OUT. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINS, TRIED STARTING THE CAR AND THE KEY WOULD TURN WITH OUT STARTING THE CAR. HAD IT TOWED TO MERCEDES SHOP. THERE I WAS TOLD IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN. STEERING LOCK HAS ELECTRIC FAULT IS WHAT WAS STATED TO ME FOR A PRICE OF $1700.+ TO BE REPAIRED. THIS IS THE THIRD ELECTRICAL PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR. I'VE HAD THE LEFT AND RIGHT WIRING REPAIRED, THE LEFT ONE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THE RIGHT ONE WASN'T. THE WIRING WAS ACTUALLY BURNT. I FEEL AS THOUGH THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING MERCEDES BENZ NEED TO HAVE A RECALL ON. *TR

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

EXTREME ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. LIGHT BULBS CONSISTENTLY BURNED OUT (LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT, PARKING LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHTS). FINALLY, SMOKE CAME FROM TRUCK/BRAKE LIGHTS AREA AND WIRE HARNESS MELTED.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FRONT BRAKES CHECKED BY AN INDEPENDENT SHOP AND WAS ADVISED THAT FRONT PADS HAVE UNEVEN WEAR, INSIDE PADS WAS 2 MM, OUTSIDE PAD AT 8MM BECAUSE THE CALIBER IS NOT SQUEEZED IN EVENLY. BRING THE CAR BACK TO DEALER UNDER THE 50K MILES OR 4 YEAR WARRANTY FOR BRAKE CHECKED: DEALER ONLY REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS BUT NOT THE CALIBER WITH REASON THE HARDNESS OF THE PADS ARE SO SOFT AND CAUSE THE ISSUE. MB DEALER IS NOT STANDING WITH WARRANTY ON THE ENGINEERING MECHANICAL DEFECT: TRY TO MAKE A QUICK FIX AND NOT EXPENSIVE ONLY ON A MAJOR PROBLEM. AFTER 5K OR 10K, THE UNEVEN WILL OCCURRED AGAIN AND THE SERVICE BRAKE LIGHT WILL NOT ON BECAUSE OF THE UNEVEN WEAR, WILL COST MORE MONEY FOR ME ON THE ROTOR, BRAKE PAD AND CALIBER AGAIN. AN INVESTIGATION AND A RECALL FROM MB NEEDS TO PERFORM FOR ALL THE MB C300 YEAR 2009 FOR A CALIBER CHECK. *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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

CALIPER ON THE BRAKES WERE STICKING CAUSE THE ROTORS TO WARP- REPLACED ALL PARTS AFTER 3,000 MILES SAME THING HAPPENED-- TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEAL SHIP - REPLACED NEW CALIPERS ROTORS-3500 MILES LATER SAME THING HAPPENED TOOK THE CAR BACK AGAIN - REPLACED ALL THE PARTS 5000 MILES LATER SAME THING IT IS NOW JUNE AND THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR A WEEK AGAIN. *TR

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

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

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