This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
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.
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.
The right rear tail lights stopped working. After examining the wiring and harness were melted. Had to bring in to fix. The back board were the lights are on was also burnt. Now having problems on the left side. I just saw on the national news were other people are having the same problem with this year car. It seems the wiring is not proper size to handle the electric load. This is very dangerous driving this vehicle with the rear lights going out. The lights are running way to hot. Seems to be a defect on this year 2008 vehicle. I heard that this is being investigated by you. My wife is afraid to drive the car because of getting hit from behind because the problem with lights burning out or maybe a fire from the wiring melting. Mercedes says they will not fix and that this is not a problem.
Experience rear lighting failure (rear passenger tail/brake light out). However, both driver and passenger rear tail lamp assembly/connectors/ wiring were in a burnt/ melted condition. Vehicle was taken to dealer for repair.
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.
- Valencia, CA, USA
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Taillights, failed right side connection melted no right side taillights lights (turn, brake, backup lights left side failed 3/13 also melted connector was stopped by police safety violation no tail lights left side failed again this week 7/1/2013.
I get sign on dash, rear tail lamps failed, I checked the lights, replaced bulb, doing same thing four times, noticed something burning inside the bulb connector, I am scared it might catch fire.
The rear driver side tail light assembly failed multiple times. The connectors to the bulbs and the panel was melted due to heat and therefore, dimming of the lights occurred followed by complete malfunction. The first time was replaced under manufacturer warranty. The second and third time this occurred was paid for out of pocket because vehicle's mileage exceeded the manufacturers warranty coverage.
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.
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.
Right rear tail light connector smoked and melted connector. Circuit board where all the lights are contained melted with hole in the middle of the board. Inspected left side circuit board and found hole starting to burn but no connector damage was present at that time. Replaced left side board as a precaution and have monitored it since. Replaced connector and wiring on the right rear side along with the circuit board. I saved both boards in case they would like to be examined for future reference.
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes Benz C300. The contact stated that the panel lighting stated that the rear passenger's side tail light failed to illuminate. The failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and repaired, but the problem persisted. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 63,000.
While driving in the evening on highway, both tail lamp warnings came on indicating bulbs had burned out. I stopped car after smelling an odor. I saw the left tail lamp was dim and the right tail lamp was normal. I did not open trunk. After reaching my destination I changed the left tail lamp bulb, but bulb was still dim. I pulled off the electrical connector and found 3 leads on the connecter burned and melted. I went to the dealer in alexandria, Virginia and inquired about the problem. I was informed no recall had been issued and the dealer would not fix. So, I purchased left tail light assembly, connector and pins to make repair myself (I am a former airplane mechanic). Tail lamps have been functioning normally since I replaced the parts.
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.
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.
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.
After taking my care to the dealer, I had a error message on my display stating that my right rear tail light is out. Then a message stating my right low beam is out. I replaced all the bulbs..... five days later I get another right rear tail light is out. Two weeks later my right low beam is out again. Seems there is a wiring short that keeps burning out the low beam and tail light. Oh by the way tail light/brake lights work. Still have error message.
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.
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).
The tail lights of my Mercedes Benz C300 2008 stopped working. When I went to my local Mercedes dealer to see what is wrong with the car, the service person at the dealership immediately told me that they were fully aware what was wrong with the car without even looking at it. They said that the plastic covers of both real tail lights along with the wire harness had melted. In fact, the service person put his hand back there and he got burned because the entire wire assembly was melted and was short. I asked them to repair the car for free because this is a defect since the wire harness assemblies and plastic tail cover lights should not melt under any conditions. This is both a collision hazard and a fire hazard and it is very common in this model. Mercedes Benz usa refused to fix the vehicle for free as they have an obligation to do since this is a defect. Please issue a recall for the plastic cover and wire harness of the real tail lights of this vehicle because this situation is dangerous both in terms of a fire hazard and in terms of a collision hazard.
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- Montgomery, AL, USA