2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Exterior Lighting

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

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

STARTED GETTING NOTIFICATIONS ON DASH THAT A LIGHT BULB WAS OUT IN THE LEFT TAIL LIGHT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE BROWN GROUND WIRE HAS MELTED PLASTIC AROUND IT ON BOTH THE MALE AND FEMALE SIDE OF THE CONNECTOR AND ALL OF THE BULBS HAVE CORROSION FROM A BAD CONNECTION OR ARCHING ON THE CONNECTORS. *TR

ON OR AROUND 8/30/12 I NOTICED I HAD NO REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. THINKING A BAD BULB I CHECKED THE REAR TAILLIGHT BULBS. I NOTICED AN OVERHEAT CONDITION ON THE BULB HOLDER AND CONNECTOR. IT IS MELTED SHOWING EXTREME HEAT AND CURRENT DRAW. I CONTACTED THE DEALER EXPECTING IT TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AS IT IS A DEFECT AND UNSAFE. THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY AND GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF OVER $400.00 OR MORE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD BE MERCEDES' RESPONSIBILITY. WHO IS LIABLE IF I GET REAR ENDED OR IF THE VEHICLE CATCHES FIRE? *TR UPDATED 3/28/13 *CN UPDATED 3/29/2013 *JS...UPDATED 05/08/13 *BF UPDATED 05/20/13