2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Exterior Lighting

The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the connector for the rear taillights was melted into the bulk assembly mount and needed to be replaced. The contact was then informed by the dealer of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V177000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the dealer confirmed that the recall was previously completed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was promised a call back however, the contact had not yet received a response. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.

I noticed my right tail light has completely went out and related damage to the brown wire connected to the entire casing. Per recall campaign: 2014050001; NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 14V177, "Oxidation on the ground pin connector for the rear tail lamps of subject vehicles can result in a dimming of the tail lights or loss of tail lamp functions. The loss of a rear tail lamp reduces the rearward visibility of subject vehicles, especially with respect to turn signal illumination and may increase the likelihood of a rear end crash". I recently called a new certified Mercedes Benz dealership near me who states this recall has been closed, however, there is no specific indication on whether that was the right or left tail light. Regardless, a recall covers both whether it happens simultaneously or at different increments. My requested resolution: to simply acknowledge the recall to replace this time the right tail lamp. Especially since any wiring issues poses risk of shortage or fire.

HEADLIGHT WIRES ARE CORRODED AND MELTED. THIS SEEMS SIMILAR TO THE TAIL LIGHT RECALL A FEW YEARS AGO THAT CAUSED A FIRE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE TAIL LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE DIMLY AND/OR SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE LIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRE CONNECTING THE TAIL LIGHT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE MELTED AND CAUSED THE TAIL LIGHT NOT TO WORK. THE TAIL LIGHT, BLINKER, AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED (MERCEDES-BENZ IN PLANO, TX, 214-473-5643) WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE, BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED TO WORK AND VARIOUS INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) IN 2013, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

TAKATA RECALL RIGHT TAIL LIGHT HAS A BROWN BURNT WIRE, AND THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT IS DIM. SO I BELIEVE IT MAY HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. I WAS WONDERING IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I NEED TO PAY FOR OR WOULD THIS BE SOMETHING THAT I COULD GET A RECALL ON? THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WHILE BRAKING.

TAKATA RECALL RIGHT TAIL LIGHT HAS A BROWN BURNT WIRE, AND THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT IS DIM. SO I BELIEVE IT MAY HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. I WAS WONDERING IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I NEED TO PAY FOR OR WOULD THIS BE SOMETHING THAT I COULD GET A RECALL ON? THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WHILE BRAKING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS OPERATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT WIRING WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

BACKGROUND: IN 2014, THERE WAS A RECALL OF C-CLASS MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES DUE TO CORROSION ON THE CONNECTORS OF THE REAR TAIL LIGHT CAUSING THE LIGHT TO FAIL. MERCEDES BENZ FIX FRONT LIGHT CONNECTORS - NEW ISSUE: LEFT FRONT PARKING LIGHT IS INOPERABLE AND THE DASHBOARD WARNING MESSAGE CAME ON. WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE PARKING LIGHT BULB REPLACED. THE MECHANIC VERIFIED THE CONCERN, REPLACING THE BULB DID NOT WORK. THE MECHANIC CHECKED AND FOUND THAT THE PARKING LAMP HARNESS HOLDER IS PEELING AND CORRODED CAUSING THE WIRE TO SHORT. MERCEDES BENZ WANTED ME TO PAY $1440.35 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND RECOMMENDED CHANGING THE RIGHT SIDE TOO EVEN THOUGH IT WAS OPERABLE. THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY ENCASES THE FRONT PARKING LIGHT BULBS (EYEBROW LIGHTS - 2 EACH) AND THE HEADLIGHT BULB. THE SERVICE ADVISOR, JEFF DECORTE INDICATED THAT HE SEES THIS ALL THE TIME WHICH IS WHY HE RECOMMENDED REPLACING BOTH SIDES OF THE ENTIRE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES. BULB HOLDERS AND CONNECTORS SHOULD BE REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE OWNER DUE TO THE PEELING AND CORROSION. PLEASE INVESTIGATE, THIS MAY BE POTENTIALLY ANOTHER RECALL EXCEPT NOW IT'S THE FRONT PARKING LIGHTS. PLEASE NOTE THAT MY CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED AT THE REQUIRED INTERVALS BY THE DEALER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CHECK SIGNAL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000. THE VIN WAS UNVAILABLE.

REAR LIGHTING CONSULS FAILING WHILE IN MOTION CAUSING RIGHT TURN BLINKER, REVERSE LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND SAFETY LIGHTS TO NOT FUNCTION.

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE REAR PASSENGER LIGHTING FAILED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CORRODED CONNECTORS AND BULB HOLDERS WOULD NEED TO BE CHANGED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

REAR LIGHTING DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK, I HAVE GOTTEN ERROR CODES ONE DAY AND THE LIGHTS WORK THE NEXT. I HAVE READ PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS ON THE LIGHTING ISSUE. ONE TIME ITS A BULB ON THE RIGHT AND NEXT ITS A BULB ON THE LEFT. TODAY THEY ALL WORK.. *TR

ENTIRE TAIL LIGHT ON DRIVE SIDE WENT OUT. I LOOKED AT THE LIGHTING HOUSING AND NOTED BURNT WIRES EMITTING FROM THE 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 RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED INDICATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DATE OF WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING TO SCHEDULE THE APPOINTMENT AND REMEDY THE PROBLEM SPECIFIED ON THE RECALL. UPDATED 08/19/14*LJ

THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT HOUSING HAS BURNT OUT AND KNOCKED OUT ALL LIGHTS IN THE CLUSTER. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE, BUT THERE HAS YET TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS. *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

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND A MESSAGE LIGHT CAME ON SAYING CHECK REAR RIGHT BRAKE LAMP, TURN LAMP ,AND TAIL LAMP SO I STOPPED BY THE AUTO PART STORE TO HAVE THEM REPLACE THE BULBS AND THEY FOUND THE LIGHT HOLDER AND THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE LIGHTS HAD MELTED. *TR

MY EXTERIOR TAIL LIGHTS ALL WENT OUT, THIS INCLUDES FOG LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS AND INDICATOR LIGHTS. PUT IN NEW BULBS AS WELL AS MADE SURE THE WIRES WERE CONNECTED WELL BUT IT REMAINS OUT. *JS

THE WIRES WITHIN BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS OF MY 2009 MERCEDES C300 HAVE THEIR INSULATION SO DETERIORATED THAT THE WIRES ARE FULLY EXPOSED. THIS ISSUE CAUSES THE LIGHTS TO CUT IN AND OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHICH HAVE OCCURRED DURING HIGHWAYS SPEEDS AND OR RURAL AREAS IN PUERTO RICO. THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION IS NOT BEING TAKEN CARE OF BY THE MANUFACTURER WITH VARIOUS ATTEMPTS TRIED. *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