44 of the
323 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz C350
are about the lighting —
14% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2008.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES HAD OCCURRED AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY FUSE. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAD STOPPED WORKING AND THE SRS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER PLAZA MERCEDES BENZ LOCATED AT 11910 OLIVE BLVD, CREVE COEUR, MO 63141 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
NHTSA complaint #11390961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE LIGHTING ISSUES WITH FRONT, REAR, AND SIGNAL LIGHTING. I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING TO PAY TO REPLACE THESE LIGHTS EVERY YEAR. NOW MY POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION EBS LIGHT HAS COME ON. THIS IS JUST TOO MUCH. I JUST PAID $1300 FOR SERVICE B AND SOME OTHER THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I AM TIRED OF ALWAYS HAVING TO PAY TO REPLACE LIGHTS.
NHTSA complaint #11166631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARKING LAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BAKER MOTOR COMPANY (1513 SAVANNAH HWY, CHARLESTON, SC) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LAMPS OVERHEATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. ** UPDATED 11/1/18
NHTSA complaint #11124469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, A FAMILY MEMBER NOTIFIED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TRUNK. THE CONTACT OPENED THE TRUNK AND NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS IN FLAMES AROUND THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT, BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED APPROXIMATELY FOUR YEARS AGO PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL BY MERCEDES-BENZ OF SOUTH ORLANDO IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA. HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED FOR THE RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
NHTSA complaint #11079750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
"TAKATA RECALL" THERE ARE TWO RECALLS ON THE FRONT AIRBAGS ONE ISSUES IN FEBRUARY 11, 2016 AND THE OTHER MAY 25, 2016. I'VE TAKEN MY CAR IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR SERVICE AND INQUIRED ABOUT THE RECALL. AS OF TODAY THE REMEDY IS NOT AVAILABLE. THERE IS A FAULT SWITCH WITH THE HEADLIGHTS IN OFF POSITION THE LEFT RIGHT TURN SIGNAL FLASH WHEN THE KEYS ARE NOT IN THE VEHICLE. IT DRAINS THE BATTERY WHICH HAVE REPLACED TWICE. WE DETERMINED THAT IF WE KEEP THE LIGHT SWITCH IN AUTOMATIC POSITION IT DOES NOT HAPPEN.
NHTSA complaint #11040645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2 YEARS AGO MANAGER TOLD ME THE WIRING OF THE HEAD LAMPS WAS MELTING BUT HE CAN ONLY REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT( BOTH). I TOLD HIM THAT A CAR WITH 30000 MILS THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. NOTHING HE CAN DO. THE CAR HAS STARTED TO BURN ON THE INSIDE , SMOKE COMES OUT OF THE ENGINE. CAR TRANSPORTS CHILDREN. TO AND FROM SCHOOL. EERY OTHER ONTH LAMPS BURN OUT, HAPPENING SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. FINALLY WENT TO SHOP AGAIN TODAY AND THEY PUT IT ON PAPER. WIRE COATING FALLING APART, CAUSES BURN OUT OF LAMPS. THIS IS A HUGE DANGER AND SHOULD BE RECALLED NOT PAID BY USER. HAVE SENT 2 OTHER COMPLAINTS TO NHTSA WITH NO RESOLUTION. WHY????? ADDITIONALLY CAR HAS HAD TAIL LAMP PROBLEMS SINCE THE BEGINNING WITH ONE RECALL. ADDITIONALLY THE SEAT COVER OF THE DRIVER SIDE IS COMING APART IN PIECES SINCE YEAR 2. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN?
NHTSA complaint #11016312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SECOND WARNING REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL WIRING REGARDING THE FRONT HEAD LAMPS. THE WIRING IS BURNING UP AND IT WILL CAUSE A FIRE WITH DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. THIS CAR HAS HAD A RECALL BEFORE REGARDING THE WIRING OF THE BACK STOP LIGHTS, IF NOTHING IS DONE THERE WILL BE A FIRE. THE SEAT (FRONT) COVERING IS PEELING OFF, CO. SAYS ITS NORMAL. THIS IS MY 2ND REPORT AND THE SMOKE IS GETTING HEAVIER ALL THE TIME AND IT IS AFFECTING THE COMPUTER OF THE CAR FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE IS ALWAYS PICKING UP CHILDREN WITH MY WIFE. VERY DIFFICULT TO GET PHOTO, BUT IS VISIBLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT HEAD LIGHTS. THERE HAS BEEN NO FIRE YET BUT THERE IS SMOKE.
NHTSA complaint #10948957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE WIRING TO THE HEAD LAMBS (BOTH) ARE BURNING UP, CAUSING A BURNT SMELL IN THE CAR, COMPANY SAYS TO BUY NEW HEAD LAMPS. THE ELECTRIC WIRE SYSTEM IN THE CAR HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE BEGINNING. EVIDENTLY THE HEAT IN THE MOTOR AREA IS TO MUCH FOR THE QUALITY OF THE WIRING COVERS AND THEY CAUSE LAMP BURN OUT,AND BURN THE PLASTIC WIRE COVERING. CAR IS USED FOR PLEASURE HAS VERY FEW MILES. VERY HARD TO TAKE A PICTURE , TECH HAD A HARD TIME GETTING TO IT.
NHTSA complaint #10937330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FRONT LAMPS AND HEADLIGHT KEEP RANDOMLY NOT FUNCTIONING AT START OR WHEN DRIVING. WARNING LIGHT THAT BULB IS OUT COMES ON BUT THEN GOES AWAY AND THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON AFTER A LITTLE OF TIME AND A RESTART OF ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #10927785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10873193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015, I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK AND PARKED AT APPROXIMATELY 7:45 AM. I DID NOT GET BACK INTO THE CAR UNTIL 4:30 PM ON THE SAME DAY. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START UP MY VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT START. I CALLED A MECHANIC FRIEND, AND HE DETERMINED THAT IT IS A FAULTY EIS WHICH IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE DESCRIBING HERE. AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MERCEDES BENZ!!!!
NHTSA complaint #10724990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED CAUSING THE BATTERY TO FAIL. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A LOOSE WIRE THAT NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,700.
NHTSA complaint #10702569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER I TOOK MY 2008 MERCEDES C350 TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM DO THE REPAIRS FOR THE RECALL ON THE TAIL LIGHTS/BULBS. I KEEP GETTING THE "CHECK RIGHT REAR TURN SIGNAL". THE BLINKER WILL WORK FINE, THEN AFTER 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING IT BLINKS VERY FAST AND THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. THIS ISSUE IS GETTING WORSE. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD AND MUST BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE ADVICE! EVERYTHING APPEARED TO BE WORKING FINE UNTIL I GOT MY VEHICLE BACK FROM THE SERVICE DEPT. THEY CHANGED THE BULBS.
NHTSA complaint #10664563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE REAR PASSENGER TAILLIGHT MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING ME TO BE PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE. MERCEDES BENZ HAS SINCE RECALLED THE FAULTY TAIL LIGHTS AND IS SCHEDULED TO RELEASE REPLACEMENT PARTS TO MB DEALERS NEXT MONTH. HOWEVER, IT SEEMS THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. SOMETIMES THE RADIO STATION CHANGES WHEN I ADJUST THE CABIN AIR TEMPERATURE (AIR CONDITIONER). THE DASHBOARD CONTROL PANEL CONSTANTLY DISPLAYS WARNING MESSAGES ABOUT FAILING HEADLIGHTS AND SIDE MARKERS. ASIDE FROM THE RECALLED PASSENGER TAILLIGHT WHICH IS VISIBLY DIMMER THAN THE DRIVER SIDE TAILLIGHT, THE OTHER LIGHTS APPEARED TO BE WORKING FINE. YESTERDAY THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR AND THE COOLANT INDICATOR ON THE DASH CAME ON - THE ANTIFREEZE AND FUEL TANKS ARE BOTH FULL. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE LIGHTS, ONLY TO DISCOVER THE PLASTIC HOUSING IS COMPLETELY SINGED AND MELTED IN THE HEADLIGHTS AND SIDE MARKERS, JUST LIKE IT IS IN THE DEFECTIVE RECALLED TAILLIGHT. THE CAR IS ONE OVER-PRICED FIRE TRAP - AT THIS POINT I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. WHAT IS EVEN MORE DISTURBING TO ME, IS THAT MERCEDES BENZ IS WELL AWARE OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE C CLASS. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ONLINE - POSTED TO BLOGS AND NHTSA WEBSITE. MERCEDES IS TRYING TO PIECE-MEAL OUT A REMEDY. MEANWHILE, THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE! WHEN WILL NHTSA RECALL THE ENTIRE MERCEDES C CLASS LINE DUE TO DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL ISSUES?
NHTSA complaint #10605833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE REAR PASSENGER TAIL LAMPS ARE DIMMING TO ABOUT HALF THE NORMAL STRENGTH. THE BULBS ARE ALL FINE, BUT I AM GETTING NOTICES ON THE DASH THAT THE LIGHTS NEED TO GET CHECKED. I CHECKED THE REAR LIGHT HARNESS AND IT APPEARS THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HAS MELTED SO THAT IT CAN'T BE REMOVED FROM THE COMPONENT THAT ACTUALLY HOLDS THE BULBS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MIGHT BE A FIRE HAZARD. THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE ALSO SEEMS TO BE AFFECTING THE HORN. THERE ARE TWO HORNS ON THIS CAR. ONE IS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND ONE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE PASSENGER SIDE HORN IS NOT FUNCTIONING. IT APPEARS LIKE THERE IS WEAK TO NO ELECTRICAL POWER ON THAT SIDE OF THE CAR. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TOO AS I CAN'T WARN OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD IF NEEDED.
NHTSA complaint #10584557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO FUNCTION. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE WIRES HAD MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEARER WHO STATED THAT THE HEAD LAMP BOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
NHTSA complaint #10579179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, A BURNING ODOR EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LATER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE INTERIOR TRUNK AREA. THERE WERE NO FLAMES PRESENT HOWEVER, THE WIRING HARNESSES FOR BOTH TAILLIGHTS WAS FOUND TO BE BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
NHTSA complaint #10574331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE BRAKE LIGHT (DRIVER SIDE) WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND GIVING MULTIPLE INDICATOR WARNINGS ON THE DASH COMPUTER. AFTER CHECKING TO SEE IF IT WAS A FAULTY BULB... THE HARNESS CONNECTING TO THE TAILLIGHT HOUSING WAS BURNT AND MELTED. THE TAILLIGHT BULB HOUSING WAS BRITTLE AND WAS BURNT AS WELL. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY KNOW OF NO SUCH RECALLS AND ARE REPLACING THE TAILLIGHT BULB HOUSING AND REPLACING THE BURNT HARNESS. (435.00) THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE COMPUTER MODULE IS BAD BECAUSE IT IS TELLING THE BRAKE LIGHT TO STAY ON. THEY ARE NOT SURE WHICH OCCURRED FIRST. THIS IS ANOTHER 1000.00 REPAIR. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER MERCEDES C-SERIES VEHICLES HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. MOST EXPERTS THINK THE GAUGE OF THE WIRING IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO THE LOAD OF CURRENT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND IS NOT LOOKING LIKE AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #10565493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
COMPLAINT: C-CLASS REAR LIGHT MELTING ISSUE. REAR BULB LIGHT FAIL ERROR. REPORTING A BURNING SMELL OF MELTING PLASTIC AND FAILURE OF REAR TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. I WENT OUT ON THE INTERNET AND SAW I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE THIS HAPPENED TO AND THAT THE U.S. SAFETY REGULATORS HAVE OPENED A PROBE OF AN ESTIMATED 218,000 MERCEDES C-CLASS SEDANS HAVE BEEN REPORTED. I CALLED THE MERCEDES-BENZ OF SEATTLE AND EVERYONE THAT I TRIED TO TALK TO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT AT ALL. OF COURSE I HAD THE IT REPAIRED AND IT COST $541.41 AGAIN TRYING TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WHAT I HAD SEEN ON THE INTERNET NO ONE WAS SAYING ANYTHING WHICH SHOWED ME THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD NOT TO TALK ABOUT IT. I CALLED MERCEDES CORPORATE OFFICE TO SEE IF THEY COULD TO A GOOD WILL GESTURE BUT I WAS TOLD "NO". ADD ME TO THE LIST OF COMPLAINTS. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS AMOUNT SO I HOPE I SEE A RECALL COME THROUGH.
NHTSA complaint #10565536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.