FaultScore

Mercedes Benz headlight problems

Owners have filed 1,086 complaints with NHTSA about the lighting on Mercedes Benz vehicles — 3% of everything reported about the brand, across 134 models. The model that accounts for most of them is the Mercedes Benz C300, worst in 2009.

These are raw counts. A model that sold in millions appears near the top for that reason alone — the grade never compares one model with another.

1,086

Complaints

3%

Share of all Mercedes Benz complaints

11

Crashes

64

Fires

Which Mercedes Benz models have the most headlight problems

C300 228 21.0%

Worst in 2009

C300 80 7.4%

Worst in 2010

SLK230 56 5.2%

Worst in 1999

S500 45 4.1%

Worst in 2000

C350 44 4.1%

Worst in 2008

S430 38 3.5%

Worst in 2001

E320 35 3.2%

Worst in 2000

S Class 33 3.0%

Worst in 2000

GLC 300 30 2.8%

Worst in 2021

ML320 28 2.6%

Worst in 1998

ML350 28 2.6%

Worst in 2006

Worst Mercedes Benz model years for headlight problems

Vehicle Complaints Share of that year Median miles Grade
2009 Mercedes Benz C300 119 14% 60,000 D
2008 Mercedes Benz C300 109 12% 70,500 C
2010 Mercedes Benz C300 48 8% 52,000 C
2008 Mercedes Benz C350 31 16% 62,608 C
2011 Mercedes Benz C300 20 3% 87,500 B
1999 Mercedes Benz SLK230 19 25% 30,000 C
2000 Mercedes Benz S Class 18 18% 91,600 B
2000 Mercedes Benz S500 18 21% 69,565 C
2001 Mercedes Benz S430 17 17% 98,500 B
1998 Mercedes Benz SLK230 15 36% 39,000 D
2001 Mercedes Benz S500 15 27% 117,112 D
2009 Mercedes Benz C350 13 14% 35,000 B
2001 Mercedes Benz SLK230 11 27% 43,000 C
2021 Mercedes Benz GLC 300 10 12% 66,850 A
2023 Mercedes Benz GLC 300 10 10% A