2008 Mercedes-Benz C 300 Exterior lighting Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while at the car wash and attempting to wash the vehicle, there was popping sound coming from the vehicle, and the contact saw smoke coming from the speakers and called the Fire Department however, no damages were found. The vehicle was taken to the residence and an independent mechanic inspected the vehicle but found no issues with the vehicle. The trunk was opened, and the contact became aware of water inside the taillight housings. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.

NHTSA ID

11677862

Incident

Jun 30, 2025

Mileage

180,000 mi

The vehicle has been loosing power during driving. Acceleration will die, then power will return. In addition exterior lighting will also malfunction or not work. As well ans other items associate with power or the unit that controls the power of those items After taking the vehicle in multiple times we had been told and looked up about the recall. Multiple are in place but the recall regarding the electrical/ power train / lighting r/t units in place and this recall sounds spot on with issues the vehicle is having .

NHTSA ID

11653985

Incident

Jan 1, 2008

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated after the vehicle was taken to the dealer for an unknown recall repair, the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The contact also became aware that the driver’s side headlight was inoperable. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a detached headlamp wiring harness. The dealer recommended that driver’s and passenger’s side headlamps be replaced. Additionally, the taillights remained illuminated after turning off the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11578853

Incident

Feb 1, 2024

The tail left bulb mount carrier part Number 204-820-15-00-64, one of the terminal in the back, is corroded. Also, one of the cable is burnt. In short, the tail lamp doesn’t work. It is a hazard problem since it affects the brake signaling, turning signaling and all other tail lamps signaling. For many years, I have read many incidents like this reported from owners like me and Mercedes has done nothing. I cannot use the vehicle in this condition because it is is a safety hazard.

NHTSA ID

11470759

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

Both headlights wiring harnesses (right and left ) wiring has melted and all wiring is now exposed and touching and causing all light bulbs ( headlights-tail lights-turn signals-brake lights-ect) to be shortage out due to the original wiring not being constructed to resist the heat from the engine and environment.We had MB of Maidland,fl and Elite motors of Ococee,fl to view this issue with the only fix is out-of-pocket repair in the thousands of dollars.i have a neighbor with a MB experiencing similar problems

NHTSA ID

11455659

Incident

Mar 8, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the exterior headlights and taillights would independently illuminate while idle without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where a camera was placed on the vehicle for four days; however, the failure did not occur while in the mechanic's possession. While the contact stated that the failure was intermittent, the failure had become more frequent recently. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11446518

Incident

Mar 1, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, WHEN "THE REAR PASSENGER BRAKE AND SIGNAL WAS FAILURE" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND HAD THE REAR PASSENGER LIGHT PLUGS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED A WEEK LATER THE REAR PASSENGER LIGHT PLUGS WERE MELTED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 212,000.

NHTSA ID

11390994

Incident

Dec 1, 2020

Mileage

212,000 mi

MY 2008 C300 HAD THE RIGHT TAIL BREAK LIGHT + REAR RIGHT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT ERROR MESSAGE THESE FEW DAYS, I REPLACE THE LIGHT BULBS WHICH DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM THEN I FOUND THE BROWN WIRE AT CONNECTOR MELT BADLY, I GOOGLE THIS ISSUE ON THE WEB AND FOUND ALL 2008/2009 MERCEDEZ C CLASS HAS THE SAME ISSUE, CAN WE GET A RECALL TO FIX IT ON THIS ?

NHTSA ID

11321201

Incident

Apr 10, 2020

Mileage

140,000 mi

THE TAIL LIGHTS ARE SHORTING OUT. A BURNING SMELL IS EMINATING FROM THE WIRES. THE DASHBOARD MESSAGES ARE FLASHING VARIOUS PROBLEMS I.E. REAR TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, ETC. FIRST IT INDICATES LEFT SIDE THEN IT INDICATES THE RIGHT SIDE HAS THE PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR ROLLING. THE ENGINE IS ON.

NHTSA ID

11297058

Incident

Dec 11, 2019

Mileage

79,345 mi

I HAVE A MB C300 2008 THE CAR NEVER HAD AN ISSUE UNTIL I BROUGHT IT IN FOR A AIRBAG RECALL 2 WEEKS LATER I GET AN SRS MALFUNCTION, ESP AND ABS FAILURE CAR DOESNT TURN ON NEXT DAY THE CAR TURNS ON AND ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON, THEN LIGHTS STAYED ON EVEN AFTER CAR WAS OFF NEXT DAY LIGHTS WENT OFF WHILE DRIVING IN DARK MAKING FOR HAZARDOUS AND QUITE SCARY SITUATION MB IS DOING THESE RECALLS BUT JEOPARDIZING THE OVERALL INTEGRITY OF CAR I EVEN REPLACED BATTERY BUT THIS STILL OCCURRED CAR WAS RENDERED UNDRIVABLE AND STUCK IN MY DRIVEWAY AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AND PAY $380 JUST TO LOOK AT IT EVEN THOUGH I TOLD THEM THEY CAUSED DAMAGE THERE IS NO WAY A PERFECTLY RUNNING CAR COINCIDENTALLY HAS MAJOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES POST RECALL (THEY REPLACED ENTIRE STASH BOARD AND STEERING WHEEL COVER)

NHTSA ID

11291300

Incident

Dec 26, 2019

Mileage

112,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING, THE SRS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE HORN, HEADLIGHTS, CRUISE CONTROL, AND TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS) AND CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF AUGUSTA (3061 WASHINGTON RD, AUGUSTA, GA 30907, (706) 860-1111). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SHE WOULD BE PLACED ON A WAITING LIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTICED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

NHTSA ID

11191580

Incident

Mar 24, 2019

Mileage

134,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING WHEN CAR IS OFF ALSO HEADLIGHT RANDOMLY GO OFF WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ETC AND WHEN LIGHTS STAY ON IT DRAINS THE CAR BATTERY

NHTSA ID

11139166

Incident

Oct 9, 2018

TAKATA RECALL , EXTERIOR LIGHTING RECALL

NHTSA ID

11100189

Incident

Apr 15, 2015

Mileage

80,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL MY AIRBAG IS NOT WORKING, AND MY LIGHTING HAS A PROBLEM . MY BACK LIGHT STAY ON ALL OF THE TIME EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF .I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR 3 WEEKS AGO AND I JUST REALIZED THAT.

NHTSA ID

11093590

Incident

May 2, 2018

DRIVERS SIDE REAR TAILLIGHT ISSUES; BROWN GROUND WIRE SHORTED OUT AND MELTED CONNECTOR PLUG AND SHORTED OUT LAMP ASSEMBLY .

NHTSA ID

11054388

Incident

Dec 11, 2017

Mileage

91,000 mi

'TAKATA RECALL' I OWN THREE MERCEDES BENZ AND ALL THREE OF THEM HAVE THE AIRBAG LIGHTS ON. THEY ALSO ALL HAVE RECALLS FOR THE SAME AIRBAG ISSUE. ALSO, THE PASSENGER SIDE IN MY LATEST MODEL, MY C300, SHOWS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT GO ON AND OFF EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS SEATING IN THE SEAT. AND OFTEN WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT, THE AIRBAG DOESN'T EVEN COME ON AT ALL.

NHTSA ID

11045558

Incident

Mar 1, 2016

Mileage

65,000 mi

THE HEADLIGHTS (LOW BEAM) FLICKER OR TURN OFF COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE THE LIGHT SWITCH IS IN THE "ON" POSITION (NOT "AUTO"). THIS HAPPENS DURING THE DAY OR AT NIGHT TIME, WHICH CONSTITUTES A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10939277

Incident

Jan 2, 2017

Mileage

95,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO OPERATE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CABLE WIRE CONNECTED TO THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT BULBS WERE DAMAGED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PARKING INDICATOR ALSO FAILED AND THE CABLE CONNECTED TO THE PARKING INDICATOR WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID

10935596

Incident

Nov 1, 2016

Mileage

105,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ SPORTS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FAIL SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT OFF THE HEADLIGHTS BUT THEY WOULD RE-ILLUMINATE INDEPENDENTLY WITHIN 1-2 HOURS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS 16V363000 (AIR BAGS) AND 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT ADVISED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR BOTH RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED BUT COULD NOT ADVISE THE CONTACT WHEN THE NECESSARY PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *LN VIN UNAVAILABLE 6/26/18*JB

NHTSA ID

10917879

Incident

Mar 1, 2016

Mileage

140,000 mi

I TOOK MY C300 MERCEDES BENZ (WITH ONLY 52,000 MILES), TO THE MERCEDES BENZ OF MIAMI DEALERSHIP TO CHECK THE WIRING IN BOTH HEAD LAMPS, SINCE THE HEADLIGHTS WERE INTERMITTENTLY FLICKERING ON AND OFF, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WAS OF SERIOUS CONCERN FOR ME AS A 72 YEARS' OLD SENIOR, COULD BE A DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE, CREATING A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION. MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER, JUAN OBANDO, TOLD ME THAT THE WIRING TO THE HEADLAMPS WAS CORRODED AND COULD NOT BE REPLACED. I WOULD HAVE TO BUY TWO (2) COMPLETE NEW HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY UNITS COSTING $1,890.- PLUS TAX AND LABOR INSTALLATION. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHTS AND UNPREDICTABLY AND INTERMITTENTLY LOSING HEAD AND LOW BEAM LIGHTS, IS OF GRAVE SAFETY CONCERN TO ME AND CREATES A HAZARD TO PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROADWAY AND HIGHWAYS. UPDATED 03/29/2017 *JS

NHTSA ID

10893235

Incident

Jun 1, 2016

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,800.

NHTSA ID

10760036

Incident

Jan 10, 2015

Mileage

89,800 mi

MY LCD NAVIGATION SCREEN DOES NOT TURN ON ANYMORE. IT RANDOMLY FLASHES WHEN I'M DRIVING AND CAUSES A DISTRACTION. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, IT SEEMS LIKE AN EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE WITH MANY C300 MODELS OF THE 2008 YEAR. SOME OWNERS HAVE REPORTED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE CORNER OF THE SCREEN.

NHTSA ID

10716915

Incident

Jul 1, 2014

Mileage

140,000 mi

TAIL LAMP REPLACEMENT- I GOT A RECALL LETTER 4 MONTHS AGO AND NO FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. EMAIL TO THE DEALER AND COMPANY NOT BEING SATISFACTORILY RESPONDED TO. WHAT'S THE TIMELINE ON THESE RECALLS? *TR

NHTSA ID

10641424

Incident

Jun 4, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, A WARNING INDICATOR ALERTED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE BULB, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

NHTSA ID

10637227

Incident

Aug 29, 2014

Mileage

84,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WIRES WERE FRAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA ID

10632438

Incident

Aug 13, 2014

Mileage

88,000 mi