Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C 300 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
I was replacing rear tail light bulb. Now I'm getting an error message on instrument cluster. I tried to fix the issue but couldn't do to the fact the wiring harness has melted. Mercedes Benz had a recall back in 2013 saying this is a safety issue. No recall for our car.
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that after opening the sunroof and then attempting to close the sunroof, the sunroof failed to fully close. The contact had to open and close the sunroof several times before the sunroof closed. Additionally, the contact stated that there was water entering the vehicle from the sunroof which caused electrical failures. The contact stated that the vehicle was drivable, but the "Anti-Theft" warning light illuminated. The contact stated that several other warning lights were later illuminated, and the vehicle would not start. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that water had damaged the driver’s side electrical wiring harness. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 169,000.
Vehicle will not start, possible ESL/EIS failure.
While driving, engine stopped, could not steer.. Looks like a defective Electronic Ignition Switch or steering lock! It seems to be a common problem on these cars!!! The car would not start. After 8 attempts, I was able to start car but was afraid to drive it. Could have been a disaster.
3 signal Signal light comes one saying abs, another SRS MALFUNCTION, also crushed control inoperable. Car will come one as normal next day car comes on no lights not 1 button work turn signals didn’t work then my car fan came on in the engines the also the when they the electric isn’t working i have to manually shift the gear
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, A BURNING TYPE ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WHILING INSPECTING THE VEHICLE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT PLUGS HAD MELTED. ALSO, AFTER TURNING THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT HEATER ON A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT AND THE SEAT FELT EXTREMELY HOTTER THE NORMAL. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT YET NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. ## VIN PASSED ## MERCEDES-BENZ 2012 C300 ##
UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE I RECEIVE AIRBAG WARNINGS. ONE FOR THE DRIVER SIDE AND ANOTHER ONE FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE. I CAN CLICK ON "OK" TO CLEAR THEM OUT BUT WITH THE AIRBAG RECALL AND NO RESOLUTION I AM FEARFUL OF A MALFUNCTION. I HAD MY CAR TO THE MERCEDES DEALER TWO TIMES AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NEED TO INVESTIGATE IT, AT MY EXPENSE, WHICH COULD BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN $500-$4500 DEPENDING ON WHAT THEY FIND. WITH A SAFETY ISSUE AT RISK I THINK THE RESPONSIBILITY IS ON MERCEDES TO INVESTIGATE AND CORRECT THIS AT NO EXPENSE TO ME. I WILL HAVE TO SELL THE CAR AND LOSE MONEY OVER IT. I KEEP WAITING FOR THE AIRBAGS IN RECALL TO COME IN AND HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH IT LIKE THIS FOR OVER A YEAR BUT I AM SEEING NO END IN SIGHT TO THE RECALL BEING RESOLVED ANYTIME SOON.
2012 MERCEDES BENZ C300 - REAR TAIL LIGHT TAIL LIGHT FAILURE, FOUND BURN MARKS IN THE VEHICLE BULB ASSEMBLY (BULB PANEL) AND BURNED WIRES IT HAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF TAIL LIGHT LAMPS FUNCTION.
STEERING WHEEL LOCK AFTER VEHICLE IS SHUT DOWN. WHEN YOU RETURN TO THE VEHICLE INSERT THE KEY THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, SPEEDO, STEERING WHEEL IS UNRESPONSIVE WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO TURN THE ENGINE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL IT'S A ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK THAT FAILS ON SEVERAL MERCEDES BENZ CAUSING THE OWNER TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A 2,000 DOLLAR REPAIR. IT HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT COMPLETELY FAILS.
MY VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED BY K AND H AUTO. THE ELECTRICAL UNIT IS MALFUNCTIONING, THE LIGHT IS BROKEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE, AND THE ROTORS AND BRAKES HAVE BEEN RUSTED, PLEASE HAVE SOMEONE ATTEND TO THIS MATTER. THANKS, AND HAVE A VERY BLESSED DAY. ANOTHER COMPANY BY THE NAME OF ANS TOWING, TOWED MY VEHICLE WITHOUT CARE AND I AM NOW HAVING ACCELERATION ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRAGGED THROUGH WATER ON OCTOBER 17-18, 2018.
OUTSIDE TEMP 9 DEGREES CAR STARTS FINE AND I DRIVE TWO MILES TO PICK UP A CARRY OUT ORDER. AFTER SITTING 15 MINUTES IN FRONT OF THE RESTAURANT CAR WILL NOT START, NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO CRANK. LIGHTS COME ON AND A MESSAGE POPS UP STATING "INOPERATIVE - CHECK MANUAL." I CALLED MB ASSISTANCE WHO DETERMINED IT WAS THE ESP SYSTEM THAT WAS INOPERATIVE AND OFFERED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER. I TRIED TO START ONE MORE TIME AND THIS TIME THE VEHICLE STARTED RIGHT AWAY.
MY AIRBAGS GO ON AND OFF ON THERE OWN. MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS ALWAYS MESSED UP. MY LIGHTING GOES ON AND OFF, THE ELECTRICAL HAS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SOMETIMES JSUT SHUT OFF COMPLEYTELY AND NOT TUREN ON FOR DAYS. I HAVE HAD TIMES I HAD TO GET MY VEHICLE TOWED.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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