2008 Mercedes-Benz C Class

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of loss of rear lighting in model year (MY) 2008-2011 Mercedes Benz C-Class vehicles.Complainants alleged that one or both rear lighting assemblies fail to illuminate (i.e., all lights housed within the assembly extinguish, including the stop, tail, and turn signal functions) or illuminate dimly.In some reports, complainants also alleged that the failure was accompanied by a burning smell emanating from the trunk of the vehicle.When examined, these vehicles showed evidence of overheating at the lighting assembly harness connector, including damaged (blackened) wiring and plastic.The rear lighting failures typically involved one side of the vehicle however in some cases both assemblies failed (although probably not simultaneously).ODI identified 5 fire and one injury allegations during the course of this investigation.Two fires occurred while the vehicles were parked.One originated in the vicinity of the driver?s side light assembly where the fire and associated damage was confined to the trunk area, and the fire self extinguished due to oxygen starvation.As a result of the fire, the vehicle was repurchased by Mercedes and salvaged.The second fire originated on the passenger's side and required fire department response to extinguish; the fire damaged the tail light and surrounding body panels as well as the trunk area and wiring.The vehicle was repaired and returned to service.Two firesoccurred while the vehicle was being driven.In the first instance, the driver detected an odor and pulled over to observe smoking and a small flame at the lighting assembly wiring in the trunk.The owner was able to extinguish the fire before any significant damage occurred.In the second instance, the driver smelled smoke, pulled over, and opened the trunk to find smoke and sparks emanating from the forward facing side of the tail light.The driver was able to extinguish the sparks and drive the vehicle to the dealer. A fifth fire was reported by a fleet manager who observed a vehicle with fire damage originating near one of the tail light assemblies.The injury incident occurred when a technician burned their hand while diagnosing a failed light.The technician touched the tail light wiring which was hot enough to burn him although the injury did not require medical attention.On April 10th, 2014, Mercedes notified ODI that it would conduct a safety recall to remedy the rear light assemblies in approximately 252,867 MY 2008 - 2011 C-Class vehicles including the C300, C350 and C63 AMG models.Each rear light assembly has separate bulbs that act as brake, tail lamp, backup and turn signal indicators.The bulbs are mounted in a bulb carrier which uses a common electrical ground circuit at the harness connection.According to Mercedes, oxidation due to the use of dissimilar metals on the harness and bulb carrier electrical connectors can result in increased resistance and a subsequent dimming or loss of lighting function.The heat caused by the increased resistance/oxidation can also lead to the melting of the surrounding plastic, or in some cases, present a fire hazard.In conducting recall 14V-171, Mercedes dealers will inspect the left and right bulb carriers and harness connectors for the presence of dissimilar electrical connectors and/or evidence of related thermal damage; affected bulb carriers and/or harness connectors will be replaced free of charge.Mercedes notes that service replacement bulb carriers produced from January 2012 eliminate the dissimilar metal condition and that these bulb carriers will not requ

ODI initially received 21 reports of rear light assembly failure due to a melted electrical connector or housing.Since opening the initial , ODI has received a total of 114 complaints reflecting an ongoing and increasing trend.In each report, one or both rear light assemblies fail completely (i.e., all lights housed within the assembly extinguish, including the stop, tail, and turn signal functions) when the electrical ground connection is compromised as a result of high resistance and subsequent thermal over-heating.According to Mercedes-Benz, the over-heating of the ground wire is caused by corrosion between the connectors in the ground circuit to the tail light.ODI is aware of a total of 5 reports alleging fire including one injury allegation as a result of this issue.Analysis of subject vehicle complaint data indicates an increased likelihood of failure as the vehicles age.As a result of the evidence presented, this investigation has been upgraded to EA13-008.

MY REAR BACK TAIL LIGHT WIRING PANEL FRIED . THE LIGHT IS NOT WORKING AT ALL AND WHEN I CALLED MANHATTAN MERCEDES DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NOT AN APPOINTMENT AVAILABLE TWO WEEKS FROM 3/7/2014 THEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP IN BROOKLYN AND THEY TOLD ME THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY APPOINTMENTS EITHER SO I JUST SHOWED UP THERE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT DUE TO MY TAIL LIGHT BEING FULLY OUT I AM NOT ALOUD TO DRIVE MY CAR SINCE ITS A SAFETY ISSUES BUT THEY DID NOTHING TO HELP ME OUT AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO ORDER THE PART EVEN THOUGH IT IS A RECALL THEN THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY AROUND $ 400 DOLLARS FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR BUT STILL THEY HAD NO APPOINTMENT FOR ME TO COME IN AND FIX IT IS 3/25/2014 AND I STILL HAVE A BROKEN CAR AND NO WAY OF DRIVING IT OR FIXING IT BECAUSE NO OTHER SHOP WILL TAKE MY CAR IN SINCE IT IS A DEALER ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10574668

Incident

Mar 7, 2014

Mileage

63,000 mi

FAULT INDICATOR FOR LEFT SIDED REAR LIGHTS SPORADICALLY SHOW DEFECT LAMPS, BUT THEY ARE NOT. FINALLY A PARTLY BROKEN/CORRODED GROUND RETURN WAS DETECTED. THE SAME HAPPENED TO THE RIGHT SIDED REAR LIGHTS ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER. DEFECT WAS FINALLY REPAIRED, EXPENSES COVERED BY MERCEDES INTERNATIONAL ADRESS COTTONWOOD ARIZONA IS INCORRECT BUT COUNTRY IS AUSTRIA, CITY VIENNA [XXX] IS INCORRECT BUT ERROR CHECKER DID NOT ACCEPT CORRECT AUSTRIAN PHONE NUMBERS PHONE NUMBER [XXX] AND [XXX] ARE CORRECT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10558301

Incident

Jun 14, 2012

Mileage

50,000 mi

REAR LIGHTING FAILURE (TAILLIGHT). FAILURE CAUSING MY VEHICLE LIGHTS TO VERY DIM AND SOME BULBS ARE NOT ILLUMINATE AT ALL. OCCURS WITH LEFT TAILLIGHT (BRAKE LIGHT). I SEE SOME BURNING ON PLASTIC PANEL THAT BULBS GOES IN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10556829

Incident

Nov 4, 2013

STARTED TO GET THE MESSAGE TO CHECK MY REAR, RIGHT TURNINF SIGNA, FOG LAMPS, BRAKE LIGHTS. CHECKED ALL THE BULBS AND THEY ARE FINE. PUT THE HARNESS BACK AND REALIZED IT WAS A LITTLE HOT AND WHEN I LOOKED THE WIRE TO THE FAR RIGHT I THINK IS EXPOSE AND ON THE OTHER SIDE IT IS BURNT THROUGH THE PLASTIC. MESSAGE COMES OFF AND ON DURING DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10556248

Incident

Dec 6, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C CLASS. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL SPORT TIRES, TIRES SIZE 255/35/ZR18. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY DEFLATED. THE DEFECTIVE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE A NEW TIRE WAS INSTALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000. UPDATED 3/5/14*CN

NHTSA ID

10551151

Incident

Nov 4, 2013

Mileage

33,000 mi

EXPERIENCE REAR LIGHTING FAILURE (REAR PASSENGER TAIL/BRAKE LIGHT OUT). HOWEVER, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY/CONNECTORS/ WIRING WERE IN A BURNT/ MELTED CONDITION. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10525416

Incident

Feb 20, 2012

Mileage

49,250 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES C CLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT ONE MONTH LATER, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V303000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

NHTSA ID

10511637

Incident

Apr 20, 2013

Mileage

48,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES C- CLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE LIGHT BULBS CHANGED AND THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10509272

Incident

Apr 19, 2013

SENTEX gate operator with Clik Card Remote not compatible with Homelink

COMAND: No sound, SDARS message in central display "Device Unavailable"

MERCEDES-BENZ: THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS ON WITH MULTIPLE POSSIBLE TROUBLE CODES STORED. THERE COULD BE A PROBLEM WITH THE CAMSHAFT AND/OR SCORING OF A PISTON. *RM

DAIMLER/XENTRY: FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR AND RADIO FREQUENCY CENTRAL LOCKING INOPERATIVE, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPORTS TURN SIGNALS INOPERATIVE, DIAGNOSIS OF REAR SAM NOT POSSIBLE. CONTROL MODULES. MODELS C CLASS, MODEL SERIES 204. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE UPDATED 7/8/11. *PE

MERCEDES-BENZ: DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES FOR THE DRIVER AUTHORIZATION SYSTEM. *RM

MERCEDES-BENZ: SHOCK ABSORBER PROCEDURE. *RM