2008 Mercedes-Benz C350 Exterior lighting Problems

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 ID

11390961

Incident

Oct 1, 2019

Mileage

150,000 mi

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*JB

NHTSA ID

11124469

Incident

Aug 5, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

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 ID

11079750

Incident

Mar 6, 2018

Mileage

113,000 mi

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 ID

10927785

Incident

Nov 1, 2016

Mileage

115,000 mi

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 ID

10724990

Incident

Jun 9, 2015

Mileage

107,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10664563

Incident

Dec 11, 2014

Mileage

45,007 mi

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? *TR

NHTSA ID

10605833

Incident

Jun 25, 2014

Mileage

60,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10584557

Incident

Jan 16, 2014

Mileage

75,000 mi

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 ID

10579179

Incident

Apr 3, 2014

Mileage

69,000 mi

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 ID

10574331

Incident

Mar 22, 2014

Mileage

110,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10565493

Incident

Feb 20, 2014

Mileage

10,400 mi

RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT BURNED AT CONNECTOR CAUSING BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE AND POSSIBLY CAUSED SMALL FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10560902

Incident

Jan 21, 2014

Mileage

42,000 mi

AFTER PARKING MY C350 I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE TRUNK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I OPENED THE TRUNK TO DISCOVER THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKE WAS THE TRUNK FUSE BOX PANEL. I REMOVED THE PANEL AND FOUND THAT THE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS SMOKING. FOLLOWING THE REMOVAL DIRECTIONS IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL, I REMOVED THE MULTI-PIN CONNECTOR AND NOTICED THAT THE HOUSING AROUND THE BROWN CONDUCTOR WAS COMPLETELY MELTED AND CORRODED. THERE WAS A DISTINCT SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC. I THEN DROVE HOME WITH THE PASSENGER TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY DISCONNECTED FOR FEAR OF FURTHER DAMAGE OR AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. LUCKILY I WAS NOT PULLED OVER NOR DID I CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO INACTIVE BRAKE/REVERSE LIGHTS. ONCE HOME, I DETERMINED THAT THE BURNED AND CORRODED CONDUCTOR MUST BE THE GROUND CONNECTION. I BELIEVE THAT THE GROUND CABLE IN THE TAIL LIGHT HARNESS IS NOT OF HEAVY ENOUGH GAUGE TO HANDLE THE CURRENT THAT PASSES THROUGH IT UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. HERE IS THE MATH: EACH BULB IS 21W. IF YOU ARE AT A STOPLIGHT AT NIGHT WITH YOUR HEADLIGHTS ON AND YOU'RE TURNING RIGHT, THERE WILL BE 5 BULBS ACTIVE (PER SIDE). THIS IS A TOTAL OF 105W. AT 12V, 105W TRANSLATES TO ABOUT 9A. THE RECOMMENDED WIRE GAUGE IS 16-18 AT THIS LEVEL OF CURRENT. THE BROWN WIRE IN THE TAIL LIGHT HARNESS IS AN 18 GAUGE WIRE I BELIEVE. THIS WIRE IS RIGHT AT ITS LIMIT FOR CURRENT HANDLING. WE KNOW THAT IN THE REAL-WORLD, CURRENT CAN EASILY EXCEED THEORETICAL LIMITS, SO ENGINEERS OFTEN OVER-SPEC WIRE TO BE TOTALLY SURE THAT A CIRCUIT WILL NOT FAIL. IN THIS CASE, THE MERCEDES-BENZ ENGINEERS DID NOT OVER-SPEC THE WIRE...THEY UNDER-SPEC'D THE WIRE, AND IT FAILED! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND A RECALL, SINCE THIS IS POTENTIALLY A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. A CAR COULD EASILY GO UP IN FLAMES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. OR AN ACCIDENT COULD HAPPEN DUE TO BRAKE/REVERSE/TURNING LIGHTS THAT HAVE BURNED UP AND FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10558572

Incident

Jan 5, 2014

Mileage

78,579 mi

THE ONBOARD COMPUTER INDICATED THAT THE R REAR TURN SIGNAL HAD FAILED. VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE WIRING INSIDE THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY SHOWED THAT THE CONNECTOR FOR THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS WHICH DELIVERS POWER TO THE TAIL LIGHTS HAD MELTED. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE BULB, CARRIER, PLUG AND SOCKET PARTS. ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON THE C CLASS MERCEDES FOR THIS MODEL YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10558165

Incident

Oct 28, 2013

Mileage

58,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TAILLIGHT FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

NHTSA ID

10557948

Incident

Jan 9, 2013

Mileage

63,000 mi

STARTED GETTING NOTIFICATIONS ON DASH THAT A LIGHT BULB WAS OUT IN THE LEFT TAIL LIGHT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE BROWN GROUND WIRE HAS MELTED PLASTIC AROUND IT ON BOTH THE MALE AND FEMALE SIDE OF THE CONNECTOR AND ALL OF THE BULBS HAVE CORROSION FROM A BAD CONNECTION OR ARCHING ON THE CONNECTORS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10550717

Incident

Nov 4, 2013

Mileage

50,000 mi

ALL EXTERIOR LIGHT BULBS KEEP BURNING . -SEAT BELT STAYS ON EVEN IS USED. AIR BAGS COMES ON AND OFF. THE ENGINE MAKES LIKE HIGH IDOL NOISE LIKE THE CAR WANTS TO MOVE EVEN ITS BRAKE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10548614

Incident

Oct 14, 2013

ALL RIGHT REAR LIGHTS FAILED. STARTING TO GET MESSAGES OF REAR LEFT LIGHTS FAILING, BUT NON HAVE ACTUALLY FAILED YET. I TOOK OFF THE BACK PANEL IN THE TRUNK TO CHANGE THE BULBS AND FOUND THE WIRING HAS MELTED THROUGH THE PLASTIC HOUSING UNIT, IT LOOKS LIKE THE WIRES AND THE UNIT HAVE BEEN BURNED. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER, HE SAID IT WAS STARTING TO HAPPEN TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR TOO. THIS IS COSTING ME $500 FOR THE ENTIRE REPLACEMENT! I'VE READ SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. I'M AMAZED THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ISSUED YET. BURNING UP WIRES IN THE TRUNK HAS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD! *TR

NHTSA ID

10547369

Incident

Sep 23, 2013

Mileage

55,000 mi

KEEP GETTING THE "CHECK RIGHT REAR TAIL AND BRAKE LAMP", "CHECK RIGHT REAR SIDEMARKER LAMP", AND "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. SOMETIMES NONE OF THE LIGHTS ON THE RIGHT REAR PANEL WILL TURN ON, SOMETIMES THEY WILL. OR THEY WILL WORK FOR 10 MINUTES AND THEN GO OUT ALONG WITH THE WARNING SIGNS. I LOOKED AT THE BULBS TODAY TO SEE IF ANY WERE BURNED, AND THE HARNESS WAS BURNED AND BROWN! I HAVE SMELLED SMOKE A FEW TIMES WITHIN THE LAST MONTH AS WELL. THIS ISSUE IS GETTING WORSE. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD AND MUST BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE ADVISE! *JS

NHTSA ID

10545332

Incident

Aug 1, 2013

REAR LIGHT FAILURE DUE TO MELTING. THIS FAILURE IS SEEN ON THE RIGHT TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY. SOME OF THE ELECTRICAL PARTS ARE MELTED IN THIS ASSEMBLY. *TT

NHTSA ID

10537717

Incident

Mar 20, 2013

Mileage

43,000 mi

HTTP://JAMAICA-GLEANER.COM/GLEANER/20130717/BUSINESS/BUSINESS81.HTML HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL PASSENGER REAR LIGHTS - WIRE HARNESS IS BURNT AND NOT WORKING . SPOKE WITH MB DEALERSHIP/SERVICE DEPT , THEY SAID I WILL NEED TO HANDLE THE REPAIR OUT OF MY OWN POCKET . I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE MY CAR AS THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS/SIGNAL ARE NOT OPERATIONAL AND NO FUNDS FOR THE REPAIR . THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE TO THE CONSUMERS AND NEED TO BE RECALL IMMEDIATELY !!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10537224

Incident

Aug 25, 2013

RIGHT TAILLIGHT FAILURE. THE ENTIRE TAILLIGHT IS NOT WORKING SO I REMOVED THE COVER IN MY TRUNK TO LOOK IF ANY OF THE BULBS WERE BLOWN. WHEN I REMOVED THE COVER IT SMELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING. AFTER FURTHER EXAMINING THE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY YOU CAN SEE WHAT THAT THE WIRES WERE EITHER BURNT OR SHORTED OUT AND THE PLASTIC CONNECTORS HAVE A BROWN TO BLACK FILM ON THEM. NOT SURE IF THIS HAS BEEN A RECENT ISSUE BUT WANTED TO SEE IF THIS WAS SOMETHING WAS BEING INVESTIGATED AS A POTENTIAL RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10535240

Incident

Aug 1, 2013

Mileage

60,000 mi

WARNING LIGHT CAME ON TO CHECK RIGHT SIDE TAIL AND BRAKE LAMPS. WARNING SIGN TO ALSO CHECK RIGHT TURN SIGNAL. IT APPEARS THAT THESE COME ON AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 30S-1MIN. WHEN OPENED UP THE RIGHT BACK LIGHT KIT, THE PLASTIC HARNESS HOLDING THE BULBS AND WIRES IS BURNING SLIGHTLY AND SLIGHTLY CHARRED. LIGHT BULBS ARE WORKING AS THEY DO INITIALLY TURN ON, BUT THEN GO OFF AFTER 30S-1MIN. ALSO LIGHT COMES UP ON CHECK REAR LEFT TAIL AND BRAKE LAMPS. BUT THESE WORK FINE, AND THE LEFT BACK LIGHT KIT PLASTIC HARNESS APPEARS NORMAL AND FINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10533409

Incident

Aug 3, 2013

Mileage

67,250 mi

INSIDE DASH WARNING SAYING "CHECK REAR RIGHT SIGNAL LIGHTS" AND RIGHT SIGNAL FLASHES QUICKER THAN NORMAL. UPON INSPECTION, LIGHTS WERE WORKING BUT BULB HOLDER INSIDE LIGHTS AND CONNECTION HARNESS WAS MELTED WHERE THE BROWN WIRE WAS. UNABLE TO REMOVE HARNESS OUT BECAUSE THE CONNECTOR WAS MELTED ON. SMELLED LIKE FRESH BURNT PLASTIC. SEVERE FIRE HAZARD! *TR

NHTSA ID

10532677

Incident

Jul 26, 2013

Mileage

52,635 mi

STARTED OFF AS A RT. TAIL LIGHT MESSAGE, A STRANGE FLASHING RT. TURN SIGNAL ( RAPID FLASHING). AS I WENT TO INSPECT THE TAIL LIGHT BULBS, I FOUND THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY PLATE MELTED AT THE CONNECTOR TO THE LIGHT PLATE. THE BROWN WIRE WAS SO HOT FROM THE EVIDENCE THAT IT MELTED THE PLASTIC ALL AROUND. THE BROWN WIRE IS FRIED BLACK. COULD HAD STARTED A FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10532317

Incident

Jul 29, 2013

Mileage

45,000 mi