2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 670 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 23 C-Class model years with reports.
Of the 2009 reports, 17 involved a crash and 19 involved a fire. 16 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
222 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 20, 2014
REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHTS NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL. STARTED GETTING A CONSTANT DISPLAY MESSAGE TO CHECK REAR BREAK, FOG, AND TURN SIGNAL. FIRST CHECKED FOR BAD FUSE. FINALLY WENT TO CHECK THE BULB HOUSING AND NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE WIRES WAS FRAYED. THE WIRE WAS EXPOSED AND THE WIRE HARNESS SEEM TO BE DAMAGED AS WELL FROM THE HEAT. THE WIRES ARE BAD AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 17, 2014
RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY COMPLETELY WENT OUT AS A RESULT OF A BAD GROUND WIRE. ON THAT SIDE THERE WAS NO BRAKE LIGHT, NO TURN SIGNAL, NO RUNNING LIGHTS, ETC. AFTER INSPECTION THE GROUND (BROWN OUTER MOST WIRE) WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE PLUG/REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS BURN MARKS AND CORROSION. I USED ELECTRICAL TAPE TO TAPE UP THE EXPOSED WIRE (DUE TO HEAT/SPARKS THE INSULATION ON THE WIRE WAS GONE). CURRENTLY, ALL FUNCTIONS OF THE TAIL LIGHT ARE DIM ( 75% DIMMER THAN THE OTHER SIDE) AND AT TIMES IT JUST COMPLETELY DOESN'T WORK. I HAVE STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR AS A RESULT OF THIS AS I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING AS I FEAR IT MIGHT LEAD TO A SMALL FIRE. *TR
Electrical system, Jan 13, 2014
DRIVER SIDE REAR LIGHTS DIMMER THAN THE OTHER SIDE THAN WENT OUT, WHEN OPEN THE COMPARTMENT, SMELLED MELTING PLASTIC. CHECKED THE PLUG THAT WENT INTO THE LIGHTS HAS MELTED. ALSO BURN MARK LEFT ON LIGHT HOUSING. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Jan 7, 2014
TAIL LIGHT PROBLEMS. I STARTED RECEIVING WARNING MESSAGES REGARDING THE TAIL LIGHT MALFUNCTION. WE CHECKED THE LIGHTS BUT THEY WERE FINE. IN JANUARY THE LIGHT WENT OUT. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BULBS WERE NOT ONLY OUT BUT THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO A CIRCUIT ISSUE. AFTER PICKING UP MY CAR, THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL WARNING FOR MY SIDEMARK LIGHT. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Jan 4, 2014
WARNING INDICATOR CAME UP ON INSTRUMENT PANEL TO "CHECK REAR TAIL AND BRAKE LAMPS" THE REAR TAIL, TURN, AND BRAKE LAMPS HAVE FAILED IN MY CAR. THE WIRING HARNESS HAS BURNED AND EMITS EXCESSIVE HEAT TO THE TOUCH. I'M UNSURE OF HOW LONG I WAS DRIVING WITH MY TAILLIGHTS OUT. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 30, 2013
I CURRENTLY OWN A 2009 MERCEDES C300 THAT HAS ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT MALFUNCTIONING. THIS FIRST HAPPENED IN 2011 WHEN THE DUMMY LIGHT TOLD ME THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS OUT. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A LOCAL AUTO SHOP TO HAVE THE LIGHT REPAIRED AND WAS TOLD BY THE SHOP THAT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO CHANGE THE BULB BECAUSE THE PANEL WITH THE LIGHT WAS MELTED AND SMOKING ' THEY SUSPECTED THAT THE BULB WAS SHORTED OUT. THEY RECOMMENDED TAKING IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, AS THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I DID THIS AND WAS TOLD BY MERCEDES BENZ OF ST. CHARLES IL THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE MELTED'AND THAT THE PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WORK WAS DONE AT THE ST. CHARLES IL DEALER AROUND NOVEMBER OF 2011 AND WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE NAPERVILLE IL MERCEDES DEALER ABOUT A MONTH AGO BECAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS OUT. I WAS EXPECTING TO HAVE A QUICK LIGHT CHANGE AND PAY AROUND $20. I WAS INSTEAD TOLD THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRES LEADING TO THE BRAKE LIGHT HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND THAT THE WIRES WERE MELTED. I WAS TOLD THAT IF A NEW BULB WERE PUT IT, IT WOULD JUST SHORT OUT AGAIN. I WAS THEN GIVEN AN ESTIMATE FOR OVER $500 FOR THIS REPAIR, AS MY CAR HAD RUN OFF THE WARRANTY A WEEK EARLIER. I HAVE NOT YET HAD THIS REPAIR DONE, AS IT IS COSTLY. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT IS A CONCERN WITH THE 2009 MERCEDES C300. THIS PROBLEM, WHICH HAS NOW OCCURRED TWO TIMES IN MY MERCEDES, IS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA13008). *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Dec 29, 2013
TAIL LIGHT PASSENGER SIDE - GROUND WIRE ISSUES - PLATE MELTED - TAIL LIGHT ERRORS - NOT WORKING - NO TURN SIGNAL OR BRAKE SIGNAL DUE TO FAULTY TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY (HEATING ISSUES) 1 204-820-09-77 LAMP CARRIER 1 211-545-03-28 PLUG 1 014-545-82-26 PIN BUSHING. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 19, 2013
LIGHTS IN THE BACK RIGHT PANEL ARE NOT WORKING.... GOT MESSAGE STATING THEY WERE OUT....CHECKED THEM AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IS BURNED AND LOOKS LIKE WIRES ARE FRIED. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 15, 2013
BROWN WIRE IN LEFT TAIL LIGHT CONNECTOR MELTED THROUGH THE CONNECTOR AND TAIL LIGHT FAILED TO OPERATE, INCLUDING TURN SIGNAL. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Dec 12, 2013, fire
REAR TAIL LIGHT WIRING HAS BURNT UP CAUSING FAILURE OF THE TAILLIGHT. THIS HAPPENED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE RIGHT SIDE ACTUALLY BEGAN PUTTING OUT SMOKE WHEN THE BURNT CONNECTOR FAILED. THIS FIRE COULD HAVE SPREAD WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Nov 26, 2013
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 55 MPH MY PANEL ALERTED ME TO CHECK MY RIGHT REAR TAIL LAMP ,TURN SIGNAL , FOG LAMP AND PARKING LIGHT. I CHECK THE RIGHT TAIL LAMP AND ALL OF THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT WERE NOT WORKING. I WENT TO REPLACE ALL OF THE RIGHT REAR LIGHT BULBS AND FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR AT THE END OF THE WIRING WAS COMPLETELY MELTED TO THE LAMP CARRIER. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD I AM VERY CONCERNED THIS COULD HAPPEN TO BOTH REAR TAIL LAMPS AT SAME TIME WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY IT CAN CREATE A ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE TAIL LAMPS ARE NOT WORKING. IT ALSO CAN BE A FIRE HAZARD. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY MERCEDES-BENZ BEFORE THERE IS DEATH. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Nov 25, 2013
BRAKE LIGHT, TURN SIGNAL, & PARKING LAMP ALL NOT WORKING. THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR AT THE END OF THE WIRING WAS COMPLETELY MELTED AND BLACK WHEN THE MECHANIC TOOK IT OUT. COULD BE A FIRE HAZARD. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Nov 17, 2013
I WAS GETTING MY CAR DETAILED. WHILE WAITING ON ANOTHER CUSTOMER HAD CAR VACUUMED OUT. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINS, TRIED STARTING THE CAR AND THE KEY WOULD TURN WITH OUT STARTING THE CAR. HAD IT TOWED TO MERCEDES SHOP. THERE I WAS TOLD IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN. STEERING LOCK HAS ELECTRIC FAULT IS WHAT WAS STATED TO ME FOR A PRICE OF $1700.+ TO BE REPAIRED. THIS IS THE THIRD ELECTRICAL PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR. I'VE HAD THE LEFT AND RIGHT WIRING REPAIRED, THE LEFT ONE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THE RIGHT ONE WASN'T. THE WIRING WAS ACTUALLY BURNT. I FEEL AS THOUGH THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING MERCEDES BENZ NEED TO HAVE A RECALL ON. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Nov 15, 2013
THE GROUND WIRE FOR BOTH REAR TAILLIGHT BULB PLATES GETS SO HOT, THAT IT MELTS THE CONNECTOR WHICH THEN CAUSES A FAILURE OF ALL TAIL LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS AND INDICATOR LIGHTS. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Nov 11, 2013
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, NOTICED THAT WHEN I USE MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL IT WAS FLICKERING FAST ON THE DASH BOARD, THEN WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED ON DASH, CHECK TURN SIGNAL, CHECK BRAKE LIGHT, CHECK FOG LAMP. WHEN I GOT HOME, CHECK ALL BULBS ON THE LEFT REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLY, ALL BULBS ARE INTACT. NOTICED THE BROWN WIRE WAS A LITTLE CORRODED AND LIKE A BURNT CONTACT ON THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY. STARTED THE CAR AGAIN, EVERYTHING IS WORKING OKAY. NOW EXACT SAME MESSAGES APPEARS MORE THAN OFTEN WHEN IM DRIVING THE CAR. CONCERNED ON WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE BURNT PLASTIC CONTACT POINT ON THE LIGHT HOLDER. I RESEARCHED THROUGH THE INTERNET AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 28, 2013
YESTERDAY (10/27/2013) I HAD TO CHANGE OUT MY REAR RIGHT SIDE BRAKE LAMP, WHICH I SUCCESSFULLY DID RIGHT AFTER I SAW THE MESSAGE POP UP ON MY DASHBOARD. THEN TODAY (10/28/2013) IN THE AFTERNOON I TURNED ON MY CAR AND ALL THESE MESSAGES POPPED UP REGARDING MY RIGHT SIDE TURN SIGNAL, RIGHT SIDE REVERSE LIGHT, RIGHT SIDE FOG LIGHT AND THE OTHER BULBS IN THE RIGHT SIDE BULB HOUSING. I THEN OPENED MY TRUNK AND CHECKED IT OUT, AND NOTICED THAT THE FAR LEFT SIDE WIRE OF THE CONNECTOR CONNECTING TO THE BULB HOUSING WAS BURNED LUCKILY IT DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE. I TRIED TO TAKE IT OFF BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO AT THE MOMENT, BUT I WAS ABLE TO TAKE IT OUT AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS. THERE WAS A HORRIBLE SMELL COMING FROM IT AND I TRIED TO CLEAN OUT ALL THE GUNK IN THE CONNECTOR BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO. PLEASE GET THIS ISSUE FIXED AND CALL OUT A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE DOESN'T ACT FAST ENOUGH AND LEAVES THE CONNECTOR PLUGGED IN AND CAUSES IT TO CATCH ON FIRE. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Oct 20, 2013
FOURTH OCCURRENCE OF ALL RIGHT REAR INDICATOR LIGHTS GOING OUT ALL TOGETHER IN THE PAST 2-3 MONTHS. JUST DID SOME RESEARCH AND IT APPEARS NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING THIS. I AM TAKING THIS IN TO THE DEALER TOMORROW HOWEVER, SEVERAL OWNERS OF THE 2009 C CLASS ARE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM DUE TO A BAD CONNECTION TO THE REAR LIGHT UNIT WHICH IS CAUSING SHORTAGES AND FIRES. IT IS VERY EVIDENT THAT MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 16, 2013, fire
RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT WAS DIM; STRONG SMELL OF BURNING WIRING IN THE TRUNK, WIRING HARNESS WAS HOT TO THE TOUCH, AT LEAST ONE WIRE ON THE HARNESS WAS CHARRED / BURNED. DASH WARNING LIGHT EVENTUALLY CAME ON. BROUGHT TO M-B DEALER; NOT COVERED BY ANY FACTORY WARRANTY, RECALL OR THE 3RD PARTY EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 10, 2013, fire
RIGHT REAR LIGHT CONNECTOR AND LIGHTING HOUSING BURNED AND IS NOW INOPERATIVE. PRIOR TO THIS THE LIGHTS WOULD DIM IN AND OUT BEFORE COMPLETELY BURNING OUT. WHEN I OPENED THE TRUCK TO LOOK AT IT THERE WAS A BAD BURN SMELL AND SPARKING COMING FROM THE FIXTURE. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Oct 4, 2013
A DASHBOARD WARNING INDICATOR CAME ON, INDICATING MY RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. I OPENED UP THE TRUNK, AND LOCATED THE HARNESS THAT HOLDS THE REAR TAIL LIGHT BULBS. THERE WAS A BURN MARK IN THE HARNESS THAT HOLDS THE LIGHT BULBS. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD ME THE WIRING SHORTED OUT, AND IT NEEDS REPLACED. I HAVE THE PDF FILE THAT THE DEALER SENT ME INDICATING THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED.... THERE IS AN OUTSTANDING NHTSB COMPLAINT FILED ALREADY... HTTP://BLOGS.AUTOMOTIVE.COM/NHTSA-PROBING-MERCEDES-BENZ-C-CLASS-FOR-TAIL-LIGHT-FAILURES-144659.HTML. *TR
Electrical system, Sep 22, 2013, fire
EXTREME ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. LIGHT BULBS CONSISTENTLY BURNED OUT (LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT, PARKING LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHTS). FINALLY, SMOKE CAME FROM TRUCK/BRAKE LIGHTS AREA AND WIRE HARNESS MELTED.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Sep 9, 2013
AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE THE DASH BOARD LIT UP INDICATING TO CHECK MY REAR RIGHT TAIL LAMP, RIGHT SIDE MARKER, RIGHT BRAKE LAMP, RIGHT HEAD LAMP, RIGHT FOG LAMP. MY HUSBAND THEN COULD FEEL THAT THE BROWN WIRE IN THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE HARNESS ITSELF IS HOT TO TOUCH AND YOU CAN SEE THE WIRES BECAUSE THE COATING AROUND THE WIRES HAS BEGAN TO MELT AWAY.I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM. I HOPE THIS ISSUE WILL BE RESOLVED. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Sep 9, 2013
CAR ILLUMINATED A WARNING TO CHECK REAR LEFT TAILLIGHT. UPON INSPECTION, NOTICED THAT THE WIRING IS STARTING TO RETRACT FROM THE CONNECTOR AND LEFT AND RIGHT ASSEMBLIES HAVE NOTICEABLE BLACKENED AREAS WHERE THE WIRING IS CRIMPED INTO THE CONTACT THAT IS INSERTED INTO THE CONNECTOR. THIS IS SIMILAR TO OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Sep 6, 2013
RECEIVED A MESSAGE THAT REAR LEFT BRAKE LIGHT, FOG LIGHT, TURN SIGNAL WERE OUT. TURNS OUT THE WIRE THAT GOES INTO THE HARNESS HAS MELTED AND SHORTED OUT. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TWO MONTHS LATER WITH THE REAR RIGHT LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN.
Steering, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Sep 3, 2013
BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR A REPAIR OF THE STEERING COLUMN ON 3/9/2013 TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR, WHICH THEY TOOK CARE OF. BUT, THEN ABOUT A MONTH LATER STARTED TO GET WARNINGS FROM THE DASHBOARD TO CHECK MY RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT AND DIRECTIONAL. THEN IT WAS THE RIGHT REAR SIDE LAMPS, TAILLIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, REVERSE LIGHTS AND DIRECTIONAL, EVERY TIME I START THE CAR AND/ OR WHENEVER ONE OF THOSE LIGHTS IS ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING. WAITING FOR A RECALL AND SAW THAT MBUSA REQUIRES EXACT INFORMATION FOR THE COMPLAINTS. *JB