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: exterior lighting
138 reports, newest first. Show all
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
Exterior lighting, Oct 22, 2013
RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT WIRING HARNESS PLUG BURNED AND MELTED. BROWN WIRE END OF PLUG. *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
Exterior lighting, Sep 24, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE BRAKE LAMP, TURN SIGNAL, FOG LIGHT, AND SIDE MARK LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
Exterior lighting, Sep 17, 2013, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND NOTICED THAT THE WIRE THAT CONTROLLED THE TAIL LIGHT WAS MELTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS AND THE TAIL LIGHTS STOP ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. *TR
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
Exterior lighting, Sep 2, 2013
TURNED ONE VEHICLE AND MESSAGE STATED TO CHECK LEFT REAR SIGNAL, SIGNAL LIGHT APPEARED TO BE LOW. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 30 MILES ENTIRE REAR LEFT SIGNAL/BREAK/SIDE LIGHT WAS COMPLETELY UNFUNCTIONAL. ON AUGUST 30TH A VISUAL INSPECTION SHOWED WIRING TO BE FRAYED AND A BURNT MARK ON THE PLASTIC WAS OBSERVED. *JS
Exterior lighting, Aug 12, 2013
MY PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT WAS DIM, SO I WENT TO CHANGE OUT THE BULB. UPON REMOVING THE COVER INSIDE THE TRUNK, NOTICED THE BROWN GROUND WIRE TO THE TAIL LIGHT WAS EXTREMELY HOT, AND HAD MELTED THE PLASTIC HARNESS TO THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS POSTS ON FORUMS ONLINE ABOUT THIS, YET MY LOCAL MERCEDES DEALERSHIP CLAIMED I WAS THE FIRST THEY HAD SEEN. I HAD TO PAY IN FULL TO HAVE THE HARNESS AND BOARD REPLACED. PLEASE ENCOURAGE MERCEDES TO RECALL THIS MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. I'M LUCKY MINE DIDN'T GET TO THE POINT THAT IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND STARTED SMOKING LIKE MANY OTHERS I HAVE READ ABOUT. I'M GUESSING MY DRIVERS SIDE IS NEXT? *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Aug 9, 2013
ON 8/8/2013 MY INFORMATION DISPLAY INDICATED MY RIGHT TAILLIGHT, BLINKER AND BRAKE LIGHTS WERE OUT. WHEN I OPENED THE COMPARTMENT TO SEE WHAT TYPE OF BULBS TO REPLACE I FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE MUCH BIGGER THAN EXPECTED. THE PLASTIC HOUSING THAT HOLD THE WIRING PIN, THE WIRING PIN AND THE BROWN GROUND WIRE WERE ALL BURNT UP CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO FAIL. I THAN OPENED THE LEFT TAIL LIGHT COMPARTMENT AND THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING, THERE IS ALREADY SIGNS OF THE HOUSING BURNING. I REMEMBER SMELLING SOMETHING BURNING IN THE CAR A FEW WEEKS AGO. I NOW KNOW WHAT IT WAS. I AM SURPRISED IT DID NOT CATCH FIRE. I CONTACTED MERCEDES SERVICE ONLY TO FIND I AM RESPONSIBLE PAYING TO HAVE THIS ISSUE CORRECTED. I ONLY HOPE THE LEFT SIDE DOES NOT CAUSE A FIRE BEFORE I AM ABLE TO GET IT FIXED. THIS IS CLEARLY AN UNSAFE ELECTRICAL ISSUE. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Other or unspecified, Aug 8, 2013
THE INFORMATION SYSTEM IN MY CAR GAVE ME THE SYMBOLS FOR THE RIGHT BACK LIGHTS. I STOPPED TO CHECK AND REALIZED MY LIGHTS WERE OUT. I OPENED THE WIRING IN THE TRUNK AND REALIZED THAT THE BROWN WIRE ON THE OUTER SIDE BURNED THROUGH THE CONNECTOR AND THE LAMP CARRIER. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Aug 6, 2013
TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR ON 3/3/2013 DUE TO THE VEHICLE HAD LOCKED FOR NO REASON AND WOULD NOT DRIVE. HAD TO TOW IT TO DEALERSHIP. TURNED OUT IT WAS A STEERING HOUSING ISSUE WHICH THE DEALERSHIP TOOK CARE OF, THEN A MONTH LATER, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS ON THE RIGHT REAR STARTED HAVING ISSUES; STARTED GETTING ALERTS THAT THE RIGHT TAILLIGHT, RIGHT TURN SIGNAL, RIGHT REVERSE LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, AND SIDE LAMP WERE OUT OR NEEDED TO BE CHECKED. ALSO NOTICED THAT BECAUSE OF THIS, WHEN YOU SET THE ALARM, THE RIGHT REAR WON'T LIGHT UP. HAVE NOT BROUGHT IT BACK AS OF YET, WAITING FOR RECALL. *TR
Exterior lighting, Aug 5, 2013
PASSENGER SIDE REAR BRAKE LIGHT, DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL, SIDE MARKER, AND REAR LIGHT NOT OPERATIONAL. IT STARTED WITH THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL WORKING ON AND OFF, IT WOULD WORK FOR A WEEK OR TWO AND THEN ONCE IN A WHILE IT WOULD MALFUNCTION. NOW NONE OF THE LIGHTS ARE OPERATIONAL. UPON INSPECTING THE INSIDE OF THE SOCKET ASSEMBLY ONE OF THE WIRES LOOKED COMPLETELY CORRODED AND UPON TOUCHING IT WAS VERY HOT WHEN THE LIGHTS WERE ON. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jul 30, 2013, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES CL-300. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT HAD BECOME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AND NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHT WAS MELTED. THE DEALER STATED THE HEADLIGHT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63722.
Exterior lighting, Jul 26, 2013
BOTH REAR RIGHT AND LEFT TAIL BULB HOLDERS CONNECTOR AND PIN DAMAGED REPLACED LAMP CARRIERS AND PLUGS. UPON INSPECTION THEY LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE BURNED WITH A TORCH. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 25, 2013
AFTER THE CAR WAS WARMED UP, THE MESSAGE DISPLAY REPORTED TAIL LIGHT OUTAGES IN THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC. THE PIG TAIL AND CIRCUIT BOARD THAT HOLDS THE BULBS SHOWED BURN MARKS WHICH CAUSED THE CIRCUITS TO SHORT OUT. THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD AND PIG TAIL ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jul 17, 2013
THE PASSENGER SIDE TAILLIGHT CONNECTOR, PINS & CARRIER ASSEMBLY FAILED AND TO BE REPLACED. I WAS CHARGED $393.90 FOR THE JOB. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 16, 2013
A MESSAGE ON THE DASH CONSISTENTLY APPEARED, ADVISING TO CHECK RIGHT REAR LIGHTS: BRAKE, FOG, TAIL ETC. WE CHECKED THE REAR LIGHTS AND FOUND THE PLASTIC BOARD THAT HOLDS THE LIGHT BULBS AND WIRING HAD MELTED. WE PURCHASED A NEW BOARD FROM A MERCEDES DEALER. AFTER I INSTALLED IT, IT MADE GOOD CONNECTIONS. THE MESSAGE CONCERNING THE RIGHT LIGHT HAS NOT COME BACK ON. HOWEVER, THE LEFT BRAKE, FOG AND TAIL MESSAGE CAME ON. WHEN CHECKED, THE LEFT BOARD AND WIRING WAS ALSO MELTED. WE PURCHASED ANOTHER NEW BOARD FROM MERCEDES. HOWEVER, I WAS ABLE TO REESTABLISH A CONNECTION USING THE OLD BOARD, AND DID NOT USE THE NEW BOARD. NOW THE RIGHT FRONT FOG LIGHT HAS A SIMILAR ISSUE THAT HAS NOT BEEN INVESTIGATED OR REPAIRED. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 16, 2013
THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS ON MY MB C350 SHOWS SIGNS OF A BURNING/MELTING ON THE CONNECTOR. I INITIALLY RECEIVED A NOTICE ON MY DASH THAT THE RIGHT REAR BULB WAS BAD AND NOT WORKING. I CHECKED THE CONNECTORS AND IT SHOWED SIGNS OF MELTING/BURNING. AFTER ADJUSTING THE WIRES, THE LIGHTS WOULD WORK UNTIL THE CAR WOULD HIT A BUMP AND I WOULD HAVE TO AGAIN RESET THE WIRES. *TR