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
670 reports, newest first.
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
Exterior lighting, Jan 8, 2014, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT, REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT AND THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED. THE LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE BULB HOWEVER THE WIRES OVERHEATED AND MELTED, CAUSING THE LIGHT BULB AND ASSEMBLY TO BECOME DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,505.
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
Vehicle speed control, Jan 7, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY DECELERATED AND RESPONDED TO BRAKING ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,500.
Exterior lighting, Jan 6, 2014
APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AGO, THE BACK (DRIVER-SIDE) TAIL LIGHTS WERE MALFUNCTIONING AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE BULB. I DID MENTION THIS TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP WHEN I WENT TO SERVICE ANOTHER ISSUE, BUT THEY STATED THERE WAS NO ISSUES, JUST A BAD BULB. UNFORTUNATELY THIS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES BEFORE A SERVICE TECH NOTICED THAT THE BACK BOARD WAS "FRIED" AND SUGGESTED I GO TO A MERCEDES DEALERSHIP TO GET IT REPAIRED. NOT ONLY AM I PAST THE 5YR, 50,000 MILE WARRANTY, SO MERCEDES WILL NOT COVER THE COSTS, BUT THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD MY CAR FOR 3 DAYS AND CANNOT DETERMINE HOW TO REPAIR THE ISSUE. THEY REPLACED THE BOARD, BUT THEY ARE NOW STATING THAT THEY MAY NEED TO REPLACE ALL OF THE WIRES. I CALLED MERCEDES TO COMPLAIN, BUT WITHOUT A RECALL IN PLACE, THEY WILL NOT COVER THE COSTS TO REPAIR. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jan 5, 2014
TAIL LIGHT PROBLEMS. WE STARTED RECEIVING WARNING MESSAGES REGARDING A DRIVER'S TAIL LIGHT MALFUNCTION. WE CHECKED THE LIGHTS BUT THEY WERE FINE. FINALLY IN NOVEMBER THE LIGHT WENT OUT. WE PURCHASED NEW BULBS FOR THE TAIL LIGHT BUT DISCOVERED IT WASN'T THE BULBS. THE TAIL LIGHT UNIT WAS DAMAGED, BURNED, MELTED ETC. WE ARE NOW RECEIVING THE SAME WARNINGS REGARDING THE RIGHT TAIL LIGHT. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jan 4, 2014
EA13-008: DURING MID-SUMMER THE DASH WARNING MESSAGE STATING "CHECK CENTER BRAKE LIGHT" BEGAN TO APPEAR INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES IT WOULD REMAIN ON;OTHER TIMES IT WOULD NOT. OVER TIME, IT HAPPENED WITH LESS FREQUENCY, THEN WOULD BE MORE FREQUENT A WEEK OR TWO LATER. AT SOME POINT IN TIME I SAW AN ITEM ABOUT A POTENTIAL RECALL FOR MERCEDES RELATED TO WIRING IN THE TRUNK (WHICH IS WHERE THIS LIGHT IS LOCATED). I STOPPED BY THE MERCEDES DEALER AND INQUIRED ABOUT THIS. I AM UNSURE OF THE DATE, BUT THINK IT WAS IN AUGUST 2013. I HAVE ENTERED A DATE IN THAT TIME-FRAME AND CORRESPONDING MILEAGE ON THE CAR. (BUT BOTH COULD BE DIFFERENT.) THE DEALER'S SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THAT HE HAD SEEN NOTHING ON THIS TOPIC. HE CHECKED THE CAR AND, OF COURSE, AT THAT TIME THE MESSAGE WAS NOT DISPLAYING ON THE DASH AND THE CENTER BRAKE LIGHT WAS WORKING WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. OVER THE INTERVENING MONTHS, THE MESSAGE DISPLAYED SOMETIMES AND NOT OTHERS. WHENEVER IT DISPLAYED AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO SO SAFELY, WE WOULD CHECK THE BRAKE LIGHT ITSELF. WHENEVER THE MESSAGE DISPLAYED THE LIGHT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. IN DECEMBER 2013, THE FREQUENCY OF THE MESSAGE APPEARING (AND LIGHT NOT OPERATING) INCREASED. ON DECEMBER 30, 2013, I HAD AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE MERCEDES DEALER AND AGAIN REPORTED THE PROBLEM. OF COURSE, AGAIN, THE MESSAGE WAS NOT DISPLAYING AND THE CENTER BRAKE LIGHT WAS WORKING. LATER THAT SAME DATE, THE DEALER REPORTED THAT THEY HAD FULLY TESTED THE LIGHT AND THE WIRING AND IT WAS WORKING OKAY. HOWEVER, ANOTHER ISSUE WE HAD RAISED WITH THEM NEEDED ADDITIONAL TIME TO RESOLVE. SO, WE LEFT THE CAR WITH THEM FOR A FEW DAYS (NEW YEAR'S WEEK). WHEN THE DEALER PHONED (ON 1/3/14) TO REPORT THE CAR WAS READY TO PICK UP WE WERE TOLD THAT WHEN THE CAR WAS TEST DRIVEN THE MESSAGE HAD DISPLAYED AND THE LIGHT DID NOT WORK. EVER SINCE, THIS IS NOW A CONTINUING PROBLEM. *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
Fuel system, Gasoline, Dec 31, 2013
I'VE NOTICED A SEVERE GASOLINE SMELL (INSIDE AND OUTSIDE) AND VEHICLE WILL STALL AT TIMES WHEN STARTING THE CAR, SO WE TOOK IT A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND GET IT FIXED. THEY FOUND LEFT FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS LEAKING FROM A PLASTIC WELD. IT SEEMS LITTLE ODD TO HAVE THIS TYPES OF ISSUES AT A SUCH YOUNG AGE OF THE CAR. *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
Exterior lighting, Dec 29, 2013
ON 6/10/2013 I HAD ERROR CODE AND PASSENGER SIDE PINS & CARRIER ASSEMBLY FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED DEALER CHARGED ME $393.90 FOR THE JOB. ON 6/10/2013. ON 12/28/2013 I GET AN ERROR MESSAGE THAT THE LEFT SIDE TAIL LIGHT IS OUT. *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
Exterior lighting, Structure, Dec 27, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE HEARD A POPPING NOISE. UPON INVESTIGATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE PASSENGER TAILLIGHT BULB FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVER'S FRONT INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 47,000.
Exterior lighting, Dec 26, 2013, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2009 MERCEDES C300. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED ON THE VEHICLE ADVISING HER TO SERVICE THE REAR LIGHTING. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER LIGHT WIRING WAS BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51400. UPDATED 2/11/14*CN
Exterior lighting, Dec 20, 2013
MY TAIL LIGHTS STARTED TO GOING IN AND OUT. WHEN I WENT TO CHECK THE BULBS ALL BULBS ARE GOOD AND THERE IS BURN MARKS ON THE CASING HOLD IN THE BULB AND WIRING FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHTS. THERE IS A SHORT IN THE TAIL LIGHT WIRING. *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
Exterior lighting, Dec 13, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CHECK TAIL LIGHT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
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
Exterior lighting, Nov 13, 2013
WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, THEN ALL THE CHECK LIGHT BULBS WENT ON FOR THE REAR LEFT SIDE GOT HOME AND NOTICED THERE WAS A BURN MARK ON THE LIGHT CONNECTOR. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 11/02/2013 HAD LEFT REAR LIGHT CONNECTOR AND WIRING REPLACED A WEEK LATER, THE RIGHT REAR SIGNAL CHECK LIGHT BULB CAME ON. GOT HOME CHECKED THE CONNECTOR WHICH HAD A BROWN BURN SPOT ALSO AND LOOSE WIRING IN THE BACK OF THE CONNECTOR SO NOW I HAVE TO GO HAVE THE RIGHT CONNECTOR AND WIRING REPLACED. *TR
Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Nov 12, 2013
DIM LEFT STOP LIGHT. MELTED PLUG. MERCEDES BENZ C300 2009 W204. *TR