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.
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
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 15, 2013
I HAVE A 2009 MERCEDES C300. I JUST READ A NEWS STORY THAT THIS MODEL MAY BE RECALLED BASED ON NUMEROUS REPORTS ABOUT FIRE OR BURN SMELLS COMING FROM THE REAR LIGHT. MY REAR RIGHT BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT LAST WINTER. WHEN I TOOK IT INTO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP, THEY TOOK THE PANEL OUT WITH THE LIGHT BULBS AND THERE WAS A BURNT RESIDUE AROUND THE BULB THAT WAS BLOWN OUT. THEY REPLACED THE UNIT AND THE WIRING, BUT I HAD TO PAY FOR THE SERVICE. THEY THOUGHT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A RECALL, BUT AFTER CHECKING THEIR COMPUTER, THEY DID NOT SAY THAT IT WAS RECALLED, SO I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. NOW THE REAR LEFT LIGHTS ARE MUCH DIMMER THAN THE RIGHT SIDE. THE DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED THAT I HAVE THAT REPLACED AS WELL, BUT ONCE AGAIN AT MY COST. IF THIS DEFECT HAS BEEN SIGHTED IN OTHER VEHICLES FROM THIS MODEL YEAR, THEY SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER A RECALL BEFORE THE LIGHTING PANEL ACTUALLY CATCHES FIRE AND CREATES A BIGGER ISSUE FOR THE COMPANY. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 15, 2013
RECEIVED IN-DASH NOTIFICATIONS THAT ALL LIGHTS ON LEFT SIDE OF CAR WERE OUT. TOOK TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, WHICH FOUND THAT LEFT REAR TAILLIGHT HOUSING HAD MELTED. HAD NEW LIGHTING CARRIER INSTALLED AND WIRES REPAIRED. *TR
Service brakes, Jun 21, 2013
CALIPER ON THE BRAKES WERE STICKING CAUSE THE ROTORS TO WARP- REPLACED ALL PARTS AFTER 3,000 MILES SAME THING HAPPENED-- TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEAL SHIP - REPLACED NEW CALIPERS ROTORS-3500 MILES LATER SAME THING HAPPENED TOOK THE CAR BACK AGAIN - REPLACED ALL THE PARTS 5000 MILES LATER SAME THING IT IS NOW JUNE AND THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR A WEEK AGAIN. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jun 19, 2013
THE LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT HAD A BULB THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST UNDER $10. IT NEEDED MORE THAN A BULB AS THE WIRING HAD MELTED AND IT REQUIRED A NEW LEFT REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLY KIT WITH A NEW HARNESS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AT A COST OF $300. THE AUTO SHOP TECHNICIAN SHOWED HOW THE WIRING HAD COMPLETELY MELTED AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE COMPLETE REAR LIGHT MODULE. THIS HAD TO BE A DEFECTIVE PART AND MERCEDES HAD NOT ISSUED A RECALL TO COVER THE COST. THE MELTED WIRES POSE A FIRE HAZARD. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Jun 19, 2013
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE COMPUTER CHIP KEY POD AND THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DISABLED, STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY HAD AN ELECTRICAL FAULT. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP, UNABLE TO TURN IGNITION ON. NO ADVANCE NOTICE THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MERCEDES DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, ALMOST 50 MILES AT A COST OF $240. THE REPAIR WAS $707.00 AND INVOLVED REPLACEMENT OF STEERING COLUMN LOCK ASSEMBLY. THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BY MERCEDES AND THEY HAVE NOT ANNOUNCED A RECALL EVEN THOUGH THIS PROBLEM SEEMS PREVALENT ON THE INTERNET. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS HAVING A VEHICLE THAT CANNOT BE OPERATED, NOR REPAIRED BY ANYONE OTHER THAN AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. THIS PROBLEM STRANDS THE DRIVER AT A PLACE WHEREVER THE PROBLEM MAY OCCUR. I HAD THE DEALERSHIP RETURN THE FAULTY PART IF NHTSA WOULD LIKE TO INSPECT IT. THE MERCEDES BENZ STEERING COLUMN LOCK PROBLEM IS NOT FROM WEAR AND TEAR, MORE LIKELY A SOFTWARE PROBLEM BETWEEN THE IGNITION AND THE KEY. AS A CONSUMER, I FEEL RIPPED OFF TO THE TUNE OF $1,000 TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM THAT MERCEDES KNOWS ABOUT, YET HAS NOT INITIATED A RECALL TO REPAIR THE FAULT. *TR
Steering, Jun 4, 2013
I PARKED VEHICLE IN A PUBLIC PARKING LATE AT NIGHT. I WAS WITH MY SON, I TRIED TO TURN ON VEHICLE AND IT DID NOT START. I WAS STRANDED LATE AT NIGHT WITH MY SON WITH NO RIDE. I HAD TWO MECHANICS LOOK AT IT, ONE OF WHICH WAS A MECHANIC FOR THE MERCEDES DEALER. BOTH STATING IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK MODULE, THEY BOTH TOLD ME THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MERCEDES C300. THIS PROBLEM COSTS $1300 TO FIX WITH THE DEALER, THE PART ALONE IS OVER $550. READING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ONLINE, IT IS VERY COMMON IN THE 2008-2009 MODELS, NORMALLY OCCURRING AROUND 3-4 YEARS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. MERCEDES SHOULD HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM! THESES ARE FAIRLY NEW VEHICLES AND IT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT! *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jun 4, 2013
WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING THE RIGHT TAIL LAMP, BRAKE LAMP, FOG LAMP DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. UPON INSPECTION, THE GROUND WIRE INSULATION AND CONNECTOR ON THE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAD MELTED FROM OVERHEATING. WE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ALL LIGHTING ON THE RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY. *TR
Electrical system, May 28, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND SECONDS LATER, ALL OF THE WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CIRCUIT BREAKER HAD BURNED OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, May 23, 2013, fire
ELECTRICAL SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD LEAD TO FIRE. LEFT REAR TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY UNIT MELTED DUE TO IMPROPER GROUND DUE TO FAULTY WIRING HARNESS. TALKED WITH MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. I ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL AS THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AND WAS ADVISED THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUES. WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM IS SO COMMON THAT MERCEDES HAS A REPAIR KIT BUT WANTS ME TO PAY $200 TO HAVE THE SAFETY ISSUE FIXED. MERCEDES REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL SOMEONE IS KILLED AND FORCED TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL TO FIX THIS DEFECT. IF YOU GOOGLE 2009 C300 BRAKE LIGHT RECALL YOU WILL FIND COUNTLESS PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE INCLUDING IDENTICAL PHOTOS OF THE MELTED BULB ASSEMBLY UNIT. I WOULD HOPE FOR THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE THAT THE NTSB COULD REVIEW THIS ISSUE FURTHER BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUS INJURED. *TR
Electrical system, Apr 10, 2013
CAR DASH DISPLAY INDICATED TO CHECK RIGHT REAR TURN LAMP. WHILE CHECKING THE LAMP, THE LAMP HOLDER ASSEMBLY WAS HOT. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO UNPLUG THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TO THE LAMP HOLDER ASSEMBLY, DISCOVERED THAT THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WAS MELTING (SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE GROUND WIRE). THERE SEEM TO BE OTHER REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE ON WEB FORUMS (E.G. MB WORLD). *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 13, 2013
THE LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. I HAD TO REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS ATTACHED TO THE BULB BRACKET. THIS WAS REPLACED ON 2/13/2013. EXACTLY ONE MONTH LATER, THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING ON 3/13/2013. I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE SAME ASSEMBLY OF PARTS. I HAVE NO DAMAGE TO THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. MERCEDES BENZ HAD A RECALL ON THE (MERCEDES BENZ M-CLASS YEAR 2009) FOR THE REAR LIGHTS. *TR
Electrical system, Feb 24, 2013, fire
DRIVING AT NIGHT. INSTRUMENT WARNING OF NUMEROUS FAILED TAIL LIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES AT THE SAME TIME. PULLED OVER AND OPENED TRUNK. TRUNK WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE AND BURNING PLASTIC SMELL. OBSERVED ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS ON BOTH TAIL LIGHT BULB HOLDERS MELTING AND SMOLDERING. VISUAL FLAME (SMALL) ON GROUND WIRE ON RIGHT TAIL LIGHT CONNECTOR. OBSERVED BOTH BULB HOLDER ASSEMBLIES AND THEIR ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS HEAVILY DAMAGED BY FIRE/HEAT ONLY AROUND THE BROWN (GROUND) WIRES. REMOVED ASSEMBLIES AND WAS ABLE TO RESTORE SOME TAIL LIGHT FUNCTIONS BY CLEANING ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS OF MELTED PLASTIC. NOTED CORROSION AROUND GROUND TERMINAL PIN OF CONNECTORS. NO INDICATION OF MOISTURE OR WATER LEAKS IN AREA. NO FUSES BLEW. ALL BULBS GOOD. TAIL LIGHT OPERATION NOW INTERMITTENT. WILL CONTACT DEALER TO REPLACE PARTS - FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM DUE TO FIRE AND THE CIRCUIT NOT BEING PROTECTED BY FUSE. *TR UPDATED 3/28/13 *CN..UPDATED 09-09-14 *BF
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Feb 14, 2013
WARNING INDICATORS FLASHED FOR ALL THE RIGHT SIDE REAR LIGHTS. WHEN I WENT TO CHANGE BULBS DISCOVERED THE COVERING ON WIRES HAD MELTED ALONG WITH THE PLASTIC HARNESS. TOOK IT TO DEALER NEXT DAY AND THE HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR A LITTLE OVER $150. IT IS HAPPENING ON THE OTHER SIDE ALSO. SERVICE REP HAS SEEN ON OTHER C300S. MB DENIES THIS IS A DEFECT. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Dec 21, 2012, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT THE DEALER HE SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN IN ORDER TO DRIVE THROUGH AN AUTOMATIC DOOR WHEN SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE DOOR. THE DRIVER AND TWO OTHER PEOPLE WERE INJURED. THEY WERE ALL TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH INJURIES TO THE THIGH, LEG, AND A BRUISED COLLAR BONE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION FAILURE OR ANY RELATED RECALLS. THE CONTACT STATED THE FLY BY WIRE CAUSED THE ACCELERATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,660. UPDATED 02/07/13
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Dec 20, 2012
WARNING ON DASH SHOWS RR BRAKE LIGHT IS OUT AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS IS OUT. WENT TO LOOK AT THE BACK OF THE CAR TO SEE IF THE LIGHTS WHERE ON AND THE RR LIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS DIM. OPEN THE PANEL WHERE THE BULBS ARE AND THE WIRE HARNESS WAS FRIED. THIS MIGHT BE A FIRE HAZARD. *TR UPDATED 03/27/13*LJ UPDATED 04/02/2013 *JS
Air bags, Seat belts, Oct 26, 2012
RIGHT AFTER THE MANUFACTURES WARRANTY ENDED, THE LEFT FRONT SRS MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON IN MY VEHICLE, ACCOMPANIED BY THE AIR BAG LIGHT. I DID RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO SUFFER FROM THIS MALFUNCTION. THE LIGHT DOES NOT GO OFF AND THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE THAT IS INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE TO FIX (APPROX. COSTS ARE OVER $1000.00 AT MY DEALERSHIP) AND SINCE IT HAS BEEN A RECURRING DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE YEAR AFTER YEAR, IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY MERCEDES AT NO COST TO MYSELF AND OTHER MERCEDES OWNERS. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 12, 2012
AT SOME POINT IN TIME THE LEFT REAR TAILLIGHT STARTED TO DIM DRAMATICALLY. I OPENED THE ENCLOSURE TO CHANGE THE BULBS THINKING THEY WERE BURNT OUT AND FOUND THE WIRE HARNESS AS WELL AS THE BULB DOCK HAD MELTED BECAUSE OF OVERHEATING. A FUSE DID NOT BLOW AND THE CARS COMPUTER NEVER GAVE ANY INDICATION OF THIS ISSUE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE SYSTEM COULD ACTUALLY CATCH ON FIRE AND IT IS IN THE TRUNK AND NOT FAR FROM THE GAS TANK. AFTER RESEARCHING ON MB WORLD THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM AND FLAW. I THINK IT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AND DETERMINE IF THERE IS A GREATER ISSUE HERE. *TR....UPDATED 03/27/13 *BF UPDATED 04/03/2013 *JS
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Feb 1, 2012
MY CAR COMPUTER WAS SHOWING A MESSAGE THAT THE RIGHT REAR SIGNAL LIGHT, FOG LIGHT NEEDED TO BE CHECKED. MY HUSBAND CHANGED THE BULBS AND THE MESSAGE WAS STILL THERE. THESE LIGHTS WERE NO LONGER OPERATING PROPERLY. TOOK THE CAR FOR SCHEDULED SERVICE AND BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE MECHANIC AT A MERCEDES BENZ DEALER/AUTO SERVICE. HE TOLD MY DAUGHTER THAT HE REMOVED THE ACCESS PANEL AND FOUND THAT THE CONNECTOR TO A BULB CARRIER, WIRE HARNESS AND BULB CARRIER WERE MELTED DUE TO A SHORT AT THE GROUND WIRE OF THE 7 PIN CONNECTOR. I CALLED THE SERVICE MGR HE COULD NOT TELL ME OR EXPLAIN WHY THIS HAPPENED OR ITS CAUSE. DISAPPOINTED BY HIS LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPLANATION OF THE CAUSE, I CONTACTED MBUSA. AT FIRST THE PERSON THAT ANSWERED TRIED TO BRUSH ME OFF " THIS CAN HAPPEN". WHEN I INSISTED FOR A BETTER ANSWER OR EXPLANATION SHE REFERRED ME TO A "[XXX]"1-800-367-6372 EXT.[XXX]. WHO STATED THAT SHE WOULD SPEAK TO OTHER TECHNICAL PEOPLE AND GET BACK TO ME. WHEN SHE GOT BACK TO ME, IT WAS BASICALLY SHE WAS GOING TO SPEAK TO THE SERVICE MGR. AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT SERVICED MY CAR.HE CALLED ME ON 2/01/12 NOT CLARIFYING THE CAUSE,JUST RE-ITERATED WHAT HE HAD PREVIOUSLY STATED. I CALL [XXX] WHO SIMPLY STATED THAT THIS HAS NEVER BEEN REPORTED BEFORE, BUT IT CAN HAPPEN, AND STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD GIVE ME A $200.00 DISCOUNT AT THE NEXT SERVICE DATE. I WANTED AN EXPLANATION OF THE CAUSE, COULD THIS HAPPEN AGAIN, COULD THIS LEAD TO FURTHER MELTING, THAT COULD LEAD TO A FIRE, A BIGGER SHORTAGE, AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. I WAS TOLD BY THE MGR. AT DEALERSHIP, HE CANNOT FORESEE THE FUTURE AND HE COULD NOT PREDICT IF THIS WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. I WAS TOLD THAT A DEFECTIVE PART IS NOT A MAJOR ISSUE.NO ONE OFFERED TO LOOK FURTHER INTO THE DEFECTIVE PART AND TRY AND FIND OUT WHAT REALLY HAPPEN. IF A PART IS DEFECTIVE, IT SHOULD BE EVALUATED OR EVEN ASK FOR THE PART . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR
Air bags, Jan 19, 2012, crash
I WAS CROSSING TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC AND WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY TWO SUVS. THE IMPACT OF THE COLLISION CAUSED ME TO GO AIRBORNE, I WENT FRONT END FIRST INTO A DITCH EMBANKMENT. THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE FRONT END AND OF THE FRONT END WAS PUSHED BACK INTO THE MOTOR AREA, CAUSING THE HOOD OF THE CAR TO BEND BACK TOWARDS THE FRONT WINDOW. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS WITH APPROXIMATELY $21,000 WORTH OF TOTAL DAMAGES. THE ONLY AIRBAG THAT DEPLOYED WAS THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS. NEITHER THE FRONT AIRBAGS NOR THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UPON THE COLLISION. I SUSTAINED A FRACTURED NECK AND BROKE MY LEFT ARM. THE BREAK WAS SO SEVERE THAT I HAD TO UNDERGO SURGERY TO HAVE PINS AND PLATES PUT INTO MY ARM. MY DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT THE HARD FORCE OF THE IMPACT WAS THE CAUSE OF MY SEVERELY FRACTURED ARM WITH PERMANENT NERVE DAMAGE. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH MERCEDES BECAUSE I FELT THE FRONT AIR BAG AS WELL AS THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED UPON MY COLLISION INTO THE EMBANKMENT. MERCEDES REPLIED TO MY COMPLAINT STATING THE AIRBAGS WORKED PROPERLY. I PURCHASED THE CAR BASED ON THEIR ADVERTISED SAFETY FEATURES AND THE OUTCOME OF MY COLLISION WAS TOTALLY NOT WHAT I EXPECTED. BASED ON MY RESEARCH VIA THE MERCEDES C300 ONLINE CRASH TEST DEMONSTRATES THE FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYING WITH THE SAME FRONT END DAMAGE WITH A SIMILAR TYPE IMPACT. MERCEDES TOLD ME THEY SENT AN INSPECTOR OUT TO LOOK AT THE CAR BUT REFUSED TO PROVIDE ME WITH DETAILS OF THEIR INVESTIGATION, STATING IT WAS CONSIDER INTERNAL INFORMATION. TO THIS DAY, I STILL DON'T KNOW WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WITH THE AMOUNT OF FRONT END AND PASSENGER SIDE DAMAGE, I WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. I WOULD LIKE A THIRD PARTY INVESTIGATION TO BE DONE TO DETERMINE IF THE AIRBAG DID DEPLOY PROPERLY. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE CAR AND WOULD BE WILLING TO SEND THEM. *TT
Exterior lighting, Air bags, Dec 29, 2011, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE LIGHT AND TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE TAIL AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS AS WELL AS THE SRS AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT, ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE WIRE CONNECTOR FOR THE TAIL LIGHTS WAS MELTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,500. KMJ UPDATED 01/10/12*LJ UPDATED 03/29/2013 *JS
Tires, Aug 25, 2011
TIRE AIR LEAKING RESULT FROM RIM CRACK WITHIN 1ST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP OF 2009 MERCEDES C300. IT IS ORIGINAL MANUFACTURING DEFECT, AND THE MANUFACTURE RESPOND VERY SLOW FOR OUR REPORT OF PROBLEM. *TR
Exterior lighting, Aug 17, 2011
THERE IS NO FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE BUT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. FOG LIGHT LENS THAT IS MADE OF GLASS HAS NO SAFETY BARRIERS TO PROTECT IT FROM BREAKAGE AND IT IS MOUNTED VERY LOW. WITH THE CRACK OF THE LENS, THE FOG LIGHT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED AND THE COST TO CHANGE IS IT $248. MERCEDES IS REFUSING TO ACCEPT IT AS A DESIGN DEFECT. IF I DO NOT CHANGE THIS DUE TO COST, IT IS A BIG HAZARD ESPECIALLY FOR OWNERS LIVING IN FOG PRONE AREAS LIKE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA WHERE I LIVE. IF NOT CHANGED, THERE ARE CHANCES OF ACCIDENT ON THE ROAD DURING FOG DAYS. MERCEDES HAS CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE FOG LIGHTS IN THE FOLLOWING YEARS (AFTER 2009) OF C300. MERCEDES SHOULD CHANGE THIS DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND FIX IT FOR FREE FOR 2009 YEAR AS WELL FOR FREE. EVEN AFTER I PAY $248 TO GET THE LIGHT CHANGED MYSELF, IT WILL CRACK AGAIN SINCE IT IS MADE OF GLASS AND NOT COVERED BY ANY PROTECTIVE BARRIER. SO, EVEN AFTER PAYING TO GET THE FOG LIGHT REPLACED IS NOT GOING TO FIX THE DESIGN DEFECT.