2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 476 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 23 C-Class model years with reports.
Of the 2010 reports, 20 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 20 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: exterior lighting
50 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, May 27, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEAD LAMP CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. AS A RESULT, THE BATTERY DRAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Exterior lighting, Feb 5, 2015
MY CAR IS ALWAYS PARK IN THE BACK OF MY YARD.. AND I ALWAYS CHECK AROUND MY CAR REGARDLESS OF WHERE I AM... DROVE TO WORK WHICH TOOK ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND NOTICE WHEN I GOT IN MY CAR TO GO TO LUNCH THE FOG LIGHT WAS OUT ON THE LEFT DRIVING SIDE AND THE RIGHT FOG LOG IS CRACK ALSO.. NO OTHER VEHICLES PARKS IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE I PARK FACING THE BUILDING OF MY WORKPLACE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SHIP SHE ADVISE THAT SOMEONE BURST THE FOG LIGHT OUT ON THE LEFT DRIVE SIDE AND GAVE ME A QUOTE OF $350 TO FIX FOR EACH FOG LIGHT... ADVISE COULDN'T BE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF HOW PECULIAR I AM WITH HOW AND WHERE I PARK AND BECAUSE I CHECK MY VEHICLE BEFORE ENTERING TO DRIVE... I USE TO DRIVE WITH MY FOG LIGHTS ON COMMUTING BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. THE ONLY THING I CAN SEE IS THAT IT GOT OVERHEATED BUT HOW BECAUSE OF THE SHORT COMMUTE TIME... TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 12, 2014
I RECEIVED NOTICE OF A SAFETY RECALL INVOLVING THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS FOR MY 2010 MERCEDES C300. THIS CAR HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. HOWEVER, IT WAS REBUILT, INSPECTED, AND CERTIFIED AS ROAD WORTHY. THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO PERFORM THE RECALL WORK ON MY CAR, STATING THAT THE FACT THAT THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS INVALIDATES ANY WARRANTY AND A SAFETY RECALL IS CONSIDERED WARRANTY WORK. I FEEL THAT A SAFETY RECALL IS NOT OPTIONAL, AND THAT MERCEDES NEEDS TO PERFORM THIS WORK, REGARDLESS OF WARRANTY ELIGIBILITY. *TR
Exterior lighting, Nov 17, 2014
SECOND INCIDENT OF ALL LIGHTS SUDDENLY FAILING AND THEN BEING RESTORED WITHIN THREE SECONDS DEALER FIXED BY CHANGING OUT LIGHTING SWITCH BECAUSE THEIR DATABASE SHOWED SIMILAR INCIDENTS WITH OTHER SIMILAR CARS AND CHANGING THE LIGHTING SWITCH APPEARED TO CURE THE PROBLEM ALTHOUGH NO PROBLEM COULD BE SEEN WITH SWITCH. ALTHOUGH ONLY 3 MONTHS OUT IF TIME ON THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY MERCEDES DECLINED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR AND TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD HAVE CONSIDERED BUYING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I REMONSTRATED THAT THIS WAS A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS FAULT AND THAT MERCEDES SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL -MERCEDES DECLINED ANY FURTHER ACTION. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Aug 17, 2014, fire
THE WARNING SYSTEM FOR THE REAR LIGHTS HAVE BEEN GOING OFF SINCE PURCHASING THE CERTIFIED PREOWNED VEHICLE IN JUNE 2014. IT WAS RETURNED THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE ISSUE AND NEVER FIXED. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND THE WARNING SYSTEM INFORMED ME TO CHECK ALL OF MY REAR LIGHTS. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS FUNCTIONING ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, AND REAR FOG LAMPS WERE ALL NOT FUNCTIONING. WHEN A ROAD SIDE TECHNICIAN CHECKED THE VEHICLE HE SAW BURNT WIRES AND MELTED PLASTIC ON THE LIGHTING MOUNT. THIS OCCURRED DURING A ROUTINE TRIP FROM NEW JERSEY INTO PHILADELPHIA, PA AND INCLUDED DRIVING OVER THE BEN FRANKLIN BRIDGE. ONCE I REACH PHILLY I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE. THAT IS WHEN THE ISSUE WAS LOCATED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. NO MORE INFORMATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED FROM THE DEALER YET. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jun 10, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 14V17700 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE REPAIRS WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 23, 2014
RECEIVED MESSAGE REAR LICENSE LIGHT OUT. REPLACED BULB BUT CONTINUED GETTING MESSAGE. REAR PARKING CAMERA STARTED DISPLAYING IMAGES WHEN BRAKE DEPRESSED. MESSAGES CONTINUED TO CHECK ALL REAR LIGHT BULBS. WHEN INSPECTING, I NOTICED BURN MARKS ON BULB CARRIER (PART #211-545-03-28) AND PLUG (PART #204-820-09-77). I PURCHASED NEW PARTS TO INSTALL BUT HAD DIFFICULTY REMOVING THE WIRE CLIPS FROM THE PLUG. I WAS NOT AWARE AND THE MERCEDES PARTS DEPARTMENT DID NOT MENTION I WOULD NEED TO ALSO GET CONNECTOR PINS (OR THAT THIS OVERHEATING WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM). UNABLE TO EASILY REMOVE WIRING & PINS, I DECIDED TO SEARCH INTERNET FOR GUIDANCE ON REPLACEMENT (BEFORE CUTTING WIRES) AND DISCOVERED SEVERAL WEBSITES RECITING OTHERS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH OVERHEATING OF THE GROUND WIRE CONNECTION AND THAT A RECALL INVESTIGATION HAD BEEN STARTED. IT CERTAINLY APPEARS THAT THIS PROBLEM OF OVERHEATING/MELTING OF PARTS IS A REAL FIRE HAZARD THAT IS OCCURRING FREQUENTLY ENOUGH TO AT LEAST REQUIRE THAT A NOTICE BE SENT TO CAR OWNERS TO HAVE CARRIAGES & WIRING PROMPTLY INSPECTED AND REPAIRED. *TR
Exterior lighting, Apr 10, 2014
ALL OF A SUDDEN I RECEIVED AN ERROR MESSAGE IN MY DISPLAY STATING CHECK ALL REAR RIGHT EXTERIOR LIGHTS. NATURE RIGHT SIDE IS OUT. MY MECHANIC LOOKED AT SAID THE BROWN WIRE IS FRAYED AND MELTED THE PLASTIC BULB HOLDER. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND IT IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 8, 2014
ALL BULBS ON THE RIGHT SIDE TAIL LIGHT ARE NOT WORKING, THAT INCLUDES BRAKE LIGHT, REVERSE LIGHT, AND SIGNAL LIGHT. I THOUGHT THE BULBS WERE OUT BUT WHEN I WENT TO CHANGE THE BULBS THEY WERE ALL FINE. WHAT I DID NOTICED WAS THE BROWN WIRE WAS BURNT AND SO WAS THE PLASTIC THAT HOLDS THE WIRES TOGETHER, IT SEEMED LIKE THAT ENTIRE SIDE WAS BURNT AND EVEN MELTED. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND IT ALSO SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD. I'VE MENTIONED THIS A FEW TIMES TO THE DEALER. EACH TIME THEY LOOK FOR A RECALL WITH NO SUCCESS. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM DIRECTLY TO MB AND SINCE THERE STILL HASN'T BEEN A RECALL, I'M NOW REPORTING TO NHTSA. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 3, 2014
I GOT COUPLE WARNING MESSAGES ON MY 2010 MB C-300 THAT THE TAILLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT THINKING IT WAS THE LIGHTBULBS THAT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED, I FOUND OUT THAT THE TAILLIGHT WIRES AND CONNECTORS HAVE OVERHEATED AND MELTED. IN MY CASE, THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND MERCEDES CUSTOMER CARE DID TAKE THE INITIATIVE AND REPLACED THE WIRES AND CONNECTORS WITH NO COST TO ME, AFTER I DISCUSSED WITH THEM ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS PROBLEM IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA. I DO APPRECIATE MB DEALER AND CUSTOMER CARE'S HELP TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE AND TAKE CARE OF MY CAR. HOWEVER, I WANT TO REPORT MY CASE TO NHTSA TO HELP YOUR AGENCY IN DATA COLLECTION TO DETERMINE HOW WIDE SPREAD THE PROBLEM IS AND WHETHER A RECALL SHOULD BE WARRANTED. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 20, 2014, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE LIGHT FAILED DUE TO A MELTED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 2, 2014
REAR TAIL LIGHTS HAVE PROGRESSIVELY DIMMED OVER TIME. WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTING. CONNECTOR TO LIGHT CARRIER AND TAILLIGHT WIRING WAS CORRODED. REPAIR OF CORRODED WIRING, CONNECTOR, AND LIGHT CARRIER WAS REQUIRED. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Feb 2, 2014
ALL BULBS ON THE RIGHT SIDE TAIL LIGHT ARE NOT WORKING, THAT INCLUDES BRAKE LIGHT, REVERSE LIGHT, AND SIGNAL LIGHT. I THOUGHT THE BULBS WERE OUT BUT WHEN I WENT TO CHANGE THE BULBS THEY WERE ALL FINE. WHAT I DID NOTICED WAS THE BROWN WIRE WAS BURNT AND SO WAS THE PLASTIC THAT HOLDS THE WIRES TOGETHER, IT SEEMED LIKE THAT ENTIRE SIDE WAS BURNT AND EVEN MELTED. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND IT ALSO SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD. I SPOKE TO ONE OF MY MECHANIC FRIENDS WHO SUGGESTED I BRING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER TO TRY AND RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AND HE ALSO ADVISED ME TO DISCONNECT THE WIRES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AS THIS COULD CAUSE A POTENTIAL FIRE. SINCE I'M PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD (50,000 MILES) I'M NOT SURE HOW I'M GOING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, IT MAY BE PRETTY COSTLY AND I'M NOT SURE WHERE TO START. I THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT THIS TO THE NHTSA SINCE THIS CAN POSSIBLY CAUSE MAJOR SAFETY HAZARDS AND EVEN FIRES. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 25, 2014
CONNECTOR FOR THE TAILLIGHTS MELTING ONTO THE HOUSING. POSSIBLE GROUND WIRE ISSUE. FIRE HAZARD. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 19, 2014
WARNING LIGHT ON MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PROMPTED "CHECK LEFT TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHT". I CHECKED ALL THE BULBS, THEY WERE ALL FUNCTIONING EXCEPT FOR 1 OR TWO DIM BULBS IN THE LEFT TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY. I UNPLUGGED THE CONNECTOR/HARNESS TO THE ASSEMBLY AND FOUND ONE OF THE WIRE INSERT CONNECTORS TO BE MELTED IN THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR, THE MELTING AFFECTED THE PLASTIC AS WELL. I AM WORRIED FOR A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD IN MY TRUNK COMPARTMENT. CONTACTED MERCEDES FOR A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 19, 2014
ALL DRIVER SIDE REAR LIGHTS WENT OUT. THERE IS SIGN OF POSSIBLE BURNT RESIDUE ON WIRE AND LIGHT CASING. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jan 10, 2014
AN ALERT ON MY DASH BOARD SCREEN TELLING ME THAT MY BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHT MAY NOT BE FUNCTIONING. I HAVE READ THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS WITH MERCEDES C SERIES CARS FROM 2008, 2009, 20010, 20011 THAT HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TAIL LIGHT GROUND, MAY HAVE EVEN CAUSED FIRES IN SOME. I'M CONCERNED THIS MAY HAPPEN. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 5, 2014
APPROXIMATELY ONCE EVERY 2 MONTHS WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL COME ON WITH THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE PARKING/BRAKE LIGHT. WHEN THIS OCCURS, I HAVE TO TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON THEN BACK OFF, TO TURN OFF THE LIGHTS. ON ONE OCCASION, I OBSERVED THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT AND THE REAR PASSENGER LIGHT FLICKERING LIKE A STROBE LIGHT, BEFORE I TURNED THE SWITCH ON THEN OFF. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 28, 2013
SIMILAR TO OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED AGAINST MERCEDES, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO MY REAR RIGHT LIGHT (BRAKE LIGHT, RUNNING LIGHT, TURN SIGNAL, ETC.) HAS MELTED AND IS NO LONGER OPERATIONAL. THE ENTIRE LIGHT IS OUT AND I GET WARNING MESSAGES ON THE DASH ABOUT THE PROBLEM. IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT EVERYONE ELSE WITH THE SAME MAKE/MODEL AS ME ARE HAVING. HOPEFULLY MERCEDES RECOGNIZES THE SCALE OF THIS FLAW IN THEIR ENGINEERING AND SENDS OUT A RECALL SOONER THAN LATER. *TR
Exterior lighting, Oct 23, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THE THE DRIVER'S SIDE FOG LIGHT COVER WAS FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Sep 20, 2013
PASSENGER TAILLIGHT CONNECTOR/WIRING INSUFFICIENTLY DESIGNED FOR LOAD. WIRE/CONNECTOR PLASTIC IS MELTING AND CAUSING UNSAFE CONDITIONS. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2008-2010 C-CLASS AND IS FREQUENTLY NOTED IN MB OWNER'S FORUMS/WEBSITES. *TR
Exterior lighting, Aug 29, 2013
REAR PASSENGER TAIL LIGHT WARNING CAME ON. INSPECTION REVEALED A CORRODED AND BURNED GROUND WIRE. THE WIRE CREATED SO MUCH RESISTANCE HEAT, THAT IT HAS MELTED THROUGH ITS MOLEX CONNECTOR, AND BUBBLED UP THE CONTACT PLATE IT CONNECTS TO. DRIVER'S SIDE APPEARS OKAY AT THIS TIME. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD AND A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS FAIL DURING AN EMERGENCY STOPPING CONDITION. I HAVE PICTURES IF REQUESTED. *TT
Exterior lighting, Jan 23, 2013
MY CAR WILL BE PARKED AND ENGINE NOT RUNNING AND AT ANY GIVEN TIME THE UPPER FRONT HEADLIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE AND THE BOTTOM PART OF THE REAR TAILLIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE WILL ILLUMINATE FOR NO REASON. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHICH POSITION THE LIGHTS ARE IN. *TR... UPDATED 04-05-13 *BF
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 4, 2012
ALL OF MY EXTERIOR LIGHT BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED EVERY OTHER MONTH. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT BURNED OUT THE METAL PART WHERE MERCEDES HAD TO REPLACE THE UNIT. AS OF MONDAY, APRIL 2, 2012 I HAD TO TAKE MY CAR IN THE DEALER TO REPAIR A RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT OUT. *TR ...UPDATED 03/27/13 *BF UPDATED 04/03/2013 *JS
Exterior lighting, Jun 15, 2011
2010 C300 MERCEDES BENZ. CONSUMER STATES THE FOG LIGHT IS DEFECTIVE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT SIDE GLASS FOG LIGHT COVER CRACKED WITHOUT ANY EXTERNAL FORCE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE REPLACEMENT COST WOULD BE $300. THE DEALER STATED THE LIGHT MIGHT SHORT CIRCUIT THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IF LEFT UNCOVERED. THE CONSUMER STATED ON APRIL 9, 2011 THE LEFT SIDE GLASS FOG LIGHT COVER CRACKED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED IT, BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WAS DEFECTIVE. HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT REPLACE THE RIGHT SIDE FOG LIGHT COVER. *JB