VehicleVerdict

2009 Mercedes-Benz C300 lighting problems

The 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300 has 119 lighting complaints filed with NHTSA — 14% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

119

Lighting complaints

14%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Lighting complaints by year

C300 lighting complaints by model year119 complaints2008: 109 complaints2009: 119 complaints2010: 48 complaints2011: 20 complaints2012: 4 complaints2013: 3 complaints2015: 1 complaints2016: 4 complaints
C300 lighting complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

14V177000LightingApril 11, 2014 · 252,867 units

Defect

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (Mercedes) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 C300, C300 4Matic, C350, and C63 AMG vehicles manufactured January 26, 2007, through July 13, 2011. In the affected vehicles, a poor electrical ground connection may result in the dimming or failure of the tail lights.

Consequence

Dimming or failure of the tail lights reduces the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions of stopping or turning, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Mercedes will notify owners, and dealers will replace the bulb holders if not previously updated and replace any corroded connectors, free of charge. The recall began on August, 18, 2014. Owners may contact Mercedes at 1-800-367-6372.

What owners report

THE DASH WARNED ME THAT MY REAR TAIL LIGHTS WERE MALFUNCTIONING. THE MESSAGE CAME AND WENT FOR SEVERAL DAYS UNTIL IT WAS ON CONTINUOUSLY. I ACCESSED THE ELECTRICAL COMPARTMENT AND THE GROUND SIDE OF PLUG, THE SOCKET AND THE WIRE WAS MELTED AND HAS BEEN ON FIRE. I HAVE PICTURES ON DROPBOX: LINK…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Lighting · March 19, 2014 · fire

Common questions

How many lighting complaints does the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300 have?

NHTSA has 119 complaints about the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300 lighting — 14% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300 lighting?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the lighting: 14V177000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.