2009 Mercedes Benz C300 Exterior Lighting Problems
Owners have filed 118 complaints with NHTSA about exterior lighting problems on the 2009 Mercedes Benz C300, 20% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 60,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “rear tail” (18% of reports).
- 118exterior lighting complaints
- 60,000median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $560typical repair cost reported by owners
- 31%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Rear tail: mentioned in 21 of 118 complaints (18%)
- Turn signal: mentioned in 15 of 118 complaints (13%)
- Ground wire: mentioned in 9 of 118 complaints (8%)
- Circuit board: mentioned in 6 of 118 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical exterior lighting repair on the 2009 Mercedes Benz C300 at $560, and half of them between $370 and $560.
Based on 5 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2011–2016), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do exterior lighting problems happen?
Based on 94 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 118 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 15 a fire, 2 an injury.
Mercedes-Benz C300 exterior lighting complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Exterior lighting:lighting control module:software; engine and engine cooling:engine:engine control module (ecu/ecm):software; electronic stability control (esc):control module:software
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2010 E350, 2014 G550, 2008-2009 C300, 2008 C350, 2009 CLK550, 2007 SL550, SLK280, and 2008 SLK350 vehicles. Various control units may have been updated with incorrect software configuration during a service repair. This can result in various system failures, such as loss of drive power, reduced exterior lighting, or loss of dynamic control functions, including stability and traction control.
Risk: Various system failures, such as loss of drive power, reduced exterior lighting, or loss of dynamic control functions including stability and traction control, can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the software configuration on the affected control units, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 3, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022040003.
Exterior lighting:tail lights
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I have messages on my instrument panel stating I have airbag malfunction going on I also have tail lights that are not working and after trying to replace the bulbs it still don't work so obviously it's the light bulb panel so I went and looked at recalls and says that these are all recalls on my…
Check Right Tail and Brake Lamps warning light will not go off for months. They are working fine but the light won't go off. Googling on MB World, it shows Mercedes is aware of this problem and a recall is needed to get it corrected being safety issue with warning lights not working properly. See…
Headlight harness on drivers and passenger side is melting and my lights are flickering. I was advised to night drive my vehicle at night, because it could start an electrical fire. This is caused by heat from the lights.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2009 Mercedes Benz C300s have exterior lighting problems?
No. NHTSA has 118 owner complaints about exterior lighting for the 2009 Mercedes Benz C300 (20% of the 576 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2009 Mercedes Benz C300 exterior lighting?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list exterior lighting. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do exterior lighting problems start?
The median reported mileage is 60,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix exterior lighting problems on the 2009 Mercedes Benz C300?
Owners report a typical cost of $560 (half paid between $370 and $560), from 5 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about exterior lighting problems on the 2009 Mercedes Benz C300?
The most frequent phrase is “rear tail”, in 21 of 118 complaints, followed by “turn signal” (15).
Other 2009 Mercedes Benz C300 problems
- Electrical System problems (198)
- Air Bags problems (182)
- Steering problems (136)
See all 2009 Mercedes Benz C300 problems or exterior lighting problems across all C300 years.