Mercedes-Benz C300 Exterior Lighting Problems
Owners have filed 310 complaints with NHTSA about exterior lighting problems on the Mercedes-Benz C300 across 11 model years. The 2009 model year has the most (118). The words owners use most often: “rear tail” (18% of reports).
- 310exterior lighting complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 5related recalls
- $560typical repair cost reported by owners
- 30%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 56 of 310 complaints (18%)
- Turn signal: mentioned in 34 of 310 complaints (11%)
- Brown wire: mentioned in 24 of 310 complaints (8%)
- Wiring harness: mentioned in 24 of 310 complaints (8%)
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 Mercedes-Benz C300 at $560, and half of them between $440 and $810.
Based on 15 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2011–2024), 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 242 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 310 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 34 a fire, 3 an injury.
Mercedes-Benz C300 exterior lighting complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (5)
Exterior lighting:lighting control module:software; engine and engine cooling:engine:engine control module (ecu/ecm):software; electronic stability control (esc):control module:software
Model years: 2008, 2009
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:headlights
Model years: 2018, 2019, 2020
Problem: Mercedes-Benz LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2020 C300, 2019-2020 A220, AMG C43, AMG C63, 2020 GLE580, GLB250, 2020-2021 GLE450, GLE350, 2021 AMG GLE63, and AMG GLE53 vehicles. The LED headlights may have been incorrectly adjusted during a vehicle repair. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: Incorrectly adjusted headlights may reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the LED headlights, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed August 13, 2021. A second notice will be sent once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed January 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Exterior lighting:headlights
Model years: 2018
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018 Mercedes-Benz C300 and C300 4MATIC vehicles. The headlights on these vehicles may not be properly adjusted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: If the low beam headlight is not properly adjusted, the driver may have reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: MBUSA has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the setting of the headlights and adjust them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019020008.
Exterior lighting:headlights
Model years: 2015
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2015 C300 and C400 vehicles manufactured from June 18, 2014, through September 5, 2014, that fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment." The affected vehicles were assembled with horizontal adjustment mechanisms that allow the owner to change the horizontal adjustment used during the manufacturing process, instead of the proper sealing caps.
Risk: If the original horizontal adjustment is used to alter the low beam aim, the misaimed headlamp may not properly illuminated the road or cause increased glare to oncoming drivers, which increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Mercedes-Benz will notify owners, and dealers will replace the horizontal adjustment mechanisms on the headlamps with sealing caps on the affected vehicles. The recall began May 23, 2016. Owners may contact Mercedes at 1-800-367-6372.
Exterior lighting:tail lights
Model years: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
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…
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while at the car wash and attempting to wash the vehicle, there was popping sound coming from the vehicle, and the contact saw smoke coming from the speakers and called the Fire Department however, no damages were found. The vehicle was…
The vehicle has been loosing power during driving. Acceleration will die, then power will return. In addition exterior lighting will also malfunction or not work. As well ans other items associate with power or the unit that controls the power of those items After taking the vehicle in multiple…
Left tail lights burning out due to overheated wires
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Mercedes-Benz C300s have exterior lighting problems?
No. NHTSA has 310 owner complaints about exterior lighting for the Mercedes-Benz C300. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Mercedes-Benz C300 exterior lighting?
Yes: 5 safety recalls list exterior lighting. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix exterior lighting problems on the Mercedes-Benz C300?
Owners report a typical cost of $560 (half paid between $440 and $810), from 15 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about exterior lighting problems on the Mercedes-Benz C300?
The most frequent phrase is “rear tail”, in 56 of 310 complaints, followed by “turn signal” (34).
Other Mercedes-Benz C300 problems
- Air Bags problems (1,213)
- Electrical System problems (750)
- Steering problems (493)
- Engine problems (455)
- Structure problems (380)
- Suspension problems (307)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (261)
- Power Train problems (119)
See all Mercedes-Benz C300 problems.