Home · 2011 Mercedes-benz C-class Phev · Complaints

What 516 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Mercedes-benz C-class Phev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (516)Crash / fire / injury (25)Airbags (269)Suspension (62)Fuel system (51)Body & structure (50)Electrical system (46)Steering (35)Lights (21)Brakes (13)Engine (11)Transmission & drivetrain (10)

21 of 516 complaints match · Lights · clear filters

Dec 4, 2024Lights

The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes Benz C300. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the rear lights became inoperable and failed to illuminate as needed. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that rear lighting wires were burned, causing an electrical failure within the rear light assemblies. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11628770

Aug 12, 2024Lights

The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the messages to check the rear taillights and rear turn signals were displayed. The contact drove the vehicle to a local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the rear taillight bulbs and connectors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact informed the dealer that the vehicle had been previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V177000 (Exterior Lighting). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 11607986

Apr 2, 2024Electrical systemLights

The right rear tail light housing harness melted due to an electrical issue. Wire tends to heat up too much. This caused my right rear tail light, right break light and right side turn signal not to function.

NHTSA ODI 11580578

Feb 27, 2024Lights

We had notifications on our dashboard that rear driver side (left) lights were out while driving car. We thought the light bulbs just had to be replaced. We brought to mechanic to just fix lights & they discovered the light ground wire burned out & caused light holder to be damaged as well where ground wire was. It caused rear driver side tail lights to fail. We had light bulb holder with wires all replaced on 2/23/24. This issue was a recall back in 2014 & seems to be a reoccurring issue with this part of the Mercedez 2011 C class.

NHTSA ODI 11574237

Jan 24, 2023Lights

The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated when he started the vehicle, the driver side taillights were inoperable, and the taillight warning light was illuminated. The contact examined the taillights and noticed that the wires were melted, and the taillight assembly had melted as well. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V177000 (Exterior Lighting). The contact received no additional assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11503441

Aug 23, 2022Lights

The driver side rear tail light wiring melted the tailight housing. This component was already replaced as part of a previous recall, but apparently Mercedes is not properly fixing the issue. They refuse to fix it for free, because they already "addressed" the recall. Looks like they are putting cars back on the street that could catch fire.

NHTSA ODI 11480828

Feb 18, 2022Electrical systemLights

Rear taillight ground wire melting. Dealer said that this recall was performed previously, so now I had to pay for the repair parts. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000

NHTSA ODI 11452814

Jul 20, 2021Electrical systemLights

The rear tail light housing harness melted due to an electrical issue. This caused my rear tail light & break lights not to function.

NHTSA ODI 11425681

Jan 6, 2021LightsFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, WHEN THE MULTIPLE "LIGHTS OUT" WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HER RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THE BROWN WIRE WAS MELTED AND BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER MERCEDES-BENZ OF CHERRY HILL (2151 NJ-70, CHERRY HILL, NJ 08002:(856) 663-3200), WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE "LIGHT ASSEMBLY UNIT" TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED WITH PRIOR OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

NHTSA ODI 11386823

Jun 12, 2020Lights

COMMON FAULT. BROWN GROUND WIRE. LEFT TAIL LIGHT. BROWN WIRE GETS REALLY HOT. ON CLUSTER SHOWS MESSAGES THAT THE BREAK,TURN SIGNAL, REVERSE FOG LIGHTS ARE OUT. I CHECK AND REMOVE THE PLATE OR LIGHTS HOUSING. LIGHT BULBS SEEMS TO BE FINE. SOMETIMES THE TAIL LIGHT IS COMPLETELY OUT SOMETIMES IT FLICKLES REALLY LOW LIKE THEIR GONNA GO OUT. IT SMELLS LIKE SMOKE AND THE BROWN GROUND WIRE GETS REALLY HOT. IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN IM DRIVING IT FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME BUT CONSTANTLY TURNING IT ON AND OFF TO GO DO SOMETHING LIKE STOPPING AT THE STORE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11328439

Apr 27, 2020Electrical systemLightsElectronic Stability Control (esc)

IT WAS MY IPHONE THAT GOT HACKED FIRST, THERE WERE THESE HEAT LASERS STARTED TO TARGET ME, ONE DAY I WAS SLEEPING IN MY CAR, THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A PARKING GARAGE, THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JUST STARTED DEFROSTING. YES, MY DEFROSTS CAME ON AND MY WINDOWS BEGIN TO FOG UP. NEXT, I STARTED TO NOTICE THOSE SAME "HEAT LASERS" THAT WERE TARGETING ME FROM MY IPHONE ARE CONSTANT ON MY HEAD AND STOMACH WHILE I'M DRIVING MY CAR. ALSO, A SYMBOL STARTED TO APPEAR ON MY DASHBOARD, LATER DISCOVER IT WAS THE "AUXILIARY BATTERY" ., THEN MY LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS FLICKING, AND WHEN I HAVE THE HEAT OR AIR CONDITION ON, THEY ARE NOT AS COLD OR HOT, THE TEMP WAS BEING TAMPERED WITH, AS IF THE CAR WAS ADJUSTING THE CONTROLS. NOW, A GREEN LIGHT SYMBOL IS CONSTANTLY APPEARING ON MY DASHBOARD, SO THE HACKERS WERE USING MY "AUXILIARY BATTERY" , NOW THEY ARE USING THE "LIGHTS" ON MY CAR TO TARGET ME NOW. YES, THIS HACKER, HACKED AND IS ATTACKING ME WITH SOME TYPE OF LASER WHILE DRIVING MY CAR. THIS HAPPENED FEBUARY 11, 2020 WHEN MY CAR BEGIN TO DEFROST ON ITS OWN. NOW, IM IN THIS NIGHTMARE, AT THE HANDS OF A HACKER TARGETING ME, WITH SOME "HEAT LASERS" I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE FBI (INTERNET CRIME COMPLAINT CENTER) BECAUSE OF THE HEAT LASERS, I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DOCTOR ON SEVERAL OCCASION DUE TO THE 'HEAT LASER TARGETING MY BODY/ORGANS., ON 04/17/2020.

NHTSA ODI 11322396

Dec 15, 2019Lights

THE PARKING LIGHTS ON BOTH FRONT HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLIES HAVE MELTED THE PLASTIC OF THE HOUSING AND HAD TO BE BROKEN OUT WHICH SEEMS TO INDICATE AN EXCESSIVE GENERATION OF HEAT AND POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD WHEN BULBS ARE REPLACED THEY KEEP BURNING OUT WHICH IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD.. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE AND AS WELL AN ISSUE VERY SIMILAR TO THE TAIL LIGHT RECALL. I WAS WONDERING IF THIS HAS BEEN OR WILL BE ADDRESSED MY THE MANUFACTURER

NHTSA ODI 11289140

May 8, 2019LightsFire

MY FRONT PASSENGER HEAD LAMP CAUGHT FIRE ONE OF THE PARKING BULBS. ALL TJE WIRING IS EXPOSED AND MY LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. MY RIGHT TAIL LIGHT ONE OF THE BULBS GOT OVER HEATED AND HAD TO TAKE OFF THE BULB.

NHTSA ODI 11206355

Mar 19, 2019Electrical systemLightsAirbags

"TAKATA RECALL" I CONTACTED THE THE AUTHORIZED MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER HAS FAILED TO REMEDY THIS SAFETY RECALL IN A TIMELY MANNER, I HAVE CONTINUOUSLY REACHED OUT FOR YEAR AND HALF AND THE MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER CONTINUOUS TO STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE ON BACK ORDER.

NHTSA ODI 11189865

Aug 7, 2018Electrical systemLightsAirbags

THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON MY AIRBAGS FOR 2 YEARS. THIS IS TOO LONG TO WAIT FOR A SOLUTION TO BE DONE WHEN I AM BEING TOLD THAT THESE AIRBAGS IF DEPLOYED CAN KILL ME OR MY PASSENGERS (WHICH ARE MY CHILDREN) I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A REMEDY BUT JUST KEEP GETTING TOLD THAT THERE IS ONE COMING. 2 YEARS IS LONG ENOUGH TO FIGURE IT OUT. THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN IS NOT SOMETHING TO MESS WITH! PLEASE MAKE THEM FIX THIS PROBLEM OR BUY THE DANG CAR BACK! THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE TAIL LIGHT SENSOR AND LIGHT ITSELF, IT KEEPS SAYING TO CHECK IT AND IT DIMS BUT IT'S NOT IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ODI 11118419

Sep 6, 2017Lights

2011 MERCEDES BENZ C300. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO EXTERIOR LIGHT SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A STAUS REPORT FOR ODI NUMBERS 10983063 AND 10984235. UPDATED 09/06/2017*JS

NHTSA ODI 11021972

May 8, 2017Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE'S TAIL LIGHT BULB CARRIER WAS NOT PART OF THE MANUFACTURER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXHIBITING SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER'S RECORDS INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BACK IN SEPTEMBER OF 2014. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ODI 10984235

Aug 15, 2016LightsAirbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIR APPOINTMENT. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10895900

Jun 23, 2016Lights

VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. 1 OF THE 2 PARKING LIGHT BULBS IN THE FRONT LEFT HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY BURNT OUT. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALER TO REPLACE THE BULB, THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT THE BULB'S HARNESS HAD OVERHEATED AND MELTED INTO THE HEADLAMP, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. THE MELTED HARNESS INDICATES THAT THERE WAS TOO MUCH HEAT AND COULD POSE A FIRE THREAT IN THE HEADLAMP, AS WELL AS REDUCE CONSPICUITY DUE TO DIMMED OR BURNT OUT EXTERIOR LIGHTING. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE PROBLEM WITH THE REAR TAILLIGHT ISSUE IN THIS YEAR/MODEL THAT RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 TAIL LAMP DIMMING OR FAILURE). THE FRONT EXTERIOR LIGHTS SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED AND REPLACED BY MB FOR THE SAME REASONS AS THE REAR.

NHTSA ODI 10876120

Sep 13, 2015Lights

LAS LUCES DELANTERAS DEL VEHCULO DE REFERENCIA PRESENTAN UN ALUMBRADO TENUE Y POBRE, LO QUE REDUCE LA VISIBILIDAD HACIA EL FRENTE REPRESENTANDO UN PELIGRO A LA VIDA DE LAS PERSONAS QUE TRANSITAN EN DICHO VEHCULO AL GUIAR DURANTE LA NOCHE. EL 27 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2014, LA COMPUTADORA DEL VEHCULO COMENZ A INDICAR PROBLEMAS CON LAS LUCES DELANTERAS, IZQUIERDA Y DERECHO. AL SER LLEVADO A INSPECCIN, SE ME INDICA QUE ES NECESARIO EL REEMPLAZO DE LOS FOCOS DELANTEROS COMPLETAMENTE.

NHTSA ODI 10763644

Nov 30, 2014Lights

I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL LETTER ON JUNE 2014 FOR TAIL LIGHT PROBLEM. I CALL THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY AND IT'S GOING TO BE DECEMBER AND THEY HAVE NOT DO ANYTHING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10661364

Working with the data? Download all 516 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 21, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Mercedes-benz C-class Phev verdict →