What 584 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Mercedes-benz C-class Coupe

The taillights in my 2012 c300 was starting to go out intermittently. At first the notification came on for the brake light but the brake light kept working. Afterwards the rest of the taillights and the sidemarker light went out as well. I went to go take a look and the grounding wire was oxidated and corroded. A known issue in which there was a recall made for the 2008-2011 version of the w204 but this did not apply to the 2012 w204. As of last week my entire rear drivers side light is out which is a safety hazard especially at night. The hazard lights dont work in case of an emergency on one side, the brake lights are out to notify the driver behind me take I need to stop which can lead to a rear end collision, as well as the left turn signal not working leading to drivers not knowing that I will be turning left or needing to merge left as needed. All of this is a known safety hazard to Mercedes but no recall has been submitted yet.

NHTSA ODI 11697258

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the passenger’s side rear taillight was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired since the VIN nor the model year was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V177000 (Exterior Lighting). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

NHTSA ODI 11597459

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, he smelled a rubber burning odor. A message indicating that the turn signal was inoperable was displayed. The contact stated that he pulled to the side of the road and inspected the vehicle. The contact noticed that there was smoke coming from the rear passenger's side taillight. The contact stated that he opened the taillight panel and noticed that the interior and the bolt had melted. The contact was able to continue driving. The contact related the failure to Mercedes-Benz Campaign Number: 2014050001; however, the dealer informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the campaign. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

NHTSA ODI 11544614

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, A BURNING TYPE ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WHILING INSPECTING THE VEHICLE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT PLUGS HAD MELTED. ALSO, AFTER TURNING THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT HEATER ON A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT AND THE SEAT FELT EXTREMELY HOTTER THE NORMAL. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT YET NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. ## VIN PASSED ## MERCEDES-BENZ 2012 C300 ##

NHTSA ODI 11413896

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ C250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE, INCLUDING THE TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE TAIL LIGHT BULBS HIMSELF AND FOUND THAT THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY HAD PARTIALLY MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ EURO MOTOR CARS (7020 ARLINGTON ROAD, BETHESDA, MD 20814, 301-986-8800) WHERE THE TAIL LAMP HOLDERS AND REAR WIRING AND BULBS WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. *BF CONSUMER STATED IT SHOULD BE COVERED AS THE C250 IS THE SAME CAR AS THE C300 INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. THE DIFFERENCE IS THE ENGINE SIZE AND YEAR (2012 VS 2011).*JB

NHTSA ODI 11240347

2012 MERCEDES BENZ C300 - REAR TAIL LIGHT TAIL LIGHT FAILURE, FOUND BURN MARKS IN THE VEHICLE BULB ASSEMBLY (BULB PANEL) AND BURNED WIRES IT HAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF TAIL LIGHT LAMPS FUNCTION.

NHTSA ODI 11154248

RECEIVED MESSAGE TO CHECK LEFT TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, BACK UP LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL. I PURCHASED NEW BULBS TO REPLACE. WHEN I PULLED OUT THE BULB CARRIER, I NOTICED THAT THE AREA NEAR THE WIRING HAD MELTED AND THERE WAS DISCOLORATION. I CAN'T EVEN REMOVE THE PLUG HOUSING FROM THE CARRIER BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL IN OLDER MODELS FOR THE SAME EXACT ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 10984488

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ C250. WHILE DRIVING, THE TURN SIGNAL WAS ACTIVATED WHEN A WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT SLIGHTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE DIMNESS OF THE TURN SIGNAL WAS COMMON FOR THE MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 320. UPDATED 07/25/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TURN SIGNAL CONTROL LIGHT. IT WAS HARDLY VISIBLE IN THE DAY LIGHT AND IN THE SUN. THE SERVICE DEPT STATED THE NEW MODEL HAS A NEW ELECTRONIC DASH WHICH COMES IN ONE NEW CIRCUIT PANEL . UPDATED 07/25/12

NHTSA ODI 10457486