Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2010 Mercedes Benz C300. The contact stated that the wiring in the left tail light had melted. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V177000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) which he linked to the failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and both informed him that the recall had been serviced prior to the contact owning the vehicle. The vehicle had been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
My husband drove my car home from work on April 18th 2022 and it was a bad rain storm that everyone. He had to drive through a couple of big rain storms. Soon afterwards he got around the corner from the house and the electric system failed lights started going off everywhere in the car, he lost steering and couldn't see and almost crashed and got the car home safely but it wouldn't shut off so he had to disconnect the battery for the car to shut off. On April 22 nd the car was towed to the dealership because it wasn't driveable and they check out the car and discovered water under the carpeting of the drivers seat near the wiring of the car. I submitted an insurance claim and an adjuster went out to see the damage and his thought is that it's due to a known problem for this car that's been reported by many people with this same vehicle. The Mercedes Benz c300- 2010-2014 years. …
I purchased the vehicle in 2010 & immediately had to have the electrical system for all lights replaced. The lights on the vehicle goes out every 2 mos as if theres an electrical issue. Air bags had a recall & have been replaced now the system states there is a malfunction. This started 09/08/22.
The vehicle had a previous warranty repair for the taillight burning out repaired but the issue has happened per the recall but the dealer states that since they fixed it then they wont fix it again even tho its what the complaint for the recall was originally
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Mercedes Benz C300. While driving 30 MPH, the rear passenger side tail light failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the wiring harness melted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V177000 (exterior lighting). After the vehicle was repaired, the front driver side parking light failed. The vehicle was diagnosed. The contact was informed that the wiring harness melted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 41,114.
My right tail light keeps dimming and going back bright. I thought I needed a bulb but but it gave me a message today for everything on the right side but then the message went away. Last night someone told me the right light was dim then it got brighter. I've been smelling a faint burning smell but today it was kind of loud. I checked and it looks like the plastic and wire is melting on rte right tail light.
There are two problems that have shown up all at the same time just recently. Over the last several weeks it seems that everyday when I go leave in my car I am getting a new warning message about another light I need to check. At first it was prompting me to check the right rear tail light which appears to be working fine. But now the list has grown to include that tail light, a turn signal light, license plate light and a couple more even though to me it appears that all are working fine with the exception of the license plate light which is truly out. However the warning are listed for all these malfunctioning lights. The second issue is with the power steering. It started making a distressing noise one evening on my drive home, in which I was able to reach my home without trouble. …
Tail light assembly burning up again. My 2010 mb C300 4matic sport had a recall to replace both tail light assemblies about 3 years ago. Now it is happening again and mb dealer wants $159 just for a diagnostic. Problems: dash warning messages started to appeal saying problems with tail light, brake light, fog light, turn signal, reverse lamp... Everything is out. Light bulbs looked fine but I replaced all bulbs anyway (from autozone parts), worked for a few hours, then warning messages showed up again. Replaced all bulbs again. Same thing. Then one day, messages stopped and everything is working again. Then a few days later, it started again. Went to a mb dealer (at chantilly, va) on 10/2/18 who wanted $159 just for a diagnostic test. I instead purchased a new tail light panel (lamp carrier p/n 204-820-15-00-05) at $20 before tax to replace on my own. …
The warning system for the rear lights have been going off since purchasing the certified preowned vehicle in June 2014. It was returned the dealer multiple times for the issue and never fixed. While driving at night I smelled something burning and the warning system informed me to check all of my rear lights. There were no lights functioning on the rear of the vehicle while driving. The lights, brake lights, turn signals, and rear fog lamps were all not functioning. When a road side technician checked the vehicle he saw burnt wires and melted plastic on the lighting mount. This occurred during a routine trip from new jersey into philadelphia, pa and included driving over the ben franklin bridge. Once I reach philly I stopped the vehicle and called for assistance. That is when the issue was located. The car was towed to the dealer for repair. …
My car is always park in the back of my yard.. And I always check around my car regardless of where I am... Drove to work which took about 15 minutes and notice when I got in my car to go to lunch the fog light was out on the left driving side and the right fog log is crack also.. No other vehicles parks in front of me because I park facing the building of my workplace. Took it to the dealer ship she advise that someone burst the fog light out on the left drive side and gave me a quote of $350 to fix for each fog light... Advise couldn't be possible because of how peculiar I am with how and where I park and because I check my vehicle before entering to drive... I use to drive with my fog lights on commuting back and forth to work. The only thing I can see is that it got overheated but how because of the short commute time... Trying to understand.
Related recalls
Exterior lighting › Tail lights
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.
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.
Headlight complaints in other C300 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300?
NHTSA has 48 complaints about the lights of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300, 11% of the model year's 453 complaints. The component named most often is tail lights (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300 headlight problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-177 (tail lights, Apr 11, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300 headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 52,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 5 fires and 0 injuries to lights problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.