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Exterior lightingPart report

2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Exterior lighting Problems

Complaints
108about this part
Share
16%of 672 total for the year
Median mileage
70,500miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 108 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300, 16% of the 672 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 70,500 miles. 10 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“My 2008 C300 had the right tail break light + rear right turn signal light error message these few days, I replace the light bulbs which did not fix the problem then I found the brown wire at connector melt badly, I google this issue on the web and found all 2008/2009 mercedez c class has the same issue, can we get a recall to fix it on this ?”

NHTSA complaint #11321201, filed 2020-04, 140,000 miles

“'takata recall' I own three mercedes benz and all three of them have the airbag lights on. They also all have recalls for the same airbag issue. Also, the passenger side in my latest model, my C300, shows the passenger airbag light go on and off even when no one is seating in the seat. And often when someone is sitting in the seat, the airbag doesn't even come on at all.”

NHTSA complaint #11045558, filed 2017-11, 65,000 miles

“While on highway I noticed burning plastic smell coming from rear of car. When I pulled over and opened my trunk, I noticed that the tail light was smoking. When I detached the lighting plate I noticed that the brown wire connector had melted through the lighting plate and that all of my tail lights were very dim.”

NHTSA complaint #10604961, filed 2014-06, 92,250 miles

“My lcd navigation screen does not turn on anymore. It randomly flashes when I'm driving and causes a distraction. After some research, it seems like an extremely common issue with many C300 models of the 2008 year. Some owners have reported smoke coming out of the corner of the screen.”

NHTSA complaint #10716915, filed 2015-05, 140,000 miles

“The left tail light connector and the plate connection melted. Reported the issue to mb dealer and mb cac but they refused to accept it as a design flaw. The explanation given to me was it melted because of heat of light bulbs. The same flaw has been reported on many forum and I think it is a recall item.”

NHTSA complaint #10535880, filed 2013-08, 100,000 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Exterior lighting: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202214%
201911%
201822%
201641%
201510%
201331%
201242%
2011204%
20104811%
200911820%
200810816%

Other parts of the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300

Air bags
270 complaintsElectrical system
228 complaintsSteering
136 complaintsOther or unknown
38 complaintsEngine
31 complaintsSeat belts
22 complaintsBrakes
17 complaintsElectronic stability control
17 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
16 complaintsSuspension
12 complaintsBody and structure
9 complaintsVehicle speed control
8 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology