On 6/10/2013 I had error code and passenger side pins & carrier assembly failed and had to be replaced dealer charged me $393.90 for the job. On 6/10/2013. On 12/28/2013 I get an error message that the left side tail light is out. *tr
2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class lighting problems
severe 51 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $250 · see lighting across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
51
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
6fires
When does it fail?
Of the 51 lighting complaints filed for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 51 lighting complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 8 model years of Mercedes-Benz C-Class in our records for lighting problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class vehicles report widespread lighting electrical faults centered on corroded and melting connectors. The most common complaint is rear tail light wiring: the ground pin connectors oxidize or the harness holder peels and corrodes, causing dimming, intermittent operation, or complete failure. Owners describe brown burnt marks on wires, overheating connectors hot enough to melt plastic, and circuit boards that look torch-burned. Many cite NHTSA campaign 14V177 (exterior lighting), issued in 2014, which was supposed to address oxidation on rear tail light connectors. However, owners report the recall parts were unavailable for months, and some claim tail lights failed again after the recall repair was supposedly completed.
Front parking lights also suffer connector corrosion and wire shorts, and headlight wiring deteriorates or melts, especially at higher mileage. Several owners report paying $250–$1,440 for repairs involving harness replacement, light assembly replacement, or circuit board repair. The center brake light (third light in trunk) exhibits intermittent wiring faults causing warning messages that come and go unpredictably. One owner noted a design defect in the fog light lens—unprotected glass mounted low, vulnerable to cracking—that Mercedes changed in later model years but refuses to remedy on 2009 vehicles. Side mirrors can also trap water inside the turn signal housing. A few owners report a faulty headlight control switch or module that drains the battery by cycling turn signals even when the keys are out of the ignition.
Same Mercedes-Benz C-Class lighting reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2010 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Melted/corroded rear tail light wiring connectors and ground pins
Ground pin connectors and wiring harnesses in the rear tail light assemblies oxidize, corrode, or melt, causing dimming, intermittent operation, or complete tail light failure. Owners report brown burnt marks on wires, melted plastic harness holders, and overheating. Multiple owners note the connector for the rear tail lamps fails despite the 14V177 recall being issued and supposedly completed.
When: 40,000–186,000 miles; many failures occur years after vehicle purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Rear tail lights dim or fail to illuminate; Intermittent tail light operation (lights work one day, fail the next); Check light/warning indicator illuminates on dashboard; Brown burnt marks visible on wire or connector; Wire melted or extremely hot to the touch; Plastic harness holder melted or peeling
Codes mentioned: 14V177, NHTSA Campaign 14V177000
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report dealers replacing light harness, wiring, circuit boards, lamp carriers/pin assemblies, and in some cases entire light assemblies. Costs cited range from $250 for connector replacement to $1,440+ for full assembly replacement. Some repairs performed under recall at no cost; others require owner payment, especially if outside warranty or recall scope.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V177000 (Exterior Lighting) issued in 2014 for oxidation on ground pin connectors. However, owners report parts unavailability delays the recall repair; some claim the recall was marked complete but their vehicle still failed afterward. One owner reports VIN excluded from recall coverage. Dealers acknowledge the issue as known but may cite parts unavailability or warranty expiration to refuse coverage.
Center brake light wiring intermittency and failure
The third brake light (center brake light mounted in trunk) wiring experiences intermittent faults where warning messages appear and disappear unpredictably over weeks or months. The light stops functioning when the warning message is active, then may work again when the message clears, suggesting an electrical connection issue in the trunk-mounted wiring.
When: Mid-summer through winter; intermittent pattern over several months; one case documented from 2013–2014
Symptoms owners cite: Check center brake light warning message appears intermittently; Third brake light does not function when warning is active; Light returns to working when warning clears; Frequency of failure increases over time
Repairs/costs cited: Owners mention inquiry about a potential recall for wiring in trunk. Dealer testing when light is working shows no fault. Issue only confirmed when light is actively failing. No repair cost cited.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner noted awareness of potential recall for Mercedes trunk wiring. Dealer initially found nothing; later testing confirmed fault only when failure was active.
Front parking light (eyebrow light) corrosion and harness failure
Front parking lamp harness holders corrode and peel, causing wires to short. Left front parking light becomes inoperable; dashboard warning message appears. Bulb replacement does not resolve the issue because the harness connector itself is compromised.
When: Not specified by owner; presumably mid-life of vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Left front parking light inoperable; Dashboard warning message for parking lamp; Parking lamp harness holder visibly peeling and corroded; Wire short in harness
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer recommended replacement of entire light assembly on both sides at cost of $1,440.35. Service advisor stated he sees this issue routinely. Repair should address bulb holder and connector corrosion.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer service advisor indicated corrosion is a recurring issue and recommended preventive replacement of both assemblies. Owner argues bulb holders and connectors should be covered under warranty or recall due to design defect.
Headlight wiring deterioration and intermittent operation
Headlight wiring harnesses deteriorate, with insulation becoming exposed or wires becoming corroded. Headlights operate intermittently, cutting in and out without warning during highway or rural driving. In some cases, bulbs or entire assemblies melt due to wire overheating.
When: 63,000–165,000 miles; one case at 74,000 miles with melted wires
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights operate intermittently or cut out; Wire insulation deteriorated, wires fully exposed; Corroded wiring; Headlight melted or bulb fused; Complete headlight failure
Repairs/costs cited: One owner replaced both front headlight assemblies at $800 each after bulbs blew and fused wires together, requiring full assembly replacement. Another reported independent mechanic diagnosed corroded headlight wiring needing replacement but vehicle not repaired.
Fog light lens glass breakage and design defect
Fog light lens is constructed of unprotected glass mounted low on the vehicle, making it vulnerable to impact breakage. Once cracked, the entire fog light must be replaced. Owner notes Mercedes changed the fog light design in later model years but refuses to acknowledge or remedy the defect on 2009 vehicles.
When: Not specified; design applies to 2009 model year
Symptoms owners cite: Fog light lens cracks; Lens breakage from low-mounted position
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement cost cited as $248 per fog light. Owner notes that even after paying for replacement, the new lens will crack again because it remains unprotected glass, making the repair a temporary fix for a design defect.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mercedes refuses to acknowledge as design defect and will not cover replacement cost. Owner notes Mercedes changed the fog light design in model years after 2009, suggesting awareness of the design problem.
Side mirror turn signal water intrusion
Water accumulates inside the side mirror turn signal housings, compromising the electrical components and light function.
When: Early in vehicle life (failure at 18,000 miles; current mileage 23,000)
Symptoms owners cite: Water visible inside side mirror turn signal
Repairs/costs cited: No repair attempted; owner informed repair costs would be owner's responsibility.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer informed owner that repair is owner's responsibility and not covered.
Turn signal/lighting control module fault causing parasitic drain
Fault in headlight switch or related module causes turn signals to flash repeatedly when headlights are in off position and keys are removed from vehicle, draining the battery repeatedly.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Left and right turn signals flash when headlights are off and keys not in vehicle; Battery drained repeatedly, requiring two replacements; Issue resolves when light switch kept in automatic position
Repairs/costs cited: Workaround identified: keeping light switch in automatic position prevents the fault. No actual repair attempted.
Rear lighting module or circuit board failure
Rear lighting circuit board or module burns out or fails, affecting multiple rear lights at once (tail lights, brake lights, turn signals, side markers). Replacing the bulbs or individual components does not resolve the issue because the control board itself is compromised.
When: Various; one case mentioned at 62,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: All rear lights on one side go out simultaneously (tail lights, brake lights, turn signals, side markers); Lights will not illuminate despite new bulbs; Circuit board or backboard burnt or fried; Wiring melted within the assembly
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced circuit board/backboard but indicated may need to replace all wiring as well. One owner was quoted $1,175 to replace a module, on top of recall-covered wiring harness replacement. Owner argues module damage is secondary to wiring harness failure and should not be owner's cost.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Without an active recall, manufacturer will not cover module or board replacement costs even if the failure is secondary to a known wiring defect.
Synthesized from 51 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Mercedes benz c300. The contact stated that as the brakes were depressed, the brake light and tail lights failed to illuminate. In addition, the tail and brake warning lights as well as the SRS air bag warning light, illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic who confirmed to the contact that the wire connector for the tail lights was…
Had lighting trouble with your 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the lighting problem on the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
It's a meaningful issue. 51 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $250.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Across the 43 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 46,000 and 71,000 miles, with the median around 56,250. A quarter of owners report trouble before 46,000; a quarter make it past 71,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Mercedes-Benz/C-Class.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.