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…
2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class lighting problems
severe 15 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $250 · see lighting across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
2fires
When does it fail?
Of the 15 lighting complaints filed for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 125,000-150,000 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
No new NHTSA lighting complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had lighting trouble with your 2011 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 2011 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
It's a meaningful issue. 15 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 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 74,000 and 100,000 miles, with the median around 90,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 74,000; a quarter make it past 100,000. 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/2011/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.