2009 Mercedes Benz C300: multiple warning lights

Filed Mar 6, 2025 · Electrical · CA

While driving the car on [XXX] at 9pm on sunday, [XXX] in lane two during a heavy rain a audible clicking noise came from the drivers side front of the dash instrument cluster area and all of the lights on the car simultaneously turned off without ever touching the light switch i was unable to see the road in front of the vehicle also the windshield wipers quit working and the radio and navigation display went off and closed and opened and closed( turned off and then on and off again) the instrument cluster went dark as well, luckily i was able to turn the steering and apply the brakes and steer the vehicle onto the shoulder of the road and come to a complete stop after several attempts to turn the headlights back on i determined that the vehicle was not safe to drive , and had the vehicle towed to a reputable mechanic, and upon diagnosis he contacted me and stated that the drivers side front signal acquisition module A. K. A. the (sam) module had failed due to water intrusion into the fuse panel sam module area , the mechanic stated that i should file an incident /complaint form with your office , upon searching the MERCEDES BENZ forums and sites on the www i found many customers with a broad range of models (w204)approximately this same year model have identical complaints and nothing has been done by MB usa to remedy the problem, i believe this matter to be a major safety concern and i am wondering why this matter hasnt been taken into consideration by your agency and by MB usa as a safety recall to replace the failing modules and retrofit the fuse panel sam module area to prevent water intrusion thats causing the obvious safety concern and possible liability on the part of the MB/ DAIMLER corporation. it seems this is clearly a problem and it needs fixed we are terrified to drive the vehicle for fear of a repeat incident. Sincerely the [XXX] family INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Mar 23, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · 133,000 miles · MS

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 mercedes benz c300. The contact stated that while attempting to start the engine, the key failed to turn from the off to on position and the steering wheel seized. When the failure occurred, all the warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 133,000.

Filed May 28, 2016 · Electrical, Steering · TX

When I've got to the car, put the key in the ignition, and turn the key with no crank noise in the engine. After a lot of tries I had noticed that my steering was not unlocking, windows don't work no lights on like ABS, check engine or all the lights that come on with the key on the on position, and that the car would not shift in neutral. After trying to jump the car and rearming/disarming the alarm I checked on line and found out that a lot of people have the same problem with their mercedes. Here is what I experienced 1.put key into ignition, steering wheel doesn't unlock. 2.instument cluster displays "remove key from ignition". 3.turn key to accessory, no lights on dashboard, only the radio works, windows don't work. 4.turn key all the way to start car, nothing happens.

Filed Oct 14, 2015 · Electrical, Lights · 25 miles · CA

Front parking lamps poor connection wires insulation come off very easy from the frame plug, plus wires are to short to make correction(splice) inside the head light housing. All this happened after the car was repair from recall on tail lights. I saw on the internet and a lot of people has this problem for this problem, I was driving on the dark street and all lights went off like for 5 seconds, that why I got scare, I was with my wife and my 5 months old daughter, mercedes benz should report this as recall, in order to correct the problem I need to change the whole housing, I took the car to downt town la service department, for another problem with the ignition lock switch, I looked on the internet and also a lot of people had this problem. I hope some one will do something about these c300 models. Thank you

Filed Jun 6, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 61,999 miles · NY

Prior to pulling into my garage, I smelled burning electrical wiring. All warning lights on the dash panel for the left rear lights came on. I opened the trunk to see if a light bulb burned out, and smelled the burning wires. Opening the panel covering the left rear lights, I saw a burn through scorched circuit board. On closer examination, I noticed the ground wire was thin and the cause of the severally overheated and partially melted area on the left rear lamp assembly. Since then, the mercedes dealer replaced the circuit at my expense. About six months ago, the same thing happened on the right rear tail light assembly. It was also a thin ground wire that had overheated and partially melted the circuit board.

Filed Jun 4, 2014 · Electrical, Steering · 52,525 miles · CA

I drove my car to work and parked in the parking lot. I exited the car and locked the doors when I remembered that on this day, the tree cutting crew will be servicing the parking lot. I returned to the car to move it but when I turned the key my ignition would not engage and the car wouldn't start. I thought it was the battery even though all lights illuminated and the remote door locks and radio were working fine. I jump started the vehicle with another car nonetheless to make sure it wasn't a dead battery. The car wouldn't start. I've owned the car for many years but nothing like this has ever happened. To come out to a car with a working battery and not starting. I had to get my car towed to the dealership who checked all fuses and wiring only to determine that it was the eis or esl unit. This is the electronic steering lock mechanism that malfunctioned. I ended up spending over $1000 to get this fixed.

Filed Apr 7, 2014 · Lights · 49,000 miles · GA

The driver side tail light housing has burnt out and knocked out all lights in the cluster. This seems to be a known issue, but there has yet to be a recall for this.

Filed Feb 13, 2014 · Lights · 60,000 miles · FL

All the lights outside of the car are going out. The entire rear left light is not working, along with front head lights. They have been replaced and I keep receiving messages on the dashboard. It was taken to the dealer and there is corrosion on the wires.

Filed Jul 15, 2013 · Electrical, Lights · 53,000 miles · PA

Received in-dash notifications that all lights on left side of car were out. Took to local repair shop, which found that left rear taillight housing had melted. Had new lighting carrier installed and wires repaired.