[AMP007]

The past couple of weeks, I've been noticing the entire left rear tail light is dimmer (less brighter) than the right side when you press the key unlock button. When the key is in the ignition starting the car, everything goes back to normal. I passed on this just thinking perhaps the bulbs are getting ready to go. No problem to replace the bulbs later on.

Few days ago, my dashboard lit up with alerts reading as follows:

- Rear Break light out
- Rear fog light out
- Rear turn signal out
- Rear backup light out

The entire left rear taillight is out. My intuition was maybe there was a short and fuse blew. There's no way all bulbs blew. First thing first, checked the housing of the rear taillight to see if bulbs are ok.

Bulbs are intact and no burned out bulbs or discoloring. As I begin to inspect into more detail, I noticed and felt remnants of the wire harness and wires disintegrating in my hands. Right away I knew we have some sort of mini burnout.

Sure enough the wire harness melted into the light bulb housing piece.
The brown wire (I believe the ground) deteriorated and burned right through
The bulb housing (gray plastic that holds the bulbs) had a brown burn mark discoloring.

What you should learn from this is...if you notice the rear light dimmer than the other...call your dealership and have them replace and test the connectors and replace the harness.

Photos attached what to look for.

Luckily my fuse blew thus preventing a potential fire hazard.

Apparently, there are several Mercedes owners across several forums experiencing the very same thing. The R Class is also known to have the same issue as well.

Dealership replaced harness and bulb housing. Happy customer!!

 

[MB-SV]

My ML350 2006 did something similar, it was common with ML's of that year.

Is this common with current gen C-Class? Has anybody else experienced this?

Good warning on the dimming taillights, btw.


I've had a few burned out bulbs so far on my 2008...

 

[TexFinn]

Very common on W204s. Just noticed it on my wife's car a few weeks ago. It's out of warranty, so not sure if MB would goodwill it or not. Haven't taken it to the dealer yet.

There are a few long threads about the issue over at MBWorld.

 

[MB-SV]

Good to know, wonder if that's an expensive repair.

Sadly, Mercedes still has trouble with taillight assemblies. Certainly the 06 ML350 had lots of crappy parts (power steering, climate control, audio, suspension, steering wheel, and taillight assembly to name a few).

 

[TexFinn]

I think somebody over at the other site mentioned that MB has issued a service bulletin about the issue and some repairs that have been done have just been such that the dealer has added an additional ground wire to the taillight.

Shouldn't be too expensive. Some have gotten theirs repaired as goodwill, so a lot depends on the dealer, I guess.

 

[rodfreshtx]

c300 rear light burn out Answer!

Hello All, I too recently experienced this tail light issue: all last week the flickering and the dimness. Saturday, complete fail (tail light went out at night) that darn brown wire did the exact thing but separated completely from "pigtail" the black housing for the wires and connectors. I cud stick burnt out wire back in (not recommended) to make it home. So Monday called dealership to determine how to move forward. Parts needed: plastic bulb housing (keep ur bulbs) and you will need the pigtail/black plastic housing those should come together for about $55+ @ DEALERSHIP and you must tell them you need all 7 small metal connectors & 2 extras just in case for about $2 each. isconnect housing and reverse light wires (red & blue) must reconnect to new housing at end 1)Make sure u check how the new pigtail casing fits wit the housing it can only plug in one way.If u dont you will have wired it upside down. YOU MUST LABEL the Wires based on how the old pigtail plugged in. Like the pic burnt is #1 mk sure the new piggy is in correct position. you won't remember wire arrangement. Use tape or fold paper and secure and number each wire. If the burnt out wire is at the end like pic (which it usually is) label that wire #1, con't thru #7. You must then cut the 7 wires away from burnt out "pigtail". Now attach those tiny connectors around exposed numbered wire use pliers to close clasp tightly around each wire. Push those wires/connectors thru unsnapped pigtail in their proper order #1-#7 , close pigtail then plug in should work. I did it in about 90 mins. Took patience cause I did it upside down! & they originally gave me only 2 connectors which got stuck in wrong position! Had to borrow a car,go back to dealership, get more clips get the guy to go to the garage and have a mechanic pull the clip out of the pigtail,as a favor, and I had to go to work today. I Did it, lights work fine I'm no mechanic it will require you to be patient. May take less than hour if done like instructed. Get urself a chair, some patience,scissors,pliers,flathead screw driver to hold wires while you apply pressure via pliers. Good Luck! Plug new piggy 1st, visually see which slot wire#1 goes so you don't start on the wrong end whereas #1 wire is actually in the #7 wire's slot, not good.

 

[aamerz]

Tail-light harnesses for W204s are known to short out, requiring replacement... this applies specifically to 2008-2011 models..

 

[4maticaddict]

There is a simple fix for this problem if you know how to solder wire. The burned connection is normally the brown ground wire.

Acquire a piece of 18awg wire about 12" (20cm) and a round wire connector.
Strip both ends of the wire.
Crimp the wire connector onto one end of the wire.
Remove the circuit board / bulb holder so the circuits are visible. Feed the stripped end of the wire through a hole in the circuit board / bulb holder.
Solder the end of the wire to the ground circuit of the circuit board.
Loosen a mounting nut nearby that is grounded, and attach the round wire connector, then retighten.

That should do it!

 

[divinebug]

Thank you guys for sharin

Hi Guys,
today i noticed exactly same thing as mentioned in the first post and i just went down to see the connector and damn its the brown ground wire I'll follow the instructions given in thread to repair my burned out lamp holder if dealer refuses to do it at goodwill they already gutted me 1500$ just on repairs (servicing(600CAD+transmission flush 400 CAD+brake fluid change150 CAD+ 1 Bi Xenon lamp 275 CAD)

 

[Laloggia]

Just noticed this problem on my 2009 c300. Any updates on the dealer covering this? I have a June 6th appt.

 

[JulesH]

My 09 did the same thing. Dealer replaced both sides, even though it only happened on the driver's side. Luckily I was still under warranty.

 

[Laloggia]

My 09 did the same thing. Dealer replaced both sides, even though it only happened on the driver's side. Luckily I was still under warranty.

For 2009 what exactly is the warranty period for this specific repair? Is it 4 year 40,000 miles?

 

[Scott52]

I had the exact problem on the RHS rear taillight. The brown (earth) wire was burning out due to too much current. I worked it out myself that an extra wire should sort it out so that's what I did. I just added another earth wire and the problem is fixed.

I expected more from a supposedly quality vehicle like this. I didn't bother taking it to the dealers as it was quicker to do it myself and I knew I would do it properly. At the dealer it would have been a 16 year old apprentice and it would have cost me a small fortune.

 

[Harve]

It happened to me last week NEW COUNTRY MOTOR CARS ( MERECEDES DEALER) charged me $393.90 to make the repair. The service advisor told me she had not heard of a recall. Has anyone information about a recall for this problem?
Harvey

 

[benzc300loaded]

I wish there was a recall. I have a 2010 still under warranty and the lights are all fine but I get the "check right tail and brake lamp" message. I checked my wiring and everything is good, nothing burnt out.

Sometimes when I re-start the car there is no message, and at other times the message will appear again.

What is the CORRECT fix I should expect from the dealer?

 

[Scott52]

I've not heard of any recall. About a year ago I was getting the message about the RH rear tail light so I investigated myself and discovered the problem. I just added an extra wire and bent the pin down a bit. I hate taking my car to the dealer. It's quicker, easier and cheaper to deal with a lot of these issues myself.

One issue appears to be the pin in the tail light is too small for the connector so it doesn't make contact properly. On top of that the wire seems to be too light for the current. If I was you I 'd just pull the plug out and bend the pin for the brown (earth) wire downwards a touch. At least you'll know it's going to be contacting properly and will stop the occasional warning message you get. That will probably be the end of the problem for you. It seems to start causing problems after about 3 to 4 years when the wire has been getting too hot with the intermittent contact and possibly arcing. By then the electrical connection is pretty bad and the heat and arcing get worse causing the melting plastic and eventual failure.

 

[Jarocho]

Hi everyone! I have a 2009 C300 sport 4matic, and just got serviced yesterday and the shop notice problems with the left side tail light. Same problem as everyone here, is there a recall for this or do i have to take it in and pay to have it fix?
I live in WI.

 

[MB-SV]

I think recall is still under consideration by NHTSA.

Hopefully a decision soon, must be a pile of related evidence.

 

[TexFinn]

Hopefully a decision soon, must be a pile of related evidence.

Yeah, I'm sure MB will try to fight is as long as possible.

I do think, however, that if you had the repairs done prior to the recall (IF it happens, that is ), you should be able to get your money back from MB. So, save your receipts.

 

[Logic10]

There was a recent story (July 16) on a possible recall on this subject at:
Mercedes-Benz C-Class in safety probe