2009 Mercedes Benz C300 needs replacement of the electric steering lock (code 6180.57-P-051521), no warning lights appeared car would not turn on.

- Modesto, CA, USA

My car will not start. Battery was tested and is in good condition. When key is inserted the panel shows a message saying "please remove key". I had to tow my car to service center and I am still waiting for tech info on cause of problem. I have read in NHTSA website many complaints of the same nature. Seems there is a manufacturer defect on the electronic ignition system on this models. To me this is a serious security issue to owners. Imagine having it happen while car is running... the steering wheel locks and cannot be unlocked in any way. Car does not even crank. With steering wheel locked towers need to have special tools to handle car, not always available. I can not believe that with so many complaints already filed NHTSA has not ordered a recall on this matter. Are the computers on this model preprogrammed by manufacturer to stop working after certain time?

- San Juan, PR, USA

I went out to my car this morning to drive to work and my car would not start. The lights came on I could lock and unlock my car however when I put the key in, it turn all the way but it would not crank. I call Mercedes Benz 24 hour roadside assistance and they confirmed that my battery was not the problem. The technician even told me he noticed that this happened to other owners and they did not know why it was happening without warning. This is so unacceptable.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

My 2009 C300 was just towed to the Benz dealer for the "technical svs bulletin" known as LI80-57-P051521. (the known and documented internal issue with the electronic steering lock causing crank failure that has been identified by the NHTSA.) I would like to know why Benz is not assisting with this matter. Last year I just replaced the back lights on the vehicle that was smoking and burning; causing my brake lights to go out and causing damage to items in my trunk. Now finally, that part is now being recalled! why is Benz awaiting for something bad to happen before they take responsibility for their parts. With all of the documented complaints of the C300 car not cranking due to the failure of the electronic steering lock, why is Benz being allowed to go forward without a recall of this faulty part their installing in these cars? it seems very evident that though Benz has documentation of "consistent failure" of the eis/esl on the C300S, they're refusing to recall the cars for these issues in an attempt to generate constant business for the Benz dealerships. (for instance, when I walked into the dealership, my servicer was able to quote me a price on the repair of my car within seconds as he stated that he just completed the same repair on a car same make, model and year as mine the day before....uumm...what a coincidence!) this racket that Benz is running has cost me $1,000. This has to be against the law. I'll have to look up the Texas deceptive trade act and/or report this to the Texas attorney general.

- Spring, TX, USA

In 2010 I purchase 2009 Mercedes Benz C300 from a dealer. Car was nice and perfect until a year later I have to change the low beam and eyes lids light bulb. Everything was change my car electrical was bad my headlights keep getting damage. I changed light bulbs about 4 times a year. And today on my way home freon work my car tail lights msg starting to show. I take a look the bulb was fine until I smell the burning came out of my tail lights harness I saw a burn wire start sparking so I stop the car and pull it out because I'm afraid it will sparking to the fuel tank. I look up online what is the cost. It seem like a lot of people has the same issue as me. Now I don't know what to do beside looking on internet and find the way to solve this problem. M.mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?T=465331&styleid=20 this link will show everybody have the same issue and I don't know why Mercedes never recall and fix this problem. What will happen if I keep on driving and the wire spark to the fuel. Please help I'm not asking this just for myself but for other people who doesn't know. Thank you.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

My car left me stranded at work. When I was leaving work my car would not start the steering was completely locked. The car would not even start the only thing that would turn on was the radio and a message of not to forget to remove your key. I could not even get the car out of gear. I would crank it and nothing, it was completely dead. I never received a message to warn me that something was faulty.. before taking car into dealership I did my research online and spoke with a service tech at Mercedes and said that it was possibly eis failure and steering lock. After so many complains like mine online I can't believe there is not a recall on this. I believe this is a safety hazard. What if this would of happened when I was driving and my steering locked" who knows?...is Mercedes waiting for serious accidents to happen" these failures are really a call for a recall..if there are anymore Mercedes owners out there with the same problem file your complaints maybe if more of us complain they will do a recall. This is not cheap to fix it cost from $1200 to $1700. I bought a Mercedes believing I was buying a dependable vehicle now I am having second thoughts after all I have read...

- Robstown, TX, USA

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.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

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.

- Santa Ana, CA, USA

I received a warning on my dashboard that my right rear tail light, right turn signal and back light needed to be checked and malfunctioning. The message came and went for several days. When I opened the compartment where the tail bulb carriers and assembly were, I saw that some of the lights were very dim. The carrier itself was piping hot. So my first reaction was to replace the bulbs. I did. Same problems, nothing was fixed. The next day, everything cleared up...so I thought it might be fine. A week later, it came back. When I opened up the compartment again, it was super hot, and I noticed that the wiring was browning and it burnt my finger. I immediately stopped driving the car. I went to the dealership and they said it will cost hundreds to replace and not covered.

- Geneva, IL, USA

I received a message to check the rear right (passenger) lights and turn signal. I just purchased the car used on May 20, 2014, and began getting the dashboard warning a few days later, but it was intermittent. On May 26, 2014, I inspected of the bulb carrier and pin connector and noticed that the connection involving the brown wire on the pin connector was burned and the corresponding connection on the bulb carrier was also burned/disintegrated and the area around the brown wire was very hot. It is difficult to know when the failure actually happened.

- Florence, MA, USA

Defective electronic steering lock (esl): Hi, my steering lock just went on me as well and was left stranded with no car this past weekend! my 2009 C300 4matic sport has approx. 56,000 miles on it and I am out of warranty. I called mb usa and begged for warranty assistance but was basically told no because as a second owner I did not have the vehicle serviced enough times at the local mb dealership! I guess I haven't spent enough money to date on unwarranted repairs at the local dealership?? after extensive online research I too found that this is a very common problem with the 2008 and 2009 mb C300, and most likely later models as well!. I also found out that the electronic steering lock (esl) failure typically happens right after expiration of the basic warranty. Just like the thousands of mb C300 owners stuck in this situation, I need my vehicle and have no choice but to shell out the money for this repair! (over $1,000). I am scared to death to drive this car anywhere far in fear that another technical/mechanical breakdown will occur. In addition to esl failure, another concern of mine is finding out that electronic ignition system (eis) failure is another common problem with the 08-09 mb C300's. shame on Mercedes for not issuing a recall on the esl & eis issues and sticking it to the consumers. I too plan on contacting my attorney regarding this issue.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

My vehicle experienced a failure of its starting and steering lock functions. The underline problem and areas of concern is the frequency of this failure and the dangers associated with having the vehicle immobilized when the associated parts fail. Mercedes Benz has not taken any responsibility for this issue yet it can't be fixed without dealership intervention. The costs associated with this particular issue besides having your car towed is in the excess of $1,000. In my case I have been quoted &1700.00! although my particular instance happened when the car was parked, there is no exception that it can occur when the vehicle is motion causing the vehicle to shut off and the steering wheel to lock in any position. Updated 11/24/2014

- Rio Grande, PR, USA

A smoke condition came from the trunk, upon inspection taillight bulb housing was found melted, all bulbs were none working as a result.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

Right rear passenger lighting assembly caught fire. Wiring harness and light bulb carrier were burned. Right rear turn and brake lights are inoperable.

- Oak Park, IL, USA

Right rear taillight pig tail overheated and shorted out lamp holder. You can see the burn marks where it was too hot. Has to be replaced.

- Tacoma, WA, USA

March 1 2014 I notice my wife dash was lighting up with rear brake lights needed to be replaced. I opened the trunk and hit the brake compartment and it came back on. April 11 2014 the light came back on and I tried doing the same thing but nothing. Opened the brake compartment and disconnected everything on that side awaiting a response from the dealership. Don't want another melt down back there in the trunk. If this is the best company out there just announce a recall and fix your customers faulty equipment.

- Leesburg, VA, USA

The dash warned me that my rear tail lights were malfunctioning. The message came and went for several days until it was on continuously. I accessed the electrical compartment and the ground side of plug, the socket and the wire was melted and has been on fire. I have pictures on dropbox: Link attached https://www.dropbox.com/SC/W4tm7B28phh9lal/-dz3htmls-.

- Wilkinson, IN, USA

Components of the tail light assembly on the driver and passenger sides have overheated and rendered the units inoperative. As a result, the tail lights no longer work. This seems to be a known issue and common occurrence in aging assemblies of this type.

- Leesburg, VA, USA

There seems to be a light shortage on the right side, the right turn signal doesn't work properly. The lights work, the issue is the panel and the wire is now melted at the tip. The wire melted into the light panel.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

Wiring harness on rear tail light melted causing the tail light circuit board to stop working, causing the brake lights, reverse lights and blinker to stop working.spoke with Mercedes Benz dealer ship and they told me this was a common problem and that they were not gonna fix it for free and that I would have to pay for the repairs.this is a hazard cause I was driving at night with my kids in the car, when my lights went out.after looking at the melted harness wire this is also a potential fire hazard. Please look into this matter before some one is seriously injured. Mercedes Benz is aware of the problem and refuses to correct it....

- Texas City, TX, USA