When the key was placed in the ignition, the key was not recognized. The car would not start and the steering wheel remained locked. A message on the dash advised to remove the key. This was not a battery issue. The lights, radio and car locks worked fine. The car has been towed to the dealership and I am waiting for the outcome. It is interesting that the tow company that picked up my vehicle advised me that they had towed approximately 30 Mercedes in the last 2 week and that approximately 20 of them were experiencing the same complaints. Prior to this occurrence, the weather had been unusually cold, down to the single digits. On the morning of the incident, the weather had warmed up. I have been reading that the trouble may be caused by the electronic ignition switch.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

Fault indicator for left sided rear lights sporadically show defect lamps, but they are not. Finally a partly broken/corroded ground return was detected. The same happened to the right sided rear lights about 6 months later. Defect was finally repaired, expenses covered by Mercedes international adress cottonwood Arizona is incorrect but country is austria, city vienna [xxx] is incorrect but error checker did not accept correct austrian phone numbers phone number [xxx] and [xxx] are correct. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Cottonwood, AZ, USA

Rear lighting failure (taillight). Failure causing my vehicle lights to very dim and some bulbs are not illuminate at all. Occurs with left taillight (brake light). I see some burning on plastic panel that bulbs goes in.

- Irving , TX, USA

Started to get the message to check my rear, right turninf signa, fog lamps, brake lights. Checked all the bulbs and they are fine. Put the harness back and realized it was a little hot and when I looked the wire to the far right I think is expose and on the other side it is burnt through the plastic. Message comes off and on during driving.

- Vista, CA, USA

All exterior light bulbs keep burning. -seat belt stays on even is used. Air bags comes on and off. The engine makes like high idol noise like the car wants to move even its brake.

- San Diego, CA, USA

Keep getting the "check right rear tail and brake lamp", "check right rear sidemarker lamp", and "check right rear turn signal". the blinker will work fine, then after 10 minutes of driving it blinks very fast and the warning light comes on. Sometimes none of the lights on the right rear panel will turn on, sometimes they will. Or they will work for 10 minutes and then go out along with the warning signs. I looked at the bulbs today to see if any were burned, and the harness was burned and brown! I have smelled smoke a few times within the last month as well. This issue is getting worse. This is an extreme safety hazard and must be fixed immediately. Please advise!

- Southaven, MS, USA

jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130717/business/business81.html having the same problem with the electrical passenger rear lights - wire harness is burnt and not working. Spoke with mb dealership/service dept, they said I will need to handle the repair out of my own pocket. I can no longer drive my car as the rear brake lights/signal are not operational and no funds for the repair. This is a safety issue to the consumers and need to be recall immediately !!!

- League City , TX, USA

Warning light came on to check right side tail and brake lamps. Warning sign to also check right turn signal. It appears that these come on after driving about 30S-1min. When opened up the right back light kit, the plastic harness holding the bulbs and wires is burning slightly and slightly charred. Light bulbs are working as they do initially turn on, but then go off after 30S-1min. Also light comes up on check rear left tail and brake lamps. But these work fine, and the left back light kit plastic harness appears normal and fine.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

Inside dash warning saying "check rear right signal lights" and right signal flashes quicker than normal. Upon inspection, lights were working but bulb holder inside lights and connection harness was melted where the brown wire was. Unable to remove harness out because the connector was melted on. Smelled like fresh burnt plastic. Severe fire hazard!

- Honolulu, HI, USA

After receiving several dashboard warning messages and, I went into higgenbothom Mercedes in jackson, ms on 10/12/12 my vehicle was diagnosed as needing a right rear contact plate and harness is shorted out. About a week in a half ago my lights on right side (both front and back tail lights) will flash on and off periodically when my lights are in the auto position and the engine is off. My daughter emailed me an article mentioning a posible defect so I called Mercedes and was told to contact my dealership to get an estimate and then call them back and a case manager would contact me in 24 hours. I took my vehicle in 07/24/13 they diagnosed the car with needing right tailamp bulb holder plate. I contacted Mercedes again yesterday and told them about the diagnosis and spoke to a case manager and was told that there are no recalls at this time and they are still in negotiation with NHTSA and I can have the vehicle repaired but my vehicle is no longer under warranty, but after finding my previous invoice I'm confussed as to what really need to be repaired because that is clearly 2 different diagnosis, but at both times I was told the parts had burned out. I think Mercedes should issue a recall and soon before there are injuries or fatalities since they say non has been reported as of now.

- Jackson, MS, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes Benz C350. The contact stated that the instrument panel caught on fire. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where it was determined that the radio and the wiring needed to be replaced. The failure and current mileages were 109,000.

- Chino, CA, USA

Rear drivers side and passenger side tail lights (brake lights, turn signals, and running lights) are no longer functioning. Upon inspection, lights are barely functioning or not functioning at all with no indication of faulty bulbs or fuses, and wiring harness connecting the tail lights to the electrical system is extremely hot.

- Wilmington, DE, USA

My right tail light had been dim for awhile.I do remember from time to time smelling a faint electrical burn smell but didn't know where is was coming from. Finally when it went out, I pulled the lamp assembly which has what looks like a circuit board where the bulb mounts. The copper "traces" were fried. I took it to the dealership and they said "sorry, it's out of warranty, but we will be happy to sell you one". I said "no thanks, it will just fail the same way". so I took it home and repaired it properly. Now worried the other one will do the same.

- Savannah, GA, USA

Passenger side tail light is considerably dimmer than the driver side. After examining the passenger tail light, I noticed that the connector of the wire harness connected to the housing that is housing all the bulbs is partially melted and it is extremely hot when the lights are on. I also checked the driver's side and it looks like the exact same thing is happening on there, too, but so far to a little lesser extent. Looks a lot like a fire hazard!

- Denton, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes C class. The contact stated that another vehicle crashed into the contact's front end. The vehicle was repaired but one month later, the electrical system failed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection and they stated that the ignition switch and steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and they stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 08V303000 (electrical system). The failure mileage was 48,000.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes C- class. The contact stated that the rear tail lights failed. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer to have the light bulbs changed and the dealer advised that the wiring harness failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The current mileage was 62,000 and the failure mileage was unknown.

- North Brunswick , NJ, USA

Right rear tail lamp assembly. Lights appeared dim for a couple months and figured lights were about it go out. Went to buy new light bulbs to replace the dimming bulbs and when I opened the right side to install the light I noticed the electrical cord attached to the assembly had melted. Lights were still dim and checked to see what it sounded like when I turned the lights on and it makes a crackling electrical sound. I assume that's why it smelt like something was burning and why the 8 prong piece melted. 1-6 on the electrical piece look good. 7 is damaged due to number 8 completely melting off.

- San Antonio, TX, USA