NHTSA ID Number: 10558572
Incident Date: 2014-01-05
Manufacturer's Name: Mercedes-Benz
USA, LLC
Vehicle/Equipment Make: MERCEDES BENZ
Vehicle/Equipment Model: C350
Model Year: 2008
9999 If Unknown Or N/A
Vehicle Identification Number: WDDGF56X88R
Vehicle Mileage At Failure: 78579
Vehicle Speed: 0
Number Of Occurrences: 1
Was Vehicle Towed: No
Consumer Location: IRVINE, CA
Summary of Complaint
AFTER PARKING MY C350 I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE TRUNK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I OPENED THE TRUNK TO DISCOVER THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKE WAS THE TRUNK FUSE BOX PANEL. I REMOVED THE PANEL AND FOUND THAT THE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS SMOKING. FOLLOWING THE REMOVAL DIRECTIONS IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL, I REMOVED THE MULTI-PIN CONNECTOR AND NOTICED THAT THE HOUSING AROUND THE BROWN CONDUCTOR WAS COMPLETELY MELTED AND CORRODED. THERE WAS A DISTINCT SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC. I THEN DROVE HOME WITH THE PASSENGER TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY DISCONNECTED FOR FEAR OF FURTHER DAMAGE OR AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. LUCKILY I WAS NOT PULLED OVER NOR DID I CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO INACTIVE BRAKE/REVERSE LIGHTS. ONCE HOME, I DETERMINED THAT THE BURNED AND CORRODED CONDUCTOR MUST BE THE GROUND CONNECTION. I BELIEVE THAT THE GROUND CABLE IN THE TAIL LIGHT HARNESS IS NOT OF HEAVY ENOUGH GAUGE TO HANDLE THE CURRENT THAT PASSES THROUGH IT UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. HERE IS THE MATH: EACH BULB IS 21W. IF YOU ARE AT A STOPLIGHT AT NIGHT WITH YOUR HEADLIGHTS ON AND YOU'RE TURNING RIGHT, THERE WILL BE 5 BULBS ACTIVE (PER SIDE). THIS IS A TOTAL OF 105W. AT 12V, 105W TRANSLATES TO ABOUT 9A. THE RECOMMENDED WIRE GAUGE IS 16-18 AT THIS LEVEL OF CURRENT. THE BROWN WIRE IN THE TAIL LIGHT HARNESS IS AN 18 GAUGE WIRE I BELIEVE. THIS WIRE IS RIGHT AT ITS LIMIT FOR CURRENT HANDLING. WE KNOW THAT IN THE REAL-WORLD, CURRENT CAN EASILY EXCEED THEORETICAL LIMITS, SO ENGINEERS OFTEN OVER-SPEC WIRE TO BE TOTALLY SURE THAT A CIRCUIT WILL NOT FAIL. IN THIS CASE, THE MERCEDES-BENZ ENGINEERS DID NOT OVER-SPEC THE WIRE...THEY UNDER-SPEC'D THE WIRE, AND IT FAILED! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND A RECALL, SINCE THIS IS POTENTIALLY A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. A CAR COULD EASILY GO UP IN FLAMES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. OR AN ACCIDENT COULD HAPPEN DUE TO BRAKE/REVERSE/TURNING LIGHTS THAT HAVE BURNED UP AND FAILED. *TR
Complaint 10558572 Documents
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- Mixes well with conventional fluids
- Low-moisture formula provides excellent vapor lock...
- Ideal for hydraulic and disc brakes
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CRASH: No
WAS VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A CRASH
FIRE: No
WAS VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FIRE
INJURIES: 0
NUMBER OF PERSONS INJURED
DEATHS: 0
NUMBER OF FATALITIES
Was Medical Attention Required: No
Was Incident Reported To Police: No
Date Of Incident: 2014-01-05
(YYYY-MM-DD)
Date Added To File: 2014-01-06
(YYYY-MM-DD)
Date Complaint Received By NHTSA: 2014-01-06
(YYYY-MM-DD)
Date Purchased:
(YYYY-MM-DD)
Was Original Owner: No
Product Type: Vehicle
V = Vehicle T = Tires E = Equipment C = Child Restraint
Specific Component's Description: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Anti-Lock Brakes: No
Cruise Control: No
Number Of Cylinders: 6
Drive Train Type:
[AWD, 4WD, FWD, RWD]
Fuel System:
FI = Fuel Injection TB = Turbo
Fuel Type: Gas
BF = BiFuel CN = CNG/LPG DS = Diesel GS = Gas HR = HybridElectric
Vehicle Transmission Type [Auto, Man]:
(DOT) Department Of Transportation Tire Identifier:
Tire Size:
Location Of Tire:
FSW = Driver Side Front DSR = Driver Side Rear FTR = Passenger Side Front PSR = Passenger Side Rear SPR = Spare
Type Of Tire Failure:
BST = Blister BLW = Blowout TTL = Crack OFR = Out Of Round TSW = Puncture TTR = Road Hazard TSP = Tread Separation
Was Defective Tire Repaired:
Was Part Original Equipment:
Date Of Manufacture:
(YYYYMMDD)
Type Of Child Seat:
B = Booster C = Convertible I = Infant IN = Integrated TD = Toddler
Installation System:
A = Vehicle Safety Belt B = Latch System
Dealer's Name:
Dealer's Telephone Number:
Dealer's City:
Dealer's State:
Dealer's Zipcode:
SOURCE OF COMPLAINT CODE:
CAG = Consumer Action Group CON = Forwarded From A Congressional Office DP = Defect Petition,result Of A Defect Petition EVOQ = Hotline VOQ EWR = EARLY WARNING REPORTING INS = Insurance Company IVOQ = NHTSA Web Site LETR = Consumer Letter MAVQ = NHTSA Mobile APP MIVQ = NHTSA Mobile APP MVOQ = Optical Marked VOQ RC = Recall Complaint, Result Of A Recall Investigation RP = Recall Petition, Result Of A Recall Petition SVOQ = Portable Safety Complaint Form (PDF) VOQ = NHTSA Vehicle Owners Questionnaire
Incident State Code:
Vehicle Operator's Name:
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