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2009 MERCEDES BENZ C300 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire · 964716 · 2013-02-24

Vehicle

Make
MERCEDES BENZ
Model
C300
Year
2009
Manufacturer
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Miles at failure
49,987
Speed
50 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
0
Fire
Yes
Crash
No
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

DRIVING AT NIGHT. INSTRUMENT WARNING OF NUMEROUS FAILED TAIL LIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES AT THE SAME TIME. PULLED OVER AND OPENED TRUNK. TRUNK WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE AND BURNING PLASTIC SMELL. OBSERVED ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS ON BOTH TAIL LIGHT BULB HOLDERS MELTING AND SMOLDERING. VISUAL FLAME (SMALL) ON GROUND WIRE ON RIGHT TAIL LIGHT CONNECTOR. OBSERVED BOTH BULB HOLDER ASSEMBLIES AND THEIR ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS HEAVILY DAMAGED BY FIRE/HEAT ONLY AROUND THE BROWN (GROUND) WIRES. REMOVED ASSEMBLIES AND WAS ABLE TO RESTORE SOME TAIL LIGHT FUNCTIONS BY CLEANING ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS OF MELTED PLASTIC. NOTED CORROSION AROUND GROUND TERMINAL PIN OF CONNECTORS. NO INDICATION OF MOISTURE OR WATER LEAKS IN AREA. NO FUSES BLEW. ALL BULBS GOOD. TAIL LIGHT OPERATION NOW INTERMITTENT. WILL CONTACT DEALER TO REPLACE PARTS - FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM DUE TO FIRE AND THE CIRCUIT NOT BEING PROTECTED BY FUSE. *TR UPDATED 3/28/13 *CN..UPDATED 09-09-14 *BF

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10499828
Machine
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