NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Preliminary Evaluation PE13-026: Loss of rear tail light functionality
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE13-026 on July 11, 2013 and closed it on December 30, 2013. NHTSA's investigations file lists 7 Mercedes Benz models for it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- PE13-026 (also written PE13026)
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation The first stage of most defect investigations: NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation gathers basic information about a possible safety defect, including from the manufacturer.
- Status
- Closed December 30, 2013
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
- Components
- Electrical System; Exterior Lighting; Exterior Lighting — Brake Lights; Exterior Lighting — Tail Lights; Exterior Lighting — Turn Signal
- Vehicles and equipment
- 7 Mercedes Benz models, including the C and C36 AMG
A recall appears here only when NHTSA's investigations file links one to the investigation; NHTSA's summary or record can name others.
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Preliminary Evaluation PE13-026.
ODI initially received 21 reports of rear light assembly failure due to a melted electrical connector or housing.
Since opening the initial , ODI has received a total of 114 complaints reflecting an ongoing and increasing trend.
In each report, one or both rear light assemblies fail completely (i.e., all lights housed within the assembly extinguish, including the stop, tail, and turn signal functions) when the electrical ground connection is compromised as a result of high resistance and subsequent thermal over-heating.
According to Mercedes-Benz, the over-heating of the ground wire is caused by corrosion between the connectors in the ground circuit to the tail light.
ODI is aware of a total of 5 reports alleging fire including one injury allegation as a result of this issue.
Analysis of subject vehicle complaint data indicates an increased likelihood of failure as the vehicles age.
As a result of the evidence presented, this investigation has been upgraded to EA13-008.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Preliminary Evaluation PE13-026. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.
What an NHTSA investigation is
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.
An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Mercedes Benz VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for PE13-026
Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.