Mercedes-Benz bulletin LI82.10-P-078304
What it saysComplaint Headlamps fogged or droplets forming. NHTSA’s full summary ↓
Mercedes-Benz filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated Sep 9, 2024, received Sep 14, 2024, about the exterior lighting. It names 80 model years (2016–2024). A service bulletin is not a safety recall: it is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a condition, and whether the work is paid for depends on the warranty in force. Quoting the number at a service desk can save a diagnosis.
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What the bulletin says
Source: NHTSA's summary of the manufacturer's communicationComplaint Headlamps fogged or droplets forming. Cause Due to the housing cover with pressure compensation diaphragm, the headlamps are a "closed system". This means that the headlamps are protected against acid gases, dirt and exhaust gas. However, moisture can still enter from two sources. Through absorption and desorption (the commonest cause) or through permeation. Moisture is either absorbed by the plastic material and, when the light source is switched on, it is released from the plastic by desorption, or the moisture penetrates through the plastic materials of the headlamp from outside (permeation). This can lead to the formation of condensation on the lens of the headlamp. The headlamps comply with all applicable US standards and regulations. Remedy Check headlamps for natural fogging or condensation as per LI82.10-P-078301. If a reduction in the degree of fogging is visible, the desiccant packs can be used once the condensation has completely evaporated. Note: Order service covers and desiccant packs based on the validity description. 1. Remove existing service cover with diaphragm (Picture_01 (1)). 2. Insert desiccant packs (Picture_01 (2)) into new service covers with diaphragm and seal with protective grille and bolt down (Picture_01 (3)). Note: One desiccant pack is required for each small service cover, and two desiccant packs are required for each large service cover. 3. Stick the supplied diaphragm onto the new service cover and attach at the headlamp. Note: The bonding surface must be clean and dry. 4. If the headlamp housing has an additional 2nd diaphragm, this must be covered over with masking tape. Note: The bonding surface must be clean and dry. To ensure that the desiccant pack (absorption) acts effectively, the headlamp has to be air-sealed. Observe or check the following points for this: 1. Seals at the central connector must all be present and correctly fitted (Picture_02). 2. The new transparent diaphragm must be correctly bonded (Picture_03). 3. Check headlamp housing for any external damage.
Document filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id | At NHTSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LI82.10-P-078304 | Service bulletin | Sep 9, 2024 | 11007790 | PDF, 336 KB |
What the document itself lists
Parts the bulletin names
| Part number | Description | Qty | Find it |
|---|---|---|---|
| A0008260900 | Small service cover 1 See validity description X | — | eBay Motors → |
| A0008261000 | Large service cover 1 See validity description X | — | eBay Motors → |
| A0008262000 | Masking tape | — | eBay Motors → |
Read by machine from the document NHTSA serves (5 pages), read Sep 30, 2026. A part number is shown only where it matches Mercedes-Benz’s own catalogue shape, an operation only with its code and time, and a description only where the reader got it whole; anything it could not settle is left out, and the PDF is the record. Times are the manufacturer’s warranty allowances, not a quote. Listings and prices on eBay Motors are the seller’s.
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The summary is NHTSA’s abstract of the document, as filed under 49 CFR 579.5. One communication is usually filed as several documents — the bulletin, a dealer notice, an owner letter — and the number on any of them finds this page. A PDF link is shown only once NHTSA’s own server has been seen to serve that document; the rest are checked over the following nights. Quote the number at a service desk; it is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Model years it names
Source: as the manufacturer filed themand 37 more on this site: 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, 2024 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, 2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, 2016 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, 2024 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, 2023 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, 2022 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, 2020 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, 2019 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, 2017 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, 2016 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, 2020 Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class, 2019 Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class, 2018 Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class, 2017 Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class, 2016 Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class, 2016 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class.
Also filed against model years this site has no page for: 2024 Mercedes-Benz AMG SL63 S E; 2017 Mercedes-Benz GL450; 2017 Mercedes-Benz GL550.
A vehicle page’s bulletin list shows the newest few communications filed against that model year; the count there is every one.
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What owners reported
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseOwners of the 77 model years this bulletin names have filed 3,230 complaints with NHTSA since 2015. 46 of them name Exterior Lighting — the same broad component group this bulletin is filed under. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so that means the same area of the vehicle, not necessarily the same fault.
Despite maintaining the vehicle according to the recommended schedule, I have encountered ongoing performance issues (electrical, rear shocks, fan motor etc.) that are not in line with the standard of quality I expect from a brand of your reputation. Window not going down all the way on the driver side. Radio not working but was fixed.
2022 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class · Exterior Lighting · filed with NHTSA Jun 24, 2025 · ODI 11668913
2021 Mercedes GLC 43 headlight is inoperable. Same as reported in campaign 22V261000: "Headlight failure can decrease visibility for both the driver and surrounding traffic, increasing the risk of a crash." Although our car was produced before the dates reported in campaign 22V261000, I believe this is the same defect and the recall…
2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class · Exterior Lighting · filed with NHTSA Sep 26, 2025 · ODI 11689974
This car since new has had moisture in the headlight from rain or washing. MB has installed moisture packets in the headlights that they said would fix the problem. It never did. I called the dealership and complained, they said sorry but that was their fix (MB TSB LI82.10-P-062051).
2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class · Exterior Lighting · filed with NHTSA Jun 27, 2024 · ODI 11597343
A complaint is one owner’s account, not a defect finding, and a bulletin is not a recall. Nothing here says this bulletin was issued because of these complaints, or that the repair it describes fixed them. Complaint files on this site begin in 2015.
More bulletins about the exterior lighting
Source: same model, same component group20 other manufacturer communications filed against these Mercedes-Benz models under the same component group (exterior lighting), newest first. The eight newest are listed; the rest are on the Mercedes-Benz list.
| Number | Kind | Dated | NHTSA’s summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| LI82.10-P-078301 | Service bulletin | Apr 16, 2026 | Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged. Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain cl… |
| LI82.20-P-080425 | Service bulletin | Apr 8, 2026 | Complaint Optical irregularity in the light guide of the ambient lighting. Cause Exposure to external factors, e.g. cleaning or disinfecting… |
| PSL- NCU Return Parts 4/3 | Other | Apr 3, 2026 | The part numbers listed in the chart below should no longer be installed, and any existing stock must be returned to your facing PDC. The de… |
| LI82.10-P-078307 | Service bulletin | Feb 25, 2026 | Complaint Headlamps leaking or fogged Cause The fogging of the headlamp is a natural phenomenon which can occur under certain climatic condi… |
| LI82.10-P-078896 | Service bulletin | Feb 24, 2026 | Complaint Headlamps leaking or fogged Cause The fogging of the headlamp is a natural phenomenon which can occur under certain climatic condi… |
| OTA - 5497150 | Over-the-air update | Jan 31, 2026 | Mercedes-Benz AG, the manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, has determined that on certain subject vehicles, the software for the Headlamp… |
| LI82.10-P-079179 | Service bulletin | Sep 3, 2025 | Complaint Message in instrument cluster "Adaptive high beams assistant not available/inoperative" or "DIGITAL LIGHT reduced range of functio… |
| NCU - 2025080005 | Service campaign | Aug 30, 2025 | Mercedes-Benz AG, the manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, has determined that on certain subject vehicles, the LED strip control unit do… |
Quote the number at the service desk. It is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Every manufacturer communication NHTSA holds for Mercedes-Benz, by the number printed on the letter.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR 579.5Is Mercedes-Benz LI82.10-P-078304 a recall?
No. A service bulletin is a manufacturer communication filed with NHTSA under 49 CFR 579.5; a safety recall carries an NHTSA campaign number (two digits, a letter, six digits) and a federal duty to repair for free. Check the vehicle’s recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or on its page here.
Is the LI82.10-P-078304 repair free?
Not automatically. A service bulletin describes how to diagnose or repair a condition; who pays depends on the warranty in force, any extension, and the dealer. Quoting the number can save a diagnosis either way. Every Mercedes-Benz warranty extension on file lists the ones Mercedes-Benz has filed.
Which vehicles does LI82.10-P-078304 cover?
The manufacturer filed it against 80 model years: 2024 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, 2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class and more. Whether one particular vehicle is affected is a matter of its VIN and its build, not its model year alone.