Mercedes-Benz Recalls Cars for Fire Risk
A faulty electrical connection could short-circuit
Mercedes-Benz is recalling over 27,000 vehicles because wiring could short-circuit and cause a fire. The recalled vehicles include the 2021 through 2023 AMG GT43 sedan and E450 convertible, wagon, and coupe; 2019 through 2023 AMG E53 sedan, coupe, and convertible; 2019 through 2023 AMG GT53 and CLS450 sedans; and 2019 through 2021 AMG CLS53 sedan.
A misrouted wiring harness may corrode and short-circuit, which could cause a fire. The automaker says drivers may first notice that the yellow “battery” warning light is illuminated and/or the “4Matic malfunction” warning message is displayed in the instrument cluster behind the steering wheel.
Mercedes-Benz told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it was aware of 49 warranty claims related to this issue, two of which led to what it calls “thermal events.”
Owners of affected vehicles will be able to take their cars to a Mercedes-Benz dealer for a free fix.
The Details
Vehicles Recalled
• 2021 to 2023 AMG GT43 sedans
• 2021 to 2013 E450 convertibles, coupes, and wagons
• 2019 to 2023 AMG E53 sedans, coupes, and convertibles
• 2019 to 2023 AMG GT53 sedans
• 2019 to 2023 CLS450 sedans
• 2019 to 2021 AMG CLS53 sedans
The problem: A manufacturing error potentially allows water to come into contact with an electrical connector. If this happens, the wiring could short-circuit and cause a fire.
The fix: Mercedes-Benz dealerships will replace and/or reroute the harness if necessary, free of charge.
How to contact the manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz will begin notifying owners by mail Sept. 20, 2022. Owners may also contact Mercedes-Benz at 800-367-6372.
NHTSA campaign number: 22V533
Check to see whether your vehicle has an open recall: NHTSA’s website will tell you whether your vehicle has any open recalls that need to be addressed.
If you plug your car’s 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN) into NHTSA’s website and a recall doesn’t appear, it means your vehicle doesn’t currently have any open recalls. Because automakers issue recalls often, and for many older vehicles, we recommend checking back regularly to see whether your vehicle has had a recall issued.
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