Mercedes Recalls 1.3 Million Cars and SUVs Due To Problem in Emergency Call System
Giancarlo Perlas February 14, 2021
Around 1.3 million vehicles sold by Mercedes-Benz USA are subject to recall because of a potential issue in their eCall emergency call system. The problem may result in the system sending the wrong location to emergency responders in case of an accident.
The National Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) traced the problem to the emergency communication module of the software. The fix can be as simple as an over-the-air update, but some units may be required to undergo repairs in dealerships.
The agency identified 1,292,258 affected luxury cars and SUVs made from 2016 to 2020 by Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG. The Mercedes recalls include the derivatives of the A-Class, B-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL, SLC, CLA, CLS, and AMG GT. Meanwhile, the SUVs include all trims of the G-Class, GLA, GLB, GLC, GLE, and GLS.
It should be noted though the model years of the affected units differ. A comprehensive list of the Mercedes cars and SUVs for recall can be found on the NHTSA site.
So far, only one incident stemming from the issue was reported in Europe. To date, no US owners experienced the problem yet based on the investigation of NHTSA. Nevertheless, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so those who are covered by the notice should address the problem as soon as possible.
The fix for the communication module software of the vehicles is set to be rolled out on April 6, 2021. Those who have a Mercedes Me subscription can conveniently avail of the over-the-air update but those who don’t will have to schedule their visits with their respective Mercedes dealerships.
