Jacksonville, Fla. – April 26, 2018 – Mercedes-Benz USA has recalled more than 3,000 vehicles potentially equipped with defective front seatback assemblies, according to documentation submitted to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects multiple models manufactured between April 11, 2017, and Aug. 11, 2017, including:
- 2017-2018 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG 4Matic coupes and cabriolets.
- 2017-2018 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG coupes, S coupes, cabriolets and S cabriolets.
- 2017-2018 Mercedes-Benz C300 coupes, 4Matic coupes, cabriolets and 4Matic cabriolets.
- 2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 coupes.
The German automaker is unsure just how many of the recalled vehicles contain the defective parts.
The Defect
Affected vehicles contain front seatback assemblies that may not lock properly. Consequently, items stored in these compartments could come loose during an accident, increasing the likelihood of occupant injury. However, Daimler AG, the automotive conglomerate that owns and operates Mercedes-Benz, has not yet received field reports linking the defect to any accidents or injuries.
Timeline of Events
DAG in May 2017 received a report from the Lear Corporation, the parts vendor responsible for providing the seatback assemblies, revealing that a number of shipped seatbacks included backrests from a subcontractor that did not meet minimum tolerance thresholds. This subcontractor launched an internal investigation in response, eventually determining, in May 2017, that a batch of defective levers prevented the backrests from locking properly and meeting tolerance standards. The subcontractor amended its processes to prevent further error one month later.
Around the same time, DAG put into place workflow changes and began reworking the seatback assemblies installed in unsold affected vehicles.
The automotive conglomerate in August 2017 initiated internal analysis to determine the impact of the defective seatback assemblies. Within five months, engineers concluded that a micro switch within the seat locking assembly would detect intolerance of the left locking mechanism and notify post-production personnel, who could easily fix the issue prior to shipment. However, the right locking mechanism did not prompt such a warning, meaning vehicles with defective seatbacks could slip through.
DAG leadership reviewed the matter on March 22, 2018, and decided to conduct a voluntary safety recall.
The Solution
DAG will direct dealers to inspect the seatback assemblies and, if necessary, replace the locking mechanisms free of charge, according to an NHTSA recall acknowledgement document.
The company plans to reach out to dealers this month and contact owners via first-class mail between May 25, 2018, and June 29, 2018. Owners in need of more immediate assistance can connect with DAG customer service personnel at (800) 367-6372. They can also reach out to the NHTSA directly using the agency’s toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.
