Mercedes recalls cars with defective brake components

 

Jacksonville, Fla. – Jan. 16, 2018 – Mercedes-Benz USA has recalled more than 430 vehicles potentially equipped with defective brake components, according to documentation submitted to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects Mercedes-Benz G 550 and G 550 4×4 sport utility vehicles produced between April 3, 2017, and May 31, 2017. The automaker is unsure what percentage of the referenced models actually contain the defective parts.

The Defect

Affected vehicles could contain braking systems with defective brake booster vacuum hoses that were not produced to meet design specifications and are prone to collapse as a result. These fixtures may feature hose layers that suffer delamination over time and are therefore likely to deteriorate entirely, leading to brake booster failure. In such scenarios, drivers must exert considerably more effort when depressing the brake pedal. This, in turn, increases the likelihood of a collision. However, Mercedes-Benz has yet to receive any reports connecting the defective brake booster vacuum hoses to accidents or injuries.

Timeline of Events

In August 2017, Daimler AG, the international conglomerate that oversees the Mercedes-Benz brand, received a field report detailing an instance of brake booster failure. One month later, the automaker launched an internal investigation in collaboration with multiple suppliers. The parties involved reviewed production records and field reports, and requested parts for examination. Investigators quickly determined that the vacuum hose mentioned in the initial field report came from a particular batch produced by the German supplier ContiTech Schlauch GmbH over the course of a single day.

In October, DAG began working with ContiTech to understand the events that led to the production of the defective hose and its identical cousins. Engineers for the parts supplier eventually discovered that an instance of production line maintenance had resulted in widespread oil contamination and the sullying of existing product. By the end of November, DAG and ContiTech had ascertained the extent of the impact of the defective parts via logistics data.

On Dec. 18, 2017, officials for DAG determined that owner safety was at risk and called for a voluntary safety recall.

The Solution

DAG intends to replace the defective vacuum hoses in affected vehicles free of charge, according to an NHTSA recall acknowledgement document. The automaker plans to notify both dealers and owners this month. However, vehicle service requests are not scheduled to begin until February when replacement parts are expected to become available. Owners in need of more immediate assistance can speak with Mercedes customer service representatives by calling (877) 496-3691. They can also connect with the NHTSA via the organization’s toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

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