Jacksonville, Fla. – Jan. 10, 2017 – Mercedes-Benz U.S.A. has recalled approximately 8,700 vehicles potentially equipped with defective rear door locks, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects a number of different models produced between Jan. 3, 2017 and Aug. 8, 2017, including:
- 2017 GLE 350 and GLE 350 4Matic sport utility vehicles.
- 2017 GLE 400 4Matic sport utility vehicles.
- 2017 GLE 550 E 4Matic hybrid electric sport utility vehicles.
- 2017 GLE 43 AMG 4Matic coupes.
- 2017 GLE 63 and 63S AMG 4Matic coupes.
- 2017 GLS 450 sport utility vehicles.
- 2017-2018 GLS 550 sport utility vehicles.
- 2017 GLS 63 sport utility vehicles.
- 2018 S 450 sedans.
- 2017 S 550 and S 550 4Matic sedans.
- 2017 S 550 E hybrid electric sedans.
- 2017 S 600 sedans.
- 2017 S 63 AMG 4Matic sedans.
- 2017 S 65 AMG sedans.
- 2017 S 550 and S 600 Maybach luxury sedans.
Mercedes speculates that just 1 percent of the vehicles named in the action actually contain defective door latch components.
The Defect
Affected models feature defective left rear door locks that register as locked but are actually insecure. The features not only pose a serious safety hazard to owners but also violate Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 206, which stipulates that “each door shall be equipped with at least one locking device which, when engaged, shall prevent operation of the exterior door handle or other exterior latch release control and which has an operating means and a lock release/engagement device located within the interior of the vehicle,” according to the Government Publishing Office.
Timeline of Events
Engineers at a stateside Mercedes-Benz assembly plant discovered one vehicle with non-locking rear doors in May 2017. Daimler AG, the automotive conglomerate overseeing the Mercedes-Benz brand, launched an internal investigation immediately after this discovery, requesting operations personnel to collaborate with the German door latch supplier Kiekert AG to determine the root cause. One month later, the team came upon the answer: faulty riveting parameters at the Kiekert production facility in Heiligenhaus.
Over the next few months, DAG personnel and employees at the parts supplier reviewed production records to determine how many vehicles had come off the line equipped with defective rear door locks. The automaker simultaneously amended its production processes to ensure that other new vehicles would not enter the market with potentially unsafe features. Vehicles produced after June 21, 2017, include new-and-improved door latch assemblies that function properly.
In September, engineers at DAG performed internal tests to gauge the likely affects of the defective components. In December, the company found that the components violated FMVSS 206 and decided to conduct a voluntary safety recall.
The Solution
Mercedes is expected to notify dealers and owners this month. However, the needed replacement parts will only be ready by February. Individuals with vehicles named in this action who require more immediate assistance are encouraged to contact Mercedes customer service at (877) 496-3961, according to a NHTSA recall acknowledgment document. Owners can also connect with NHTSA personnel via the Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.
