Jacksonville, Fla. – Jan. 16, 2018 – Mercedes-Benz U.S.A. has recalled more than 8,100 vehicles believed to be equipped with defective headlamps, according to documentation submitted to the National Highways Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2016-2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300, GLC 300 4Matic and GLC 43 4Matic sport utility vehicles produced between Oct. 9, 2014 and Nov. 19, 2016. The automaker suspects just 1 percent of the models referenced in action actually contain the defective parts.
The Defect
Affected vehicles include skewed LED headlamps with reduced low beam ranges, putting the parts in violation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108, which stipulates that such features “must be aimed vertically so that the cutoff is on the left side, at .4 degrees down from the H-H line, or on the right side, at the H-H line.” according to the Government Publishing Office. In addition to being in violation of FMVSS 108, the defective headlamps pose a serious risk to owners, as they could reduce the drivers’ fields of vision and increase the likelihood of accidents. That said, Mercedes-Benz and its parent company, Daimler AG, have yet to receive reports connecting the problematic features to any collisions or injuries.
Timeline of Events
In November 2016, engineers at an American Mercedes-Benz assembly plant discovered recently constructed vehicles with incorrect illumination distribution readings. DAG quality assurance personnel immediately launched an inquiry, performing additional tests and collecting the resulting data for analysis. The investigation team ultimately reviewed information dating from the beginning of production to November 2016.
DAG ended the inquiry in mid-2017, concluding that headlamp adjustment equipment in the assembly plant had been configured incorrectly and caused the defect. The automotive conglomerate launched two additional investigations to explore the breadth of the problem. Engineers working on the first initiative found that the problem affected only GLC-class vehicles, while the team managing the second inquiry established that the defective lighting features reduced driver field of vision but did not create glare issues when used with oncoming traffic present.
In December 2017, DAG wrapped up these investigations, confirmed that the defective fixtures violated FMVSS 108 and launched a voluntary safety recall.
The Solution
Mercedes-Benz will direct dealers to adjust the headlamps on affected vehicles free of charge, according to an NHTSA recall acknowledgement document. The automaker intends to notify both dealers and owners sometime this month. Individuals with vehicles referenced in this recall who need more immediate assistance can contact Mercedes-Benz customer service personnel at (877) 496-3691. They can also connect with the NHTSA directly via its toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.
