Jacksonville, Fla. – Mercedes-Benz USA has recalled dozens of vehicles potentially equipped with defective headlamp assemblies, according to documentation submitted to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects multiple models produced between June 1, 2017, and June 20, 2017, including:
- 2017 Mercedes-Benz E43 AMG sedans.
- 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300 and E300 4Matic sedans.
- 2017 Mercedes-Benz E400 wagons.
The British automaker suspects all of the vehicles referenced in the recall contain the defective parts.
The Defect
The models involved in this action could feature horizontal headlamp adjustment mechanisms that are outwardly accessible and therefore movable. In the event that owners purposely or inadvertently manipulate these fixtures, vehicle headlamps could become misaligned, reducing visibility and increasing the likelihood of an accident. However, Mercedes-Benz has yet to receive reports connecting the defect to any accidents or injuries.
In addition to posing a serious safety hazard to occupants, the defect violates Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108, Section 10, which states that “a optically aimable headlamp that has a lower beam must not have a horizontal adjustment mechanism.”
Timeline of Events
Mercedes-Benz on June 1, 2017, reorganized a number of production lines at one of its primary assembly facilities after quality assurance personnel discovered multiple vehicles with adjustable headlamps. During this time, the automaker also reworked all of the vehicles with defective headlamps. Engineers conducting regular quality control evaluations in March 2018 discovered that some of these models had not been addressed during the June 2017 corrective action. This revelation prompted Daimler AG, the automotive conglomerate that oversees the Mercedes-Benz brand, to launch a voluntary safety recall April 27, 2018.
The Solution
Mercedes-Benz will direct dealers to install sealing caps on the headlamps of affected models free of charge, according to an NHTSA recall acknowledgment document. The automaker plans to notify dealers in May 2018. Mercedes-Benz has yet to release an owner notification timetable. That said, the company does expect the recall to begin June 2018. Owners in need of more immediate assistance can contact Mercedes-Benz customer service at (800) 367-6372. They can also reach out to the NHTSA directly using the agency’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.
