U.S. – Aug. 27, 2018 – Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) announced a recall of particular 2018 vehicles that have issues with their anchoring systems for child seats, according to Consumer Affairs. This could prove to be a high-risk situation for drivers and potentially lead to injuries during crashes, as seats can become prematurely detached due to the faulty part. Steps are in place to remedy the situation as quickly as possible.
The Defect
Proper installation of the child seat anchoring system, or ISOFIX, may have been overlooked in 39 Mercedes cars. Those included in the recall are Mercedes-Benz E400 Cabrios and E400 4Matic Cabrios.
If during a crash the ISOFIX does not work properly, some of the console could tear away from the vehicle unexpectedly. If there is a child seat and child involved, there is a risk for injury.
According to Childcarseats.org, the ISOFIX is an international standard in many vehicles to have certain secure points that pass safety tests with all regulation car seats. As there can be large differences between various seatbelts, seats and how the components are anchored, the ISOFIX can help standardize the variables to provide additional safety checkpoints. Some of these anchor points include top tether metal parts that allow for looping of belts and straps, as well as alligator clips for the bottom. The system can account for child passengers up to 72 pounds in booster seats and regular child car seats. ISOFIX can also be referred to as LATCH, LUAS or Canfix in other countries.
Alongside the ISOFIX system, all child car seats should have proper alignment for the seatbelt strap, adjustments to headrests and options support legs. The system attached to these Mercedes models does not include the child car seat itself or other safety components.
Timeline of Events
On August 2, MBUSA made an announcement that the recall for faulty child seat anchoring components. There was concern for increased risk of injury to children if involved in a crash. So far, there have been no reported injuries related to this specific recall.
Starting October 3, MBUSA will start to offer inspections, part replacements and repairs to the vehicles affected by the recall. This protocol is free of charge to consumers and dealerships as needed.
Recently, there has been a massive recall of Mercedes cars in Germany, according to Adweek. More than 230,000 cars were involved in this recall, which are only part of a string of recalls that could potentially amount to millions. The issue has to do with tracking emissions, which potentially gives false readings. It can make the cars seem like they are qualified to pass emission tests when in reality, they are not. Automaker and MBUSA partner Daimler states they are willing to inspect the issue and replace faulty parts, but claim the issue was not deliberate. Other officials say it may have been to help pass emission tests deceitfully, and there is an ongoing investigation. This effects cars internationally manufactured in various countries across the globe.
The Solution
MBUSA announced plans to directly notify owners of the problem. If auto dealerships and drivers would like more information, they can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which can be reached via their website. Costumers who would like to contact Mercedes-Benz directly in the U.S. can call their helpline at 1-800-367-6372.
