Daimler recalls Mercedes-Benz vehicles over risk of fire

Jacksonville, FL – August 13, 2022 – Daimler (OTCMKTS:DMLRY), which owns Mercedes-Benz, is recalling 27,330 vehicles over an issue with the transmission’s electrical system, which could lead to a fire. This increases the risk of injury and even death.

The recall covers the following models: 

  • 2019 – 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLS53 
  • 2019 – 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG E53 
  • 2021 – 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT43 
  • 2019 – 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT53
  • 2019 – 2023 Mercedes-Benz CLS450
  • 2021 – 2023 Mercedes-Benz E450  

Recall summary

The transmission uses a wiring harness to organize and protect the electrical cables within. In the affected vehicles, an overly tight harness could pull the wires’ protective insulation away from the electrical connector. This could leave the connector exposed to water, which can cause corrosion and a short circuit.

The component involved in this recall is the electrical wiring harness with multiple part numbers including A2135403969, A2135404069 and A2385400717.

Recall risks

A short circuit can lead to a fire, which could cause injury.

Read more about the risks of this defect in our recent article about a similar transmission recall issued by BMW. 

Warning signs  

Drivers may be alerted to an impending short circuit by either an illuminated yellow battery icon or a “4Matic malfunction” warning message on the dashboard instrument panel. 

Other Mercedes-Benz recalls  

Last month, a Mercedes-Benz recall was issued for 8,530 vehicles due to a problem with the rearview camera.  This was the latest in a string of Mercedes-Benz electrical issues.

In May 2022, there was a Mercedes-Benz AMG recall and a stop-drive notice for 292,287 vehicles over an issue with the braking system.  The recall also included R, GL and ML-class vehicles, as reported.

The repair

Dealers will check the electrical connectors on the affected vehicles and fix them as needed. An additional bracket will also be installed to reduce the tension on the harness.  Daimler says that repairs on all affected vehicles will be performed free of charge.

Affected owners will be notified by September 20, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 27,000 vehicles are included in this Mercedes-Benz transmission recall. To see if your vehicle is affected, run a Mercedes-Benz recall check using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.  

Joseph EstabilloDaimler recalls Mercedes-Benz vehicles over risk of fire