Laguna Hills, CA – Oct. 25, 2019 – Mercedes-Benz USA has launched a small-scale recall on certain station wagons, over fears that the spoilers attached to the rear portion of these vehicles may dislodge and fall off, creating a roadway hazard that could result in a crash were people are injured. The models involved include the 2019 E450 4Matic Wagon, 2017-2018 E400 4Matic Wagon and 2018-2019 E63S 4Matic Wagon.

The luxury automaker began apprising owners of this rear spoiler recall Oct. 18. Recipients can take their automobile back to the dealer so a new spoiler can be installed if it’s deemed appropriate. There is no cost for this fix.

The Defect

Approximately 4,765 Mercedes-Benz station wagons are newly subject to a nationwide recall notice, as the rear spoilers mounted onto the trunks of these vehicles may detach, according to paperwork submitted to and compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The station wagons in question include the following:

• 2017-2018 E400
• 2018-2019 E63S
• 2019 E450

It’s possible that these spoilers may ultimately fall from their perch when motorists are out on the road. This could create a hazard that causes motorists to swerve or strike a trailing vehicle and perhaps result in an accident where people are hurt.

Timeline of Events

This problem first came to the luxury automaker’s attention in October 2018, after a single instance in which the spoiler on an E-Class model fell from its mount. A follow-up investigation into the circumstances surrounding the problem determined that the defective spoiler was likely caused by human error, installed by a worker who was on the job temporarily, according to NHTSA filings. Approximately 16 other station wagons had the same issue and each were recalled to correct the errantly affixed spoilers.

Roughly a year later, however, Daimler AG – the parent company of Mercedes-Benz – was made aware of other instances in which the rear spoilers were improperly installed and that the problem was not isolated to human error but rather a manufacturing flaw.

Out of an abundance of caution, DAG implemented a voluntary recall on certain station wagons that it had reason to believe were affected. The company estimates that 5% – or 238 automobiles – of the recalled population have the defect. They were likely manufactured somewhere between early October of last year and early-to-mid January.

The rear spoiler recall is the latest safety issue Mercedes-Benz has come across over the last year or so. Like many of its contemporaries, MB was also affected by air bag defects, as the luxury automaker recalled nearly 288,800 models in late February. The company administered a separate recall in late December involving 6,000 vehicles, which contained faulty steering rack locknuts.

The Solution

The luxury automaker is partnering with the NHTSA to ensure that motorists pertaining to the rear spoiler recall are notified. If owners have not already received mailers making them aware of this issue, they should at any time, as the notices were sent out Oct. 18. Dealers were informed a week earlier. There is no deadline to have this problem corrected and the repair is for free.

For more information on existing Mercedes-Benz recall, visit MotorSafety.org and click on the “Mercedes-Benz” hyperlink.