Jacksonville, FL – March 10, 2021 – Daimler AG – known as Mercedes-Benz – (NASDAQ:DDAIF) is recalling 2,529 vehicles because of defective tires. The defect may cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. The recall includes 2018 Mercedes GLE350 luxury cars, 2018 GLE43 AMG crossovers and 2018 GLE400 vehicles that operate with tires made by auto parts manufacturer Continental.

Recall summary  

This recall is caused by defective tires that were reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) by Continental in February.  Due to a “process deviation,” the sidewall of the tire may break, causing a “sudden air loss” in the tire. The break may also cause the tire tread – which is the part that comes in contact with the road– to separate from the tire. This is very dangerous as it may result in the driver losing control of the car, especially when moving at a high speed.

Warning signs

Drivers may notice visible tread wear on the tire, a bulge in the tread area or experience excessive vibrations in the vehicle.

Risks 

If the driver loses control, the vehicle may crash into other vehicles, into an object or hit a pedestrian. The occupants of vehicles and pedestrians may be injured. The risks increase if the tire failure occurs at high speeds.

Other Mercedes recalls

The 2018 GLE 350 luxury car has had recalls for wheels, brakes and other issues. For example, the model was recently amongst 1.4 million Mercedes-Benz cars recalled because it may potentially lead first responders to the wrong place when the car occupants need assistance after a crash. The issue was caused by a “disruption in the car’s power supply,” as reported. 

Older GLE 350 model years were recently part of a recall involving over 40,000 luxury SUVs due to faulty stability control software. A software error may result in these vehicles jerking to a side while trying to avoid a crash,  ironically increasing the possibility of a collision.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will inspect the tires and replace them as needed. The repair is free of charge. The recall is slated to begin April 27, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 2,500 vehicles are included in this Mercedes-Benz recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.