Mercedes-Benz Recalls 310K Cars That Could Potentially Roll Away, Thanks to a Faulty Door Switch
Mercedes-Benz issued a recall for 310,667 vehicles that could pose a rollaway risk, according to a filing with NHTSA.According to the recall documents, the issue stems from a switch in the driver's door lock th...
- Mercedes-Benz issued a recall for 310,667 vehicles that could pose a rollaway risk, according to a filing with NHTSA.
- According to the recall documents, the issue stems from a switch in the driver's door lock that may corrode and fail to detect an open door, preventing the "Auto Park" feature from engaging automatically.
- The recall includes some 2020-2021 CLA, 2019-2022 A-class, 2022-2023 C-class, 2024 CLE, 2020-2026 GLA and GLB, and 2023-2024 GLC vehicles.
Mercedes-Benz is recalling more than a quarter-million vehicles due to potential rollaway risk, according to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The recall documents show that the automaker issued a recall for 310,667 vehicles across seven models and spanning from the 2020 through the 2026 model years.
According to the NHTSA paperwork, the recall covers a subset of 2020-2021 CLA, 2019-2022 A-class, 2022-2023 C-class, 2024 CLE, 2020-2026 GLA and GLB, and 2023-2024 GLC vehicles. The issue stems from a microswitch in the doors. According to the documents, the housing material for the door-lock switch could allow moisture in, which, over time, could lead to corrosion and ultimately failure.
The microswitch doesn't affect the door lock itself, but if the switch fails, it may not detect when the door opens. If the issue occurs in the driver's door, the electronic parking brake and/or the "Auto Park" feature—which are connected to the door opening—may not engage automatically, increasing the chance of a rollaway.
The documents show that the issue originates from a deviation in a supplier's development process that produced housing material that doesn't meet robustness requirements. According to the paperwork, drivers may be warned of the issue through errors with some comfort functions, such as the radio remaining on after leaving the car. Thankfully, Mercedes was not aware of any vehicle rollaways at the time the recall was filed.
The automaker will notify affected owners on or before September 18, with a request that they bring their vehicle to a Mercedes dealership for service. Dealer technicians will then replace the driver's door lock with a microswitch that meets robustness standards. Owners concerned that their vehicle may be involved can check on the NHTSA recalls site.
Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.