Mercedes-Benz is recalling nearly 324,000 vehicles that are at risk of stalling because of a defect caused by water intrusion.
According to a Dec. 23, 2022, filing with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, the German automaker stated that the recall may affect 323,963 vehicles between 2012 and 2020. Mercedes-Benz said approximately 1% of the vehicles are believed to have the defect, USA Today reported.
The affected vehicles include these models: 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE300, 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE350, 2016-2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE350, 2016-2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE400, 2017-2019 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE43, 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE450 2016-2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE550, 2016-2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63, 2015 Mercedes-Benz ML250, 2012-2014 Mercedes-Benz ML350, 2015 Mercedes-Benz ML350, 2015 Mercedes-Benz ML400, 2012-2014 Mercedes-Benz ML550 and 2012-2015 Mercedes-Benz AMG ML63.
The issue comes from a possible design flaw that can cause water to build up in the vehicle’s spare wheel well, which could trigger a fuel pump unit that causes the engine to stall and shut down, NBC News reported.
“Consequently, the fuel supplied to the engine could be interrupted, which would lead to a loss of propulsion without warning. In such circumstances the risk of a crash could be increased,” Mercedes-Benz’s filing stated.
“As a precautionary measure, an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer will install a water drain plug in the spare wheel well on the affected vehicles, check for water infiltration into the spare wheel well and replace the fuel pump control unit, if necessary,” the filing stated.
Mercedes-Benz said it had been investigating the issue since 2018, according to the NHTSA.
According to the filing, dealers have already been notified about the recall. Vehicle owners will be notified before Feb. 21, 2023.
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