Mercedes is recalling 260,000 vehicles – again! | Life & Knowledge

The year has not started well for Mercedes: Once again, the Stuttgart automaker has to recall hundreds of thousands of vehicles worldwide.

About 260,000 GLE and GLS SUVs (built between 2018 and 2023) are affected, of which around 4,400 are in Germany. The cause of the recall is a software error in the transmission control unit, according to the Federal Motor Transport Authority. This error can lead to engine failure and thus increase the risk of an accident.

After all: According to Mercedes, there have been no injuries or material damage caused by the fault so far. So it’s a cautionary note. True to the motto: Better to be safe than sorry.

A workshop visit is required

A Mercedes spokesman said the fault had no effect on the vehicles’ steering and braking systems. The software in the affected vehicles should be updated now. This requires about 30 minutes in the workshop, a company spokesperson told BILD.

► A look at the Federal Motor Transport Authority database shows: For Mercedes It is already the 16th recall in the still young year of 2024. On average: one recall per week. In some cases, only a few vehicles were affected.

Just last week, the company had to recall 341,000 vehicles. As of now, GLE and GLS models with almost the same years of construction (2017-2023) were affected. The reason for this was the increased risk of fire because in some cars the lower 48 V part under the passenger seat could be loose. Cause: loose cable lug on lower cable.

“This can increase the resistance of the electrical contact in this part of the connection. Therefore, the temperature in this area can increase due to the high electrical currents passing through this connection.”

The screw connection of the lower section will be checked and corrected if necessary, it said. In Germany, more than 11,000 vehicles were affected and recalled.