Mercedes-Benz USA will recall more than 3,000 vehicles after finding a potentially dangerous seatback problem.
Think you have a lemon, click here to fill out a 60 second form.
The manufacturer notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on March 29, 2018 they will recall 3,088 2017-2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG C43 4Matic Coupe, 2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG C64 Cabriolet, 2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 Coupe, 2017-2018 Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic Cabriolet, 2017-2018 Mercedes-Benz C300 Coupe, 2017-2018 Mercedes-Benz C300 Cabriolet, 2017-2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG C43 4Matic Cabriolet, 2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 Couple, 2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 4Matic Couple, 2017-2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 S Cabriolet vehicles. All affected vehicles were built between April 5 and August 11, 2017.
Mercedes-Benz’s safety recall report states the affected vehicles contain seatbacks that can improperly lock on their right side. If the seatback is improperly locked, unsecured objects in the rear seats may not be held back during a crash, increasing injury risk.
Mercedes-Benz’s parent company, Daimler AG, states in its recall chronology they first received defect reports from component supplier Lear Corporation in May 2017. Lear began investigating the out-of-tolerance seat back rests to determine the deviation’s cause. Engineers later determined a defective batch of levels caused the improper back seat rest locking.
Lear Corporation established “a plant action” to rework affected vehicles’ seat backs while Daimler investigated potential safety risks. Engineers using various tests and crash simulations determined a safety risk existed, and Daimler AG determined on March 22, 2018 a safety risk could not be ruled out.
Mercedes-Benz will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the locking of the seatbacks, replacing the seatbacks lock, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 25, 2018. Owners may contact Mercedes-Benz customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Mercedes-Benz owners can also visit the NHTSA’s website and enter their VIN to see if their vehicle is included in any recalls.
Your vehicle’s manufacturer is legally required to fix any recalled problems for free. If the dealership refuses to fix the part or tries to charge you for the repair, contact the manufacturer immediately. The Highway Safety Act of 1970, which created the NHTSA, requires car manufacturers to pay for the recall and replacement of a defective part.
If the manufacturer fails to repair, replace, repurchase, or provide your recalled vehicle’s loss value, they are violating the warranty and a lawyer may be able to help you.
Lemon law attorneys help their clients by dealing directly with the manufacturer on the clients’ behalf, working to promptly resolve the issue and get their clients back on the road. Thanks to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, attorneys can seek their fees directly from the manufacturer, meaning a client can obtain legal counsel without having to pay attorneys’ fees directly out of pocket.