Mercedes-Benz Joins the Driver Assist Software Recall Parade

Doesn’t sound like we are anywhere near zero failure rates at any automaker. These were Mercedes developed and tested vehicles that went on sale.

Late-model Mercedes-Benz vehicles equipped with the Driver Assistance Package have a “software error” in the radar sensor control unit that “may impair the functionality of the Active Brake Assist.” Continental supplied the dangerous software. An earlier version of the code is now in use.

In the latest giant pothole on the road to autonomous vehicles, the defective Active Brake Assist may not automatically apply partial or full braking as expected. This – you don’t need a computer to calculate it – increases the risk of a crash particularly if the driver is texting, sexting or otherwise not paying attention.

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the radar sensor control unit software, free of charge as required by government regulation. The recall is expected to begin September 17, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to www.safercar.gov.

Make/Models/Model Years

• Mercedes Benz/AMG GT 53 /2019
• Mercedes Benz/C300 /2019
• Mercedes Benz/C43 AMG/2019
• Mercedes Benz/C63 AMG /2019
• Mercedes Benz/CLS 450/2019
• Mercedes Benz/CLS53 /2019
• Mercedes Benz/E300 2019
• Mercedes Benz/E450 /2019 Mercedes Benz/E53 /2019
• Mercedes Benz/E63 AMG /2019
• Mercedes Benz/GLC 300 /2020
• Mercedes Benz/GLE 350 /2020
• Mercedes Benz/S450 /2019
• Mercedes Benz/S560 /2019 Mercedes Benz/S63 AMG/2019
• Mercedes Benz/S65 AMG /2019
• Mercedes-Benz/GLE 450 /2020