Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling more than 15,500 vehicles because the headlights may be incorrectly adjusted too high during production and create a glare for oncoming traffic. As such, these luxury vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.” (see also AutoInformed: IIHS Toughens Musts for Top Safety Pick Ratings)
The recall was made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Th recall appears to have been set in motion by an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rating of GLC (253 platform) vehicles more than one year ago, including their headlamp adjustments.
Affected are model 2019-2022 GLC 300, 2020 GLC 350e, and 2020-2022 AMG GLC 43 vehicles. The headlights may be incorrectly adjusted too high and create a glare for oncoming traffic. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.”
Chronology of Noncompliance
- In late 2021, IIHS conducted a rating of certain GLC (253 platform) vehicles, including their headlamp adjustments. The review of the rating results concluded that those headlamps might have been adjusted at an angle that exceeded MB AG’s current production specification. The reported deviation was within the tolerance limits specified by FMVSS 108.
- Nonetheless, MB AG conducted plant actions to check headlamp adjustments on potentially affected vehicles and ensure headlamp adjustments were completed and consistent with current production specifications.
- Additionally at this time, MBA readjusted the calibration process to avoid potential headlamp adjustment deviations in the production process. These process changes occurred in January 2022.
- In July 2022, MB AG’s vehicle audit process determined that headlamps in a GLC vehicle, built prior to the internal production adjustments, were set slightly above MB AG’s internal production specifications (but still within FMVSS specifications). Based on that finding, MB AG initiated an investigation of the headlamp adjustments in GLC vehicles produced at two different plants.
- MBAG conducted additional testing and analyses through the second half of 2022 until the beginning of 2023 to determine whether production lines from the two identified plants showed deviations in the headlamp adjustments. These analyses ultimately determined in mid-2023 that only vehicles with headlamps adjusted on two production lines from a single plant might not meet MB AG’s current production specifications.
- During the second half of 2023 and into January 2024, MB AG conducted further investigations to determine the cause of the incorrect adjustments and the extent to which the adjustment might potentially deviate from MBAG´s production specifications. As part of that review, MB AG found that, in some instances, the headlamp angle adjustment could also slightly exceed the tolerance requirements of FMVSS 108. In parallel, MB AG reviewed field reports in late 2023 to determine if there had been any reported incidents involving the potentially affected vehicles. That review identified a single warranty claim in October 2021pertaining to an incorrect headlamp adjustment.
- On 26 January 2024, MB AG determined that a non-compliance with FMVSS 108 cannot be ruled out and decided to conduct a recall.
- MBAG is aware of 1 warranty claim received on 28 October 2021, in the US. MB AG is not aware of any reports of property damage, fatalities, crashes, or injury related to this FMVSS non-compliance.
Dealers will inspect the headlight adjustment and correct it if necessary, free of charge as required by US regulations. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed 1 March 2024. 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 or go to www.nhtsa.gov about NHTSA 24V070.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Mercedes-Benz Recalls GLC models for Headlight Glare
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling more than 15,500 vehicles because the headlights may be incorrectly adjusted too high during production and create a glare for oncoming traffic. As such, these luxury vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.” (see also AutoInformed: IIHS Toughens Musts for Top Safety Pick Ratings)
The recall was made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Th recall appears to have been set in motion by an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rating of GLC (253 platform) vehicles more than one year ago, including their headlamp adjustments.
Affected are model 2019-2022 GLC 300, 2020 GLC 350e, and 2020-2022 AMG GLC 43 vehicles. The headlights may be incorrectly adjusted too high and create a glare for oncoming traffic. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.”
Chronology of Noncompliance
Dealers will inspect the headlight adjustment and correct it if necessary, free of charge as required by US regulations. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed 1 March 2024. 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 or go to www.nhtsa.gov about NHTSA 24V070.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.