Over 1.16 Lakh Mercedes-Benz GLE, GLS SUVs Recalled in US Due to Potential Fire Risk

In the US, Mercedes-Benz has issued a recall for 1.16 lakh SUVs due to an overheating problem that might result in a fire. The notice states that the loose electric wire beneath the SUV's passenger seat is the cause of the latest recall. Specifically, authorities stated that the loose 48-volt ground connection—wiring that links to a battery's negative terminal—installed under the passenger seat of the cars, increases the possibility of wire overheating and the potential risk of fire. Although the German auto major was unable to establish a “conclusive connection,” it believes the wiring became loose due to adjacent mechanical work during the manufacturing process, according to another filing. The latest recall concerns SUVs manufactured between 2019 and 2024. It should be mentioned that the company previously recalled more than 1 lakh SUVs due to a transmission problem. Moreover, the issue with the cars has not yet resulted in any reported damage, injuries, or collisions. 

Impacted Models

The vehicles included in the latest recall comprise the Mercedes-AMG GLE53 and GLE63 from 2021 to 2024; the Mercedes-Benz GLE350 from 2023 to 2024; the 2020–2024 GLE450; the 2020–2023 GLE580; the 2019–2023 GLS450; the 2020–2023 GLS580; and the 2021–2023 Mercedes-Maybach GLS600.

It is possible that throughout the assembly process, the high-voltage ground connection was not correctly tightened, according to records from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Following the inquiries based on field reports, the maker came to the conclusion that work done near the cable or rework associated with it could have caused the connection to break loose.

Mercedes-Benz dealers will inspect and tighten the wiring free of charge for impacted buyers. Furthermore, direct owner communication of the recall is scheduled to begin in May, with dealer notification beginning on March 22. The luxury automaker claims that drivers will not receive a warning from their car unless the connection has already come loose. In such a scenario, the vehicle may display an instrument cluster warning message concerning the 48-volt power supply.

Mercedes-Benz Recent Recalls

For unrelated problems, Mercedes-Benz issued three other recalls in the past month. Over 1 lakh GLE and GLS units were recalled by the carmaker due to a malfunctioning transmission that, under some circumstances, might not fully downshift. As per regulators, the problem might cause the engine to stall, raising the possibility of a collision. On the same day, the firm issued a recall for almost 32,000 cars due to a faulty fuse that may result in a rapid loss of power or "critical safety functions," increasing the likelihood of an accident or injury. The following week, about 2.50 lakh more cars with faulty fuses that could elevate the risk of fire were recalled globally, according to Germany's auto regulator. The vehicles in question included select AMG GT, C-Class, and E-Class models from the 2023 model year. Of these, over 37,000 units were in Germany.