The defect
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2015 GL350 4Matic Blutec, GL450 4Matic, GL550 4Matic, ML250 Blutec, ML350, ML350 4Matic, ML400 4Matic and 2015-2016 GL63 AMG 4Matic vehicles manufactured September 29, 2014 through March 27, 2015. The affected vehicles have axle bolts on the front and/or rear drive axle carriers that may not have been assembled correctly. As a result, the remaining bolts may fracture.
The risk
If any of the remaining front or rear axle bolts fracture, the vehicle may be unstable, reducing the handling capability and increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the axle carrier bolts, free of charge. The recall is began February 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz GL350 | 2015 |
| Mercedes-Benz GL450 | 2015 |
| Mercedes-Benz GL550 | 2015 |
| Mercedes-Benz GL63 | 2015, 2016 |
| Mercedes-Benz ML250 | 2015 |
| Mercedes-Benz ML350 | 2015 |
| Mercedes-Benz ML400 | 2015 |
Components: POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz GL350 | 2015 | 7 | 3 |
| Mercedes-Benz GL450 | 2015 | 18 | 3 |
| Mercedes-Benz GL550 | 2015 | 8 | 3 |
| Mercedes-Benz GL63 | 2015 | 2 | 3 |
| Mercedes-Benz GL63 | 2016 | 2 | 4 |
| Mercedes-Benz ML250 | 2015 | 10 | 6 |
| Mercedes-Benz ML350 | 2015 | 52 | 5 |
| Mercedes-Benz ML400 | 2015 | 4 | 5 |
Other power train recalls in 2016
57 of the 919 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2016 concerned the power train; Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. filed 199 campaigns in all.
| 16V926000 22 Dec 2016 | Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. |
| 16V856000 28 Nov 2016 | Maserati North America, Inc. |
| 16V800000 3 Nov 2016 | Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA |
| 16V755000 19 Oct 2016 | Polaris Industries, Inc. |
| 16V705000 3 Oct 2016 | Kia Motors America |
| 16V701000 29 Sept 2016 | Gillig LLC |
| 16V697000 27 Sept 2016 | Eldorado National- California, Inc. |
| 16V679000 20 Sept 2016 | Ducati North America |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2016