The defect
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 GL350 4Matic Bluetec, GL550 4Matic, GLE350 4Matic, GLE43 AMG Coupe, GLE450 4Matic, 2016 GLE300d 4Matic, GLE350, GLE350d 4Matic, GLE400 4Matic, GLE550e 4Matic, GLE63 AMG, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLE63S AMG 4Matic Coupe, and 2017 GLS63 AMG vehicles manufactured April 23, 2014, to May 10, 2016. The front passenger seat Occupant Classification System (OCS) calibration may be incorrect, and as a result, the system can incorrectly classify the occupant as a child seat, deactivating the front passenger air bag.
The risk
If the front passenger air bag does not deploy as necessary in the event of a crash, the front passenger has an increased risk of injury.
The remedy
MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. 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 AMG GLE43 | 2016, 2017 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63 | 2016, 2017 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG GLS63 | 2017 |
| Mercedes-Benz GL350 | 2016, 2017 |
| Mercedes-Benz GL550 | 2016, 2017 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE300D | 2016 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE350 | 2016, 2017 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE350D | 2016 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE400 | 2016 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE450 | 2016, 2017 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE550E | 2016 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE63S | 2016 |
Components: AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION | AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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 AMG GLE43 | 2016 | 0 | 3 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE43 | 2017 | 6 | 8 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63 | 2016 | 2 | 8 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63 | 2017 | 0 | 8 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG GLS63 | 2017 | 1 | 7 |
| Mercedes-Benz GL350 | 2016 | 4 | 4 |
| Mercedes-Benz GL350 | 2017 | 1 | 2 |
| Mercedes-Benz GL550 | 2016 | 1 | 4 |
| Mercedes-Benz GL550 | 2017 | 0 | 2 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE300D | 2016 | 7 | 7 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE350 | 2016 | 53 | 9 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE350 | 2017 | 62 | 7 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE350D | 2016 | 6 | 2 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE400 | 2016 | 6 | 7 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE450 | 2016 | 25 | 11 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE450 | 2017 | 0 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE550E | 2016 | 1 | 5 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE63S | 2016 | 2 | 5 |
Other air bags recalls in 2016
92 of the 919 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2016 concerned the air bags; Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. filed 199 campaigns in all.
| 16V946000 30 Dec 2016 | Porsche Cars North America, Inc. |
| 16V956000 30 Dec 2016 | Hyundai Motor America |
| 16V943000 29 Dec 2016 | Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC |
| 16V941000 29 Dec 2016 | Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC |
| 16V939000 28 Dec 2016 | Nissan North America, Inc. |
| 16V953000 28 Dec 2016 | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) |
| 16V935000 27 Dec 2016 | Daimler Vans USA, LLC |
| 16V947000 22 Dec 2016 | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2016