The defect
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019 C300, C300 Coupe, CLS450, E450 Coupe and S450, 2017-2019 E300, 2018 E400 Coupe, E400 Stationwagon, and 2018-2019 S560 vehicles that have previously had the instrument cluster replaced. The software in the replaced instrument cluster may cause the seat belt warning system to not operate properly, only displaying a solid warning light if either the driver or passenger seat belt is unfastened, instead of a blinking light with an audible tone.
The risk
Without the audible tone and blinking warning light to remind the front seat occupants that their seat belts are not buckled, they may forget to buckle their seat belt, increasing their risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The remedy
MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began September 8, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020080015.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
Components: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
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 C 300 | 2019 | 69 | 17 |
| Mercedes-Benz CLS 450 | 2019 | 15 | 12 |
| Mercedes-Benz E 300 | 2018 | 32 | 7 |
| Mercedes-Benz E 300 | 2019 | 29 | 8 |
| Mercedes-Benz E 400 | 2018 | 23 | 13 |
| Mercedes-Benz E 450 | 2019 | 17 | 12 |
| Mercedes-Benz E300 | 2017 | 132 | 16 |
| Mercedes-Benz S 450 | 2019 | 3 | 8 |
| Mercedes-Benz S560 | 2018 | 13 | 10 |
| Mercedes-Benz S560 | 2019 | 5 | 10 |
Other electrical system recalls in 2020
105 of the 782 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2020 concerned the electrical system; Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. filed 199 campaigns in all.
| 20V812000 28 Dec 2020 | Marion Body Works Inc. |
| 20V805000 21 Dec 2020 | SVI Trucks |
| 20V801000 18 Dec 2020 | Keystone RV Company |
| 20V790000 17 Dec 2020 | General Motors, LLC |
| 20V798000 17 Dec 2020 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| 20V779000 15 Dec 2020 | Rosenbauer America |
| 20V783000 15 Dec 2020 | Halcore Group, Inc. |
| 20V781000 15 Dec 2020 | Ducati North America |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2020