The defect
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 CLA-Class, GLE/GLS-Class, A-Class, E-Class, E-Class Coupe and Convertible, GLA/GLB-Class, GLC-Class, CLS-Class, and AMG GT-Class 4-door Coupe vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The MBUX multimedia system software may cause the display to remain black, or reboot after startup. This could result in the rearview camera image not displaying properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The risk
A backup camera that displays a blank image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The remedy
The multimedia system software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning June 28, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6373. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021050012.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE | BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
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 A 220 | 2019 | 48 | 14 |
| Mercedes-Benz A 220 | 2020 | 20 | 10 |
| Mercedes-Benz A 220 | 2021 | 9 | 4 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG A35 | 2020 | 1 | 7 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG A35 | 2021 | 1 | 4 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA35 | 2020 | 4 | 8 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA35 | 2021 | 1 | 5 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA45 | 2020 | 0 | 7 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA45 | 2021 | 1 | 5 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG CLS53 | 2021 | 1 | 10 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG E53 | 2021 | 5 | 15 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG E63S | 2021 | 0 | 4 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG GLA35 | 2021 | 1 | 5 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG GLA45 | 2021 | 1 | 5 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG GLB35 | 2021 | 5 | 8 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC43 | 2020 | 5 | 7 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC43 | 2021 | 6 | 7 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC63 | 2020 | 2 | 10 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC63 | 2021 | 2 | 6 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53 | 2021 | 16 | 16 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63 S | 2021 | 0 | 6 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG GLS63 | 2021 | 2 | 10 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG GT43 | 2021 | 0 | 9 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG GT53 | 2021 | 1 | 8 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG GT63 | 2021 | 0 | 5 |
| Mercedes-Benz AMG GT63S | 2021 | 0 | 3 |
| Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 | 2020 | 20 | 11 |
| Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 | 2021 | 7 | 5 |
| Mercedes-Benz CLS 450 | 2021 | 1 | 8 |
| Mercedes-Benz E 350 | 2021 | 13 | 12 |
Other back over prevention recalls in 2021
14 of the 988 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2021 concerned the back over prevention; Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC filed 180 campaigns in all.
| 21V00A000 21 Dec 2021 | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) |
| 21V855000 3 Nov 2021 | BMW of North America, LLC |
| 21V825000 20 Oct 2021 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| 21V735000 22 Sept 2021 | Ford Motor Company |
| 21V729000 21 Sept 2021 | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) |
| 21V696000 8 Sept 2021 | Blue Bird Body Company |
| 21V599000 2 Aug 2021 | Nissan North America, Inc. |
| 21V466000 23 Jun 2021 | Lamborghini (Automobili Lamborghini) |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2021