The defect
IF ONE OF THE HEADLAMP WIPER ARMS BECOMES MISALIGNED, THE WIPER BALDE CAN LODGE IN THE GROOVE UNDER THE HEADLAMP. IF THE WASHERS ARE ACTIVATED WITH THE WIPER BLADE IN THE MISALIGNED AND LODGED POSITION, THE WASHER PUMP WILL RUN CONTINUOUSLY EXPELLING ALL AVAILABLE FLUID.
The risk
PUMP OPERATION IN THE ABSENCE OF FLUID CAN CAUSE THE PUMP TO OVERHEAT AND CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP WASHER PUMP ON THESE VEHICLES.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz 300 | 1991, 1992, 1993 |
| Mercedes-Benz 320 | 1994 |
| Mercedes-Benz 500 | 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 |
| Mercedes-Benz 600 | 1993, 1994 |
| Mercedes-Benz SL-Class | 1996 |
Components: VISIBILITY
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 300 | 1991 | 19 | 2 |
| Mercedes-Benz 300 | 1992 | 22 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz 300 | 1993 | 39 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz 320 | 1994 | 49 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz 500 | 1990 | 1 | 2 |
| Mercedes-Benz 500 | 1991 | 0 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz 500 | 1992 | 15 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz 500 | 1993 | 23 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz 500 | 1994 | 6 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz 600 | 1993 | 6 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz 600 | 1994 | 8 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz SL-Class | 1996 | 2 | 2 |
Other visibility recalls in 1996
8 of the 297 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1996 concerned the visibility; MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC. filed 61 campaigns in all.
| 96V130005 2 Dec 1996 | REXHALL INDUSTRIES |
| 96V236000 22 Nov 1996 | FLEETWOOD ENT., INC. |
| 96V197000 8 Oct 1996 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 96V160000 29 Aug 1996 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 96V134000 16 Jul 1996 | AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CORP. |
| 96V128000 8 Jul 1996 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC |
| 96V023000 1 Jan 1996 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1996