2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

On certain vehicles, the rear fixed glass panel of the panoramic sunroof may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle. This could allow the glass panel to separate from the vehicle while driving, creating a road hazard which could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will inspect the rear fixed glass panel for proper adhesion and replace it if necessary.

On certain vehicles, the wiring harness for the steering column switch module may have been incorrectly routed during manufacturing. This could cause the harness to chafe on the steering column adjustment, which could affect or cause one or more of the following systems to fail: turn signals, gear selector, Electric Power Steering (EPS) or Electronic stability control functions. Additionally, this condition could potentially cause the engine to stall, and could affect proper airbag deployment or cause an airbag to deploy inadvertently. These potential outcomes in conjunction with traffic and road conditions, and the driver's reactions, could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or property damage. Correction: Dealers will inspect, repair and reroute the wiring harness as necessary.

On a certain vehicle, a defect in the software that controls the electric power steering control unit may lead to a temporary deactivation of the electric power steering assist system while driving. Steering control can be maintained, as the vehicle will revert to a manual steering mode, but will require greater driver effort. The sudden change in steering effort may increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or property damage. Correction: Dealers will update the software for the electric power steering control unit.

On certain vehicles, the starting current limiter could be overloaded under certain conditions. In the event the starter is blocked, a very high electric current could flow through the starting current limiter during repeated engine starting attempts. The high electric draw could cause the starting current limiter to overheat causing the surrounding components to melt which would increase the risk of fire causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction : Dealers will install an additional fuse in the electrical line to the starter.

On certain vehicles, an update provided between de 3rd and 5th of December 2016 to the vehicle control unit may have been incorrectly applied. This could affect the proper function of various safety systems such as airbag deployment sequence, seatbelts recognition status, speed limiter setting and others. These conditions could increase the risk of injury to the occupants in the event of a crash. Correction: Dealers will update the affected control units.

Certain vehicles may have incorrect Electronic Stability Program (ESP) software installed. In the event a driver assist system (e.g. adaptive cruise control) initiates automatic braking and aborts again during the early stage of brake pressure increase, a low residual pressure could remain in the hydraulic brake system. As a result, the braking system could continue applying minimal pressure with the brake pad contacting the rotor, and may heat up when driving is continued. Constant brake pad application over longer periods of driving could lead to the brake fluid heating in the brake caliper, resulting in higher pressure in the brake system. This could reduce brake performance, and increase the risk of a fire causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will update the software for the ESP.

On certain vehicles, electrostatic discharge, when combined with a broken clock spring and insufficient grounding of the steering components, could lead to an inadvertent deployment of the driver's frontal airbag. Unintended airbag deployment, in a non-warranted (non-impact) situation, could startle the driver, which could result in a crash causing injury and/or property damage. In some instances, inadvertent deployment could cause minor injuries to vehicle occupants. Correction: Dealers will add sufficient grounding to the steering components. Note: A broken clock spring would result in a driver airbag warning message appearing in the instrument cluster, as well as a red airbag warning lamp illuminating.

On certain AMG C 63 model vehicles, the rear axle differential mounting flange may become over-stressed and fracture under certain extreme starting manoeuvers due to high torque peaks not being detected by the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) software. This could cause the rear axle to become mis-aligned and fail, resulting a loss of propulsion and a vehicle stall, which could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or property damage. Correction: Dealers will update the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Chassis control units with new software.

Certain vehicles may not comply with the requirements of Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 108 - Lighting System and Retroreflective Devices. During the manufacturing process, the aim of the LED headlamps may have been incorrectly adjusted, which could cause them to fail to meet the requirements of the standard. Improperly aimed headlamps may reduce night time forward visibility, which could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will check the headlamp adjustment on the affected vehicles and adjust it, if necessary.

On certain vehicles, the seat belt latch plate in the second seating row outboard seats might retract into the area between the C-pillar paneling and the rear side paneling. This could hinder the access to the seat belt latch plate for the outboard seat occupants. If a rear seat passenger does not fasten the seat belt, the risk of injury in the event of a crash could increase. Correction: Dealers will add a buffer element to the C-pillar paneling.

On certain vehicles, the seat belt latch plate in the second seating row outboard seats might retract into the area between the C-pillar paneling and the rear side paneling. This could hinder the access to the seat belt latch plate for the outboard seat occupants. If a rear seat passenger does not fasten the seat belt, the risk of injury in the event of a crash could increase. Correction: Dealers will add a buffer element to the C-pillar paneling. Note: This is an expansion of recall 2018-136.

On certain vehicles originally sold or currently registered in areas of heavy road salt usage during winter months (Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador), the bolts that attach the electric power steering assist motor to the steering gear housing may corrode and break. This could cause a loss of power steering assist. The resulting increase in steering effort could create the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace the mounting bolts and apply a corrosion protection coating to the gear housing and bolts. If the bolts bolt cannot be removed, a replacement steering gear will be installed.

Issue: On certain vehicles, the plastic panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may not have been attached correctly during a prior service repair. Over time, the panel could loosen and separate from the vehicle. Safety Risk: A panel that detaches from a moving vehicle could create a road hazard for others and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Mercedes-Benz will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to replace the front roof panel.

Issue: On certain vehicles, an incorrect passenger-front airbag may have been installed during a previous repair. As a result, the airbag may not inflate properly in a crash. Safety Risk: An airbag that does not inflate properly can increase the risk of injury in a crash. Corrective Action: Mercedes-Benz will notify owners by mail and instruct you to bring your vehicle to a dealer to replace the passenger-front airbag.

Issue: On certain vehicles, the plastic panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may not have been attached correctly during a prior service repair. Over time, the panel could loosen and separate from the vehicle. Note: This is an expansion of Transport Canada recall 2021-170. Safety Risk: A panel that detaches from a moving vehicle could create a road hazard for others and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Mercedes-Benz will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the front roof panel.