As previously announced, pursuant to an administrative order by the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) Mercedes-Benz has been carrying out mandatory recalls related to diesel emissions, in which software updates are being installed. If technically necessary, NOx sensors will be replaced, as well. As soon as a software update is available for installation in their vehicle customers are being asked to make an appointment with the nearest service partner.
An overview of the administrative orders issued by the KBA and the associated recalls can be found below.
In many markets we offer online tools to determine whether a vehicle is affected by a recall or a voluntary measure. For Germany, the tool can be found here: Online-Tool
Of course, our service partners conduct this measure free of charge for our customers. The implementation of the measure is expected to take about an hour.
According to the KBA's legal view, certain specific calibrations of functionalities in the engine control of certain vehicle variants have to be changed.
In order to obtain clarity on a very complex matter, Mercedes-Benz is files an objection against the administrative orders. Independently of the legal clarification of this matter, Mercedes-Benz will implement the recalls, continue to cooperate fully with the authorities, and create transparency.
- A software update for the engine management of your vehicle will be carried out. The update will take about an hour.
- The work required to improve the emissions will of course be carried out free of charge for the customers.
- No action is required from your part for the time being.
- We will inform you in writing if your vehicle should be part of the recall and the relevant software updates are available.
- In our letter we will ask you to make an appointment with a Mercedes workshop. Please be aware that we are still working on the development of the software updates. Thus, please do not make an appointment until we have contacted you.
- Daimler will update the software in question as soon as possible after receiving the approval of the KBA.
- We will notify our customers as soon as the software updates are available.
- According to the KBA’s interpretation of the law, certain specific calibrations of functionalities in the vehicles’ engine management must be modified.
- Daimler files an objection against the administrative order by the KBA, and will have the open legal issues clarified in court if necessary.
- Overall, Daimler is developing software updates for almost the entire Euro 6b and Euro 5 diesel fleet in Europe which improves the average nitrogen oxide emissions of the vehicles during normal driving. The company is thus making an important contribution to further improving air quality.
- As early as 2017 Daimler announced that it would offer voluntary service measures that would include software updates for several millions of diesel vehicles in Europe. The company has since then extended this update campaign. As is well known, Daimler has also been carrying out obligatory recalls — during which software updates are applied as well — at the order of Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) since 2018.
- Our customers will be informed if the vehicle is part of the obligatory recall or part of the voluntary service action.
- Vehicles that are part of the recall will, of course, no longer be part of the voluntary service action.
- We offer our customers a wide variety of vehicle versions within each model series. They differ for example in terms of their engine power, type of transmission and two- or four-wheel drive.
- We are developing tailored software updates for all of these versions. Only for the service actions we announced in 2017, for example, we are developing a total of several hundred versions.
- As the changes can affect a large number of factors, we are proceeding with the necessary care. The testing and approval of the software updates also takes some time of course.
- Our customers will be notified in writing as soon as the software updates are available and it is possible to install them in our dealerships.
Overview of recalls regarding diesel:
Customers can click on the following link to an Online-Tool
An additional overview of all past diesel recalls is provided here:
Please note: With many models, only a certain production period is affected by the recall. From the model and engine name alone it is therefore not possible to reliably tell if a vehicle is part of the recall.
Recalls from 2018
As previously announced, pursuant to an administrative order by the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) Mercedes-Benz will conduct a mandatory recall for Mercedes-Benz vehicles with diesel engines in Europe. Approximately 670,000 vehicles are part of the recall in Europe. Thereof about 280,000 are located in Germany.
The majority of vehicles were already part of the voluntary service action announced in summer 2017 for several million Diesel vehicles in Europe.
As already known, the recall ordered by KBA in 2018 applies solely to vehicles with the emission standard Euro 6b. The recall will mainly affect the following models: Vito 1.6-liter diesel (OM 622), C-Class 1.6-liter diesel (OM 626), ML/GLE/GL/GLS 3.0-liter diesel (OM 642), V-Class 2.2-liter diesel (OM 651) and GLC 2.2-liter diesel (OM 651). Some other individual models are also affected by the recall. Click here for an overview:
June 2019
In June 2019 the Germann Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) sent Mercedes-Benz an administrative order for the company to recall specific variants of the Mercedes-Benz GLK 220 CDI 4MATIC model with the Euro 5 emissions standard which were approved in 2011 and produced between June 2012 and June 2015.
Approximately 41,000 Mercedes-Benz GLK 220 CDI 4MATIC with the Euro 5 emissions standard which were produced between June 2012 and June 2015 are affected by this decision in Europe, of which about 22,500 are in Germany. The vehicles are part of the voluntary service measure announced in summer 2017 and already ongoing.
After receiving the GLK administrative order, Mercedes-Benz stated in June 2019 that the functionality in question was included in various model series and announced that a review would be carried out. This review took place in full cooperation with the KBA, with the implementation of an extensive and time-consuming measuring program.
September 2019
In September 2019, in context of a review process, Mercedes-Benz reported further passenger car variants to the KBA. The KBA issued extended administrative orders for around 17,000 vehicles in Europe (including around 10,000 in Germany). This was about the GLK 200/220 CDI 4x2 of the Euro 5 emissions standard.5.
October/November 2019
In October 2019 the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) issued a recall notice to Mercedes-Benz regarding certain Mercedes-Benz vehicles equipped with the Euro 5-compliant OM651 diesel engine (N1 & M1 certification) for Europe.
In this context, Mercedes-Benz had previously announced that this recall would in total affect a middle six-digit number of vehicles in Europe. The notice directly affected vehicles of the predecessor model of the current Sprinter.
The other van model series reported to the KBA were older vehicles of the Euro 5-compliant Vito/Viano (after the facelift/model update).
Production of the affected van series for Europe stopped in June 2016 at the latest.
The notices are a consequence of the order issued in June 2019 for the GLK 220 CDI 4MATIC with the emission standard Euro 5.
November 2019
In November 2019, an extended administrative order was issued for certain older versions of the E 250 CDI 4 MATIC model of the Euro 5 emissions standard. (Less than 1000 vehicles)
June 2020
In June 2020, the KBA has extended the existing GLK administrative from June 2019 order to apply to further specific model variants of the A- and B-Class (engine OM 640) and the C-, E- and S-Class (engine OM 651) with the Euro 5 emissions standard. Production of these vehicles ended in August 2014 at the latest. The extended administrative order affects approximately 170,000 vehicles in Europe of which about 60,000 are in Germany.
August 2020
In August 2020, the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) issued a recall notice to Mercedes-Benz regarding certain older variants of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class (CDI 180 and CDI 160) equipped with OM640 diesel engines (model series 169) for Europe. The vehicles have the Euro 5 emissions standard.
Around 5,700 vehicles of the affected variants were produced for the European market, around 2,300 of them for Germany. However, production of the vehicles ended in July 2010.
2022
In the fourth quarter of 2022, the KBA issued administrative orders on certain variants of the Mercedes-Benz A- and B-Class as well as CLA and GLA with OM 607 diesel engines for Europe. The vehicles have the emission standards Euro 5 or Euro 6b.
Production of the vehicles in Europe ended in 2017 at the latest. The software updates for the vehicles have been available for some time and can be installed. Customers will be informed in writing. The engine management system of a large proportion of the vehicles produced has already been updated with software updates in ongoing measures. In Germany, there is still a low 5-digit number of vehicles in the field that have not yet received the software update (as of early 2023).
