Mercedes-Benz USA has issued a recall concerning 12,191 vehicles that share the MRA I platform. The list begins with the E 450 All-Terrain, E 450, and E 53 versions of the 213-series Executive Class. The remainder comprises the CLS 450, CLS 53, GT 43, and the 53 series of the GT 4-Door Coupe.
Documents published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveal that vehicles produced for the 2021 through 2023 model years may feature a loose 48-volt ground cable. Suspect vehicles were assembled between October 21, 2021 and April 4, 2023. In case of a loose connection, increased electrical resistance in combination with high electrical currents may result in a fire.
A manufacturing issue caused by a deviation in the vehicle assembly process, the aforementioned condition didn't lead to any fires, injuries, or worse. Merc's American division is aware of three field reports filed between September 2022 and December 2022. A change in the vehicle assembly process ensures that said condition can no longer occur from April 7, 2023 onwards. Considering that Merc took until February 2024 to recall potentially affected vehicles, what took them so long?
As it happens, initial torque data from quality control testing indicated the right amount of torque for the ground connection's bolt. However, Mercedes continued to investigate the disparity between the field reports and its own data.
Dealers have been instructed to check the bolt torque and – if necessary – retighten the bolt to the correct specification. Owners can expect Mercedes-branded letters to arrive by mail no later than April 9. Owners can easily determine whether their vehicles are recalled or not by entering the VIN on the NHTSA's website or Mercedes' website.
Photo: Mercedes-AMG
Of the nameplates mentioned above, Stuttgart's favorite son discontinued the E-based CLS due to the GT 4-Door Coupe. Its 213-series Executive Class was replaced by the 214 in 2023 for the 2024 model year. The sixth-generation Executive Class is based on the MRA II platform, which also underpins the C-Class, CLE-Class, and GLC.
Revealed to mixed reception back in April 2023, the latest E-Class was priced for the US market in January 2024 at $62,300 for the E 350 4MATIC. Four- and six-cylinder mills will have to suffice, with all of them boasting 48-volt assistance.
Not long now, the four-door sedan will be joined by the All-Terrain. Twinned with the T-Modell station wagon, the All-Terrain is – essentially – a wagon on stilts. Further differentiated from the T-Modell with black cladding, the All-Terrain still hasn't been priced in this part of the world. The previous generation, however, starts at $71,250 for the mild-hybrid turbo six-powered E 450 4MATIC.
Regarding the GT 4-Door Coupe, which is actually a liftback with five doors, the German manufacturer advertises it under the Mercedes-AMG brand exclusively despite the 43 and 53 series featuring non-AMG sixers. Only the 63 series – including the plug-in hybrid S E Performance – pack AMG engines. The powerplant in question is the M177, which Merc shares with Aston Martin.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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