A faulty seal around the rear-tail lamp assembly is behind Mercedes-Benz’s latest recall that concerns 16,130 M2009 M-Class SUVs in the USA equipped with the optional power lift gate. The German automaker said that the seal could allow water to enter the rear compartment that contains the spare tire and the control unit for the power lift gate. This could lead to the disabling of the power lift gate motor as well as to a short circuit that could result to a fire.
Merc dealers will replace the seal of the rear tail lamp assembly with a thicker one and reposition the affected power lift gate control unit inside the chassis. The recall is expected to begin during April 2009.