Mercedes Recalls Dozens Of Cars And SUVs Over Fuel Pump Issue

Dozens of different Mercedes-Benz models have been recalled in the United States because of a fault with the fuel pump impeller that could cause impacted vehicles to completely lose power.

The recall encompasses a total of 79,676 vehicles, according to the notice issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The affected vehicles include specific models from the years 2021 to 2024, such as the GLE, GLS, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL, E-Class Coupe, E-Class Convertible, CLS, AMG GT 4-Door Coupe, and G-Class models, all of which were manufactured between August 1, 2021, and March 31, 2023.

Read: Mercedes Needs To Fix Over 5,000 SL Models And A Single EQB In The U.S.

The German company first became aware of a potential issue at the beginning of June 2022 when field reports outside of the U.S. alleged inconsistent power delivery with certain Mercedes-Benz models. The company hypothesized that the function of the fuel pump may have been impaired and after a six-month investigation, discovered an irregularity in individual raw material batches used for suspect fuel pump impellers sourced from a sub-supplier.

The recall notice reveals that the impeller could deform because it fails to meet specifications and may come into contact with the fuel pump housing, "leading to a mechanical resistance." This could cause the fuel pump to shut down and the vehicle may lose propulsion, potentially increasing the risk of crash or injury. Owners of impacted vehicles may notice the engine running rough or could be shown a warning message on the instrument cluster before the fuel pump is switched off.

Dealers were alerted to the recall on December 28, 2023, and owners will be notified before February 13, 2024. Mercedes-Benz has instructed dealers to replace the fuel delivery module on affected vehicles free of charge. The carmaker has added that a change in the production procedure at the supplier of the fuel pump means the issue can no longer occur from April 3, 2023, and onwards.