2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG E43: complaints, problems and recalls

DISTRONIC BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION ALERT CAUSED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND CAUSED ENGINE TO TURN OFF. LUCKILY THE BRAKES STILL WORKED BUT NO ACCELERATION WAS POSSIBLE - KIND OF A PROBLEM AT HIGH SPEED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT RUSH HOUR. PULLED OVER AND PUT CAR IN PARK TO TURN OFF CAR. RESTARTED FINE AND 10 MINS LATER SAME THING HAPPENED. DEALER REPAIRED AND SAID IT WAS A SOFTWARE GLITCH THAT REQUIRED AN UPDATE. SOME GLITCH!

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11025117 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE A PIECE OF DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD, THE SIZE OF A SMALL ROCK, STRUCK THE TEMPERED BUT NOT LAMINATED GLASS SUNROOF, SHATTERED IT, AND CAUSED IT TO DISINTEGRATE INTO MANY SHARDS OF GLASS, FLYING OVER, AROUND, AND INTO THE CAR.

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11034158 at NHTSA ↗

RIGHT FRONT AIR STRUT BLADDER EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A SMOOTH CITY STREET CAUSING RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE. CAR WAS ONLY DRIVABLE AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY FLAT BED TO DEALER

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11114098 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS JUST DRIVING HOME ON A CITY STREET (9/20/18) AT ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN UNEXPECTEDLY THE BRAKES ON MY E43 LOCKED UP LAUNCHING MYSELF AND MY PASSENGER FORWARD AGAINST OUR SEAT BELTS. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGED; I HEARD THE REAR TIRES "CHATTER". THE CAR DID NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP; THE BRAKES DISENGAGED AND WE ROLLED FORWARD. UNTIL I REALIZED WHAT HAPPENED I THOUGH I HIT SOMETHING. THERE WAS NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME, BUT THERE WAS SOMEONE BEHIND AND BESIDE ME. I TOOK THE CAR INTO MERCEDES AND THEY UPDATED THE SOFTWARE AND CHECKED THE SENS…

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11132420 at NHTSA ↗

I STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT, I SAW A POP UP ON THE DASHBOARD THAT READ 'BRAKE ASSIST DISENGAGED'. AT THAT POINT THE CAR SHUT ITSELF OFF. I TRIED TO RESTART WITH NO SUCCESS, IT WOULDN'T EVEN TRY TO TURN OVER. AFTER SITTING IN TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT THREE MINUTES UNABLE TO RESTART THE CAR, I JUST KEPT HITTING THE START / STOP BUTTON AND IT FINALLY TURNED OVER AND STARTED. I REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD WORK ON THE CAR IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN! IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN IT COULD RESULT IN A MUCH WORSE OUTCOME. I WAS DEAD IN TOWN…

Owner-reported narrative. 18,357 miles reported. Look up ODI 11282125 at NHTSA ↗

The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG E43. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the TPMS detected that the air in the driver’s side front tire was low. After adding air to the tire, the warning light later reappeared. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact indicated that previously three of the four rims had been replaced or repaired, due to cracks developing on the rims, causing the tires to become deflated. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure m…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,782 miles reported. Look up ODI 11449942 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2017-02-08 (February 8, 2017)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017 E300, E300 4Matic, and E43 AMG vehicles. The front passenger occupant detection control unit may have been incorrectly installed. As a result, the front passenger seat occupant may be misclassified. For example, an adult may be misclassified as a child seat, causing the front passenger air bag to be deactivated in the event of a crash.

Consequence: If the passenger front air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of a injury.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the routing of the pressure hose of the seat occupancy detection control unit and replace the pressure hose and seat occupancy detection mat if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Reported: 2017-02-23 (February 23, 2017)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2017 C300 4Matic, C300, CLA250, CLA250 4Matic and CLA45 AMG vehicles, 2017 C300 4Matic Cabrio, C300 4Matic Coupe, C300 Cabrio, C300 Coupe, E300, E300 4Matic, E400 4Matic Wagon, E43 AMG 4Matic, GLA250, GLA250 4Matic and GLC300 4Matic Coupe vehicles and 2016 C350e and GLC300 vehicles and 2016-2017 C450 4Matic AMG Sport and GLC300 4Matic vehicles. In the event that the engine or transmission cannot turn over, the starting current limiter may overheat from the repeated attempts of the starter motor attempting to start the vehicle.

Consequence: If the starting current limiter overheats, the surrounding components can melt, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional fuse in the electrical line to the starter, free of charge. The recall began August 31, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2017080002.

Reported: 2017-09-19 (September 19, 2017)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling one 2017 C43 AMG, one E300 4Matic sedan, one GLC300, and one E43 AMG 4Matic sedan. These vehicles have electrical power steering control units with improperly welded contact pins.

Consequence: The improperly welded pins may lose contact, deactivating the power steering assist and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric power steering rack, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin November 10, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

Reported: 2018-03-06 (March 6, 2018)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017 E300 4Matic, E300, and E43 AMG vehicles fitted with LED headlights. These vehicles may have misadjusted headlights, possibly resulting in the low beam headlights insufficiently illuminating the roadway. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence: An insufficiently illuminated roadway may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the headlamp adjustment, adjusting it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 3, 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018030005.

Reported: 2018-04-27 (April 27, 2018)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300 4Matic, E300, E43 AMG, and E400 vehicles. The headlight horizontal adjustment screws on these vehicles may not be properly sealed behind a non-removable sealing cap to keep headlights from being readjusted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence: If the headlight's horizontal aim is altered, a misaimed headlight may lead to an insufficiently illuminated roadway, which may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will retrofit the sealing caps for the headlights, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in June 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018050012.

Reported: 2021-02-05 (February 5, 2021)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 - 2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to the Part 573 report for specific vehicle model details. The software design of the communication module may fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (eCall) in the event of a crash.

Consequence: Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020025.