Mercedes Recalls Almost Every Model For Embarrassing Reason

Mercedes-Benz recently issued a massive recall that impacts several recent models from its catalog. The automaker’s emergency call system may malfunction and leave a driver unable to contact first responders if there’s an accident.

The recall covers 234,862 vehicles, and the list of affected models spans almost the entire Mercedes-Benz model line, including several high-dollar AMG and Mercedes-Maybach vehicles. Models include the 2017-2022 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, AMG GT, C-Class, and many more. Affected vehicles go back as far as 2017, but most fall between 2019 and 2021. The Mercedes-Maybach S650 is also included on the list, so even buyers of a $220,000-plus car aren’t excluded.

The issue is caused by an error in the SIM card software, which can cause a problem with the mobile connection. The cars’ emergency call system relies on a cellular connection, so the issue could prevent a life-saving call in affected vehicles.

Mercedes notified dealers late in May and said that it would contact customers by July 19. The fix will come via an over-the-air (OTA) update or at a dealer. It’s a similar remedy to solutions implemented by Ford and others in recent months, and the OTA makes things easier for the customers, who no longer have to rely on a dealer to handle their software updates.

Some vehicles involved in this recall have seen multiple issues in recent months. The 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, for example, is wrapped up in the emergency call system recall, but it also had problems with an inoperable rearview camera display earlier this year and four other recalls issued last year.

That said, Mercedes still has a few more recalls before it catches up with Ford. The Blue Oval has been battered by recalls for everything from a detaching glass roof on the Mustang Mach-E last year to a recall of 40,000 SUVs for fire risk in May. It’s worth noting that many of the models involved, both from Ford and Mercedes, are established vehicles, so we can’t blame the first-year new-model jitters for the problems.