The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·19V587000·Announced 2019-08-12

Mercedes-Benz Recalls 2020 GLE and GLS Models for Fire Risk

Mercedes-Benz is recalling 2020 GLE and GLS vehicles because incorrectly installed air conditioner drain hoses may cause water to enter the cabin, increasing the risk of fire.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a defect that increases the risk of fire and potential injury or crash, which aligns with the rubric criteria for significant injury/property-damage reports or structural/electrical defects posing severe hazards.

Plain-English summary

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. is recalling certain 2020 GLE 350, GLE 350 4MATIC, GLE 450 4MATIC, and GLS 450 4MATIC vehicles. The recall involves 18,392 vehicles where the air conditioner drain hoses may have been incorrectly installed. This defect causes water to drain from the air conditioner into the passenger compartment.

If a significant volume of water enters the driver and passenger side foot wells, it might cause corrosion and/or short circuits to the electrical components in the area, increasing the risk of fire. Additionally, the emergency call (eCall) feature may be disabled, the vehicle may not be able to be unlocked and/or started, and the engine limp-home mode might be activated during driving. These conditions increase the risk of an injury or crash.

Mercedes-Benz will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the air conditioner drain hoses, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on September 6, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
MERCEDES-BENZ GLE 350, GLE 450, GLS 450
Brand
MERCEDES-BENZ
Manufacturer
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
Category
Vehicle — SUV
Hazard
Affected units
18,392

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (3)

  • GLE 350
  • GLE 450
  • GLS 450

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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