Adjust Second Row Bench Middle Double Buckle – 2020-2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

October 30, 2020 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V671000

Possibly Recessed Middle Seat Belt Buckle

An unrestrained occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V671

Manufacturer Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.

Components SEAT BELTS

Potential Number of Units Affected 55,326

 

Summary

Mercedes-Benz AG USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 AMG GLE53, AMG GLE63, 2020 GLE580, 2020-2021 GLE350 and GLE450 vehicles with 5 passenger seating. While buckling the seat belt, the middle seat belt buckle could be pushed down into the gap below the seat cushion. If the buckle can’t be retrieved, the buckle latch will be inoperable and unable to restrain an occupant.

 

Remedy

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will secure the middle seat belt buckle, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA’s number for this recall is 2020110005.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

 

Check if your Mercedes-Benz has a Recall

 

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TO: Mercedes-Benz Dealer Principals, General Managers, Sales Managers, Service Managers, Parts Managers	FROM:  Gregory Gunther, Department Manager, Vehicle Compliance and Analysis, Engineering Services
RE: Recall Campaign Initial Notification Adjust Second Row Bench Middle Double Buckle MY20-21 167 (GLE-Class)	DATE: November 6, 2020

 

IMPORTANT RECALL CAMPAIGN INFORMATION

 

Please see the attached documents related to the campaign listed above.

 

 

Please note that all customer inquiries should be directed to the Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-FORMERCEDES.

 

Sincerely,

Gregory Gunther

Department Manager, Vehicle Compliance & Analysis

 

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Campaign No. :	NHTSA ID	Campaign Desc. :		Adjust Second Row Bench Middle Double Buckle
TBA	20V671	20P2197306
This is to notify you of a new Recall Campaign to adjust the second row bench middle double buckle in 55,362  Model Year (“MY”) 2020- 2021 GLE-Class (167 platform) vehicles.  The recall campaign will be visible on the www.safercar.gov website and may generate questions from customers.  Affected VINs will be flagged in VMI as “PENDING” on November 6, 2020.
Background
Issue		Mercedes-Benz AG (“MBAG”), the manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, has determined that on certain Model Year (“MY”) 2020 – 2021 GLE-Class (167 platform) vehicles with 5 passenger seating, in certain circumstances while buckling the seatbelt, the middle seatbelt buckle could be pushed down below the seat cushion. If the passenger is not able to retrieve the buckle, the affected seat would not be available for an occupant to properly fasten the seatbelt. If a passenger does not fasten the seatbelt according to the Operator’s Manual, the risk of injury in a crash could increase.
What We’re Doing		MBUSA will conduct a voluntary recall.  An authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer will additionally secure of the middle seatbelt buckle on the affected vehicles to prevent it from being pushed below the seat cushion
Parts		Remedy is not available at this time. An additional notification will be sent once the remedy is available.
Vehicles Affected
Vehicle Model Year(s)		2020 – 2021
Vehicle Model		GLE-Class
Vehicle Populations
Total Recall Population		55,326
Total Vehicles in Dealer Inventory		391
Given this notice, it is a violation of Federal law for a dealer to sell or lease any new MY20-21 GLE-Class vehicles in dealer inventory covered by this notification until the vehicle has been repaired.  Once the remedy is available, the vehicles will be flagged as “OPEN” and Work Instructions will be available in Star TekInfo.  Once the repair is complete the vehicle may be sold or leased.   Loaner and demonstrator vehicles may continue to be driven, but must not be retailed until repaired.   Additionally, given this notice, it is a violation of Federal Law for car rental companies to rent MY20-21 GLE-Class vehicles covered by this notification until the vehicle has been repaired.
Next Steps/Notes
Customer Notification Timeline			Customer letters will be mailed approximately one week after the remedy becomes available.
AOMS/SOMS			AOMs – This recall may generate questions from your dealers. Please forward this notice to your dealers ASAP.
Rental Fleet Partners			This recall may affect vehicles in your fleet. Please contact your respective MBUSA fleet representative for further information and next steps. For repairs, please contact your preferred MBUSA dealer.
While we regret any inconvenience this may cause, MBUSA is determined to maintain a high level of vehicle quality and customer satisfaction. Please refer all customer inquiries to the Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES.

 

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TO: Mercedes-Benz Dealer Principals, General Managers, Sales Managers, Service Managers, Parts Managers	FROM:  Gregory Gunther, Department Manager, Vehicle Compliance and Analysis, Engineering Services
RE: Recall Campaign Launch Notification Adjust Second Row Bench Middle Double Buckle MY20-21 167 (GLE-Class)	DATE:  December 11, 2020

 

IMPORTANT RECALL CAMPAIGN UPDATE

 

Please see the attached documents related to the campaign listed above.

 

Please note that all customer inquiries should be directed to the Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-FORMERCEDES.

 

Sincerely,

Gregory Gunther

Department Manager, Vehicle Compliance & Analysis

 

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Recall Campaign Launch Notification				December 11, 2020
Campaign No. :	NHTSA ID	Campaign Desc. :		Adjust Second Row Bench Middle Double Buckle
2020110005	20V671	20P9290005
This is to notify you of the Recall Campaign Launch to adjust the second row bench middle double buckle in 55,326  Model Year (“MY”) 2020- 2021 GLE-Class (167 platform) vehicles .  The recall campaign will be visible on the www.safercar.gov website and may generate questions from customers.  Affected VINs will be flagged in VMI as “OPEN” on December 11, 2020.
Background
Issue		Mercedes-Benz AG (“MBAG”), the manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, has determined that on certain Model Year (“MY”) 2020 – 2021 GLE-Class (167 platform) vehicles with 5 passenger seating, in certain circumstances while buckling the seatbelt, the middle seatbelt buckle could be pushed down below the seat cushion. If the passenger is not able to retrieve the buckle, the affected seat would not be available for an occupant to properly fasten the seatbelt. If a passenger does not fasten the seatbelt according to the Operator’s Manual, the risk of injury in a crash could increase.
What We’re Doing		MBUSA will conduct a voluntary recall. An authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer will additionally secure of the middle seatbelt buckle on the affected vehicles to prevent it from being pushed below the seat cushion.
Parts		The remedy is available and can be performed.
Vehicles Affected
Vehicle Model Year(s)		2020 – 2021
Vehicle Model		GLE-Class
Vehicle Populations
Total Recall Population		55,326
Total Vehicles in Dealer Inventory		381
Given this notice, it is a violation of Federal law for a dealer to sell or lease any new MY20-21 GLE-Class vehicles in dealer inventory covered by this notification until the vehicle has been repaired.  Once the remedy is available, the vehicles will be flagged as “OPEN” and Work Instructions will be available in Star TekInfo.  Once the repair is complete the vehicle may be sold or leased. Loaner and demonstrator vehicles may continue to be driven, but must not be retailed until repaired. Additionally, given this notice, it is a violation of Federal Law for car rental companies to rent MY20-21 GLE-Class vehicles covered by this notification until the vehicle has been repaired.
Next Steps/Notes
Customer Notification Timeline			Customer letters will be mailed on December 18, 2020.
AOMS/SOMS			AOMs – This recall may generate questions from your dealers. Please forward this notice to your dealers ASAP.
Rental Fleet Partners			This recall may affect vehicles in your fleet. Please contact your respective MBUSA fleet representative for further information and next steps. For repairs, please contact your preferred MBUSA dealer.
While we regret any inconvenience this may cause, MBUSA is determined to maintain a high level of vehicle quality and customer satisfaction. Please refer all customer inquiries to the Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES.

 

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Campaign No. 2020110005, December 2020
Revision A 12/02/2021

 

TO:	ALL MERCEDES-BENZ CENTERS
SUBJECT:	Model GLE-Class (167 platform) Model Year 2020-2021 Adjust Second Row bench Middle Double Buckle

 

 

Mercedes-Benz AG (“MBAG”), the manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, has determined that on certain Model Year (“MY”) 2020 – 2021 GLE-Class (167 platform) vehicles with 5 passenger seating, in certain circumstances while buckling the seatbelt, the middle seatbelt buckle could be pushed down below the seat cushion. If the passenger is not able to retrieve the buckle, the affected seat would not be available for an occupant to properly fasten the seatbelt. If a passenger does not fasten the seatbelt according to the Operator’s Manual, the risk of injury in a crash could increase. An authorized Mercedes- Benz dealer will additionally secure of the middle seatbelt buckle on the affected vehicles to prevent it from being pushed below the seat cushion.

 

Prior to performing this Recall Campaign:

• VMI must always be checked before performing campaigns to verify that the campaign is required on a specific vehicle. Always check for any other open campaigns, and perform accordingly.
• Please review the entire Recall Campaign bulletin and follow the repair procedure exactly as described.

 

Please note that Recall Campaigns do not expire and may also be performed on a vehicle with a vehicle status indicator.

 

Approximately 55,326 vehicles are involved.

 

Order No. P-RC-2020110005

 

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Work procedure 

Rear seat cushion does not need be removed.

 

1. Pull center seat belt buckle upward.

 

2. Guide cable tie over right seat belt buckle and over center seat belt buckle.

 

3. Position cable tie beneath right seat belt buckle (Figure 1).

 

Figure 1

 

4. Pull cable tie forward forcefully (in direction of travel) (Figure 2).

 

Figure 2

 

5. Then align “head” of cable tie with left-hand side as shown (A, Figure 3).

 

6. Use side cutting pliers to cut off overhang of cable tie such that it is flush.

Make sure that no sharp-edged offcut is left over, as the rear seat cushion cover may otherwise be damaged.

 

Figure 3

 

7. Press center seat belt buckle downward into the opening in the rear seat cushion, at the same level as the right seat belt buckle.

 

Primary Parts Information

Qty.	Part Name	Part Number
1	Cable tie	A 000 995 96 06

 

Warranty Information

Operation: Attach seat belt buckle of rear bench seat (02-1817)

Damage Code	Operation Number	Labor Time (hrs.)
92 900 05 7	02-1817	0.2

 

Note

Operation Number labor times are subject to change.

 

P-RC-2020110005

 

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Mercedes-Benz Part 573 Submission
Original Submitted to Portal October 30, 2020
Chronology-Only section
Supplement to Original Submission

 

Chronology of Defect/Noncompliance Determination

In September 2019, Mercedes-Benz USA provided information to MBAG’s Aftersales Department that it had received reports from the field that the seatbelt buckle for the middle rear seat were  found under the seat cushion. There were nine cases reported to MBAG at the time and the reports indicated that customers were bringing their vehicles to dealers in order to retrieve the seatbelt buckle from under the seat cushion.

MBAG considered the individual reports and in January 2020, MBAG initiated an investigation to better understand the condition and potential consequences. In the Spring of 2020, MBAG operations were restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  When the investigation resumed, the analysis focused on the likelihood that the middle seatbelt buckle could be pushed below the seat cushion and the scenarios and conditions for the cause. It was found that due to the double buckle configuration, the buckle for the middle seat occupant could end up under the seat in certain specific circumstances — if the middle seat occupant did not use two hands to latch the buckle or, if the buckle was forcefully pushed downward under the seat cushion.

MBAG again reviewed its data related to the condition and while the overall number of reports remained low, it was observed that dealer technicians were using a variety of different repair methods.  In September 2020, MBAG conducted an analysis of whether and how the buckle could be retrieved if it was pushed below the seat cushion. MBAG conducted simulations with employees where the middle seat buckle was intentionally pushed below the seat cushion. The employees were not advised of the condition ahead of time and were instructed to sit in the second row middle seat and buckle the seatbelt. In most of the cases, the occupant was able to reach below the cushion and retrieve the buckle quickly on the first attempt. Based on the fact that the majority of cases were from the US, the company reviewed the issue with NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation on October 8, 2020, to discuss the condition and obtain feedback on the company’s proposed approach.

On October 19, 2020, NHTSA advised that in its view, the issue should be addressed via a safety recall. Based on the discussion with the agency and a review of the topic, MBAG made the decision to conduct a safety recall on October 23, 2020.

 

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7 Affected Products

Vehicles

MAKE	MODEL	YEAR
MERCEDES BENZ	GLE580	2020
MERCEDES-BENZ	AMG GLE53	2021
MERCEDES-BENZ	AMG GLE63	2021
MERCEDES-BENZ	GLE350	2020-2021
MERCEDES-BENZ	GLE450	2020-2021

 

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13 Associated Documents

Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2021-2

RCLQRT-20V671-1837.PDF 211.337KB

 

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Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-20V671-1396.pdf 244.871KB

 

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Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-20V671-5917.PDF 216.435KB

 

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Chronology

RMISC-20V671-5037.pdf 67.902KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2020-4

RCLQRT-20V671-3386.PDF 211.15KB

 

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Recall 573 Report – Amendment 1

RCLRPT-20V671-2945.PDF 216.456KB

 

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Recall 573 Report – Amendment 2

RCLRPT-20V671-3509.PDF 216.458KB

 

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ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-20V671-9100.pdf 210.641KB

 

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)- Recall Campaign Launch Notification Adjust Second Row Bench Middle Double Buckle MY20-21 167 (GLE-Class)

RCMN-20V671-1454.pdf 341.767KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2021-1

RCLQRT-20V671-4597.PDF 211.253KB

 

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)- Recall Campaign Initial Notification Adjust Second Row Bench Middle Double Buckle MY20-21 167 (GLE-Class)

RCMN-20V671-7663.pdf 171.596KB

 

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Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-20V671-4161.pdf 198.654KB

 

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Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-20V671-4178.pdf 357.627KB

 

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Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=20V671&docType=RCL

 

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