Check Installation of Air Conditioning Drain Hoses – 2020-2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, GLS-Class

March 17, 2023 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 23V177000

Water Intrusion from AC Drain Hose May Cause Short

Water intrusion into the foot wells may cause corrosion and/or short circuits to electrical components, increasing the risk of fire. In addition, the emergency call (eCall) feature may be disabled and the doors may not unlock, increasing the risk of injury. Also, the engine may not start or may enter a limp-home mode, increasing the risk of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V177

Manufacturer Mercedes-BenzeBay logo USA, LLC

Components VISIBILITY

Potential Number of Units Affected 61,450

 

Summary

Mercedes-BenzeBay logo USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020-2021 GLE350, GLE450, GLS450, GLS580, 2021 AMG GLE53, AMG GLE63, MaybacheBay logo GLS600, AMG GLS63, and 2020 GLE580 vehicles. The air conditioner drain hoses may have been incorrectly installed, causing water to drain into the passenger compartment.

 

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and reinstall the air conditioner drain hoses, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of recall numbers 21V-288 and 19V-587. MBUSA’s numbers for this recall are 2023030014 and 2023030015.

 

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.nhtsa.gov.

 

Check if your Mercedes-Benz has a Recall

 


April 6, 2023

2023030014
2023030015

Check Installation of Air Conditioning Drain Hoses

This is to notify you of a Recall Campaign Launch to check the installation of the air conditioning drain hoses on 61,450 Model Year (“MY”) 2020-2021 GLE and GLS (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 April 6, 2023.

 

Issue

Mercedes-BenzeBay logo AG (“MBAG”), the manufacturer of Mercedes-BenzeBay logo vehicles, has determined that on certain Model Year (“MY”) 2020-2021 GLE and GLS (167 platform) vehicles, the air conditioning drain hoses might be incorrectly installed in the vehicle. In this case, condensation water from the air conditioning might enter the passenger compartment.  If a significant volume of condensation water enters the driver and passenger side footwells, it is possible that corrosion and/or short circuits to the electrical components installed in this area could occur, which could increase the risk of fire. In addition, the performance of other features of the vehicle could be affected. For example, the automatic emergency call (eCall) might not be available, the vehicle might not be able to be unlocked and/or started; and the engine limp-home mode might be activated during driving. The impact on these features could increase the potential risk of injury or a crash. The customer might observe wet carpets in the front footwells, and fogged windows.

 

What We’re Doing

MBUSA will conduct a voluntary recall. An authorized Mercedes-BenzeBay logo dealership will check the air conditioning drain hoses and correct their installation, if necessary.

 

Parts

Remedy is not available at this time.

 

Given this notice, it is a violation of Federal law for a dealer to sell or lease any new 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 Xentry. 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. As a matter of normal service process, please check for other repair measures which might be applicable to the vehicle(s).

Additionally, given this notice, it is a violation of Federal Law for car rental companies to rent new vehicles covered by this notification until the vehicle has been repaired.

 


Check condensation drain hose at right and left of air conditioning system, rework if necessary

 

Check/test procedure A 

  1. Release floor covering in footwell on driver’s side and front passenger side and check condensation drain hose at right and left of air conditioning system (Figure 1).

The condensation drain hose must be installed without creases, in proper contact, and inserted correctly on the heater box or tunnel (C, Figure 1).

The cutout (B, Figure 1) must be positioned correctly on the fitting of the heater box.  There must not be any visible or noticeable traces of water.

 

a. Condensation drain hose not fastened correctly, or traces of water present: Carry out check/test procedure B.

b. Condensation drain hose fastened correctly, with no visible or noticeable traces of water: End measure.

 

Check/test procedure B

  1. Remove front floor covering and covers above the electrical assemblies in the footwell of the incorrectly mounted drain hose.(Figure 2)

Remove corresponding driver’s seat and/or front passenger seat.

For basic data on removing the front floor covering on the front passenger side, see AR68.80-P-0008ME.  For basic data on removing the front floor covering on the driver’s side, see AR68.80-P-0007ME.

 

  1. Check accessible electrical connections for moisture/water and/or corrosion.

 

a. Condensation drain hose not fastened correctly and minor traces of water present: Carry out work procedure A.

b. Condensation drain hose not fastened correctly and major traces of water present: Carry out work procedure B.

 

Work procedure A

  1. In case of slight dampness and no visible traces of corrosion: dry out footwell, electrical connectors, and floor covering.

 

  1. Mount drain hose for condensation correctly.

The condensation drain hose must be installed without creases, in proper contact, and inserted correctly on the heater box or tunnel (C, Figure 1).

The cutout (B, Figure 1) must be positioned correctly on the fitting of the heater box.

 

  1. Assemble in reverse order.

 

Work procedure B 

  1. In the case of heavy water entry or if the floor recesses are filled with water, all damaged relevant parts must be replaced.

 

  1. Mount drain hose for condensation correctly.

The condensation drain hose must be installed without creases, in proper contact, and inserted correctly on the heater box or tunnel (C, Figure 1).

The cutout (B, Figure 1) must be positioned correctly on the fitting of the heater box.

 

  1. Assemble in reverse order.

 

 

 


Chronology :

In August 2021, MBAG began an initial investigation of field reports from GLE and GLS vehicles (167 platform) describing varying instances in which customers described water ingress into the passenger compartment. These subject vehicles were produced outside the production date range of the prior recall measures 19V587 and 21V288.

Between September and December 2021, MBAG examined the affected vehicles and reviewed production records, seeking to identify a cause of the reported issues. In parallel, MBAG reviewed the production facility and relevant vehicle assembly processes, seeking potential factors that might lead to the observed issues with the affected vehicles.

In February 2022, MBAG commenced a further investigation based on the results and findings of its review and updated field reports and analyses. From March to May 2022, MBAG conducted a detailed analysis of field data and reviewed related production records, and a plant rework campaign was issued based on the then-assumed failure mechanism. From June 2022 onwards, further cases that occurred in the field required re-evaluation of the failure mechanism and influencing factors. These intensive analyses that were conducted together with the vehicle assembly plant continued throughout the year 2022, while the field situation was constantly monitored and new information was continuously included in the analysis process. In February 2023, final alignments regarding failure mechanism, influencing factors and definition of potentially affected vehicles were conducted. It was determined that condensation water from the air condition might enter the passenger compartment due to incorrect installation of the drain hoses during vehicle assembly. On March 10, 2023, MBAG determined that a potential safety risk cannot be ruled out and decided to conduct a recall. MBAG is currently aware of 58 field reports in the U.S. received from August 12, 2019 to January 3, 2023. MBAG is not aware of any reported crashes, injuries.

 


13 Affected Products

Vehicles

MAKEMODELYEAR
MERCEDES-BENZeBay logoAMG GLE532021
MERCEDES-BENZeBay logoAMG GLE632021
MERCEDES-BENZeBay logoAMG GLS632021
MERCEDES-BENZeBay logoGLE3502020-2021
MERCEDES-BENZeBay logoGLE4502020-2021
MERCEDES-BENZeBay logoGLE5802020
MERCEDES-BENZeBay logoGLS4502020-2021
MERCEDES-BENZeBay logoGLS5802020-2021
MERCEDES-BENZeBay logoMAYBACHeBay logo GLS6002021

 


13 Associated Documents

Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-23V177-7084.PDF 218.708KB

 


Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-23V177-1045.pdf 645.497KB

 


Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-23V177-0422.pdf 289.017KB

 


Recall 573 Report – April 4, 2023

RCLRPT-23V177-6690.PDF 218.715KB

 


Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-23V177-7857.pdf 429.306KB

 


Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-23V177-3850.pdf 428.467KB

 


Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-23V177-8769.pdf 681.858KB

 


Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-23V177-3542.pdf 681.633KB

 


Recall 573 Report – May 1, 2023

RCLRPT-23V177-2368.PDF 218.717KB

 


ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-23V177-9001.pdf 348.534KB

 


Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2023-2

RCLQRT-23V177-8508.PDF 211.153KB

 


Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2023-3

RCLQRT-23V177-1978.PDF 211.394KB

 


Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2023-4

RCLQRT-23V177-8777.PDF 211.486KB

 


Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=23V177&docType=RCL

 


 

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