Improperly Secured 12-Volt Ground Connection – 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE

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December 8, 2023 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 23V835000

Improperly Secured 12-Volt Ground Connection

An overheated ground connection can increase the risk of a fire.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V835

Manufacturer Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

Components ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Potential Number of Units Affected 164

 

Summary

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2022 GLE350 and GLE450 vehicles. A 12-Volt ground connection may not be secured properly, resulting in the ground connection overheating.

 

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and secure the 12-Volt ground connection as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 6, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

 

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

 


January 12, 2024

Check the 12V Ground Connection Bolt Torque

2023120010

This is to notify you of the Recall Campaign Launch to check the 12V ground connection bolt torque on 164 Model Year (“MY”) 2021-2022 GLE (167 platform) vehicles. The recall campaign will be visible on the www.NHTSA.gov website and may generate questions from customers. Affected VINs will be flagged in VMI as “OPEN” on January 12, 2024.

 

Issue

Mercedes-Benz AG (“MBAG”), the manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, has determined that on certain MY 2021-2022 GLE (167 platform) vehicles, a certain 12V ground connection might not meet current specifications. In this case, the connection might loosen over time and the electrical resistance of the connection might increase. Due to the high electrical currents that flow through this connection, the temperature on this connection could increase. This might increase the risk of a fire.

 

What We’re Doing

MBUSA will conduct a voluntary recall. An authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer will check the 12V ground connection bolt torque and rework it, if necessary.

 

Parts

The remedy is available and can be performed.

 

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 NetStar VMI and Xentry Portal. 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.

Notice to California Dealers: As required by 13 CCR 2117, a proof of correction (“POC”) certificate showing that the vehicle has been repaired under this recall must be issued by the authorized service facility, and that such a certificate may be required by California as a condition of vehicle re-registration or operation. Please reference this POC in the attached work instructions. Failure to complete this step may result in fines and penalties and lead to customer dissatisfaction.

 

Customer Notification Timeline

Customer letters will be mailed on January 26, 2024.

 


Check the 12V Ground Connection Bolt Torque

Check/test Procedure 1:

1. Visually check ground point (W10, Figure 1) and ground line (1, Figure 1) under the driver’s seat for damage.

For basic information, see AR54.10-P-0002ME.

 

a. If no damage is present:

Carry out Check/test Procedure 2.

 

b. If there is damage to the ground line (1, Figure 1) or ground point (W10, Figure 1):

Carry out Work Procedure 2.

 

Check/test Procedure 2:

2. Check nut (2, Figure 1) for correct tightening torque.

For basic information, see AR54.10-P-0002ME.

 

a. If tightening torque of nut (2, Figure 1) is correct and no damage present: End measure.

b. If tightening torque of nut (2, Figure 1) is not correct: Carry out Check/test Procedure 3.

 

Check/test Procedure 3:

3. Remove nut (2, Figure 1) and ground point (W10, Figure 1) from body.

For basic information, see AR54.10-P-0002ME.

 

4. Check threaded pin (3, Figure 2) and cable lug or ground line (1, Figure 2) for damage.

 

a. If there is no damage at threaded pin (3, Figure 2) and cable lug or ground line (1, Figure 2):

Carry out Work Procedure 1.

 

b. If damage is present at threaded pin (3, Figure 2) and cable lug or ground line (1, Figure 2): Carry out Work Procedure 2.

 

Work Procedure

Work Procedure 1:

5. Install existing ground line (1, Figure 1) including battery sensor (B95, Figure 1) with new nut (2, Figure 1) and tighten with prescribed tightening torque.

For basic information, see AR54.10-P-0002ME.

 

Work Procedure 2:

6. Clean area around ground point (W10, Figure 1) and threaded pin.

If necessary, recut threaded pin using a thread cutter.

 

7. Replace ground line (1, Figure 1) including battery sensor (B95, Figure 1) and nut (2, Figure 1).

For basic information, see AR54.10-P-0002ME.

 

8. Perform commissioning of battery sensor (B95).

For basic information, see AD00.00-P-2000-06ME.

 

Primary Parts Information

Qty. Part Name Part Number
As required (1) Ground line incl. on-board electrical system battery sensor A 000 905 39 16
As required (1) Hexagon Nut with Flange – Ground Connection A002990685064

 

Small parts such as screws, lock nuts, sealing rings, cable ties, fluids, sealant, etc. are not listed in the parts list. The required small parts are taken into account in the budgeting.

 

The following step applies to California dealers only.

Apply Proof of Correction Label (A 000 584 54 13) to area identified in Figure 1. Fill in the blank areas of the label. The campaign number for the California Proof of Correction is unique and must be entered as such (231210), your dealer code, and the date of the repair, using a black permanent marker.

Note: Clean bonding surface prior to affixing label.

 

The following step applies to California dealers only.

Provide the owner with the completed and signed Proof of Correction Certificate (A 000 584 42 14) (Figure 2), after you scan a completed form and attach to the RO. The recall number for the California Proof of Correction is unique and must be entered as such (231210).

 


Chronology Supplement for ODI  23-00855-30153-10

In March 2021, Mercedes-Benz received an isolated report from a customer alleging their GLE vehicle displayed a battery warning message and they were unable to of start the vehicle. MBAG was not able to attribute the reported event to any deviation in the vehicle’s production or systemic failure at that time.

In late 2021/early 2022, an internal post-production quality feedback found a vehicle with a similar issue. MBAG’s further review determined that the vehicle had been designated for quality assurance rework during production. Contemporaneous documentation indicated that the rework action had been completed. During the course of MBAG’s subsequent investigation, however, it found evidence suggesting that in some instances the rework may not have been correctly completed. Based on that determination MBAG then reviewed field reports to determine if those reworked vehicles had reported any incidents that might be related to an incorrect rework. That review identified two vehicles that were the subject of March and October 2021 field reports, and determined that the erroneous rework could have contributed to the reported inability to start the vehicles.

Additional investigation and analyses determined that one individual reworker incorrectly performed the rework task (adjusting torque applied to a bolted 12V ground connection) during a limited production period, while documenting the rework as correctly performed.

Beginning in October 2022 and continuing through July 2023, MBAG conducted extensive investigations and analyses to determine whether there might be other potential consequences of the identified issue. This investigation determined that bolting that was not tightened with the force specified in the rework instructions could result in increased resistance at the 12V ground connection. Thermal testing during that time further determined that such current resistance could lead to heat development in the area under the driver’s seat.

Based on these findings, beginning in July 2023, MBAG analyzed material properties (including heat sensitivity) of components surrounding the 12V ground connection.

On December 1, 2023, MBAG determined that a potential safety risk cannot be ruled out and decided to conduct a recall.

MBAG is aware of one related field report in the US (described above). That report did not involve any claim of a crash, injury, or property damage. MBAG is not aware of any reports of property damage, fatality, or injury related to this defect.

 


4 Affected Products

Vehicles

MAKE MODEL YEAR
MERCEDES-BENZ GLE350 2021-2022
MERCEDES-BENZ GLE450 2021-2022

 


7 Associated Documents

Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-23V835-5650.pdf 645.495KB

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Chronology Report

RMISC-23V835-9634.pdf 79.816KB

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Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-23V835-1827.PDF 214.917KB

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Recall 573 Report – December 13, 2023

RCLRPT-23V835-4531.PDF 214.932KB

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-23V835-0093.pdf 143.595KB

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-23V835-9447.pdf 1198.24KB

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Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-23V835-6417.pdf 1063.688KB

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Latest Recalls Documents

For the Latest and Most recent Recall Information Visit the link below…

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=23V835&docType=RCL

 


 

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Last update on 2024-04-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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