G Class (W463A) Produced 2019-Present: G550, G63 AMG

Fording Unavailable, service required

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Old 03-24-2021, 02:28 PM
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Fording Unavailable, service required

As many know, my car has been in and out of benz. Total time at dealer thus far, 4 weeks over 9 months of ownership. Threshold for a lemon in state of NJ is 20 days.
I get this message a week ago. Back to the dealer I go. Car drove fine, but every two mins I would get an audible chime and red service light on my dash. This is so annoying

Bring it to benz, they've had it for the past week. Call me today to pickup my car, and bring it back in three weeks. Part is backordered and won't be in for three weeks.
Car has not been fixed... and they want me to take it back. I've called customer assistance with MB, with zero help whatsoever.

What should I do?
Old 03-24-2021, 06:04 PM
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2018 Porsche 911 GT3 2021 Mercedes G 63
Originally Posted by BluetecKING
As many know, my car has been in and out of benz. Total time at dealer thus far, 4 weeks over 9 months of ownership. Threshold for a lemon in state of NJ is 20 days.
I get this message a week ago. Back to the dealer I go. Car drove fine, but every two mins I would get an audible chime and red service light on my dash. This is so annoying

Bring it to benz, they've had it for the past week. Call me today to pickup my car, and bring it back in three weeks. Part is backordered and won't be in for three weeks.
Car has not been fixed... and they want me to take it back. I've called customer assistance with MB, with zero help whatsoever.

What should I do?
If you purchased it from that dealership, contact the owner or general manager. If that doesn’t work, contact your state attorney general’s office or a private attorney. Tell them you don’t feel safe driving it.
Old 03-24-2021, 08:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Craig B
If you purchased it from that dealership, contact the owner or general manager. If that doesn’t work, contact your state attorney general’s office or a private attorney. Tell them you don’t feel safe driving it.
They offered to buy it back, but said they couldn't replace it, unless I wanted to wait a year.
Old 03-24-2021, 08:18 PM
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Originally Posted by BluetecKING
They offered to buy it back, but said they couldn't replace it, unless I wanted to wait a year.
If it was mine, I’d give it back and ask them to see if MBUSA can assist with replacing it ASAP. It sounds like a lemon. I had a BMW X5 twin turbo diesel that I got rid of, it was in the dealerships garage more than my own.
Old 03-24-2021, 09:42 PM
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Doesn't sound confidence inspiring that the troubles will stop there. I'd be tempted to take them up on their offer to buy it back if they could promise you another at MSRP even if a year's wait. Go enjoy something else in the meantime.
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Old 03-25-2021, 12:36 AM
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“Fording unavailable.”

I didn’t realize we had fording sensors? Does it appear on the “off-road” screen along with the steering angle and angle of the G?

I wonder what triggers a “fording unavailable” sensor to go off. Strange indeed.
Old 03-25-2021, 10:26 AM
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Let them buy it back and use the circumstances to negotiate on a replacement if you really want to wait a year for another G experience. I've never given any car brand a second chance, and my worst case experience was not nearly as annoying as yours.
Old 03-25-2021, 10:36 AM
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The thing is, this has been the car I've always wanted...

With that said, what do I get a defender? Not really my cup of tea. I was already about to order a 22 G63.

RE Fording: the issue is some motor that opened up the air intake went bad.


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Old 03-25-2021, 10:42 AM
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Originally Posted by streborx
Let them buy it back and use the circumstances to negotiate on a replacement if you really want to wait a year for another G experience. I've never given any car brand a second chance, and my worst case experience was not nearly as annoying as yours.
I won’t go back to BMW after my lemon X5, they offered a trade assist. I just traded it for a Lexus, I didn’t want another one. I’ve had problems with the last 2 Lexus I’ve owned and I’m done with Lexus, I’ve owned 9. My LC 500 performance package had a recall for both high and low pressure fuel pumps, I couldn’t drive it for 2 months because of a fire hazard. I sold it for my Porsche 991.2 GT3. Had I kept it, they recalled the low pressure fuel pump again for stalling in traffic and wouldn’t restart. Same low pressure fuel pump recall on my GX 460 Luxury. I was driving a rental Infiniti QX 80 for 95 days, had the fuel pump replaced and had a check engine light for leaking fuel. They improperly installed the fuel pump. It also had a rough idle after repair and once, the idle dropped so low, I lost power steering and brakes. I traded it in for my G 63 and have entered into a class action lawsuit against Toyota/ Lexus.
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Old 03-25-2021, 11:46 AM
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Originally Posted by BluetecKING
The thing is, this has been the car I've always wanted...

With that said, what do I get a defender? Not really my cup of tea. I was already about to order a 22 G63.

RE Fording: the issue is some motor that opened up the air intake went bad.
The owner's manual on page 133 states that the automatic climate control needs to be off before fording. Putting the truck into 4WL with the auto climate on might cause the fording unavailable annunciation as a normal warning. Knowing this, a bad vent motor, or vent position sensor, seems a likely suspect.
As I posted earlier, my G hasn't had any problems, but a vehicle in its price bracket being built in limited numbers should be perfect. When you punch in "home" on the nav system, it shouldn't route you to the dealership's service bay. I'm borderline on trading it based on the experiences of others and MB's customer service attitude.
Old 03-25-2021, 11:59 AM
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Originally Posted by streborx
The owner's manual on page 133 states that the automatic climate control needs to be off before fording. Putting the truck into 4WL with the auto climate on might cause the fording unavailable annunciation as a normal warning. Knowing this, a bad vent motor, or vent position sensor, seems a likely suspect.
As I posted earlier, my G hasn't had any problems, but a vehicle in its price bracket being built in limited numbers should be perfect. When you punch in "home" on the nav system, it shouldn't route you to the dealership's service bay. I'm borderline on trading it based on the experiences of others and MB's customer service attitude.
Oh the attitude? Tell me about it.

I call customer service, and they are so [insert curse word] rude. Basically they were like, 'well what do you want us to do about it', I said put me in a nice loaner, and/or buy the car back. We will get back to you in 4-6 weeks about the buyout, however, as for the loaner consider yourself lucky because we do not have to give you a loaner.

Oh and, we are sorry your car has been in service for so long, but we do not guarantee that it will be perfect. In your warranty we just guarantee that we will fix it not how long it will take.



Old 03-29-2021, 01:40 PM
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Apparently I shook the right tree and I can pickup my car today. I will keep everyone posted.
Old 04-04-2021, 06:19 PM
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Good afternoon.
I have 1 tank of fuel through my 2021 G63 (only 260 miles on the odometer) amd I received this same error message this evening when starting the truck.
The vehicle has been in my heated garage since purchase, is spotless, and has never seen a drop of rain or snow.
Would love to hear what the fix was for this issue, and if anyone other than Bluetec

king also had this problem.
Old 04-04-2021, 06:31 PM
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Good afternoon.
I have 1 tank of fuel through my 2021 G63 (only 260 miles on the odometer) amd I received this same error message this evening when starting the truck.
The vehicle has been in my heated garage since purchase, is spotless, and has never seen a drop of rain or snow.
Would love to hear what the fix was for this issue, and if anyone other than Bluetec

king also had this problem.
Old 04-04-2021, 10:32 PM
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"Service Required" says it all -- back to the dealer. How does stuff like this make it out of the factory?
Old 04-05-2021, 03:34 PM
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I think the only way to get the dealer and MBUSA's attention is start to mention lemon law and they react very quickly yo that. Check your states lemon law clauses and it may state that the dealer has a set time period in which to fix the issue and if they can not then file the claim.I had a bought 2 new generation G's (g550 & G63) of which the 550 had a defective engine block which ultimately got a new engine but I refused to pick the car up and in the end was bought back by MB. You have to be persistent and stay calm during all interactions with them and only talk to MBUSA reps, bypass the dealer since they're useless.
Old 06-03-2021, 07:42 AM
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Originally Posted by streborx
"Service Required" says it all -- back to the dealer. How does stuff like this make it out of the factory?

The timing of this for everyone is interesting. My 2021 G63 just gave me the same error yesterday. I guess it’s back to the dealership...ugghh.
Old 06-03-2021, 07:45 AM
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Have the car lemoned and get MBUSA involved. My 20 G63 had an engine failure and I had a new one in less than 6 months.
Old 06-03-2021, 07:53 AM
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Someone above mentioned a defender…

I leased a defender when I was between G’s. It’s smooth and easy to drive and softer than a G. It fits the kids better too. Kind of like a Range Rover but not as delicate. It has more room for the kids in the back. I still have it and DD it. I will probably buy it out at lease end unless they come out with the 130.

With that the G is still the better car.
Old 06-14-2021, 07:11 PM
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Was the “fording not possible” error ever resolved? If so, what did it end up being?
Old 06-22-2021, 07:18 PM
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Add my G to the collection of non-fordable rigs…




Old 06-22-2021, 08:33 PM
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Originally Posted by 084runnerltd
Add my G to the collection of non-fordable rigs…



I'm sure you meant to say "una-fordable" rigs (lol).
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Old 12-02-2021, 01:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Hodog16
Doesn't sound confidence inspiring that the troubles will stop there. I'd be tempted to take them up on their offer to buy it back if they could promise you another at MSRP even if a year's wait. Go enjoy something else in the meantime.
Was this on the G 63??? My 2021 G wagon has been nothing but trouble. Purchased in 2020. Brake recall. Battery/electrical errors. Screen errors. Got the "Fording unavailable" code today.
Old 12-02-2021, 04:52 PM
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Originally Posted by dberglawfirm
Was this on the G 63??? My 2021 G wagon has been nothing but trouble. Purchased in 2020. Brake recall. Battery/electrical errors. Screen errors. Got the "Fording unavailable" code today.
When was your G 63 built? Was it one of the vehicles waiting on microchips? I’ve had automatic brake assist inoperable 4 times. They’ve recalibrated the sensors 3 times.
Old 12-02-2021, 05:00 PM
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at least the new G will make those payments easier ...
https://jalopnik.com/theres-a-finger...s-b-1848150302


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