We have an appointment for a completely separate issue this coming Friday and this morning I called to see about having our 2010 GL inspected while it was in for the other issue. MB of Louisville (service) advised me that the recall "is pending" and they are unable to do anything in regards to the recall until it is "released." According to MBUSA's website, it did in fact show this recall as pending, and I believe I read something about 5/27/22 as the date when they would begin notifying customers. Looks like several news media outlets may have jumped the gun and painted a doom-and-gloom scenario. Figures...

 

From my understanding they'll only be replacing the booster if they determine it's corroded and unsafe. If it's fine they'll leave it as-is.

 

now is the time to pick up a nice spare GL at rock bottom prices, comparatively.

 

I’m still waiting on backordered parts for the “AEM” repairs on my 2012 GL350, so I think any future recall considerations can be placed in the waste paper basket.

 

I'm certain he wasn't suggesting anyone go out and buy a diesel GL.

 

It won’t happen again but I will buy a new gas Mercedes after the recall “AEM” is completed.

 

The problem is that you cannot see the bottom of the booster while it's installed in the car.

 

Just called my local dealer, and they said that MBUSA hasn't communicated a fix or a process to them yet, and to please call back in a few weeks to see if that's changed. I'm 99.9% sure our GL is fine, but I'd like to get the inspection scheduled for peace of mind.

 

In my experience, dealership inspections in conjunction with a recall provide quite the opposite of peace of mind.

The majority of my experiences have resulted in massive high pressure upsell situations.

So again; pragmaticism carries the day.

 

Called the dealer this am - they still haven’t gotten any info on how to handle
last Friday I spoke to MB customer service
very nice very apologetic
assigned me a case # and told me to call
888-548-8514 - be prepared the wait time was 63 minutes
this a 3rd party vendor that is registering the cars in question, nice but all they do is enter the information.

 

Just got a message from the dealer: recall is pending, no disposition as of yet. Seems that they don't know how to handle...

 

I know that MBUSA will put out specific documentation, but I'm surprised at all these dealers stating they don't know what to do. I do understand that it shows "pending" status, but they won't do anything until it is active. The NHSTA clearly states the remedy:

Description of Remedy : Description of Remedy Program : An authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer will remove the rubber sleeve and inspect the brake booster housing on the affected vehicles. Vehicles that do not exhibit advanced corrosion may continue to be driven with no further action. Vehicles that show advanced corrosion will have an additional test performed to ensure the functionality of the brake booster. Vehicles that pass the additional test may be driven for up to two years but must return for an additional repair. Vehicles that do not pass the additional test will require a brake booster replacement. The stop-drive notice will remain in effect for these vehicles until the brake booster is replaced. In the event a repair is necessary and cannot be carried out immediately, an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer will help coordinate an individual solution for the customer, including alternate mobility. Pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 577.11, MBUSA plans to provide notice about prenotice reimbursement to owners since some of the involved vehicles could have been previously subject to the condition described. How Remedy Component Differs from Recalled Component : Brake booster without rubber sleeve installed. Brake Booster: A2514300000 Modification kit for brake pedal (only needed for a part of the affected vehicles): A2512900000 Identify How/When Recall Condition was Corrected in Production : The issue might occur on all vehicles of the subject models produced up to August 20, 2012.

And Mercedes Recall notification states, REMEDY An authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer will remove the rubber sleeve, check the brake booster on the affected vehicles and - depending on the result of this inspection - replace as necessary

The kicker here is that we, the owner of the vehicle, are completely at fault should anything occur. The recall was issued on May 12 and indicated that none of these vehicles should be driven. This takes the liability off of Mercedes and puts it onto the owner of the vehicle. Should the rare event happen and a failure of braking occurs, your insurance won't even cover you as the vehicle should not have been driven per the manufacturer.

I feel that Mercedes completely dropped the ball on this. While I assume my vehicle is not affected, my wife will not be driving it, just due to liability reasons, which Mercedes perfectly put on us. I am frustrated that both the dealer and MBUSA email has not responded regarding loaner vehicle nor transportation reimbursement.

 

In the absence of any plan to execute this recall Mercedes still has liability… Issuing a unilateral stop notice driving does not limit their liability. Just to be sure there are thousands of GL’s in MLS still on the road with potentially faulty Takata airbags, to which Mercedes has no repair and recourse and still carries liability.

 

It’s ridiculous to discuss liability as some sort of Mercedes failure, dropping the ball, whatever.

what would you expect them to do /what else could they do except issue a stop drive?

Your chances at being first in line to have yours inspected are 1 in 292,000 and this isn’t solely about you.

A company displaying this level of extreme caution is admirable … although they are of course required to.

a safety problem that displays some likelihood of occurring only after 10-15 years is fairly unique and is probably more due to extreme conditions than any obvious or simple engineering failure. So far, existing data shows small likelihood. Once the entire fleet is inspected … there will be more data!

I’ve owned mine since new and it lives in the desert southwest and I will continue driving it. Not much moisture here. Maybe I’ll glance at it … it probably looks brand new like everything else under the hood on mine.

 

I believe you may be misreading and mistaking my post. I stated that I am sure mine is fine, but don't want the liability should something happen. If an accident occurred, whether due to fault of the booster or something else; do you honestly believe that an opposing lawyer, or even your insurance company, would not do a check and notice that the manufacture indicated the vehicle should not be driven until inspected? You now had an accident in a vehicle where the manufacturer told you not to drive it.

I am simply stating that Mercedes is putting the liability specifically on the owner of the vehicle now. They covered themselves by issuing a stop-drive on all the potentially affected vehicles. Multiple people have stated that the dealers don't even know what to do and don't have guidance from MBUSA yet.

Most vehicles are probably fine, but it has been 1-week since issuing a stop-drive notice with no resolution from Mercedes. Luckily, we have a 2-vehicle family and I am able to rearrange my schedule to make 1-vehicle work. What about individuals that only have 1-car. I personally would not put myself, nor my financial well-being at risk. Mercedes issues the recall and mandated the stop-drive.

Do I think it's crazy they are doing a recall on a wear and tear part that in some occasions is going to be 15-years old, absolutely. But, it's what Mercedes decided to do. Where they dropped the ball was having an immediate inspection available. As we all believe, most of these boosters are going to be just fine.

 

But... Stealth... the recall hasn't actually been "issued" yet, right? So there really is no "mandate" (although that's subjective) for you to stop driving. And... how would you know about it until Mercedes informs you?

If you prefer to stop driving, of course that's your prerogative and I would respect that. But don't make things harder on yourself than it has to be, you know?

 

MBUSA has NEVER issued a stop drive order that I'm aware of. Don't be so sure it was them...could have been mandated by NHTSA. I've been working on MB vehicles for 20 years...and I've never replaced a brake booster in a 164, and very few in other models. However, I don't live in a rust belt state nor on a coastal city subject to salt air. We have 3 164's in the family. I have received NO official notice from MB to stop driving them, have you? It almost sounds like MB was caught off guard.

 

There you go. Until it’s officially official, and you’ve been duly served with a stop order there’s no transfer of liability to you, or legal limitation of mercedes liability.

Issuance of sudden notice is an expected corporate CYA move that will serve to dissuade a number of owners, limiting MBs risk.
But not liability. Doesn’t really matter who told who to issue it it’s an expected reaction and it’s a Roger that, round file it and carry-on type thing.

 

Are only the brake boosters with part #s below recalled?

Part Number : A1644310427
Part Number : A1644310527
Part Number : A1644310627

The above is from the doc linked below
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/202...2V315-3653.PDF

Mine has a different part number (same part number as the booster pictured above).

 

So does the pictured one from the Recall notice (post 21) - but it has the rubber ring.

 

Is it just me or did this rubber ring get introduced in the w/x164 and w251 and not other models before/during/after their production runs? I'd expect other models to be affected as well, if there is such a ring around the booster.

 

The only thing interesting in this entire thread so far is that one (1) R550 exists in the U.S. I never knew they made one. Also, there are, or were, 72 R63's brought here, which I knew about but not the quantity.

 

IIRC the R63 is the rarest production line AMG in the MB lineup. Most were special order as they were not particularly advertised and pushed by most dealers.

One 550 in the US? Damn! That's rare!

 

R550 - with a M273e55?
Did not know they made that.
had an R500 with the M113, loved it.

 

Never seen an R550! But yes, should have a 5.5L 273 engine. Quick research shows it was only offered in Canada.