MB Stop Sales of GLC 300
04-09-2018, 03:17 PM
#26
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Does this apply to MB dealers?
"Mfr's Report Date: March 15, 2018
Please be reminded that under 49 U.S.C. § 30112(a)(3), it is illegal for a manufacturer, to sell, offer for sale, import, or introduce or deliver into interstate commerce, a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment that contains a safety defect once the manufacturer has notified NHTSA about that safety defect. "
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/201...8V177-6022.pdf
04-09-2018, 03:19 PM
#27
I understand there was a stop order precisely because there was a recall. According to one recall site: On March 15, 2018, Mercedes-Benz recalled 121,861 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. Mercedes benz usa llc (mbusa) is recalling certain 2017-2019 glc43 amg, 2016-2019 glc300 4matic, 2016-2018 glc300, 2018 glc63 amg 4matic, and 2018-2019 glc350e 4matic vehicles. the seat belt latch plates (the parts that insert into the buckles) for the outboard rear seats may retract into the interior paneling, preventing the occupants from being able to use the seat belts. Other state consumer sites also noted: Mercedes-Benz Issues Recall for Almost 122,000 GLC Vehicles with Seat Belt Issue with the following sub headline (sorry about the size of it):
REAR SEAT PASSENGERS IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FASTEN THEIR SEAT BELTS
04-09-2018, 03:23 PM
#28
Member
It's also one of the best selling Mercedes models (and the least expensive -- which is probably a related fact). People come to the internet to complain more than to brag. I don't think you can draw any conclusions from that.
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DPelletier (04-09-2018)
04-09-2018, 03:29 PM
#29
Good point DDGator. Many people come to forums like this for help to solve issues big and small. As a result, the overall tone is not always positive. As you point out, when a product is popular, it has more discussions, which can amplify that tone.
Thanks to everyone for all the help with questions. I really appreciate all the threads here, which have helped me a lot. And, we are really enjoying out GLC 300.
Thanks to everyone for all the help with questions. I really appreciate all the threads here, which have helped me a lot. And, we are really enjoying out GLC 300.
04-09-2018, 03:34 PM
#30
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I understand there was a stop order precisely because there was a recall. According to one recall site: On March 15, 2018, Mercedes-Benz recalled 121,861 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. Mercedes benz usa llc (mbusa) is recalling certain 2017-2019 glc43 amg, 2016-2019 glc300 4matic, 2016-2018 glc300, 2018 glc63 amg 4matic, and 2018-2019 glc350e 4matic vehicles. the seat belt latch plates (the parts that insert into the buckles) for the outboard rear seats may retract into the interior paneling, preventing the occupants from being able to use the seat belts. Other state consumer sites also noted: Mercedes-Benz Issues Recall for Almost 122,000 GLC Vehicles with Seat Belt Issue with the following sub headline (sorry about the size of it):
REAR SEAT PASSENGERS IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FASTEN THEIR SEAT BELTS
04-09-2018, 03:38 PM
#31
Member
We are probably splitting legal hairs here. NHTSA says the recall is scheduled to start May 15. I don't know how the law applies at this point. I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that MB is violating federal law... But I suppose its possible.
04-09-2018, 03:47 PM
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04-09-2018, 03:55 PM
#35
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It seems that manufacturers are not allowed to sell new cars once they report a safety issue to NHTSA (source: NHTSA document), but dealers can sell them until the official recall notices are sent out (source: MB customer care)?
04-09-2018, 11:54 PM
#36
Senior Member
Just thought I’d let you guys know, my 2018 GLC 4Matic was built in June 2017 in the Finland plant and has this problem. Took delivery 7/17 and it’s normally just me and my wife in the car. My adult daughter was home Easter weekend and was riding in the rear outboard passenger seat when, after getting back in the car after a visit with her grandparents, she said she couldn’t get her seatbelt to pull down so she could fasten it. She got out and said it looked like the metal plate that engages into the receiving end of the seatbelt was “stuck” inside the pillar. We couldn’t get it out so I drove home very carefully with fingers crossed. We were able to fish out, with a coat hanger, the metal plate that had obviously slipped through the opening in the roof pillar!
It wasn’t until after she left that I ran across this post. I was stunned.
My point is, this is not some obscure anomaly that will probably not happen to you. If you normally have people in the rear outboard seats, they may be unable to fasten the rear seatbelt unexpectedly. If that happens, you better hope you’re not in a wreck. And carry a coat hanger in your car until you get it fixed.
BTW, other than this thread, I have not heard anything from MB about the this serious safety issue. I plan on contacting my dealer tomorrow to see if they can fix this.
It wasn’t until after she left that I ran across this post. I was stunned.
My point is, this is not some obscure anomaly that will probably not happen to you. If you normally have people in the rear outboard seats, they may be unable to fasten the rear seatbelt unexpectedly. If that happens, you better hope you’re not in a wreck. And carry a coat hanger in your car until you get it fixed.
BTW, other than this thread, I have not heard anything from MB about the this serious safety issue. I plan on contacting my dealer tomorrow to see if they can fix this.
04-10-2018, 05:57 AM
#37
Member
Just thought I’d let you guys know, my 2018 GLC 4Matic was built in June 2017 in the Finland plant and has this problem. Took delivery 7/17 and it’s normally just me and my wife in the car. My adult daughter was home Easter weekend and was riding in the rear outboard passenger seat when, after getting back in the car after a visit with her grandparents, she said she couldn’t get her seatbelt to pull down so she could fasten it.
I agree this is a very serious problem. It is fortunate, at least, that the problem is very obvious when it occurs and not something that is hidden.
04-10-2018, 08:56 AM
#38
Vaboy: They have a fix that I think is not that complicated. My GLC 300 received the fix before they would deliver the car to me (i.e., let it leave their lot). The recall notice apparently will not be issued until mid-May and they will probably retrofit what they have on their lots as a priority, but hopefully you can get it addressed sooner than later. Good luck.
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Vaboy (04-10-2018)
04-10-2018, 11:16 AM
#39
Senior Member
I agree it IS good it’s not a hidden flaw. Well, it is hidden until you go to use one of those seatbelts and it won’t pull out. However, if alternate seating is NOT available, you’re out of luck without some way to fish it out of the pillar. We tried and just couldn’t get it to pull back out of the slot it went through. It’s one of those “why didn’t someone think of that” in the design process.
04-10-2018, 11:25 AM
#40
Member
Good question DD. I should have mentioned there were others in the back seat. We actually took two full cars over for the visit.
I agree it IS good it’s not a hidden flaw. Well, it is hidden until you go to use one of those seatbelts and it won’t pull out. However, if alternate seating is NOT available, you’re out of luck without some way to fish it out of the pillar. We tried and just couldn’t get it to pull back out of the slot it went through. It’s one of those “why didn’t someone think of that” in the design process.
04-10-2018, 12:15 PM
#42
Member
Vaboy - would you be able to share a photo of the area where the plate got stuck so I can compare the area to my car? I have a car that was made in 7/17 in Finland and I tried to jam the plate up there to see if I could replicate the issue but could not. I can't see how this could occur and am wondering if my car is affected or not. Thanks.
04-10-2018, 02:28 PM
#43
Senior Member
Vaboy - would you be able to share a photo of the area where the plate got stuck so I can compare the area to my car? I have a car that was made in 7/17 in Finland and I tried to jam the plate up there to see if I could replicate the issue but could not. I can't see how this could occur and am wondering if my car is affected or not. Thanks.
Seat is down in first 2 pics for clarity. Clip won’t go in in first pic when it hits the slot straight on. If the clip is at an angle, it will slide into the slot and into the pillar.
I have no idea how it hit the slot “just right” when my daughter unbuckled when she released it. I tried to duplicate it and, like you takehold, it seemed impossible to make it go in. I think the difference is if the seatbelt itself is on the “track” as in pic 3 and 4 that sort of lets it go up to the left side of the slot at the top where it can slip in. I’m less concerned about it after trying to duplicate it, but when it happened it was very real.
04-11-2018, 10:25 AM
#44
Member
Thanks for the pictures. My car is the same and I was able to slide the clip up there at an angle. Seems like it would be rare but yet as you said, very real when it happens. I guess I'll wait for the recall letter.
04-11-2018, 01:51 PM
#45
Senior Member
Sure thing. For anyone that cannot afford to have a rear seatbelt not work, you should throw a coat hanger with a small bend in the end of it in your cargo area until you can have it fixed at your dealer. Pretty easy to fish out that way. We tried but couldn’t manually coax it through the slot.
04-13-2018, 11:26 AM
#46
Does anyone else think it is wrong for customers to be subject to such quality control or lack thereof ? The solution feels like a hack job with removal of pillars and drilling holes etc.
Is it wrong to expect to have a new vehicle untouched after being built for atleast a year? After panorama roof fix, replacement with acoustic glass, steering grounding fix, brake pad fix , out of round tire replacement - dreading the drilling holes next!
Is it wrong to expect to have a new vehicle untouched after being built for atleast a year? After panorama roof fix, replacement with acoustic glass, steering grounding fix, brake pad fix , out of round tire replacement - dreading the drilling holes next!
04-18-2018, 04:00 PM
#47
Just thought I’d let you guys know, my 2018 GLC 4Matic was built in June 2017 in the Finland plant and has this problem. Took delivery 7/17 and it’s normally just me and my wife in the car. My adult daughter was home Easter weekend and was riding in the rear outboard passenger seat when, after getting back in the car after a visit with her grandparents, she said she couldn’t get her seatbelt to pull down so she could fasten it. She got out and said it looked like the metal plate that engages into the receiving end of the seatbelt was “stuck” inside the pillar. We couldn’t get it out so I drove home very carefully with fingers crossed. We were able to fish out, with a coat hanger, the metal plate that had obviously slipped through the opening in the roof pillar!
It wasn’t until after she left that I ran across this post. I was stunned.
My point is, this is not some obscure anomaly that will probably not happen to you. If you normally have people in the rear outboard seats, they may be unable to fasten the rear seatbelt unexpectedly. If that happens, you better hope you’re not in a wreck. And carry a coat hanger in your car until you get it fixed.
BTW, other than this thread, I have not heard anything from MB about the this serious safety issue. I plan on contacting my dealer tomorrow to see if they can fix this.
It wasn’t until after she left that I ran across this post. I was stunned.
My point is, this is not some obscure anomaly that will probably not happen to you. If you normally have people in the rear outboard seats, they may be unable to fasten the rear seatbelt unexpectedly. If that happens, you better hope you’re not in a wreck. And carry a coat hanger in your car until you get it fixed.
BTW, other than this thread, I have not heard anything from MB about the this serious safety issue. I plan on contacting my dealer tomorrow to see if they can fix this.
Vaboy: They have a fix that I think is not that complicated. My GLC 300 received the fix before they would deliver the car to me (i.e., let it leave their lot). The recall notice apparently will not be issued until mid-May and they will probably retrofit what they have on their lots as a priority, but hopefully you can get it addressed sooner than later. Good luck.
04-18-2018, 09:18 PM
#48
Senior Member
My dealer called me today and said they had the parts for the seat belt “fix”. Look at Post #15. Fabbri put a link at the bottom showing what they do to correct the problem. I didn’t ask the SM what the parts were. He DID say the repair/fix is all behind the pillar and nothing shows. I’ll ask tomorrow when I pick it up what they did.
Last edited by Vaboy; 04-18-2018 at 09:21 PM.
04-19-2018, 10:34 AM
#49
My dealer called me today and said they had the parts for the seat belt “fix”. Look at Post #15. Fabbri put a link at the bottom showing what they do to correct the problem. I didn’t ask the SM what the parts were. He DID say the repair/fix is all behind the pillar and nothing shows. I’ll ask tomorrow when I pick it up what they did.
Do keep us posted.
04-19-2018, 12:09 PM
#50
Sorry I didn't see this earlier. The fix was developed in March, and my dealer got the parts in late March. They prioritized cars sold but that they could / would not deliver due to the recall (like mine) and presumably cars on the lot. My car was fixed end of March. The fix is behind the pillar and I don't think visible but I am not sure about anything else. Will also try to check later.
