Ok, so last year, our 2020 MBTex on the driver's bottom edge bolster decided to start splitting. MB replaced it under warranty. Then a few months later my wife tells me the passenger side it now doing it too. MB denied the repair order (even though still under warranty) because MB told the dealership they're about to release all new seat bottom covers in general. Apparently it was a common enough issue already for them to see the need to redesign it. HOWEVER, I've not heard a peep about this yet.

I met a new neighbor a couple of weeks ago while walking my dog. They have a 2021 GLS450.... We get to talking about how we like our cars, and wouldn't you know it - their MBTex is splitting right at the same place as ours.

I'm curious if anyone else here has dealt with this too? It's the front seats along the side bolster piece that seems to be doing it.

Your passenger seat cover is part # 16791086058U01 (almond beige) no additional part #s listed. Driver seat original 16791009008U01 replaced by 1670109514 both of which are showing discontinued. See attached bulletin.

Yep, that is exactly the issue we've had with ours, same place and same type of cracking. Thank you Konigstiger as always for taking the time to help!

Sounds like the fix isn't ready yet for primetime. Note to those reading this with MBTex, take a look at your front seats on the bolsters. If you notice any type of cracking (it's hard to see at first), I would log the complaint to your dealership while you're still under warranty. We logged ours while under warranty, but by the time the fix occurs, it'll likely be out of warranty, so you'll want that time stamp on record with Mercedes to make the fix retro-active to your complaint!

It's happening to mine to at 16k miles... I smell a class action lawsuit coming on. This is BS for an $85k car. I for one am not taking this one on the chin... I bet it is happening to all or most Mercedes models with MB Tex

167 and 213 owners seem to report failed MB-Tex more often than other platforms.

The 212 has had it's fair share of splits too. It's really disappointing that after all of these years, they can't get this part right. I think the material is just too thin to survive being stretched out in certain spots over and over again. Seems like on the 212, it's always right in the spot where the seat bottom stretches the most into the seat cushion and seat pan frame. Here on the 167, it's the side bolsters that get the brunt of being mashed down.

I will say though, since having our driver's side replaced about a year ago, it hasn't happened again (knock on wood), and that bolster (exit bolster) is getting a ton of wear. But it hasn't split.

Any case, MB won't fix them now with the same material, and they don't have the new stuff ready to go yet apparently.

Wanted to bring this one back to see if anyone that has the issue, has seen a resolution yet? Last I heard, they were going to redesign the seat cover in general, which is why the denied fixing my passenger side last year (basically, MB said to wait for the new cushion cover design instead). But, I've not heard anything.... Anyone else?

Considering how long they've been using MBTex it's crazy they're having these issues

My driver seat was cracking (black mbtex) and i pointed it out to them - they replaced but had to leave the car there for a couple of days. Nothing compared to the 48v and 12v / electrical problems though.

My driver seat was cracking too (black MBTex) and they were supposed to have replaced it during this recent 48V battery issue visit. Service advisor said they see the issue more than they want to. MBTex used to be great and I'm really easy on upholstery, but at 12,000 miles it was cracking. Sounds like the_x167blues and I have very similar issues with our x167's.

Konig is going to see if there is an update communication out from MB soon to update the one that basically acknowledged the issue and advised dealers to wait for a revised seat cover to perform the repair. My wife pointed out that our driver’s side is splitting again too, and that one was replaced once before….

Mine cracked but forgot about it and now it's out of warranty....

I swear, as much as I like Mercedes, they sure can make a case for Lexus with stupid crap like this. $80k+ for a vehicle and the seats covers basically disintegrate. Not since the early 1980’s Mazdas have I ever seen this before. And what just infuriates me is that this isn’t a new problem! Splitting MBTex has been around for at least the last decade if not longer!

For crying out loud Mercedes, who do you need to fire to get this fixed??? I mean *****, this isn’t even entry level VW issues here! And do not blame the user for them either. Its not like these folks are getting in with tool belts on and driving out of the jungle in their GLS! These things are basically oversized suburban station wagons, with folks in nice clothing driving them.

Sorry. Rant over. Easy mistakes that get turned into a pain to deal with, just drives me nuts.

PS: did anyone in engineering actually try to stop one of these things like a normal human? Perhaps they could’ve said “hey, its lumpy, grabs 2nd gear too soon”..

V9 bulletin attached.

You my good sir, are what is right with this world!

Thank you KONIGSTIGER!

At the dealer with my 2021 30k miles to replace my fuel door which doesn’t open 90% of the time. Pointed out my splitting MBTex driver's seat and they are going to replace BOTH the Driver and Passenger seat covers. Very happy to have the dealer taking care of this.

Please report if they were able to get the passenger side seat cover.

I had the same issue with my 2011 ML 350 Blue Tech. They replaced the seat and it happened again. Still under warranty but said "NO".
I'm not a believer in MB Tex. As someone else said "Not Ready for Prime Time".

MB-Tex is good. MB via their suppliers and their internal control processes just can’t make it consistently, the archetypal characteristic of a low quality manufacturer.

Curious if Snowcub was able to get the passenger side replaced via his post above? Or added to the infinite waiting list?

Ergo...its not good. You don't hear about this happening with leather, but this has plagued MB for 15 years with MB Tex. The solution is to just get leather.

Well my my my…the new passenger seat cover has apparently arrived for our GLS. So
hopefully they will start to flow out to the dealerships now for those of us with split seats….

I seem to be on the infinite wait list. Its 5 months later and still no word on when the new seat covers might be available.

I think that’s about how long I had to wait too, maybe slightly less. I can’t really tell what they changed on the new version, other that it seeming a little bigger/looser fitting to allow more stretch? Kind of but not major to where it looks sloppy.

honestly though, MB needs to focus on fixing these kinds of problems. This is a SIMPLE fix that his highly visible. For me, having dealt with split MBTex in two MB’s 7 years apart in age, it was the final straw and walked away from the brand. I was very very close to a new GLC to replace my E, but decided for that kind of money, it needed to offer me something unique and needed to be easy to fix and reasonable to maintain with a much larger dealership network. First time ever, I’m a Ford owner, only second American car in 34 years..