Mercedes-Benz USA is recalling 1.29 million vehicles due to a flaw in its eCall software, which may not provide emergency vehicles with the correct location of a vehicle after an accident, Car and driver reported.
The recall covers vehicles sold from model years 2016 to 2021 and includes Class CLA, Class GLA, Class GLE, Class GLS, Class SLC, Class A, Class GT, Class C, Class E, S Class vehicles, Class CLS, Class SL , class B, class GLB, class GLC and class G, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The automaker said it was not aware of any occurrences of material or bodily damage that resulted from the problem and plans to provide a free software update to be installed on the air or at dealerships. The recall will begin on April 6.
Mercedes-Benz said that “a temporary collapse of the communication module’s power supply caused by an accident can cause the vehicle’s position during a potential emergency call to be incorrect.” However, “other functions of the automatic and manual emergency call function remain fully operational,” added the company.
Reuters reported that in 2019, Mercedes-Benz in Europe investigated an incident in which the eCall automatic system provided an incorrect position for its vehicle. The company found other situations in which an incorrect vehicle position was retransmitted.