Cars, vehicles, Mercedes-Benz, German carmaker, Federal Transport Authority, KBA, recall products, recalling, impacted vehicles, SUV, ML, GL, R-Class minivan

Mercedes-Benz is recalling almost one million vehicles that were built between 2004 and 2015. Photo: Armaghan Jalil / Flickr

Mercedes-Benz recalls nearly one million older vehicles – here’s why

Nearly one million vehicles built between 2004 and 2015 are being recalled by Mercedes-Benz – 70 000 are in Germany.

Cars, vehicles, Mercedes-Benz, German carmaker, Federal Transport Authority, KBA, recall products, recalling, impacted vehicles, SUV, ML, GL, R-Class minivan

Mercedes-Benz is recalling almost one million vehicles that were built between 2004 and 2015. Photo: Armaghan Jalil / Flickr

Mercedes-Benz is recalling almost one million older vehicles worldwide. This follows news of a possible issue with the cars’ braking systems. The Federal Transport Authority (KBA) said in a statement that it is recalling impacted cars built between 2004 and 2015.

Which vehicles are being recalled?

The cars include the SUV series ML and GL and the R-Class luxury minivan. KBA explained that the service brake can stop functioning due to corrosion on the brake booster. This can, in the worst case, cause the connection between the brake wand pedal and the braking system to be interrupted.

According to KBA, 993 407 vehicles are being recalled worldwide. This includes 70 000 vehicles in Germany alone. Mercedes-Benz said the move to recall these vehicles was based on “analysis of isolated reports for certain vehicles”.

Mechanical damage is a concern

The German carmaker said mechanical damage to the brake booster can be caused by severe corrosion.

“In rare cases of very severe corrosion, it might be possible for a particularly strong or hard braking manoeuvre to cause mechanical damage to the brake booster, whereby the connection between the brake pedal and brake system would fail. In such a very rare case, it would not be possible to decelerate the vehicle via the service brake. Thus, the risk of a crash or injury would be increased,”

said Mercedes.

Customers are urged to not drive their vehicles until they are inspected

Mercedes said it is starting with immediate recalls and contacting owners of potentially impacted vehicles. In terms of the recall process, potentially impacted vehicles would need to be inspected. Depending on the results of the inspection, parts will be replaced where needed, reports EWN.

“Until the inspection takes place, we ask our customers not to drive their vehicles,”

Mercedes said.

Knorr: Consumers urged to return Cup-a-Soup products

In other product recall news, it was previously reported that consumers were urged to return Knorr Cup-a-Soup Lite Beef and Vegetables to a point of sale for a full refund. 

Unilever, the manufacturer of the product, said Knorr Cup-a-Soup Regular-Beef and Vegetable instant soup variant sachets were incorrectly packed into the Knorr Cup-a-Soup Lite Beef and Vegetable instant soup variant cartons. 

Acting National Consumer Commissioner Thezi Mabuza said the supplier of the product informed the Commission of the precautionary recall of Knorr Cup-a-Soup Lite Beef and Vegetable. Read the full story here.