[Gumpy]

Just got an alert from NY DMV when I had my inspection that there is a critical recal for my 2012 GL450 (NHTSA RECALL NUMBER22V315). Seems as though some brake assist coupler could corrode. Mercedes says DO NOT DRIVE the vehicle until it has been fixed. My Mercedes dealer was in the dark since Mercedes still has not figured out what to do about the problem. Recall notices are being mailed on 27 May. I called the recall hotline fro this problem at Mercedes (888-548-8514). Seems as though MB will pay for flat bedding the car to the dealer for inspection and will aslo reimburse up to $80 per day for a rental - may c hange in the future? 😢

 

[StenoPete1911]

Just got an alert from NY DMV when I had my inspection that there is a critical recal for my 2012 GL450 (NHTSA RECALL NUMBER22V315). Seems as though some brake assist coupler could corrode. Mercedes says DO NOT DRIVE the vehicle until it has been fixed. My Mercedes dealer was in the dark since Mercedes still has not figured out what to do about the problem. Recall notices are being mailed on 27 May. I called the recall hotline fro this problem at Mercedes (888-548-8514). Seems as though MB will pay for flat bedding the car to the dealer for inspection and will aslo reimburse up to $80 per day for a rental - may c hange in the future? 😢

Hello. There are about 292,000+ cars affected, in the ML, GL, and R class. It's the brake booster issue because of corrosion.

Consumer Alert: Mercedes-Benz USA Announces Voluntary Do Not Drive Recall for Select 2006-2012 ML, GL and R-Class Vehicles | NHTSA

www.nhtsa.gov

They are going to do it in three way. After inspection:

1. If severe corrosion is detected, they will replace everything, free of charge.

2. If 50/50 corrosion is detected, they will let your drive the car but will monitor for up to two years after initial inspection, free of charge.

3. If no corrosion is detected, no further actions will be taken, free of charge.

I'm assuming most dealers will initiate a work order if you happened to be in the #2 category.

GL.

 

[Gumpy]

Hello. There are about 292,000+ cars affected, in the ML, GL, and R class. It's the brake booster issue because of corrosion.

Consumer Alert: Mercedes-Benz USA Announces Voluntary Do Not Drive Recall for Select 2006-2012 ML, GL and R-Class Vehicles | NHTSA

www.nhtsa.gov

They are going to do it in three way. After inspection:

1. If severe corrosion is detected, they will replace everything, free of charge.

2. If 50/50 corrosion is detected, they will let your drive the car but will monitor for up to two years after initial inspection, free of charge.

3. If no corrosion is detected, no further actions will be taken, free of charge.

I'm assuming most dealers will initiate a work order if you happened to be in the #2 category.

GL.

Notice that the recall notice also includes:
URGENT: DO NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE
An urgent safety recall has been issued for this vehicle and the manufacturer has recommended that you stop driving this vehicle immediately. Until this safety recall is completed, DO NOT DRIVE this vehicle.
More information is available under
HTSA Recall Number 22V315000.
So - according to the NTSB, you cannot drive your vehicle to the dealer for an inspection. However the NHTSB contradicts themselves in the press release by inferring that you can drive your car to the dealer ("Customers with affected vehicles can take their vehicles to an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer for inspection.") The NHTSB seems to have left this critical piece of information out of the body of their press release. Wonder what the MB recall notice will say? This is a $100M+ hit if the car must be flatbedded to the dealer and a rental provided.
MBNA probably had a hand in drafting the press release - that's what lobbyists do for a living.

 

[wallyp]

How long would it the dealer network to complete the recall on 292,000 vehicles in addition to their normal workload?

How many people will still own the affected vehicles by then?

How cheap will used GLs and MLs be by then?

At least here in the US, many people still believe that the sky is falling on a daily basis...

 

[StenoPete1911]

Notice that the recall notice also includes:
URGENT: DO NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE
An urgent safety recall has been issued for this vehicle and the manufacturer has recommended that you stop driving this vehicle immediately. Until this safety recall is completed, DO NOT DRIVE this vehicle.
More information is available under
HTSA Recall Number 22V315000.
So - according to the NTSB, you cannot drive your vehicle to the dealer for an inspection. However the NHTSB contradicts themselves in the press release by inferring that you can drive your car to the dealer ("Customers with affected vehicles can take their vehicles to an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer for inspection.") The NHTSB seems to have left this critical piece of information out of the body of their press release. Wonder what the MB recall notice will say? This is a $100M+ hit if the car must be flatbedded to the dealer and a rental provided.
MBNA probably had a hand in drafting the press release - that's what lobbyists do for a living.

Hello. They go so much money, that even a $100M+ hit for them, will be just a tax write-off at some point. Just as an FYI, I had to flat-bed my car and it was to tune of 300$ per instance. With that said, lobbyist have A LOT to do with everything affecting our lives...

GL.

 

[StenoPete1911]

How long would it the dealer network to complete the recall on 292,000 vehicles in addition to their normal workload?

How many people will still own the affected vehicles by then?

How cheap will used GLs and MLs be by then?

At least here in the US, many people still believe that the sky is falling on a daily basis...

Sky is falling on a daily basis...

 

[wallyp]

I decided that I would like to have some idea on whether we should park the GL450, or just ignore the pending recall. If you are interested in doing the same thing, here is what I did...

This is NOT a suggestion that you ignore the recall. Your car, your risk, your decision.

Get a good flashlight (torch), raise the hood (bonnet), and look in the extreme left rear of the engine compartment (LHD vehicles). There, you will see the brake fluid reservoir sitting on top of the master cylinder. The master cylinder is bolted to a large disk-shaped tin can, which is the vacuum boost reservoir/cylinder. The reservoir is made from two metal stampings, which are crimped together with the fabric and rubber vacuum diaphragm trapped between.

Note that there is a large molded shield under the wiper arms at the base of the windshield (windscreen). This shield is designed to divert the rainwater and washwater coming off the windshield, and keep it from damaging wiper system and the brake system.

Apparently, the hole where the left wiper shaft comes through the shield has a soft grommet around the shaft, and this grommet can leak. If so, the leak is directly over the seam in the boost reservoir. Just in case, the Benz engineers added a molded EDPM (rubber/plastic) ring around the seam to keep the water out of the seam. And, apparently, somewhere, somebody's GL or ML still got water into the seam, and the reservoir failed, resulting in a US recall. I have no idea whether there is, or will be, any need for a recall of RHD vehicles.

As I understand it, when the Mercedes dealer gets the vehicles in, the techs will peel forward the rubber ring, and see if there is any corrosion in the seam. If not, they will just return the vehicle and mark it off of their recall list.

I peeled the rubber ring off the top of the seam (there was no sealer of any kind), and found a pristine joint, with absolutely no evidence of corrosion. We plan to drive the vehicle until Mercedes calls us, and not worry about it. Rob, a good friend who also has a GL450, did the same thing, and also plans to drive the vehicle.

If you decide to make this check, look carefully at the seal ring before you touch it, and make ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that you get it back exactly as it was before you peeled it back.

 

[hooguru]

Newbie here. Came to the forum looking for info and experiences with this recall in the US, particularly trying to get a grasp on the the timeline. (I had plans to drive my ML550 on several long trips this summer.) Thanks for all of your insight!

Digging on the NHTSA site, I found a (somewhat) current recall campaign update (5/28/22) from MBUSA to its dealer staff. It contains FAQs, a bulletin with illustrated inspection steps, and warranty/reimbursement info. Also of note: the customer letter has been pushed back to on/before 6/30/22. The direct link to the document is: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2022/RCRIT-22V315-1022.pdf

If you want to retrieve more info, follow this link: Recalls | NHTSA to retrieve the search result for the recall, then expand the search result, and then follow the link for Associated Documents.

 

[StenoPete1911]

Newbie here. Came to the forum looking for info and experiences with this recall in the US, particularly trying to get a grasp on the the timeline. (I had plans to drive my ML550 on several long trips this summer.) Thanks for all of your insight!

Digging on the NHTSA site, I found a (somewhat) current recall campaign update (5/28/22) from MBUSA to its dealer staff. It contains FAQs, a bulletin with illustrated inspection steps, and warranty/reimbursement info. Also of note: the customer letter has been pushed back to on/before 6/30/22. The direct link to the document is: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2022/RCRIT-22V315-1022.pdf

If you want to retrieve more info, follow this link: Recalls | NHTSA to retrieve the search result for the recall, then expand the search result, and then follow the link for Associated Documents.

Hello and welcome...

The process is pretty quick. Dealers are aware of it and it takes about 30/45min for the check-up.

I had it performed yesterday and it passed, so I'm good to go. No need for any replacement of parts.

GL.

 

[hooguru]

Hello and welcome...

The process is pretty quick. Dealers are aware of it and it takes about 30/45min for the check-up.

I had it performed yesterday and it passed, so I'm good to go. No need for any replacement of parts.

GL.

That's good news! Did the dealer come to you for the check-up, or did you take the GL in to them for this (or something else and got them to do it)?

 

[StenoPete1911]

That's good news! Did the dealer come to you for the check-up, or did you take the GL in to them for this (or something else and got them to do it)?

Hello. You have to take the car to the dealer. Lastly, if you don't feel comfortable driving the car to the dealership, you have to call mbusa hotline and choose roadside and have the car towed to the dealership.

Also, here in the States, the dealership doesn't 'come to you', I'm sure it has to do with liability, insurance, and other factors. GL.

 

[hooguru]

Hello. You have to take the car to the dealer. Lastly, if you don't feel comfortable driving the car to the dealership, you have to call mbusa hotline and choose roadside and have the car towed to the dealership.

Also, here in the States, the dealership doesn't 'come to you', I'm sure it has to do with liability, insurance, and other factors. GL.

Thanks! Yes, I've never experienced a dealer making house calls here in the States but FWIW the memo I linked to refers to M-B dealers offering mobile inspection at the customer's chosen location. I'll be surprised if that's for real.

 

[StenoPete1911]

Thanks! Yes, I've never experienced a dealer making house calls here in the States but FWIW the memo I linked to refers to M-B dealers offering mobile inspection at the customer's chosen location. I'll be surprised if that's for real.

Hello. Good to hear and I think the 'house calls' are for outside the US market. I didn't read your link in the description, just the initial link that I posted earlier.

GL.

 

[hooguru]

Quick follow-up. One of my dealer's mobile inspectors checked my car in my driveway this morning. Passed. Took about 5 minutes. Whew.

 

[StenoPete1911]

Quick follow-up. One of my dealer's mobile inspectors checked my car in my driveway this morning. Passed. Took about 5 minutes. Whew.

WOW... They do mobile inspection in the states from the dealer?! Live and learn, lolol 🤣. Glad that it worked out for you. Mine took about an HR, at the dealer. When I called to setup and appointment, they didn't even offer the choice for a mobile inspector to come out.. Ohhh, well...GL.

 

[wallyp]

RBM of Atlanta is being very proactive, calling us to set up an appointment for the tech to come at our convenience.

 

[wallyp]

Here in the Atlanta area, the RBM tech will call the phone number that you gave them as he finishes his last check, and if the vehicle is available, comes directly to your home. He will explain what he is doing and why, lifts the hood, clips the rubber seal around the booster, removes and bags it (making sure that it has the P/N bar code), adds the VIN, and mileage to the bag, checks for corrosion in the joint, closes the hood and goes on his way. Total - fifteen minutes or less.

Apparently, at least in our "non-salt" area, corrosion is very, very rare.

We have not received any recall notice - we called RBM to ask about the recall.

 

[Gumpy]

Here in the Atlanta area, the RBM tech will call the phone number that you gave them as he finishes his last check, and if the vehicle is available, comes directly to your home. He will explain what he is doing and why, lifts the hood, clips the rubber seal around the booster, removes and bags it (making sure that it has the P/N bar code), adds the VIN, and mileage to the bag, checks for corrosion in the joint, closes the hood and goes on his way. Total - fifteen minutes or less.

Apparently, at least in our "non-salt" area, corrosion is very, very rare.

We have not received any recall notice - we called RBM to ask about the recall.

I called the three nearest dealers to me and each said I lived "too far" away for them to send out a tech (75 - 100 miles). Called the Mercedes hot line for the recall and my only result was that they would "escalate" the request - whatever that means. Been over a month and the car is still sitting in the garage. Waiting for a lawyer to take on a class action suite. 😁 Also have not received the recall notice yet, but the recall line said they were sending out another batch next week!

 

[shingleback]

I received the recall letter about a month ago and sat on it for a while; called the dealer and he explained how to request a flatbed to the shop. When I inquired about driving it there he didn't insist on the tow, and said I could choose if it was practical. I dropped it off in the morning and picked it up after work; mine could not have been too bad as they did not keep the car for 3 weeks like he said they would, but I need to get it reinspected in 2 years. They said that they would send me a reminder. Not a bad experience overall.

 

[Gumpy]

Yesterday I finally got the recall notice - nothing except what has been told before. MB flatbedded the car to the nearest dealer (75 miles away) and back. When the car came off the tow, the Suspension light was on. Drove it a short dostance and it rode like there were no shocks - unsafe to drive. Have no idea if the Dealer screwed it up or the result of the flat bed ride, buit in either case neither the tow company nor the dealer will take responsibility. TOTALLY SCREWED!
No way is this car ever going into the hands of the stealership - will have to find the cause myself (fuse, disconnected sensing link, etc.) Has anybody ever had this sudden failure? Rides like no shocks, bottoms out, ride height can not be adjusted. Result of the dealer ripping off the boot on the brake booster or damage from the tow hooks or car not liking the ride? Will NEVER EVER in a trhousand years ever buy another Mercedes made after 2000. If I need a reliable car, it will be a Toyota.