Mercedes-Benz Recall Issued Over Fuel Pump Problem, Loss of Power Risk

A recall has been issued for nearly 144,000 Mercedes-Benz vehicles, due to fuel pump problems that may cause the vehicles to suddenly stall and lose power, increasing the risk of an auto accident.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the Mercedes-Benz recall on June 29, indicating that a defective part used during the manufacturing process may cause the pump to suddenly fail while the vehicle is in motion, which can result in a loss of power.

In the event of a fuel pump shutdown and loss of vehicle drive power while in motion, the vehicle will lose its ability to continue moving forward, which could lead to an accident and injuries, the NHTSA warns.

Mercedes-Benz and its parts supplier opened an investigation into the fuel pump issues in June 2022, following multiple reports from outside of the U.S. involving an inconsistency in vehicle power. The manufacturers analyzed the fuel pumps of the affected vehicles and conducted various tests which identified patterns of swelling, structural damage, and flawed impact resistance.

The investigation revealed that the material used to manufacture the fuel impellers was inconsistent across several batches, and that certain fuel delivery systems did not meet the required durability specifications.

As a result of the manufacturer error, Mercedes determined that the manufacturing error can lead to deformities of the pump’s impellors, which can result in a shutdown of the pump and complete loss of power while the vehicle is in operation.

While no accidents or injuries have been linked to the Mercedes-Benz fuel pump failures, the automaker has received at least 2,031 warranty claims, field and service reports related to the problem.

The recall impacts approximately 143,551 Mercedes vehicles produced from June 1, 2021 through November 30, 2022, and involves the following model years:

• 2021 – 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG C43
• 2021 – 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG C63
• 2021 – 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 S
• 2021 – 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG E53
• 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG E63 S
• 2021 – 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG G63
• 2021 – 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC43
• 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC63
• 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC63 S
• 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53
• 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63
• 2021 – 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63 S
• 2021 – 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLS63
• 2022 – 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT43
• 2022 – 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT53
• 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT63
• 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT63 S
• 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG SL43
• 2022 – 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG SL55
• 2022 – 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG SL63
• 2021 – 2023 Mercedes-Benz C300
• 2022 – 2023 Mercedes-Benz CLS450
• 2021 – 2023 Mercedes-Benz E350
• 2022 – 2023 Mercedes-Benz E450
• 2021 – 2022 Mercedes-Benz G550
• 2021 – 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC300
• 2021 – 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE450
• 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE580
• 2021 – 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS450
• 2021 – 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS580
• 2022 – 2023 Mercedes-Benz S500
• 2021 – 2023 Mercedes-Benz S580
• 2023 Mercedes-Benz S580E
• 2021 – 2023 Mercedes-Maybach GLS600
• 2021 – 2023 Mercedes-Maybach S580
• 2021 – 2023 Mercedes-Maybach S680

Mercedes-Benz indicates notification letters will be mailed to owners of the affected vehicles beginning August 25, 2023, with instructions on how to schedule an appointment to receive free replacement of their fuel pump.

For more information on the recall, owners can contact Mercedes-Benz customer service at 1-800-367-6372. They may also contact the NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or visit their website at www.nhtsa.gov.