Mercedes issues airbag display recall

Mercedes is recalling some models in the UAE because of problems with airbag displays.

Some C-Class and GLC models from 2018, as well as those ordered for next year, may be incorrectly displaying the status of passenger-side airbags.

The issue occurs on the central operating console of the German luxury vehicles.

All customers will be contacted to take in their cars for upgrade work. The fix will be free of charge and carried out by UAE Mercedes dealers Gargash Enterprises and Emirates Motor Company.

Daimler, owner of Mercedes, said the recall was a precautionary measure and that only the “software of the central unit on affected vehicles” needed to be updated. The department of consumer protection at the Ministry of Economy has been notified.

“Daimler AG has determined that on certain C-Class and GLC vehicles (205 and 253 platform) with audio 20 [a media system] and automatic child-seat recognition, the status of the passenger side airbags might be displayed incorrectly in the centre console,” the company said.

“As a precautionary measure, Daimler, via its Mercedes-Benz service partners, will update the software of the head unit on affected vehicles.”

The problem is believed to affect cars with the vehicle registration numbers 205 343142 to F668205 and from 253351201 to F449514.

These numbers appear either fastened to the driver’s door or attached to the dashboard on the driver’s side.

“Gargash Enterprises and Emirates Motor Company will be contacting all respective customers requesting all who own an affected vehicle to have their vehicles inspected,” Daimler said.

All customers who own these models are also being asked to contact Gargash Enterprises on 800 4416 or Emirates Motor Company on 02 656 7733.

In April, dozens of Mercedes cars were recalled in the UAE because of a seat-belt issue.

Separately, Daimler were forced to recall more than 770,000 diesel cars in Europe this year after German regulators said they had been equipped with illegal software to conceal high levels of harmful nitrogen oxide gases.

The dieselgate saga began in 2015 when German rival Volkswagen admitted installing devices that were designed to make cars seem more environmentally friendly.