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Mercedes-Benz AMG Steering Wheel Hands-Off Detection Fails
high How serious is it? About this label
If hands-off detection fails, safety warnings and the automatic emergency stop call to first responders may not work, which the notice says increases the risk of a crash or injury. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.
Key facts
| NHTSA campaign number | 22V189000 |
|---|---|
| Reported to NHTSA | Mar 25, 2022 |
| Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC |
| Part affected | Steering: Steering Wheel/handle BAR |
| Vehicles covered | 2 model/year combinations, model years 2021 |
| Do-not-drive advisory | No |
| Park-outside advisory | No |
| Repair | Free at any franchised dealer |
What's wrong, in plain English
A software error in the hand detection system may prevent it from noticing when the driver's hands are off the heated steering wheel while using the DISTRONIC distance assist system. When this detection fails, related safety features may not work, including the warning that tells the driver to grab the wheel and the feature that calls first responders during an emergency stop. This increases the risk of a crash or injury.
What you should do
2. Contact a Mercedes-Benz dealer or MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372 to schedule the software update.
3. The repair is free.
Where do I find my VIN, and what do I tell the dealer?
Your VIN is the 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield, on your registration and usually on your insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether this recall is still open on your car. When you call the dealer, say you have an open safety recall and give them NHTSA campaign number 22V189000. More in how recalls work.
Affected vehicles (2)
Who to contact
Mercedes-Benz — official Mercedes-Benz recall lookup
Customer service: 1-800-367-6372
The bigger picture
- Mercedes-Benz Steering Recalls Cover Loose Connections and Lost Assist · all 8 Mercedes-Benz recalls in this area
Other Mercedes-Benz AMG E53 recalls
- Jun 14, 2024Mercedes-Benz AMG Wiring Fault May Cause Firecritical
- Feb 9, 2024Mercedes-Benz AMG CLS53 and E53 fire risk cablecritical
- Dec 21, 2023Mercedes-Benz Fuel Pump May Shut Downmedium
- Sep 30, 2022Mercedes-Benz trunk battery may come loose in a crashmedium
- Jul 22, 2022Mercedes AMG Wiring Harness May Cause Electrical Firecritical
- May 20, 2022Mercedes-Benz vehicles may lose automatic emergency call systemmedium
Official notice
- Component
- STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
- Summary
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2022 C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL, EClass Coupe/Convertible, CLS, AMG GT 4-doors Coupe, and EQS vehicles with a heated leather steering wheel. Due to a software error in the hand detection control unit, the hands-off detection might not detect when the driver's hands are away from the steering wheel when using the Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC system.
- Safety risk
- Deactivated hands-off detection will prevent DISTRONIC system features from functioning, including warnings to grab the steering wheel and calling first responders as part of the Active Emergency Stop Assist, which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the hand detection control unit software for the DISTRONIC system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 6, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022040010.
Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.