Mercedes-AMG Issues Recall for Transmission Wiring Harness Fault in 16,967 Vehicles

Mercedes-AMG recalls 16,967 vehicles in the US over a transmission wiring harness issue that may cause short circuits and fire risks. Affected owners will be notified by August 13.

Several Mercedes-AMG models have been recalled in the United States due to an issue with the transmission wiring harness connection, which may not have been properly fixed in a prior recall.

The German automaker has identified that water may enter the transmission wiring harness connector, potentially causing a short circuit. This could lead to thermal overload of the connector when the vehicle is parked, increasing the risk of a fire. Affected vehicle owners will be warned of a potential short circuit by a ‘4MATIC malfunction’ message on the instrument cluster.

This is the second recall issued by Mercedes-Benz for the same problem, as certain transmission wiring harnesses may not have been adequately inspected or repaired during the previous recall.

A total of 16,967 vehicles in the United States are affected by this recall. These vehicles were built between August 29, 2017, and April 20, 2022, and include the following models:

— 2019-2021 Mercedes-AMG CLS 53 4Matic+

— 2019-2023 E 53 4Matic+ Sedan

— 2019-2023 E 53 4Matic+ Coupe

— 2019-2023 E 53 4Matic+ Cabriolet

— 2021-2023 GT 43 4Matic+

— 2019-2023 GT 53 4Matic+.

Owners will be notified of the recall before August 13, and dealers will replace the two-part wiring harness, including the connector.

Additionally, Mercedes-Benz has issued a second wiring-related recall in the U.S. for 1,058 units of the 2022-2023 C 300 models. In this case, a bolt securing an electrical wire to the pre-fuse box in the passenger footwell may not have been properly tightened. If not fixed, this could increase the connection’s resistance, leading to a temperature spike and potentially increasing the risk of a fire. There is also a risk of a sudden and complete loss of power. Dealers will inspect and rework the connection of the wiring harness to the pre-fuse box if necessary.