Mercedes-Benzhas issued a recall alert for nearly 324,000 vehicles because their engines can stall suddenly at speed. The problem has an odd cause — water accumulating in the spare tire well. We’ll explain.
The recall covers many M-Class and GLE SUVs:
2012-2014 ML 550
2012-2015 ML 350
2012-2015 AMG ML 63
2015 ML 250
2015 ML 400
2016 GLE 450
2016 GLE 300d
2016-2018 GLE 350
2016-2018 GLE 550e
2016-2019 GLE 400
2017-2019 AMG GLE 43
2016-2020 AMG GLE 63
Over time, Mercedes tells federal safety regulators, water can accumulate in the spare tire well under the rear cargo floor of these SUVs. The company isn’t entirely clear on how that happens. In bureaucratic language, Mercedes says, “The cause of the defect may vary due to a development deviation in combination with production tolerances and possible customer influences when loading and unloading items from the rear hatch.”
We take that to mean that opening and closing it in the rain may let small amounts of water trickle along the edges of the frame into the spare tire well. Over time, a puddle can accumulate.
If it grows large enough, it can short out a fuel pump control unit mounted near the spare tire well. That can cause the vehicle to stall.
Drivers might get some warning, Mercedes says. They might notice damp carpet in the cargo area, hear water sloshing in turns, or notice a check engine light on the dash.
Dealers will fix the problem by installing a drain plug in the spare tire well. They will also inspect the fuel pump control unit and replace it if it shows any signs of water damage. The fix, as always with recall repairs, is free.
Many cars are recalled during their lifespan, often more than once. Automakers try to contact every owner but don’t always reach them all. Find out whether your car has any outstanding recalls with the easy VIN tool at our recall center.
