MERCEDES-BENZ Australia has recalled almost 59,000 passenger cars and SUVs over a manufacturing defect that could prevent affected vehicles from automatically selecting Park, potentially allowing them to move unexpectedly after the driver exits.
The recall covers 58,822 Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG vehicles manufactured between 2018 and 2026, spanning nine model lines and numerous variants.
It was published by the federal Department of Infrastructure on August 12 under recall number REC-006695 and Mercedes-Benz campaign number RC5219.
Affected vehicles include versions of the A-Class, B-Class, C-Class, CLA, CLE, EQA, GLA, GLB and GLC, as well as high-performance Mercedes-AMG derivatives including the A35, A45 S, C43, C63 S E Performance, CLA35, CLA45 S, GLA35, GLA45 S, GLC43 and GLC63 S E Performance.
According to the recall notice, a manufacturing defect means the door-lock microswitch may be vulnerable to water damage and could fail.
Should that occur, the vehicle may not recognise that a door has been opened, preventing its automatic Park function from operating as intended. The system ordinarily selects Park when the driver opens the door under certain operating conditions.
The Department of Infrastructure warns that failure of the automatic Park function could result in unintended vehicle movement, increasing the risk of an accident and potentially causing serious injury or death to vehicle occupants and other road users.
Mercedes-Benz has advised owners to manually select Park using the gear selector and apply the parking brake before leaving the vehicle, in accordance with instructions contained in the owner’s manual.
Owners of affected vehicles will be contacted by Mercedes-Benz Australia in writing and asked to arrange an appointment with an authorised dealership. Repairs will be performed free of charge once replacement parts become available.
The extensive campaign includes petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric vehicles, with the EQA 250, EQA 250+, and EQA 350 4Matic among the affected models.
Mercedes-Benz Australia maintains an online recall information service and directs owners to its authorised retailer network for recall and repair assistance. Its Australian recall page also continues to highlight separate safety campaigns, including earlier brake booster and Takata airbag recalls.
Owners wanting further information on the latest campaign can contact the Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Centre on 1300 762 718, while a complete list of affected Vehicle Identification Numbers is available through the federal Vehicle Recalls database.