Irish recall of 'fire-risk' Mercedes may take 'some time'

Mercedes are trying to identify cars in Ireland which may be affected by a potentially faulty starter fuse which under extreme circumstances, could lead to a fire.

Globally, Mercedes are re-calling over a million cars but they are scrambling to identify those cars affected in Ireland and don't know how many Irish-bought vehicles have the issue.

A spokesman for Mercedes in Ireland said that it will be some time before they can resolve the issue here.

When a car is identified and scheduled for a re-call, the procedure will take less than an hour as it only involves fitting an extra fuse.

The problem was identified when starter components in cars made between 2015 and 2017 lead to overheating.

Mercedes have seen the potential of fire risk which has led to the worldwide million vehicles recall.

The models with potential problems include:

A-Class

B-Class

C-Class

E-Class

GLC crossover/SUVs.

So far there have been reports of 51 fires around the world with about 30 in the US, however, no injuries or deaths have been reported.

Mercedes are saying that the starting-current limiter could overload under "unique" conditions where a driver repeatedly tries to start their car.

The Irish spokesman went on to say that no cars sold in Ireland so far have been reported with the fault.

Dealers are being advised to inform Irish owners of Mercedes cars to continue driving their vehicles and to await for further notification.

It may be a "very unlikely situation" but if an engine fails to start due to unusual circumstances such as flood damage, drivers should not make persistent or repeated efforts to get it going and should contact their dealer.

The Mercedes spokesman added: "When this data is available, and all other necessary requirements are in place (parts, technical instructions, etc), owners will be contacted to have the required modifications completed expeditiously,"

Author

Justin Kavanagh
Justin Kavanagh is a recognised leader in automotive intelligence and vehicle data supply to the entire motor industry. He has almost 20 years experience in building systems from the ground up. As the Managing Director of Vehicle Management System, he understands the need and importance of trustworthy and reliable vehicle history and advice to both the trade and the public.
Follow me on LinkedIn