Mercedes Recall 400,000 Models for Steering Column Fault

The luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz have been dealt a huge blow in having to recall a whopping 400,000 models. As the UK car industry gets more and more competitive, despite having one of the highest reputations for build quality, Mercedes are sure to feel the effects of the recall, whilst the likes of BMW and Audi benefit.

Mercedes have announced that the steering column fault can cause the drivers airbag to deploy and to contact your local Mercedes-Benz main dealership to arrange for the repair to take place. More than 50% of the current Mercedes range are included within the recall, however, if you have recently purchased the brand new E Class, the recall doesn't apply to you.

If you do have a vehicle in the recall list, don't worry your car will still be safe to drive, as urged by Mercedes, However, should the airbag warning light appear on your dashboard, contact roadside assistance or your nearest main dealership.

Do you have to contact Mercedes Benz if you are affected?

No, Mercedes have announced that they will be in contact with you to arrange for the repair to take place. The repair should only take an hour and then you will be back on the road again.

Will the airbag deploy spontaneously without the warning light appearing?

It has not yet been confirmed that any driver has experienced the airbag deploying itself with no prior warning. But Mercedes do insist that your car is still safe to drive in the meantime.

The A Class and C Class models are two of the best selling models in the UK for Mercedes. The car giant has sold a massive 78,000 new A Class and C Class models this year alone, which is just less than 20% of the total recalled amount. There is serious concern for the condition of the UK New Car Market as sales have fallen for 6 consecutive months compared to the previous year. A 9% decrease in sales has resulted in a number of desperate manufacturers offering discounts and scrappage allowances to encourage you to purchase a new model.

Diesel models have taken the biggest hit, as in September alone, Diesel car sales dropped as much as 21%. Septembers figures takes the total decrease to 11% for the year so far. Therefore, the recall for Mercedes could not have come at a worse time. However, others may see it as being announced at the right time, due to the current decline in sales.