On Monday, the US traffic
authority NHTSA said that the German luxury car maker Daimler will
recall about 85,000 Mercedes Benz C- and E-class autos in the United
States. This recall is to fix a problem with power steering systems.
According to a Daimler spokesman the recall might extend to other
countries as well. This Mercedes Benz recall affects 2010 Mercedes
C-Class and the 2010 and 2011 E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet models.
It is suspected that a
problem with the steering system’s pump could lead to a loss of
fluid. According to the NHTSA announcement on its website, should
this problem surface the owners may not have sufficient control of
the vehicle in places like parking lots, where maximum power steering
is required, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash, though the
Daimler spokesman assured that drivers did retain control of the car
even in the event of a power steering failure.
According to the NHTSA,
Mercedes plans to fix the problem in 2010 and 2011 models this month
by re-tightening a faulty fitting. This recall includes 2010
Mercedes-Benz C-Class and E-Class models together with 2010 and 2011
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet models manufactured between
June 1st , 2009 and February 28th , 2010. The giant motor company
reported to the regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, that it was possible the steering may fail due to the
loss of power steering fluid. Mercedes added that if that happened a
crash could occur if drivers lost control of the vehicle. The
company’s advice to its customers is to return any of the vehicles
concerned in the recall to dealers where a free check on the power
steering system will be carried out.
Owners may ask their
dealers to check the steering systems for free. Repair would only
take 30 minutes according to Mercedes-Benz UK spokesman. Daimler, the
Mercedes Benz parent company, says a connection fitting wasn’t
adequately tightened that could lead to fluid leakage.
Mercedes-Benz USA would be
calling the owners of the 2010 and 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe
and Cabriolet models manufactured between June 1, 2009 and February
28, 2010 this month. They are also advised to contact MBUSA at
800-376-6372.
Auto recalls have
increased this year in the wake of the Toyota gas pedal defects that
had reportedly caused more than 50 deaths in the US. Toyota paid
$16.4 million in settlement claims for the gas pedal defects.
The latest auto recalls
were of the Hyundai Sonata and BMW. On October 1st, Daimler’s
German rival BMW said that it would recall 350,800 high-powered BMW
and Rolls-Royce automobiles worldwide because of brake problems. A
BMW spokesman however emphasized the brake problems were not so
dangerous.