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By Patrick Rall Oct 17 2011 - 2:48pm

Mercedes Benz recalling select BlueTec diesel models over fire hazards

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced a recall of select 2011 and 2012 Mercedes Benz models equipped with the 3.5L V6 BlueTec turbo diesel engine over concerns of a fuel leak around the fuel heating system – an issue that can vastly increase the chances of fire in the affected cars and SUVs.
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This new Mercedes benz diesel recall affects vehicles powered by the 3.5L BlueTec turbo diesel V6 (shown on the right) from the 2011 model year including the E-Class models built between July 2010 and February 2011, GL-Class units built between March 2010 and March 2011, M-Class models built from January 2010 to March 2011 and R-Class vehicles built from April 2010 through April 2011 along with the new 2012 S-Class sedan. In total, 6,872 vehicles are included in this recall in the US market; although the German automaker believes that less than 1% of these vehicles will actually exhibit the problem which has caused the recall.

In these freshly recalled Mercedes Benz vehicles, the fuel system includes a heating element that helps to prevent from sluggish performance in cooler weather by heating up the diesel fuel. When diesel fuel gets cold, it thickens or “gels”, which can make the vehicle harder to start along with causing diminished performance when driving. Unfortunately for the owners of these diesel-burning 2011 and 2012 Mercedes Benz vehicles, the fuel filter may develop a leak around the heating element and as diesel fuel leaks out of the line and gets onto the heating element – there is a very clear danger of fire. Even when there is not a fire, a fuel leak can present one heck of a mess under the car and in the garage as the leak worsens along with hurting your fuel mileage.

This Mercedes Benz BlueTec diesel recall is expected to officially begin in November at which point, owners of the 6,872 units will be asked to return to their local Mercedes Benz dealership where the fuel filter and fuel heating system will be inspected. Should the fuel filter and heater assembly appear to be problematic; the dealership will replace and repair the faulty components free of charge to the customer.

Other Mercedes Benz News:
The Cadillac Escalade blows away Mercedes Benz C300 – then tows it away
Mercedes-Benz secures naming rights to Louisiana Superdome
Mercedes-Benz reports Strong September Sales with C-Class & E-Class

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Comments

mike taylor8 wrote on July 9, 2012 - 5:53am
Good day We purchased a 2011 M/b viano 3.0 v6 diesel in South Africa. While towing our horsebox, the diesel filter exploded and diesel spilled all over the vehicle, horsebox and road. We have only had the vehicle 3 months and are devasted as we bought the vehicle for safety. We are having endless problems getting an answer from Mercedes benz South Africa. We want the vehicle to be repurchased. Has anybody had such an experience as we dont trust the vehicle as it could happen again and place our lives as well as our horses at risk. Can anybody please advise me on my rights> my contact adress is [email protected] Thanks
Todd wrote on February 4, 2014 - 1:11pm
Hi my name is Todd and I had a 2006 ML350. It spontaneously caught fire as it was parked two hours after I had driven it. The firemen state in the report it was an electrical fire and started from a short in the rear taillight harness, much like the investigation in the C-class. They could determine that in only twenty minutes time. Look at the pictures below and see what you think. I brought this to Mercedes Benz USA's attention and they were careless about the safety dangers that this caused/posed. They said it wasn’t a manufacturers’ defect. Might I remind you the car had been parked for 2 hours. God forbid if consumers found out that the ML-class would be involved in the same investigation as the C-class. They were of more concern about this being leaked or exposed and tried to sweep my case under the rug. They held my vehicle for about 2 months for their "investigation" and not to have any conclusion of the manufacturers defect is complete BS. They told me that the fire was inconclusive and not a manufactures defect. Get this! They only gave me one case manager and limited me only to speak with her. After I had asked to speak to numerous other managers and higher ups they told me I strictly couldn't. After being trapped in this corporate cover up I had no where else to turn. SUSAN M( my west coast regional case manager) How many other vehicle cases did they sweep under the rug like mine? I do not expect this kind of cover-up from Mercedes and would expect them to stand behind their vehicles. I only had 76,000 miles on it. An absolute nightmare!! See the pictures below. THIS WENT TO CBS2 KCAL 9 THE BBB, NHTSA, numerous auto blogs ,CAS and the Federal Trade commission . I'M STILL NOT DONE!!