Mercedes‑Benz is issuing a recall that affects more than 310,000 vehicles in the United States after a door‑lock defect was found to increase the risk of a roll‑away incident.
Scope of the recall and models involved
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) listed the affected vehicles as spanning model years from 2019 through 2024, depending on the line‑up. The campaign covers several trims of the A‑Class (2019‑2022), the CLA (including AMG versions) from 2020‑2021, the GLB (and its AMG variants) from 2020‑2026, and multiple versions of the GLA from 2021‑2025. The recall also includes C‑Class models from 2022‑2023, GLC (plus AMG) from 2023‑2024, and a smaller batch of the new CLE released in 2024.
Transport Canada has not yet issued a comparable notice, so the total number of impacted vehicles north of the border remains uncertain.
Technical cause and safety implications
Investigators traced the problem to a microswitch in the driver’s door lock that was supplied with a development error. Moisture can seep into the component, leading to premature corrosion.
When the switch fails, the vehicle may not recognize that the driver’s door is open, preventing the electronic parking brake—often called “Auto‑Park”—from engaging automatically.
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Under normal operation, an open door triggers a signal that forces the transmission into park. If that signal is lost, a driver could exit the car with the door ajar and leave the vehicle in gear, creating a scenario where the car could roll away on its own. In extreme cases, the vehicle might move forward and strike the driver who stepped out.
Owners might notice the issue when interior lights or the radio stay on after the driver’s door is closed. The defect tends to surface more often in hot and humid climates, which accelerate the corrosion process.
The company says it has not recorded any roll‑away events involving the affected models in the United States, though incidents have been reported in other countries.
Dealers will replace the lock at no charge to the owner.
While the recall focuses on a specific electronic component, it illustrates how a single point of failure can affect broader vehicle safety systems. Modern cars rely heavily on sensors and software to manage basic functions like parking brakes, so any malfunction in that chain can have outsized consequences.
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Consumers should stay alert to unusual behavior in their cars and report it promptly to a service center.
For owners of the listed models, the NHTSA recommends scheduling a service appointment as soon as possible. The repair is expected to take less than an hour, and the parts are already in dealer inventory.
In the meantime, drivers are advised to double‑check that the vehicle is fully in park before exiting, especially in regions where the climate could exacerbate the issue.
Simple steps, such as pulling the parking lever or confirming the gear indicator, can provide an extra layer of safety.
