Recalls: Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class
Overview
Manufacturers, or importers, issue recalls for defects or faults which have the potential to cause injury. Generally, manufacturers will inform the original buyers if their vehicle is subject to a recall and of the steps required to remedy the defect or fault. Please note that the recalls below (if any) are for Australian-delivered vehicles only. Furthermore, the number of recalls should not be taken as an indication of a model’s reliability or its safety more generally.
Recalls: Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class
2012 Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class: passenger airbag may be restricted
In June 2013, a recall was issued for forty-six (46) Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class vehicles that were available for sale from 1 June 2012 to 30 December 2012. In these vehicles, the internal frame of the dashboard may not have been manufactured correctly. In the event of an accident, this may restrict deployment of the passenger airbag, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant (PRA 2013/13615).
2014 Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class Diesel: oil leak and fire hazard
In January 2015, a recall was issued for Mercedes-Benz vehicles with the OM651 turbo-diesel engine that were available for sale during 2014. In these vehicles, the seal ring between the timing chain tensioner and the engine may leak oil – this could result in a hazard for other road users and, in extreme cases, a fire risk (PRA 2015/14509).
2012-13 Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class: potential loss of drive
In July 2015, a recall was issued for Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class vehicles that were available for sale from 1 September 2012 to 30 June 2013. Under extreme driving conditions, the drive shaft retaining rings in these vehicles may break – this could cause a loss of drive, creating a hazard to the vehicle occupants and other road users (PRA 2015/14802).
2014 Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class: airbags may not deploy
In August 2015, a recall was issued for Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class vehicles that were available for sale from 8 September 2014 to 7 November 2014. In these vehicles, fuses within the interior fuse box may become loose – this could cause various systems to fail and potentially incorrect deployment of the airbags. Incorrect deployment of the airbags in the event of a collision could increase the risk of injury to occupants (PRA 2015/14844).
2015-16 Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class: loss of drive
In July 2016, a recall was issued for Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class vehicles that had double clutch transmissions. In these vehicles, a welded seam in the transmission’s dual clutch assembly could fracture and cause a loss of drive – this could pose an accident hazard to the vehicle’s occupants and other road users. The recalled Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class vehicles were available for sale from 1 November 2015 to 30 January 2016 (PRA 2016/15529).
2012-13 Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class: loss of power braking assistance
In July 2017, a recall was issued for Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class vehicles that were available for sale in Australia prior to 30 June 2013. In these vehicles, the connection on the brake booster vacuum hose could break and cause a loss of power braking assistance. As such, the driver would have to apply greater force to the brake pedal to reduce vehicle speed and there was an increased risk of injury to vehicle occupants and other road users. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please seePRA 2017/16170.
2016 Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class: front passenger airbag may not deploy as intended
In July 2017, a recall was issued for Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class vehicles that were available for sale from 1 October 2016 to 1 December 2016. In these vehicles, the propellant mixing ratio in the igniters of the front passenger airbag assembly may not meet specification. In the event of deployment, the front passenger airbag may therefore not deploy as designed, thereby increasing the risk of injury for the front passenger. For the recalled vehicles, the front passenger airbag assembly was to be replaced. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please seePRA 2017/16195.
2015-17 Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class: starting current limiter could overheat
In October 2017, a recall was issued for Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class vehicles that were available for sale in Australia from 31 January 2015 to 31 January 2017. If the starter were to become blocked due to prior damage and if multiple and/or extended start attempts were made, then the starting current limiter could be electrically overloaded and overheat. At worst, this could cause nearby components to ignite and cause a fire. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see PRA 2017/16367.
2017 model year Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class: windshield could separate in collision
In January 2018, a recall was issued for certain 2017 model year Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class vehicles that were available for sale from 1 July 2017 to 31 July 2017. For these vehicles, the bonding for the lower area of the windshield may not comply with specifications and, in the event of a collision, could separate from the body of the vehicle. Furthermore, the front passenger airbag may not be supported by the windshield as intended such that the protective effect of the airbag could be impaired. For the VINs of the recalled Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class vehicles, please see PRA 2018/16538.
2013-17 Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class: deployment of driver’s airbag
In February 2018, recall RC2437/A was issued for Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class vehicles that were available for sale in Australia prior to September 2017. If the steering column was not sufficiently grounded and the steering column switch was damaged or faulty, an electrostatic discharge could cause the driver’s airbag to deploy. If these conditions occurred, an airbag warning message in the instrument cluster display and a red airbag indicator lamp (signalling that the steering column module was damaged/faulty) would alert the driver. If the airbag deployed in the absence of a collision, it could injure and distract the driver. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see PRA 2018/16572.
2017 Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class White Art Edition: centre rear anchorage point missing
In August 2018, recall campaign RC2534 was issued for Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class White Art Edition vehicles that were available for sale in Australia from 3 July 2017 to 28 November 2017. In these vehicles, the top tether anchorage point for the centre rear bench seat may have been omitted, such that a child restraint could not be attached. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see PRA 2018/16975.
2018 Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class: airbag housing could eject metal parts
In September 2018, recall campaign RC2520 was issued for Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class vehicles that were available for sale in Australia from 1 March 2018 to 30 April 2018. In these vehicles, the airbag gas generator housing could eject metal parts if the airbags were deployed and these posed an injury risk to occupants of the vehicle. Despite its similarities with the Takata airbag recalls, this recall was not related to Takata airbags. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see PRA 2018/17042.
2015-18 Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class with sunroof: panel between sunroof and windscreen may detach
In September 2021, recall campaign RC2885 was issued for 2015-18 Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class vehicles with panoramic sunroofs. During a prior service repair, the panel between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may not have been correctly bonded. The bonding may therefore deteriorate over time, such that the panel could partially or fully detach from the vehicle; this condition increased the risk of injury to vehicle occupants and other road users. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-004951.
2017 Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class: faulty universal joint in the steering shaft
In July 2021, recall campaign RC2894 was issued for 2017 Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class vehicles. A component in the universal joint of the steering shaft was not manufactured to specifications and this, over time, may impair the driver’s ability to steer the vehicle. If the steering did not perform as expected, there was an increased risk of a collision and therefore injury to vehicle occupants and other road users. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-001672.
2018 Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class: eCall system may not contact emergency services
In December 2021, recall campaign RC2932-RC2933 was issued for 2018 Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class vehicles. Due to a software issue, the automatic network search of the emergency call system (eCall) communication module may be deactivated. If this occurred, the automatic and manual emergency call function may not be available outside of the network coverage of certain providers. If the eCall system was deactivated, it would not be possible for vehicle occupants to contact emergency services in the event of an emergency (either manually or automatically). As a consequence, emergency vehicles may not be directed to the affected vehicle or may be delayed and this could increase the risk of death if a serious injury had occurred. For this recall, no action was required by consumers since the software would be updated ‘over the air’ (i.e. without requiring a workshop visit). For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see REC-004979.
Problems and faults: Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class
Overview
This section identifies potential problems, causes and fixes based on the experiences of owners and repairers, online sources and technical service bulletins. This information is provided solely for reference purposes and AustralianCar.Reviews recommends that only properly qualified persons carry out repairs or modifications. Furthermore, the number of items below should not be taken as an indicator of a model’s reliability or the frequency with which they may occur.
To report a problem or fault to the AustralianCar.Reviews team, please use the Contact Us form. Note that AustralianCar.Reviews does not offer advice on automotive problems or disputes; such enquiries will not receive a reply. For vehicles purchased from dealers after 1 January 2011, please see our Australian Consumer Law fact sheet.
Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class: ‘Power Steering Malfunction, Service Required’
In June 2014, Mercedes-Benz USA issued Service Bulletin LI46.35-P-059241 for Mercedes-Benz W176 A-Class vehicles with VINs preceding WD#176####J259123 or WD#176####V012801. After the engine was started, the instrument cluster may display the warning message ‘Power Steering Malfunction, Service Required’, an acoustic warning would sound and the steering would feel sluggish. Furthermore,
- No faults would be logged in the steering control unit; and,
- Fault code C063100 would be logged in the ESP control unit and fault code U013187 would be logged in the instrument cluster control unit.
According to the service bulletin, these symptoms could be due to:
- Faulty contact of power supply to the electric steering system; or,
- A component fault in the control unit of the electric steering system.
Initially, the power supply to the electric steering was to be checked. If the problem was still present, then the control unit/motor unit for the electric steering was to be replaced.
