Recalls: Mercedes W176 A 45 AMG
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 W176 A 45 AMG
2012 Mercedes-Benz W176 A 45 AMG: passenger airbag deployment restricted
In June 2013, a recall was issued for forty-six (46) Mercedes 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).
2012-13 Mercedes-Benz W176 A 45 AMG: 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 45 AMG: incorrect airbag deployment
In August 2015, a recall was issued for Mercedes-Benz W176 A 45 AMG 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-AMG W176 A 45: loss of drive
In July 2016, a recall was issued for Mercedes-AMG W176 A 45 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-AMG W176 A 45 vehicles were available for sale from 1 November 2015 to 30 January 2016 (PRA 2016/15529).
2016 Mercedes-AMG W176 A 45: front passenger airbag may not deploy as intended
In July 2017, a recall was issued for Mercedes-AMG W176 A 45 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-AMG W176 A 45: starting current limiter could overheat
In October 2017, a recall was issued for Mercedes-AMG W176 A 45 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-AMG W176 A 45: windshield could separate in collision
In January 2018, a recall was issued for certain 2017 model year Mercedes-AMG W176 A 45 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-AMG W176 A 45 vehicles, please see PRA 2018/16538.
2015-17 Mercedes-AMG W176 A 45: deployment of driver’s airbag
In February 2018, recall RC2437/A was issued for Mercedes-AMG W176 A 45 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.
2018 Mercedes-AMG W176 A 45: airbag housing could eject metal parts
In September 2018, recall campaign RC2520 was issued for Mercedes-AMG W176 A 45 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.
2017 Mercedes-AMG W176 A-Class: faulty universal joint in the steering shaft
In July 2021, recall campaign RC2894 was issued for 2017 Mercedes-AMG 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.
2015-18 Mercedes-AMG W176 A-Class with sunroof: panel between sunroof and windscreen may detach
In September 2021, recall campaign RC2885 was issued for 2015-18 Mercedes-AMG 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.
2018 Mercedes-AMG W176 A-Class: eCall system may not contact emergency services
In December 2021, recall campaign RC2932-RC2933 was issued for 2018 Mercedes-AMG 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 W176 A 45 AMG
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 W176 A 45 AMG: turbocharger failure due to oil feed line contamination
In January 2015, Mercedes-Benz USA initiated Service Campaign 2014120001 for 2014-15 model year Mercedes-Benz C117 CLA 45 AMG vehicles and AustralianCar.Reviews understands that this condition also applies to the W176 A 45 AMG (since it has the same M133 engine). In these vehicles, the turbocharger may need to be replaced due to contamination of the oil feed line.
To determine if the turbocharger was to be replaced, axial play in the turbocharger would be measured by pushing the end shaft up to the end stop – by hand – in the direction of the compressor by exerting pressure on the turbine wheel shaft (exhaust side). If axial play exceeded 0.08 mm, this indicated premature wear of the turbo shaft bearings such that the turbocharger and oil feed lines were to be replaced. According to the Service Campaign, the estimated replacement rate was 25 per cent.
