Mercedes-Benz 400 recalls

2 official safety recalls for the Mercedes-Benz 400 from NHTSA (United States), DVSA (United Kingdom) and the EU Safety Gate, newest first. Recall repairs are normally free at the maker’s dealers.

Whether your car is affected and still needs the repair depends on its VIN or registration. Check it on the official site for your country:

  1. Fuel vapour may ignite and cause an under-hood fire

    Reported January 6, 1994Model years 1992–1993NHTSA campaign 94V0040005,900 vehicles affected

    Fuel vapour may escape from the canister onto the electric radiator fan resistor, which can get hot enough to ignite it and cause an under-hood fire. Dealers will move the vent line, fit a larger heat shield, and install a fused wiring harness.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
    Defect
    HIGH AMBIENT ENGINE COMPARTMENT TEMPERATURES ARE EXPERIENCED AFTER THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED AND THEN PARKED. IF THE VEHICLE IS RESTARTED A SHORT TIME LATER AND THE CHARCOAL CANISTER IS SATURATED WITH FUEL, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT FUEL VAPOR MAY BE EXPELLED THROUGH THE INLET VENT LINE OF THE CANISTER ONTO THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY RADIATOR FAN PRERESISTOR.
    Consequence
    UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY RADIATOR FAN PRERESISTOR BECOMES HOT ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE FUEL EXPELLED FROM THE CHARCOAL CANNISTER AND RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
    Remedy
    DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE FUEL VAPOR CANISTER VENT LINE AWAY FROM THE ELECTRIC FAN PRERESISTOR. IN ADDITION, THE PRERESISTOR WILL HAVE A LARGER HEAT SHIELD AND A FUSED WIRING HARNESS WILL BE INSTALLED.
    Notes
    SYSTEM: EXHAUST/CRANKCASE EMISSION CONTROL DEVICES.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS.NOTE: IF YOUR VEHICLE IS PRESENTED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND THE REMEDY IS NOT PROVIDED WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME AND FREE OF CHARGE OR THE REMEDY DOES NOT CORRECT THE DEFECT OR NONCOMPLIANCE, PLEASE CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ SERVICE CENTER AT 1-201-573-2616. ALSO, CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT1-800-424-9393.

  2. Brake hose may melt near a hot resistor

    Reported June 11, 1992Model years 1992NHTSA campaign 92V083000845 vehicles affected

    A misrouted brake hose may be too close to a hot cooling fan resistor, where it could melt and leak fluid. Brake fluid contacting the resistor could catch fire. Any hose that may be misrouted will be replaced and rerouted.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
    Defect
    THE PLASTIC BRAKE HYDRAULIC HOSE FROM THE AUTOMATIC SLIP CONTROL UNIT WAS MISROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE PRE-RESISTOR FOR THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY ENGINE COOLING FAN WHICH BECOMES HOT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. THIS COULD CAUSE THE HOSE TO MELT AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE HOT PRE-RESISTOR.
    Consequence
    BRAKE FLUID CAN CATCH ON FIRE WHEN IT CONTACTS THE HOTPRE-RESISTOR, POSING THE RISK OF INJURY TO ANYONE IN OR NEAR THE VEHICLE.
    Remedy
    REPLACE AND REROUTE ANY HOSE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MISROUTED.
    Notes
    SYSTEM: BRAKES; NON METAL HYDRAULIC LINES.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS WITH "ASR" AUTOMATIC SLIP CONTROL.NOTE: THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTS THAT THE CAR BE OPERATED WITH THE AUTOMATICCLIMATE CONTROL TURNED OFF OR ON EC (ECONOMY) MODE. THIS WILL PREVENT THEPRE-RESISTOR FROMGETTING TOO HOT.

Sources: NHTSA (US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), DVSA (UK Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) and the EU Safety Gate (European Commission) recall data. Each recall covers vehicles sold in that market; models sold elsewhere may differ.

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