Car - Mercedes recalls tens of thousands of diesel vehicles
Mercedes-Benz must recall tens of thousands of diesel cars in Germany alone due to renewed allegations of illegal emissions technology. The Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) has issued a corresponding notice, the Stuttgart-based car manufacturer announced on Wednesday in response to an inquiry. A low six-digit number of vehicles are expected to be affected. The KBA could not initially be reached for comment. Spiegel" and Bayerischer Rundfunk had previously reported on the order.
According to the manufacturer, the order relates to various Euro 5 and Euro 6b diesel models. The cars therefore require a software update. Customers will be informed in writing if their vehicle is part of the KBA order and an update needs to be installed, it said.
Reason for the recall: thermal windows
The reason for the recall is so-called thermal windows, which were also used as standard by other manufacturers. Normally, some of the exhaust gases are burned directly back into the engine - for example, to emit fewer toxic nitrogen oxides. Depending on the outside temperature, however, this mechanism is automatically throttled back - to protect the engine, as the manufacturers say.
However, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) clarified in a ruling in 2022 that software that allows higher emissions of pollutants "for a large part of the year" is fundamentally inadmissible. Thermal windows to protect the engine are only legal if no other solution can avert risks.
Mercedes: Extensive cooperation with the KBA
Following the ECJ ruling, the KBA has further developed its legal opinion in this context and has now requested Mercedes-Benz to change the corresponding calibrations in the engine control unit of certain vehicle variants, a spokeswoman for the car manufacturer announced. She continued: "Until the ECJ ruling, the European type-approval authorities generally considered such temperature controls for exhaust gas recirculation to be permissible". The company is cooperating fully with the KBA.
Mercedes has had to deal with emissions allegations for years. Since 2018, the KBA has already issued several recall notices against the manufacturer due to inadmissible exhaust technology. Hundreds of thousands of vehicles were affected in Germany alone. Since the scandal came to light, the Stuttgart-based car manufacturer has also been repeatedly taken to court. In Germany, more than 30,000 consumers have taken legal action so far. In addition, a test case from investors has been under negotiation since September, demanding hundreds of millions of euros in compensation for losses incurred.
Further information on the recall
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- Despite the ongoing emissions scandal, Mercedes-Benz continues to cooperate extensively with the KBA in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, following the EU Court of Justice's ruling on thermal windows and exhaust technology.
- The vehicular recall affects a low six-digit number of Mercedes-Benz diesel cars, which require a software update to comply with the updated KBA regulations regarding emissions control.
- In response to the KBA's order, Mercedes-Benz will send out written notices to affected vehicle owners, instructing them to install the necessary software updates to their diesel vehicles.
- These thermal windows, which are commonly used across various manufacturers, affect the exhaust system's functionality, causing some exhaust gases to be recirculated back into the engine to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.
- However, according to the ECJ ruling, software that allows higher emissions of pollutants for an extended period is fundamentally inadmissible, which was the case with the Mercedes-Benz thermal window technology.
- This recall in Flensburg, Germany, is not the first time that Mercedes-Benz has been ordered to address allegations of inadmissible exhaust technology, as the company has faced similar issues with the KBA since 2018.
- In an effort to address these emissions concerns, Mercedes-Benz, located in Stuttgart, has been involved in several recall notices, affecting hundreds of thousands of vehicles in Germany alone, in addition to facing numerous court cases and legal actions by consumers seeking compensation.
Source: www.stern.de
