The 2019 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLS53 has 10 recalls, the most serious involving a transmission wiring harness that can short-circuit and cause a fire, and a software fault that can stall the engine while driving.
The wiring issue appears in two related recalls: in one, the harness may be misrouted and exposed to corrosion; in the other, a prior recall repair may have left the wiring incorrectly connected. Both conditions lead to the same short-circuit and fire risk. On the safety systems side, the seatbelt pretensioners and pre-crash tensioning function may not activate in a crash, and the automatic emergency braking system can fail to apply partial or full braking when a collision is imminent. The 12-volt battery on certain vehicles can lose the ability to power safety features including hazard lights, door locks, electric seats, and the emergency call system. That eCall system has two additional recalls of its own: one where it may fail to connect to emergency services at all, and another where it may send responders to the wrong location after a crash. The rearview camera can also go blank due to a software error, reducing rear visibility when reversing. Finally, the horizontal adjustment screws on the headlights may not seal properly, allowing the aim to drift and reducing forward visibility at night.
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission wiring harness connection may not have been correctly wired during production or a prior recall repair, exposing the electrical connector to corrosion and potentially causing an electrical short-circuit.
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What the fix does
Dealers will replace the two-part wiring harness and connector at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The 12-volt battery in the trunk may not be properly secured. During a crash, it could shift and disconnect, disabling safety features like emergency calling, power seats, hazard lights, and automatic door locks.
What the fix does
Dealers will secure the 12-volt battery in the trunk to prevent movement during a crash.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission wiring harness may be routed incorrectly, exposing the electrical connector to corrosion and causing an electrical short-circuit.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and repair the connector, reroute the harness, and install an additional bracket at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error in the communication module's SIM card can prevent mobile network connection, which disables the emergency call (eCall) system.
What the fix does
The communication module software will be updated at no cost through an over-the-air update or by a dealer.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error prevents the rearview camera from displaying the backup image on the screen.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the rearview camera software at no cost to restore the backup image display.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The communication module software may fail to send your vehicle's correct location to emergency services when the eCall system activates during a crash.
What the fix does
A dealer will update the communication module software, or the update will be sent over-the-air, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front seat belt buckles may be incorrectly detected as unfastened even when properly fastened, which can disable the PRE-SAFE® function and pretensioner.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace front seat belt buckles as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error in the radar sensor control unit may reduce or disable the Active Brake Assist system's ability to function properly.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the radar sensor control unit software at no cost to restore proper system function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The horizontal adjustment screw on the headlights may not be properly sealed, which can allow the headlights to be incorrectly adjusted and fail to meet federal lighting standards.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the horizontal headlight adjustment screws and seal them as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Central Powertrain Controller can reset unexpectedly while driving, which may cause the engine to stall.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the CPC control unit software at no cost to restore proper operation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
