Car Problem DataNHTSA records

2009 Mercedes Benz M Class

Routine

Owners filed 1 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the structure › body › tailgate. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Structure › Body › Tailgate1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Tail Lights09V076000
Filed Mar 10, 200916,130 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc.

Defect. MERCEDES BENZ IS RECALLING 16,130 MY 2009 M-CLASS W164 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE OPTIONAL POWER LIFT GATE. AS A RESULT OF A FAULTY SEAL AROUND THE REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY, WATER MAY ENTER THE REAR COMPARTMENT CONTAINING THE SPARE TIRE. WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE CONTROL UNIT FOR THE POWER LIFT GATE CAN RESULT IN DISABLING OF THE POWER LIFT GATE MOTOR.

Risk. WATER WILL CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT WHICH COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAL OF THE REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY WITH A THICKER ONE AND REPOSITION THE AFFECTED POWER LIFT GATE CONTROL UNIT INSIDE THE CHASSIS. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Structure › Body › Tailgate
Filed Sep 9, 2009IL

POWER TAILGATES FOR SOME MFG,S (INCLUDING EVEN MERCEDES BENZ) ARE POORLY DESIGNED, HAVING NO LIMIT SWITCHES TO PREVENT CRUSHING A PERSON CAUGHT NEAR THE CLOSING TAILGATE!!! *TR

1 of 1 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2000
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2009 — this page1100Routine
20081200Routine
20072220Routine
200614200Routine
20040100Routine
200310310Routine
20025500Routine
20015400Routine
200025500Routine
199918410Routine
19985400Routine

Compare every M Class year →

Other Mercedes Benz models

All Mercedes Benz models →
C300 3,958E350 2,210E320 1,164ML350 951GLK350 904ML320 742C250 725C230 657GLC 300 650E500 460

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Mar 10, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.