Mercedes-Benz USA, Inc.: Visibility
Mercedes-Benz USA, Inc. reported this defect to federal regulators on Sep 19, 1996 and put the number of vehicles at risk at 28,874. The repair is free for as long as the recall stands.
The defect
IF ONE OF THE HEADLAMP WIPER ARMS BECOMES MISALIGNED, THE WIPER BALDE CAN LODGE IN THE GROOVE UNDER THE HEADLAMP. IF THE WASHERS ARE ACTIVATED WITH THE WIPER BLADE IN THE MISALIGNED AND LODGED POSITION, THE WASHER PUMP WILL RUN CONTINUOUSLY EXPELLING ALL AVAILABLE FLUID.
The risk
PUMP OPERATION IN THE ABSENCE OF FLUID CAN CAUSE THE PUMP TO OVERHEAT AND CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP WASHER PUMP ON THESE VEHICLES.
12 model years covered
Newest first| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 Mercedes Benz SL Class | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 Mercedes Benz 320 | 49 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 1994 Mercedes Benz 500 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 Mercedes Benz 600 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 Mercedes Benz 300 | 39 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 1993 Mercedes Benz 500 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1993 Mercedes Benz 600 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 Mercedes Benz 300 | 22 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 1992 Mercedes Benz 500 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 Mercedes Benz 300 | 19 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 1991 Mercedes Benz 500 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 Mercedes Benz 500 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What this page is, and what to do next
A recall is not an opinion. It is a Part 573 report a manufacturer is required by federal law to file once it decides a defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety, and it commits them to repairing the vehicle at no cost to the owner. The three passages above are the manufacturer’s own wording as published by NHTSA.
This page describes the campaign. It cannot tell you whether one particular car has already been through the shop — that is tracked by VIN, and only the manufacturer knows it. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a franchised dealer, quoting campaign number 96V175000.
Full record for the 1996 Mercedes Benz SL Class → · Recalls carrying a do-not-drive advisory → · Where this data comes from →