Mercedes-Benz GLC SUVs Called Back for Headlights Defect

Mercedes-Benz is recalling nearly 16,000 sport utility vehicles because of a headlight snafu, the luxury automaker recently told federal regulators.

The cars’ headlights may be incorrectly adjusted too high and create a glare for oncoming traffic, Mercedes-Benz said in a notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That violates U.S. safety standards and increases the risk of accidents involving the vehicles, the company said.

“Due to a deviation in the headlamp adjustment tool in the vehicle production plant, certain headlamp adjustments might not meet current production specifications,” Mercedes-Benz said in the defect notice. The problem is “the potential to create glare for oncoming traffic, which may increase the risk of a crash.”

The recall covers certain 2019-2022 GLC 300 SUVs, as well as 2020 GLC 350e vehicles and 2020-2022 AMG GLC 43 SUVs. 

Mercedes-Benz told NHTSA it planned to notify owners of recalled vehicles via mail by March 1. Owners can also check the NHTSA website to see if their cars are covered by the recall.

The company is asking owners of recalled cars to bring their vehicles to authorized service providers for inspection and repair. “An authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer will check the headlamp adjustment on the affected vehicles and correct it, if necessary,” the automaker told NHTSA.

The recall comes just months after Mercedes-Benz announced it was recalling some 80,000 cars that the company said were at risk of losing power unexpectedly. Mercedes-Benz blamed that recall on a subcontractor, which it said provided shoddy material for certain fuel pump impellers.

California Lemon Law Rights for Mercedes-Benz Owners

These kinds of recalls are all too common for Mercedes-Benz and other major auto manufacturers. They often come long after defective cars have left factory floors and dealership lots, sold to unsuspecting buyers.

It is important to understand that car owners and lessors in California have some significant rights and protections under the state’s lemon law. Namely, you do not need to wait around for a recall to get a defective car fixed.

The lemon law, known formally as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, requires auto manufacturers to perform various repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. It also forces those companies to buy back vehicles that they cannot or will not fix. That includes covering the vehicle’s purchase price, as well as financing fees and other related expenses.

A carmaker can instead offer to replace the vehicle, but it is up to the owner to decide whether to accept or reject this alternative arrangement. An experienced lemon law attorney can help you understand your rights and take action. 

Talk with an Orange County Lemon Law Attorney

If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle, an Orange County lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.  

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with an Orange County lemon law attorney.