Mercedes-Benz to recall up to 75,000 UK cars over fire risk

Up to 75,000 units of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Mercedes-Benz CLA, Mercedes-Benz GLA and Mercedes-Benz GLC will be recalled in the UK because of a potential fire risk.

The affected models, all built between 2015 and 2017, form part of a larger recall which affects over a million cars worldwide.

In documents filed to the US government, it was revealed that repeated attempts to start a car which won't turn over could cause a current limiter in the starter motor to overheat and melt other parts. According to the documents, Mercedes began investigating the problem last June following reports of 'thermally damaged' current limiters.

A total of 51 fires have been reported worldwide, with 30 in the United States alone. Mercedes says there have been no reports of injury.

Mercedes owners will be notified later this month if their car is affected, and again when replacement parts are available, which is anticipated to be July. Dealers will take about an hour to rectify the issue, and will install another fuse to prevent fires. All work will be free of charge.

A Mercedes spokesman said the firm "couldn't comment" on whether any UK owners had been affected by the issue, but said that up to "75,000 cars in the UK" would be affected. 

In a statement, Daimler AG said that on affected cars, "the starting current limiter could overload during unique conditions during the starting procedure." The statement confirms that when the engine is damaged and cannot crank, "a very high electric current can flow through the starting current limiter causing it to overheat".