Mercedes-Benz learns a hard lesson about the importance of reliable emergency systems for cars. As Car and driver and The edge reported, Mercedes USA recalled nearly 1.3 million vehicles from 2016 to 2021 due to a bug in the eCall emergency platform. A malfunction in the software can “not communicate” the location of the real car to the first reaction if the power source were to drop during an accident, which delays the rescue at a critical moment.
The issue touches on a wide range of Mercedes series, ranging from entry-level cars like the A-Class to flagships like the S-Class. The company has investigated a number of incidents where cars have been sent to the wrong places, including a European case in 2019.
The carmaker will begin the formal recall on April 6 and plan to resolve the issue through over-the-air updates (via Mercedes Me subscriptions) or through owners to visit dealers.
In addition to highlighting the technical challenges of emergency call systems, the recall illustrates the growing importance of on-the-air updates for cars. Some Mercedes owners do not have to leave home to find a potentially life-saving solution – it can be a bit mind-boggling, not to mention free mechanics to work on other repairs.