The diesel scandal was exposed more than eight years ago. Now Mercedes has to order cars into the workshops again. More than 100,000 vehicles are probably affected. The reason is a controversial technology.
Mercedes-Benz has to recall tens of thousands of diesel cars in Germany alone because of renewed allegations of illegal emissions technology. The Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) has issued a corresponding decision, the Stuttgart car manufacturer said upon request. A lower six-digit number of vehicles is expected to be affected. The KBA has not yet been available for comment. “Spiegel” and Bayerischer Rundfunk had previously reported on the decision.
According to the manufacturer, the arrangement refers to various diesel models of the Euro 5 and Euro 6b emissions standards. The cars therefore need a software update. Customers will be informed in writing if their vehicle is part of the KBA arrangement and an update needs to be installed, it said.
Reason for the recall: thermal window
The reason for the recall is so-called thermal windows, which were also used as standard by other manufacturers. Normally, some of the exhaust gases are burned directly back in the engine – for example to emit less toxic nitrogen oxides. Depending on the outside temperature, this mechanism is automatically throttled – to protect the engine, as the manufacturers say.
However, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) made it clear in a ruling in 2022 that software that allows higher emissions of pollutants “for the majority of the year” is fundamentally inadmissible. Thermal windows to protect the engine are only legal if no other solution can avert risks.
Mercedes: Extensive cooperation with the KBA
After the ECJ ruling, the KBA has further developed its legal opinion in this context and has now asked Mercedes-Benz to change the corresponding calibrations in the engine control of certain vehicle variants, said a spokeswoman for the car manufacturer. And further: “Until the ECJ ruling, the European type approval authorities generally considered appropriate temperature controls for exhaust gas recirculation to be permissible.” We cooperate fully with the KBA.
Mercedes has had to deal with emissions allegations for years. Since 2018, the KBA has already issued several recall notices against the manufacturer due to inadmissible exhaust technology. Hundreds of thousands of vehicles were affected in the Federal Republic alone. Since the scandal became known, the Stuttgart car manufacturer has had to go to court again and again. In Germany, more than 30,000 consumers have sued so far. In addition, a model lawsuit from investors has been under negotiation since September and is demanding hundreds of millions of euros in damages for losses incurred.
Source: Stern
