2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG E53 Seat Recall (20V673)

Recall 20V673 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG E53 in recall 20V673?

The front passenger seat may be missing the mechanical seat adjustment range limit stop, allowing the seat to move outside of the acceptable range in relation to the air bag.

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 E350 and E450, 2019-2021 AMG E53 and 2020-2021 AMG E63 vehicles. The front passenger seat may be missing the mechanical seat adjustment range limit stop, allowing the seat to move outside of the acceptable range in relation to the air bag.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Is it safe to drive a 2021 AMG E53 with recall 20V673?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: If the front passenger seat is adjusted beyond the acceptable range in relation to the air bag, there could be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash with air bag deployment.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: If the front passenger seat is adjusted beyond the acceptable range in relation to the air bag, there could be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash with air bag deployment.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your AMG E53 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the seats, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 20V673?

Recall 20V673 covers 1,337 vehicles: 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG E53; 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG E63; 2021 Mercedes-Benz E 350; 2021 Mercedes-Benz E 450.

NHTSA lists 1,337 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the AMG E53 seat recall?

Yes. MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect for the mechanical seat adjustment range limitation for the front passenger seat and install it if necessary, free of charge.

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect for the mechanical seat adjustment range limitation for the front passenger seat and install it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-368-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020110013.

When was recall 20V673 announced?

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC reported recall 20V673 to NHTSA on October 30, 2020.

This recall was filed 72 months ago. If your AMG E53 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my AMG E53 is part of recall 20V673?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 20V673 is open on your AMG E53, it will be listed there.

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 20V673000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.

What should AMG E53 owners do about recall 20V673?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 20V673000 applies to your AMG E53.
2. Book the recall appointment with any authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
3. Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the seats happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.

What are AMG E53 owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the body, doors and seats.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the body, doors and seats have been filed since recall 20V673 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 25 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 0 of them involve the body, doors and seats. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.

• 2021 Mercedes-Benz E 350: 13 complaints in total, 0 about the body, doors and seats
• 2021 Mercedes-Benz E 450: 7 complaints in total, 0 about the body, doors and seats
• 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG E53: 5 complaints in total, 0 about the body, doors and seats
• 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG E63: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the body, doors and seats

Can recall 20V673 make my AMG E53 a lemon in California?

Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.

Recall 20V673000 does not automatically make your AMG E53 a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?

Door latch, seat and body structure defects can affect safety in a crash and everyday use. If the recall repair does not solve the problem, the repeat visit is part of your record.

The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.

California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.

An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.

Frequently asked questions about recall 20V673