2021 Mercedes-Benz C 300 Seat Belt Retractor Recall (21V032)

Recall 21V032 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Mercedes-Benz C 300 in recall 21V032?

The front seat belts might not fully retract to their stowed position.

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2021 C300, 2017-2020 AMG C43, and AMG C63 vehicles. The front seat belts might not fully retract to their stowed position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

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 C 300 with recall 21V032?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: If the seat belt does not fully retract, the occupant may find the operation of the seat belt inconvenient and not wear it, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: If the seat belt does not fully retract, the occupant may find the operation of the seat belt inconvenient and not wear it, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the retractor.

Which vehicles are included in recall 21V032?

Recall 21V032 covers 24,550 vehicles: 2021 Mercedes-Benz C 300.

NHTSA lists 24,550 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the C 300 seat belt retractor recall?

Yes. MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will check the retraction function of the front seat belts and adjust the damping foam within the B-pillars, as necessary, free of charge.

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will check the retraction function of the front seat belts and adjust the damping foam within the B-pillars, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020010.

When was recall 21V032 announced?

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC reported recall 21V032 to NHTSA on January 29, 2021.

This recall was filed 69 months ago. If your C 300 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my C 300 is part of recall 21V032?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V032 is open on your C 300, it will be listed there.

Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 21V032000 is open on your C 300, it will be listed there, along with Mercedes-Benz recall number 2021020010. You can also ask any Mercedes-Benz dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.

What should C 300 owners do about recall 21V032?

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 21V032000 applies to your C 300.
2. Call a Mercedes-Benz dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
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. Keep a simple log of any retractor symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
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 C 300 owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the seat belts.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the seat belts have been filed since recall 21V032 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 14 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 0 of them involve the seat belts. 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 C 300: 14 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts

Can recall 21V032 make my C 300 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.

A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

A seat belt that does not latch or retract correctly on the 2021 Mercedes-Benz C 300 affects safety directly, and a failed recall repair is a repair attempt under California law.

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 21V032