2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG C43 Electrical Software Recall (21V058)

Recall 21V058 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG C43 in recall 21V058?

Please refer to the Part 573 report for specific vehicle model details.

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 – 2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to the Part 573 report for specific vehicle model details. The software design of the communication module may fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (eCall) in the event of a crash.

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 C43 with recall 21V058?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your AMG C43 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the software, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 21V058?

Recall 21V058 covers 1,292,258 vehicles: 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG C43; 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA35; 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA45; 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG E53; 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG E63; 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLA35; 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLA45; 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLB35; 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC43; 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC63; 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53; 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63; 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLS63; 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT43; 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT53; 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT63; 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG S63; 2021 Mercedes-Benz C 300; 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250; 2021 Mercedes-Benz Cls 450; 2021 Mercedes-Benz E 350; 2021 Mercedes-Benz E 350 E; 2021 Mercedes-Benz E 450; 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250; 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB 250; 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300; 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350; 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 E; 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450; 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS450; 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS580; 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 560.

NHTSA lists 1,292,258 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 C43 electrical software recall?

Yes. The fix is an over-the-air software update.

MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020025.

When was recall 21V058 announced?

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC reported recall 21V058 to NHTSA on February 5, 2021.

This recall was filed 68 months ago. If your AMG C43 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my AMG C43 is part of recall 21V058?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V058 is open on your AMG C43, it will be listed there.

The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 AMG C43 vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.

What should AMG C43 owners do about recall 21V058?

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 21V058000 applies to your AMG C43.
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 software 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 C43 owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 298 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 69 of them about the electrical system.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 298 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 69 of them involve the electrical system. 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 GLC 300: 66 complaints in total, 8 about the electrical system
• 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350: 48 complaints in total, 9 about the electrical system
• 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS450: 30 complaints in total, 13 about the electrical system
• 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB 250: 29 complaints in total, 4 about the electrical system
• 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250: 18 complaints in total, 4 about the electrical system
• 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53: 16 complaints in total, 9 about the electrical system
• 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450: 15 complaints in total, 8 about the electrical system
• 2021 Mercedes-Benz C 300: 14 complaints in total, 1 about the electrical system

A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):

1) Rear view camera sometimes working, some times not working. (Message reads “system inoperative “ 2) Forward view camera also affected. 3) display shown “12V battery low in battery “ 4) Not long ago, just had vehicle suddenly vibrating vigorously while backing up from parking and during driving.

2021 Mercedes-Benz E 350 owner, NJ, NHTSA complaint 11649636, filed March 21, 2025

The engine is misfiring and not powering correctly during driving. Car is failing to take off and today almost caused an accident due to the car would not pull off from the traffic light with oncoming traffic due to loss of power.

2021 Mercedes-Benz E 350 owner, AL, NHTSA complaint 11571057, filed February 9, 2024

FIRE FIRE FIRE Information light came on just saying 12 Volt Battery. I sat in the car letting it idle for about 3 minutes. It began to smoke and then burst into flames. I called 911 got the fire department here but by the time they were here there was not much left.

2021 Mercedes-Benz E 350 owner, MA, NHTSA complaint 11629406, filed December 7, 2024

Can recall 21V058 make my AMG C43 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 21V058000 does not automatically make your AMG C43 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))?

Electrical faults are hard to diagnose, so dealers often try several fixes before one works, if one works at all. That pattern of repeat visits for the same software problem is common in lemon law claims.

This recall is handled by an over-the-air software update, so many owners never visit a dealer. If the problem returns after the update, take the 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG C43 to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up on a repair order. An update that does not work is still a failed repair.

Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.

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 21V058