2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 Body Panel Recall (21V232)

Recall 21V232 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 in recall 21V232?

The wheel arch covers on the front fenders might not have been installed correctly, allow them to detach.

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020-2021 GLB250 vehicles. The wheel arch covers on the front fenders might not have been installed correctly, allow them to detach.

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 GLB 250 with recall 21V232?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Detached wheel arch covers can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: Detached wheel arch covers can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

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 body.

Which vehicles are included in recall 21V232?

Recall 21V232 covers 2,362 vehicles: 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB 250.

NHTSA lists 2,362 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the GLB 250 body panel recall?

Yes. MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will check the installation of the front wheel arch covers and correct them as necessary, free of charge.

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will check the installation of the front wheel arch covers and correct them as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 21, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021040015.

When was recall 21V232 announced?

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC reported recall 21V232 to NHTSA on April 1, 2021.

This recall was filed 66 months ago. If your GLB 250 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my GLB 250 is part of recall 21V232?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V232 is open on your GLB 250, it will be listed there.

Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 21V232000 is open on your GLB 250, it will be listed there, along with Mercedes-Benz recall number 2021040015. 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 GLB 250 owners do about recall 21V232?

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 21V232000 applies to your GLB 250.
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. Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
4. Keep a simple log of any body 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 GLB 250 owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 29 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 21V232 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 29 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 GLB 250: 29 complaints in total, 0 about the body, doors and seats

Can recall 21V232 make my GLB 250 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 21V232000 does not automatically make your GLB 250 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))?

Body and latch defects on the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 may seem minor until a door opens while driving or a seat will not lock. Problems that return after repair belong in your records.

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 21V232