2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63 Headlight Recall (21V509)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC · 1,467 vehicles · Reported July 2, 2021
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC is recalling 1,467 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53; 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63; 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350; 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 vehicles. The LED headlights may have been incorrectly adjusted during a vehicle repair. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment." Incorrectly adjusted headlights may reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Owners first received an interim notice; check NHTSA for whether the remedy is now available for your VIN.
Recall 21V509 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V509000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 2021120011 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | July 2, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53; 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63; 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350; 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 |
| Units affected | 1,467 |
| Component | Exterior Lighting > Headlights |
| Safety risk | Incorrectly adjusted headlights may reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Interim notice issued; remedy may now be available, check NHTSA for current status |
What is wrong with the 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63 in recall 21V509?
The LED headlights may have been incorrectly adjusted during a vehicle repair.
Mercedes-Benz LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2020 C300, 2019-2020 A220, AMG C43, AMG C63, 2020 GLE580, GLB250, 2020-2021 GLE450, GLE350, 2021 AMG GLE63, and AMG GLE53 vehicles. The LED headlights may have been incorrectly adjusted during a vehicle repair. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Is it safe to drive a 2021 AMG GLE63 with recall 21V509?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Incorrectly adjusted headlights may reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Incorrectly adjusted headlights may reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your AMG GLE63 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the headlights, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V509?
Recall 21V509 covers 1,467 vehicles: 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53; 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63; 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350; 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450.
NHTSA lists 1,467 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Mercedes-Benz | AMG GLE53 |
| 2021 | Mercedes-Benz | AMG GLE63 |
| 2021 | Mercedes-Benz | GLE 350 |
| 2021 | Mercedes-Benz | GLE 450 |
What is the fix for the AMG GLE63 headlight recall?
An interim notice went out first. Check NHTSA to see if the final repair is now available for your VIN.
Dealers will replace the LED headlights, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed August 13, 2021. A second notice will be sent once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed January 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Manufacturer recall number: 2021120011.
When was recall 21V509 announced?
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC reported recall 21V509 to NHTSA on July 2, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| July 2, 2021 | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V509000. |
| August 13, 2021 | Letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 63 months ago. If your AMG GLE63 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my AMG GLE63 is part of recall 21V509?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V509 is open on your AMG GLE63, 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 GLE63 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 GLE63 owners do about recall 21V509?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V509000 applies to your AMG GLE63.
- 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.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Write down when symptoms involving the headlights happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are AMG GLE63 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 81 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 2 of them about the lighting and visibility.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the lighting and visibility have been filed since recall 21V509 was reported (2) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 81 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 2 of them involve the lighting and visibility. 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 GLE 350: 48 complaints in total, 1 about the lighting and visibility
- 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53: 16 complaints in total, 0 about the lighting and visibility
- 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450: 15 complaints in total, 1 about the lighting and visibility
- 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63: 2 complaints in total, 0 about the lighting and visibility
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
2021 MB GLE 450 bought in April 2021, now approximately 8000 miles with two separate events of not starting. Cannot jump. Once 48V battery system updated (3 months ago), required tow to dealer. Now again at dealer with the same issue and recommended for battery change (last time was software update).
2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 owner, OR, NHTSA complaint 11461858, filed April 23, 2022
The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE350. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was condensation leaking from a hole near the trunk release button onto the pedal and the floor of the front passenger’s side of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.
2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11670708, filed July 2, 2025
Can recall 21V509 make my AMG GLE63 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 21V509000 does not automatically make your AMG GLE63 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))?
A headlight, wiper or visibility defect on the 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63 can make night or rain driving unsafe, and repeat repairs for the same problem count toward a lemon law claim.
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.
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.
A recall with no fix can support a buyback on its own.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
Recall repairs depend on parts. Owners can wait days, weeks or months, usually about one to three months in our cases, and those days count toward California's 30-day out-of-service rule.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your AMG GLE63 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V509
Is the 21V509000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my AMG GLE63 is part of recall 21V509000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
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.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V509000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Mercedes-Benz. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.