2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53 Interior and Under Dash Recall (21V909)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC · 17 vehicles · Reported November 19, 2021
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC is recalling 17 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53; 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 vehicles. In the passenger-side footwell, the ground connection bolts for the electric heater may be improperly tightened. Loose ground connection bolts on the electric heater may cause the wiring to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V909 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V909000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 2021120004 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | November 19, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53; 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 |
| Units affected | 17 |
| Component | Electrical System > Wiring > Interior / Under Dash |
| Safety risk | Loose ground connection bolts on the electric heater may cause the wiring to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53 in recall 21V909?
In the passenger-side footwell, the ground connection bolts for the electric heater may be improperly tightened.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 GLE450 and AMG GLE53 vehicles. In the passenger-side footwell, the ground connection bolts for the electric heater may be improperly tightened.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 AMG GLE53 with recall 21V909?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Loose ground connection bolts on the electric heater may cause the wiring to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Loose ground connection bolts on the electric heater may cause the wiring to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your AMG GLE53 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the interior and under dash, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V909?
Recall 21V909 covers 17 vehicles: 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53; 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450.
NHTSA lists 17 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 | GLE 450 |
What is the fix for the AMG GLE53 interior and under dash recall?
Yes. Dealers will check the electric heater ground connection and repair it as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will check the electric heater ground connection and repair it as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Manufacturer recall number: 2021120004.
When was recall 21V909 announced?
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC reported recall 21V909 to NHTSA on November 19, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as January 7, 2022.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 19, 2021 | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V909000. |
| January 7, 2022 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 59 months ago. If your AMG GLE53 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my AMG GLE53 is part of recall 21V909?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V909 is open on your AMG GLE53, 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 GLE53 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 GLE53 owners do about recall 21V909?
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 21V909000 applies to your AMG GLE53.
- Call a Mercedes-Benz dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- 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 interior and under dash 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 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 GLE53 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 17 of them about the electrical system.
Since recall 21V909 was reported on November 19, 2021, owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 3 of them (23%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the electrical system and were received on or after November 19, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related electrical system issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 31 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 17 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 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
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
Engine harness wires insulation is falling apart very early after 3 years. It’s causing arching inside the insulation. Issues is from overheating and can cause a fire. Isolation needs to be upgraded and wire harness needs replaced.
2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53 owner, MD, NHTSA complaint 11645796, filed March 2, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE53. The contact stated the vehicle would not start. The contact stated that he was unable to jumpstart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired.
2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53 owner, ID, NHTSA complaint 11427703, filed August 4, 2021
GLE53 would not start. The car threw an error stating 12v battery malfunction.(Impacted the 48V battery) This essentially disables the vehicle completely. This is 2021 GLE53 with less than 5000 miles. There is also an issue with the side-view mirror and wind noise.
2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53 owner, NJ, NHTSA complaint 11441783, filed November 26, 2021
Can recall 21V909 make my AMG GLE53 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)).
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 interior and under dash problem is common in lemon law claims.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53 has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
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.
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.
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 GLE53 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V909
Did the recall 21V909 fix work?
Since recall 21V909 was reported on November 19, 2021, owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 3 of them (23%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed January 7, 2022.
Is the 21V909000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my AMG GLE53 is part of recall 21V909000?
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.
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 21V909000 (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.