2021-2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG E53 Wiring Recall (24V445)

Recall 24V445 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021-2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG E53 in recall 24V445?

The transmission wiring harness connection might not have been correctly wired during a prior recall repair, and during production.

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 CLS 53 4MATIC, 2019-2023 E 53 4MATIC Cabriolet, E 53 4MATIC Coupe, E 53 4MATIC Sedan, 2021-2024 GT 43 4MATIC, and 2019-2025 GT 53 4MATIC vehicles. The transmission wiring harness connection might not have been correctly wired during a prior recall repair, and during production. which can expose the electrical connector to corrosion, and result in an electrical short-circuit.

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 2021-2023 AMG E53 with recall 24V445?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your AMG E53 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the wiring, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 24V445?

Recall 24V445 covers 22,422 vehicles: 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLS53; 2021-2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG E53; 2021-2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT43; 2021-2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT53.

NHTSA lists 22,422 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 E53 wiring recall?

Yes. Dealers will replace the two-part wiring harness and connector, free of charge.

Dealers will replace the two-part wiring harness and connector, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 9, 2024. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024100002/3. This recall supersedes recall 22V-533. Vehicles repaired under the prior recall will still need to have the new remedy performed.

When was recall 24V445 announced?

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC reported recall 24V445 to NHTSA on June 14, 2024.

This recall was filed 27 months ago. If your AMG E53 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my AMG E53 is part of recall 24V445?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 24V445 is open on your AMG E53, it will be listed there.

Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 24V445000 is open on your AMG E53, it will be listed there, along with Mercedes-Benz recall number 2024100002/3. 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 AMG E53 owners do about recall 24V445?

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 24V445000 applies to your AMG E53.
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. Write down when symptoms involving the wiring 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 E53 owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 4 of them about the electrical system.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the electrical system have been filed since recall 24V445 was reported (2) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 15 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 4 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 E53: 5 complaints in total, 1 about the electrical system
• 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG E53: 3 complaints in total, 0 about the electrical system
• 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT43: 2 complaints in total, 1 about the electrical system
• 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLS53: 1 complaints in total, 0 about the electrical system
• 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT53: 1 complaints in total, 1 about the electrical system
• 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT43: 1 complaints in total, 1 about the electrical system
• 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG E53: 1 complaints in total, 0 about the electrical system
• 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT53: 1 complaints in total, 0 about the electrical system

Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):

Was driving the car when it gave me a -48v malfunction. This was quickly followed by an overheat warning to turn the car off. It appears to be an issue with the -48v battery.

2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG E53 owner, OK, NHTSA complaint 11534064, filed July 24, 2023

The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT53. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V445000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.

2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT53 owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11629844, filed December 10, 2024

2023 MERCEDES GT 43 AMG, approximately one year old caught fire in the garage of our home. The car was off and sitting in the garage for approximately 10 hours prior to fire damaging the garage and parts of the house. This occurred at approximately [XXX] on [XXX].

2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT43 owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11621490, filed October 23, 2024

Can recall 24V445 make my AMG E53 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 24V445000 does not automatically make your AMG E53 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))?

Intermittent electrical problems are a frequent source of repeat repair visits: the dealer cannot reproduce the fault, the owner brings the 2021-2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG E53 back, and the problem shows up again.

This campaign follows an earlier recall for the same issue. A second recall can mean the first remedy failed, and repeated repair attempts on the same defect are the core of most lemon law claims.

Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 22V533000, 24V100000.

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 24V445