Mercedes recalls 400,000 cars over faulty steering

Mercedes is recalling 400,000 cars in the UK due to faulty steering systems that can cause airbags to deploy.

The recall spans models from across the German car giant’s range, says Auto Express, including the “A-Class, B-Class, C-Class, E-Class and CLA, GLA and GLC”.

Only vehicles from these model groups that were manufactured “between November 2011 and July 2017” are affected by the steering fault, the website adds.

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The issue itself relates to a “clock spring” in the steering column, says Autocar, “which if broken can trigger an airbag warning and illuminate the airbag warning light”.

“If the steering column module clock spring is broken and the wiring components are not sufficiently earthed, this could lead to an electrostatic discharge which could inadvertently deploy the driver’s airbag,” a Mercedes spokesperson told BBC News.

However, the spokesperson said, the issue only occurs in “rare circumstances”.

The marque says owners of models that may be affected “should call their breakdown cover provider or contact their nearest Mercedes dealer” if the airbag light in activated in their vehicle, reports WhatCar?.

Mercedes will contact owners of potentially affected cars “in the coming days and weeks”, adds the website. Repairs are free under the recall and are expected to take “no longer than an hour to complete”.