Montvale, NJ — April 19, 2016 — A single defect in hundreds of Mercedes-Benz vehicles could impact drivers in harmful ways. According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report, 888 Mercedes-Benz vehicles may have steering column wiring harness issues that could manifest in several different unwanted situations: the document lists turn signal failure, airbag deployment and engine stalling as possible consequences of this problem.

This same report noted that the early examples of this issue were noticed last August. The recall concerns Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 and GLC-300 4-matic vehicles produced between June, July and November 2015. While a driver might get warning indicators in the case of some of these issues , the notice specifically said that airbag deployment would not come with a warning.

“Authorized Mercedes-Benz dealers will check the wiring harnesses on the affected vehicles and repair it, if necessary, and the wiring harness will be correctly routed,” the notice asserted. It also stated that the component supplier, DR XLMAIER Group, began “immediate countermeasures” including “starting on-site training at the wiring harness manufacturing plant” and “conducting specific checks for correct assembly.” This took place in August 2015, a day after the defect was discovered at the plant itself.

Left Lane News reported on a different Mercedes-Benz recall in March, this one concerning the C300, which could accidentally eject its sunroof while the vehicle is in motion. This posed an obvious safety threat, but the recall only affected 53 vehicles in the United States, and the problem seemed to be easily remedied with the right bonding and glass panel attached. The source also said that the problem was caused by improper labeling, in which panels were installed in cars before they had received the right priming.