2018-2020 Mercedes-Benz X-Class recalled for misleading roof loading advice

Mercedes-Benz Vans Australia has issued a recall of 6117 examples of its X-Class ute with Model Years from 2018 to 2020 (MY18-MY20) due to potentially misleading roof loading advice printed in the owner's manual.

The recall notice, lodged with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), says the listed roof weight advice applies to a stationary vehicle, and a "moving vehicle experiences additional pressure on the roof from a load and therefore the maximum safe loading should be less".

Mercedes-Benz says fibreglass canopies fitted to the X-Class are susceptible to breaking if the roofs are overloaded. Additionally, the electronic stability control may not perform correctly in certain circumstances relating to roof loads.

Affected cars were sold between 1 February 2018 and 29 May 2020. Mercedes-Benz Australia is contacting owners to organise a free replacement of the printed and digital versions of the owner's manual.

This is the second such recall for the X-Class, with the model being recalled in June 2019 for incorrect roof loading information in the owner's manual.

Mercedes-Benz Vans Australia has told CarAdvice this is a re-release of the 2019 notice, despite the recall encompassing vehicles sold after the issue was first published. The brand says there have been no known incidents involving local cars.

A full list of vehicle identification numbers of the 6117 cars involved in the recall can be found here.

To have your X-Class owner's manual swapped, find your closest Mercedes-Benz dealership by clicking here.

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