Recalls for premium brands Jag, Benz, Porsche

Luxury car-makers loom large on the ACCC’s recall lists this month with Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche calling in vehicles for safety-related checkovers.

However, all three premium brands say the recalls are more about peace of mind than overt danger, with negligible hazard and no reported incidents.

Mercedes-Benz is recalling 2159 M-Class vehicles sold with potentially hazardous floor mats that it says may interfere with the accelerator pedal. The ACCC last week issued a recall notice on the new-generation ML manufactured between March and August 2012 and sold here between March 1 and August 31.

According to the ACCC notice: “In isolated cases, the accelerator pedal may contact the floor mat, which could interfere with the pedal operation and affect the ability of the driver to slow the vehicle”, potentially resulting in “unexpected high vehicle speeds and [making it] difficult to slow or stop the vehicle.”

Daimler spokesman Jerry Stamoulis told motoring.com.au the recall doesn’t apply to all MLs sold during the quoted interval because the problem floor mat isn’t standard equipment.

“What we call the all-seasons floor mat is an accessory for our ML series, ordered in different cases as part of factory-option or dealer-accessory packages. Our dealers know who’s got them, and those customers will be contacted either by their dealer or by Mercedes-Benz head office.

“Certainly we haven’t had news of any incidents of the kind the ACCC mentions, but it’s cause for concern,” he said.

The local program is part of a recall of about 8000 MLs sold worldwide with the mats. The ACCC says customers should contact their local authorised Mercedes-Benz dealership for an inspection ASAP.

Jaguar, meantime, put out a notice on 63 XF 5.0-litre V8s to check over the fuel outlet mounting flange, which it says may crack. The company advises the problem will most likely first show up as an amber warning light on the instrument panel, revealing the minor possibility of a fuel leak and resultant fire risk.

Jaguar Australia Brand Manager Mark Eedle told motoring.com.au this is a voluntary safety recall. Owners who haven’t already been contacted will receive a letter advising them to take their XF to a Jaguar dealer to have the flange replaced. Potentially affected vehicles reside in the VIN range R47155 to R73382.

Finally this month, Porsche has announced a recall of 36 high-performance 997-series 911 GT3 models to check the rear axle for potential problems with the wheel hubs and bearings.

The local recall covers GT3 coupes manufactured between February 19, 2009 and April 6, 2010. The ACCC notice puts it down to a remote risk, “in rare circumstances”, that the wheel hubs and wheel bearings on the rear axle may break. In the US, the company has recalled 455 GT3s for the same issue.

Porsche Cars Australia says the issue isn’t so much about manifest hazard as it is about standardising revision intervals and the company has had no reports of problems with the affected parts. Owners can expect a letter calling their car into their dealer to replace the part.