Makes no sense to me they will not reimburse people who did out of pocket replacement, even if there were a cash limit, up to nnnn dollars.

I wonder if they will have to send the old tires in as proof, just as with warranty issues ... or if you may be able to hold on to the set you just installed?

Just seems illogical and wasteful, and you end up with the tires they mandate, instead those of your own choice.

 

Makes no sense to me they will not reimburse people who did out of pocket replacement, even if there were a cash limit, up to nnnn dollars.

I wonder if they will have to send the old tires in as proof, just as with warranty issues ... or if you may be able to hold on to the set you just installed?

Just seems illogical and wasteful, and you end up with the tires they mandate, instead those of your own choice.

Totally agree, especially for folks like you who IMHO upgraded to the Falken WildPeak in the only size Sam's Club would sell you. Your local driving conditions make the Continental's an unfair trade.

I've had to change my summer travel plans, so I cancelled by effort to trick Sam's into selling 2022 spec tires for my '18. I am going to wait out Mercedes for a free set of Continentals, and go ahead with another pet tire & wheel project which I'll disclose later.

@Serge9898 thanks for the info! I'll call my dealer to see what they know. FWIW, there is nothing new on the NHTSA site

 

My 2023 extended cargo came with 235/60R16 100T.

 

Yikes. The recall applies to 2016-2018 vans, I think.

 

Why the yikes? This is an imaginary problem, right? This is a legal issue with the sticker. Sticker changed in later years, right?

 

I wouldn't call it imaginary. The defect lies in the regulatory safety margin, so I guess the tires are usable, but I don't think a regulatory safety margin is there to be ignored.

 

So I just looked it up, my van has a GVWR of 6834 lbs. divided by 4 is 1708.5. 100 load rating is 1764 so it's good.

 

As I understand, apparently because they're vans, there's a requirement for something like 10%more. That's where the original problem occurred.

 

All it takes to make it safe is a sharpie, right?

 

Well, no, unless the Sharpie is used to order new tires. I don't know for sure why there is a regulatory safety factor, but I can think of several reasons it makes sense. An extra weight margin protects drivers against risks from:

• Unintentional overloading
• Inconsistent tire manufacture

Gemini Advanced adds:

• Real-world variability: Driving conditions vary greatly. Tires encounter potholes, uneven roads, curbs, and different loads. The safety margin accounts for these unpredictable factors, ensuring the tire can withstand unexpected stress.
• Wear and tear: As tires wear down, their capacity to carry loads decreases. The safety margin compensates for this gradual decline in performance, providing a buffer for safe operation even as the tire ages.
• Liability and legal considerations: Manufacturers incorporate safety margins to protect themselves from liability issues. Overloaded tires that fail can lead to accidents and lawsuits, so having a safety factor helps mitigate this risk.

 

The sharpie it to lower the weight on the sticker so you don't exceed the 1.1 multiplier.

 

I get it, and generally agree with the "not a huge deal" sentiment. But I want what I paid for -- MB knows this or they wouldn't be offering new tires.

I am feeling tenacious (maybe even obnoxious) on this one because the nearly 2 year delay (actually 5.5 years since I bought Metris) has been at my real, not imagined, risk, especially when I didn't know about the problem. MB's claim of parts unavailability is, I believe, nothing but a convenient corporate dodge that NHTSA will tolerate. I might be less strident If I could get the right tires without lying to the retailer, but I can't.

BTW, I am not sure why, but MB has never issued a load limitation warning or any operational guidance to address the undersized tires. I don't understand that. In the absence of such manufacturer guidance, I really have no way to know how much to underload the van. So again, MB has effectively offloaded all risk on this one to owners. I may be Pollyanna, but I expect more of a responsible manufacturer.

 

The biggest load I put in it is a motorcycle and misc. stuff maybe 700 lbs. I have no issue with the stock tires, when they need replacing, I will put on Michelin Defenders or Defender 2's. I have used Michelin Defenders for years on small Toyota pick-ups and could get 70,000 miles with good grip, handling and ride.

 

I upgraded my wheels to 18 inch, does this mean Mercedes is going to give me 18” tire replacements?

 

Highly unlikely you would get a replacement.

 

You would need to roll in with 17" wheels and let them mount them.

 

@Metroplex Metris. Everybody will come with a different opinion indeed, and the MB Service Director himself was not 100% sure how to interpret the bulletin, but I read the bulletin again. The recall is due to MB specifying 101 load tire that fail to conform Safety Standard. It's only about load rating (not size): "If you have 101 tire (as required), it will be replaced for free" (Sic).
The size is not mentioned. Knowing how open to interpretation it is, I believe you have a very good case to negotiate with your MB dealer (should you have to pay the price difference between 17" and 18"...)

 

The size is not mentioned. Knowing how open to interpretation it is, I believe you have a very good case to negotiate with your MB dealer (should you have to pay the price difference between 17" and 18"...)

The recall instructions specify installation of new 235/55R17XL 103H Continental VanContact A/S tires.

 

I just enjoyed a 25 minute circular conversation with Mercedes. They explained (after I tore up the first 5 B.S. fake answers) that the Parts availability letter -- now shown by NHTSA to have been mailed on April 19th, applies to one of several subgroups in the recall. I am apparently under 2022080008, rather than 2024020016, which is what the April letter applies to. I have no way to verify this claim

 

Did you ever receive your letter? I just called MBUSA and they say it’s still pending and have no date for a remedy!

 

Strangely I learned of the April letter when getting a service at an independent garage lately. He handed me a printout that included the attached text. I’m going to try to call a dealer and see what they say.

 

You can run your Vin to see if it applies to your van.

 

Has anyone here actually received a letter? It better still actually had the fix?

 

No letter here.

 

Still no letter for me. I held out as long as I could, but had replace my tires this summer. Hopefully, when the recall letter does come, I can put off taking the van in for a couple of years while I get some life out of these tires.

 

TIRE RECALL UPDATE: Mid-November?

The delay in tire replacement has been explained on the NHTSA website as of 10/7 -- MB is blaming it on dealers ordering the wrong door jamb labels:

 

My interpretation is different. They made it too confusing for the shops so they accepted that and changed it. Or... They decided to pre-print labels.

 

How could they not pre-print labels?

 

People make all sorts of bad decisions. Ai thankfully does as well.

 

What is the status of this tire recall? 6 months ago or so I had seen my 2017 Metris listed under this recall, but now it doesn't come up when I put my VIN in to the Mercedes site. Is there a possibility these vehicles will be provided new tires? Any other info. out there? Mainly wondering to help me decide whether to start looking for new tires or wait a bit longer.

 

Check HERE. I'm not sure, but as of July 12, 2024, Daimler was trying to wriggle out of the recall altogether -- my VIN now shows no open recalls.

I think we've been shafted by NHTSA and Daimler. Calling NHTSA now --

As of October, Daimler says they've fixed 373 of 24,359 vehicles.

 

The Last Word:

There's only one word -- actually an acronym my WWII veteran Dad taught me -- to describe NHTSA and Daimler.

FUBAR

I called Daimler after NHTSA had nothing to report. Daimler now has no record of the recall ever being applicable to my vehicle! I had to read the 2022 letter I received (with my VIN) to the Daimler rep. Daimler actually called my dealer, who of course said they had no record of the recall (I am told). Daimler said that only NHTSA can add or remove vehicles to the recall (false as Daimler identified the affected vehicle population). They appear to have wiped this one nicely, leaving basically no footprints. I spent 15 minutes with NHTSA and over 50 minutes with Daimler. I asked how to escalate this within Daimler.

Sorry to report I really think we got hosed here. Somebody might minimize or rationalize the risk involved with undersized tires on a cargo van, but that doesn't change the very basic customer service fail this represents. As a very successful friend in the shoe business told it to me, "You hate to give a refund, but when you do, make sure it's with a smile." Daimler has failed both elements of this test.

As to NHTSA, let's just say they could do well by replacing their phone staff with Salesforce agentics.

 

UPDATE: CarFax (not Daimler) just sent me notice of tire and door jamb label availability. More importantly, the recall is back on the NHTSA site applicable to my VIN as of 12/9/24, just a few days after my immediately preceding rant.

Maybe Daimler is doing the right thing? Check your VIN if you have 255's.

 

I received the same notice from Carfax and confirmed that my vin is applicable. I plan on scheduling repair tomorrow with MB dealership. The anticipated fix of lowering the vehicle payload is very disappointing, I have already upgraded my tires and tend to push the current rated rear axle capacity just loading up the family and gear for vacation. I’m expecting the new rear axle weight rating pushes me to a bigger vehicle. If anyone has gone through the recall repair already please share details . I will report back with any new information once completed.

 

The recall inspection and remedy are available on the upcoast part of the Central California coast that's not yet burning.

I just scheduled the recall inspection for next week. The service writer (who I've worked with mostly for 6 years) told me the recall didn't show back in their system until January 9, 2025. There was clearly something strange at NHTSA when I posted in early December, but I am not going to try to suss it out.

 

That was indeed strange for it to disappear; and it seems quite likely to me, that your diligence put it back on the radar.

Who knows how their systems work and who has access to what features 😬

 

That was indeed strange for it to disappear; and it seems quite likely to me, that your diligence put it back on the radar.

Who knows how their systems work and who has access to what features 😬

I have no fantasy like that, but thank heaven the Constitution allows us to make pests of ourselves to the government or private industry, as needed.

 

I confirm that the NHTS tire recall on my vehicle was missing for a while but shows up again now when doing a lookup. I have no doubt MB was trying to get out of it and something backfired on them. @focus805 Thank you for putting pressure on where it was needed. Hopefully the right psi's in a new set soon-ish. My status shows up as "Recall Incomplete" as of the moment.