Recall of more than 500,000 Mercedes-Benz vehicles worldwide due to illegal defeat devices - Focus on Viano, Vito and Sprinter models

The scope of Dieselgate is growing. On September 16, 2021 and October 01, the German Federal Motor Transport Authority recalled more than 500,000 Mercedes vehicles worldwide of the Viano, Vito, and Sprinter models with the OM diesel engine. The background to this is once again illegal defeat devices, which must now be removed. To fix the situation, a software update is to be installed on the vehicles in a workshop.

Daimler tried to further deceive the authorities by changing the engine software.

Previously, Daimler AG (brand owner of Mercedes-Benz) had still tried to conceal the impermissible defeat devices by further manipulating the engine software during voluntary service measures. This is particularly embarrassing because after the first defeat devices in this engine became known, Daimler assured the Federal Motor Transport Authority that there were no further defeat devices. Apparently, however, Daimler did not keep it that way with the truth when it changed the engine software.

The German government also assumes that there are inadmissible defeat devices in the Mercedes Sprinter. After an inquiry of the party of the Greens it expressed that the function used in the vehicle (Mercedes Sprinter) for the reduction of the effectiveness of the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) is judged as inadmissible after the European Union regulation.

The chances of success for claims for damages regarding Mercedes vehicles are increasing more and more.

From an environmental and technical point of view, we do not recommend installing the software update, as the vehicles emit even more nitrogen oxides after the update than before and the engine is also subjected to greater stress, which leads to increased diesel and AdBlue consumption and reduces the life expectancy of the engine.

The recall is only one part of the development in Mercedes-Dieselgate. More and more courts are awarding Mercedes customers damages for the use of inadmissible defeat devices. In addition, Daimler AG had to pay a fine of 870 million euros following investigations by the Stuttgart public prosecutor's office. However, anyone who still wants to enforce their claim for damages must hurry, as many cases could become time-barred in the near future due to the advanced age of the engine.

Learn more about how to enforce claims for damages in Dieselgate cases here.