No, this is NOT a recall.  As part of the settlement with the US authorities, Daimler and Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) are offering eligible vehicle Owners/Lessees a modification to the vehicles’ emission control system, referred to as an Approved Emission Modification (AEM).  This modification will be performed at no cost to the Owner/Lessee.

To facilitate the Emission Modification on the subject vehicle population, the vehicle models and model years have been separated into one of twelve Emission Modification Categories.  Each vehicle in an EMC is eligible to participate in the Emission Modification Program and receive, from an authorized Mercedes-Benz Dealer, the Approved Emission Modification for that eligible vehicle.

Eligible vehicle Owners/Lessees will receive an Owner/Lessee letter by mail notifying them that the Emission Modification for their vehicle is available, and requesting them to bring in their vehicle to their preferred authorized Mercedes-Benz Dealer.  We will also implement additional outreach efforts to encourage Owners/Lessees to have the Emission Modification completed as soon as possible. 

A Check Engine Light (“CEL”) can illuminate for a number of reasons. Authorized Mercedes-Benz Dealers will diagnose the vehicle and repair the vehicle at the Owner’s/Lessee’s discretion.  Issues that arise in the vehicle prior to the Emission Modification (“EM”) being approved and ready for installation on the vehicle, including affected components which would be replaced as part of the EM, are the responsibility of the Owner/Lessee. 

Once the EM is approved and ready for installation on an eligible vehicle, certain components will be installed to update the emission system in the vehicle.  Should a vehicle exhibit a CEL prior to EM installation, an authorized Mercedes-Benz Dealer will advise the Owner/Lessee if additional repairs will be needed to ensure the proper functioning of the vehicle’s emission system.  Depending on the faulty component, these repairs may be the responsibility of the Owner/Lessee.  

A Check Engine Light (“CEL”) can illuminate for a number of reasons. Authorized Mercedes-Benz Dealers can diagnose and repair the vehicle if an issue arises. 

Additionally, if the diagnosis of the CEL is related to a part covered by the extended warranty provided in connection with the Emission Modification Program, the extended warranty provisions may cover the cost of the repair.  Please refer to the extended warranty provisions.  

Where loaner vehicles are available, authorized Mercedes-Benz Dealers are requested to offer loaner vehicles to each Eligible Owner/Lessee at no cost where the implementation of the Approved Emission Modification will take 3 hours or longer to complete.

Authorized Mercedes-Benz Dealers will attempt to minimize inconvenience during the Emission Modification process. Should Owners/Lessees experience an excessive delay with the Emission Modification of their vehicle, they can contact the MBUSA Customer Assistance Center at 1-833-841-9362.

Owners/Lessees will be asked to contact their local authorized Mercedes-Benz Dealer to arrange for an appointment to complete the Emission Modification, or they can also contact the MBUSA Customer Assistance Center at 1-833-841-9362 for further assistance.  An authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer will install the Emission Modification at no cost to the Owner/Lessee.  Owners/Lessees can also find their nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Dealer on the internet at Find a Mercedes-Benz dealer.

Not all Emission Modifications will be available at the same time. Some vehicle models, and model years, already have approved modifications and we are working with the governmental agencies to obtain approvals for the remaining models.  MBUSA will notify Eligible Owners/Lessees, and dealers, within 15 business days of the Emission Modification becoming approved and available for their vehicle.

For up-to-date availability information, please refer to the following website where Owners/Lessees may input their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and be advised about the current status of the modification for that vehicle:

https://BlueTecUpdate.mbusa.com

No. There are no symptoms that would signal the need for the Emission Modification.

Authorized Mercedes-Benz Dealers will replace specific emissions-related components and software in the subject vehicles. This replacement is part of the Emission Modification Program and varies by model and model year. For more information, please visit https://BlueTecUpdate.mbusa.com

No, the AEM does not affect a vehicle’s ability to pass a state Smog Check. However, we do recommend the vehicle be driven approximately 800 miles after AEM installation before a Smog Check to allow the system to reset. 

This settlement pertains specifically to MY09 to MY16 BlueTEC II vehicles with OM642 and OM651 engines sold or leased in the US.

Owners/Lessees with affected vehicles will be mailed a notification letter when the Emission Modification for their vehicle is available. Owners/Lessees can always check if their vehicle is affected by entering their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) into the following site: https://BlueTecUpdate.mbusa.com

Owners/Lessees should first check the eligibility and status of their vehicle by visiting https://BlueTecUpdate.mbusa.com.  To be automatically alerted when the Emission Modification is available for their vehicle, Owners/Lessees are being asked to complete the “Keep Me Updated” section of the website after entering their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to check the status.

Owners/Lessees should wait to bring their vehicle in for the Emission Modification until they receive notice that the Emission Modification has been approved and made available for their specific vehicle. A copy of the letter does not need to be presented to receive the Emission Modification. The Emission Modifications will be launched in phases, pending governmental agency approval.  The Emission Modifications for all of the subject vehicle models (all MY09 to MY16 BlueTEC II vehicles with OM642 and OM651 engines sold or leased in the US) will not be launched at the same time.

Once the Emission Modification has been approved for a particular vehicle type, Owners/Lessees will be sent a letter requesting them to schedule an appointment with their authorized Mercedes-Benz Dealer to perform the Emission Modification.

No, Owners/Lessees with eligible vehicles do not need the Owner/Lessee letter to have the Emission Modification performed. Local authorized Mercedes-Benz Dealers can check the eligibility and status of vehicles without the Owner/Lessee letter.

No Emission Modification may be performed until the governmental agencies approve the Emission Modification for the Owners/Lessees’ specific model.

If, prior to receiving the Emission Modification, the vehicle has been modified in a manner that  impedes the installation of the AEM or substantially affects the operation of the AEM after install (for example, removal of original emissions components not part of the AEM), Dealers might not be able to perform the Emission Modification until the prior modifications are corrected.  The Owners/Lessees would be responsible for such corrections.  Once corrected, the vehicle may receive the Emission Modification. 

If Owners/Lessees decline the Emission Modification at this time, they will be advised by their authorized Mercedes-Benz Dealer that certain emissions-related replacement and repair parts (for their existing system) may no longer be available from Mercedes-Benz at some point in the future. Additionally, the current vehicle Owner/Lessee will not be able to make a compensation claim as part of the proposed class action settlement without first having the Approved Emission Modification performed on their vehicle.

Yes. Once the Approved Emission Modification is performed, certain components will have an extended warranty for the greater of 4 years/48,000 miles from the date of installation of the Emission Modification or 10 years/120,000 miles from the initial sale date of the vehicle. This extended warranty remains with the vehicle and is fully transferable to subsequent owners until expiration. Details regarding this warranty may be found at https://BlueTecUpdate.mbusa.com or on the notification.

Extended Modification Warranty coverage may be denied if an Eligible Vehicle has been altered with the use of any after-market emissions-related components, parts, and/or software, or with the removal of any original emissions-related components, parts, and/or software, and such alteration(s) are likely to substantially affect the operation of the vehicle with the Approved Emission Modifications, until the owner of such vehicle, at his or her expense, has reversed the alteration(s) such that the Approved Emission Modification will not be substantially affected.

Eligible Owners/Lessees can access information regarding the Emission Modification Program Incentive by visiting https://mbempayment.com