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Mercedes-Benz B-Class W246 common faults.

2011–2018. The fault list covers this generation and the engines in it. If the listing gives the exact version, pick it below.

Mercedes-Benz B-Class W246

M 93 / CC BY-SA 3.0 de

What to watch for

What can go wrong on this car?

The list covers the generation, the engines and the transmissions. Once you pick the version, only the faults that apply to it stay.

critical7

expensive1

The 7 speed dual clutch of the transverse MFA platform (7G-DCT / 724.0: A/B/CLA/GLA/GLB) started its early years with jerking and firmware faults; today most of the complaints trace back to the mechatronics unit (valve body and solenoids) and the electric oil pump.

Applies to the transmission MB7DCT.

7 more faults belong to this generation. On the version page, only the ones that apply stay.

Official recall14 recallsShow

The manufacturer fixes these for free at a franchised dealer. Ask with the VIN whether it was done. The list covers the whole generation. We did not filter it by model year. Some apply only to a narrower production window.

Most recent: 1 September 2017

A12/1352/17Safety recallFire1 September 2017 · EU Safety Gate

The starter current limiter may be overloaded and overheat. As a consequence, the surrounding components could ignite, leading to a fire.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: 01/09/2017

The authority's notice

A12/00017/22Safety recallFireno date · EU Safety Gate

A trapped particle may damage the sealing between the fuel rail and fuel injector, which could cause fuel to leak into the engine compartment. Consequently, leaking fuel may come into contact with hot parts of the engine, increasing the risk of fire. The product does not comply with the requirements laid down in the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/00346/20Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The occupant classification system for the front passenger seat may not be calibrated in accordance with the specifications. Consequently, an installed child seat may be identified as a person or a small, light person as a child seat. As a result, the passenger airbag could be activated despite the presence of a child seat or the passenger airbag could fail to activate despite the presence of a person on the passenger seat, increasing the risk of injuries.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/00488/20Safety recallEnvironmentno date · EU Safety Gate

Refrigerant of type R134a is used in the air conditioning system. As a result, the affected vehicles do not meet the requirements for type approval. The product does not comply with the requirements of the Type-approval directive.

Remedy: Type of economic operator to whom the measure(s) were ordered: Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/00732/21Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The front seats may not be sufficiently stable. As a result, the seat and its occupant could move more than expected in the event of a crash, leading to increased risk of injury.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/00857/21Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

A bore hole in the universal joint on the steering shaft may have incorrect size. As a result, there could be play between the bearing fitted into the bore hole and the universal joint, which could cause the joint to become detached over time. This would impair the vehicle’s steerability, increasing the risk of an accident.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/00940/24Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The steering software may not correctly activate the fallback level in the event of a hardware failure. This could affect the power steering assistance and lead to the loss of steering capacity, increasing the risk of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of Motor Vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Update of the electric steering software Date of entry into force: Unknown Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/01146/20Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The welded joints fixing the frame of the front seats may not comply with the specifications. As a result they could fail in the event of a crash, causing the seat and its occupant to move more than expected, leading to increased risk of injuries.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/0267/19Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

A bolt in the locking mechanism of the articulated trailer coupling is defective. It could break while a trailer is being towed and consequently the trailer could detach, thus increasing the risk of an accident for following traffic.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/0763/17Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The mixture ratio of the fuel in the inflators of the front-passenger knee, pelvic and side curtain airbags may not be correct. In the event of an accident requiring the deployment of the airbags, this could lead to the airbags not inflating properly.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/0852/18Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The casing material of the gas generator of the driver airbag may be defective. In the event that the airbag is deployed, the airbag may not protect the driver and detached parts might enter the passenger compartment causing injury to the vehicle occupants.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/1621/18Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The calibration of the occupant classification system for the passenger seat may not be adequate. As a consequence, the installation of a child seat may not deactivate the passenger airbag as required. In the event of an accident, the passenger airbag could therefore be deployed. This could increase the risk of injury to a child in a rear-facing child seat.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/1733/17Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The steering column is not sufficiently earthed. As a result, in the event of an electrostatic discharge, the driver's airbag may be triggered when not required. This could cause an accident.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/1794/19Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The fixing screw connecting the base holder of the manual control device may not be correctly fitted. This can impair the control over the vehicle, increasing the risk of an accident.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

Engines and transmissions in this generation

A fault is often tied to the engine, not to the whole generation. You find the engine code in the registration document.

W246 · 2011–2018

Pick the version.

The fault list opens on the version page.

128 versions

Showing 60 of 128 versions.

Neighbouring generations

W246 · 2011–2018

W246 (2011-2018). If the listing is from the changeover year, look at the neighbour too.

Previous generation

W245 · 2005–2011

This generation

W246 · 2011–2018

Next generation

W247 · 2019–

Common questions

About this generation

Which years does this page cover?

2011–2018. The changeover year can fall in two generations. If the listing is from that year, look at the neighbour too.

Does the fault apply to every car like this?

No. It depends on the engine and the transmission too.

Is it free?

The fault list is.

Information, not an expert opinion

We write the descriptions, and we put the source next to them. A person reviews them before they go out. They are still information, not a technical expert opinion.

  • A fault on the list does not mean the car you are looking at has it.
  • A fault missing from the list does not mean the model is fault-free. Write-ups are made model by model. Not all of them are done.
  • You decide whether to buy. This is no substitute for an inspection. That needs a workshop and a history check.
Details in the terms