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Mercedes-Benz Vito W639 common faults.

2003–2014. The fault list covers this generation and the engines in it. If the listing gives the exact version, pick it below.

Mercedes-Benz Vito W639

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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.

OM646 2.1 CDI: a snapping timing belt

critical

Many OM646 owners do not know that this engine has a timing belt, not a timing chain.

Applies to the engine OM646DE22LA.

Repair: 500–1,400 EUR

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

Official recall11 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.

A12/00435/24Safety recallFire, Injuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The battery may fail to work, resulting in a loss of power transmission without warning, creating a risk of fire and accidents (injuries). 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): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/00872/22Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

Incorrect image (frozen picture) information may be displayed by the rear view camera at low temperatures. As a result, the driver will not have an accurate and reliable view of the areas behind the vehicle on the display screen when reversing, which could increase 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): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/01072/22Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

A coding of a control unit may not match the individual vehicle equipment so that the affected control units may malfunction. As a result, some functions of the electronic stability program control unit may not be fully available, thus changing the braking and control behavior, 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): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/01278/20Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

Incorrect mass values on the vehicle registration certificate may lead to overloading of the vehicle. As a result, the front and rear axles can be damaged.

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

A12/1061/17Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

Missing welding points on the rear cross-bar may increase the risk of injury for passengers in the event 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

A12/1288/18Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

A faulty "Passenger Airbag Off" light could lead to a faulty passenger presence detector going unnoticed. In the event of an accident, this could increase the risk of injury for the passenger.

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

A12/1735/17Safety 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

A12/1752/19Safety recallFireno date · EU Safety Gate

The coverings on the seat boxes with an integrated back-up battery may be missing. This will increase the risk of a short circuit or fire in case objects made of electroconductive (e.g. metal) materials are placed in the seat boxes.

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

A12/1874/17Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The cabling under the front swivel seats can get caught causing damage to the cabling. This could result in the unintended deployment of the thorax airbag when the seat is rotated causing injuries to the occupant.

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

INFO/00131/21Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The functioning of the emergency call system may in some cases be impaired. The communication module software will be updated on affected 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

SR/02897/25Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

If the front passenger airbag is deployed as a result of an accident, the gas generator housing may burst or components of the gas generator housing may come loose and cause serious or fatal injuries to vehicle occupants. 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): 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.

W639 · 2003–2014

Pick the version.

The fault list opens on the version page.

35 versions

Neighbouring generations

W639 · 2003–2014

W639 (2003-2014). If the listing is from the changeover year, look at the neighbour too.

Previous generation

This is the earliest.

This generation

W639 · 2003–2014

Next generation

W447 · 2014–

Common questions

About this generation

Which years does this page cover?

2003–2014. 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