R134a replaced R12 nearly 30 years ago due to concerns about its impact on the ozone layer. Recently, some automakers have shifted to using R1234yf, which is more environmentally friendly but also flammable.
Mercedes has issued a recall for the G 550 and G 63 models due to the incorrect refrigerant in their HVAC systems, which poses a fire risk in the event of a crash.
The safety recall report from Mercedes-Benz USA doesn’t explicitly mention R1234yf, but the remedy involves filling the air conditioning systems with R134a instead.
The issue was discovered during a quality audit at the assembly plant, which is operated by Manga Steyr in Austria. This facility also produces vehicles for other brands like Jaguar, BMW, Toyota, Fisker, and W Motors.
After identifying a discrepancy in the refrigerant used, Mercedes-Benz AG conducted a thorough analysis and found that other vehicles were also affected. Consequently, a recall was initiated to address the safety risk associated with the flammable refrigerant. Fortunately, there have been no reports of fires or incidents related to this issue.
Affected owners will receive notification by mail, and the vehicles will be serviced to replace the refrigerant. The affected vehicles were manufactured between June 28, 2022, and April 20, 2023, for the 2022 and 2023 model years.
The recall impacts a total of nine vehicles for the US market, comprising four G 550 units and five G 63 units, with respective retail prices starting at $143,000 and $179,000.
