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The aluminum roof panel of the 2015 C-Class, affixed to a cutaway portion of the bodyshell.
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There’s a gap between the roof panel and the steel body —
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because in the Tuscaloosa, Alabama plant, the bodyshell is rotated 360 degrees during painting. The roof panel is attached to the body with screws and 10-millimeter spacers, so the steel and aluminum , which expand at different rates, can cure together after painting. Once dried, the roof is affixed to the body with adhesive. Other factories that don’t rotate the body use tabs on the roof panel to secure it to the body.
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An overhead shot of the multi-part steel construction of the rear axle transverse beam in the current C-Class, upper left, and the single aluminum piece used in the 2015 C-Class. On the lower right is a section of bodywork with different colors highlighting the various metals used in construction.
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The pieces of the steel rear axle transverse beam.
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The single-piece aluminum rear axle transverse beam, six pounds lighter than its steel counterpart.
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The steel construction of the front damper strut assembly in the current C-Class —
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The single-piece aluminum strut tower assembly in the 2015 C-Class.
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Impact fasteners are used to connect some aluminum components to the bodyshell were there is enough metal to do so.
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This is part of the rear wheel-well assembly. The impact fasteners are the row of red circles in the lower center of th photo.
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The other side of the impact fasteners.
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A panel showing the placement of cameras and sensors around the car that enable Intelligent Drive.
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A panel showing the global crash tests the 2015 C-Class has been engineered to pass. Yes, the small-offset frontal impact test is pictured, but Mercedes engineers told us that the full-frontal test is actually the hardest to engineer the car around.
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The Intelligent Drive simulator using an S-Class placed in front of six screens.
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An A-Class finish being tested on a rolling road under different temperature conditions.
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An S-Class also being temperature tested on another rolling road.
AOLThe Basics: Mercedes-Benz will recall 28,452 examples of the 2015 C300 4Matic and 2015 C400 4Matic sedans with production dates between January 27, 2014, and December 1, 2014.
The Problem: An issue with the electric power steering control unit software can cause the power steering assist to fail.
Injuries/Deaths: None reported.
The Fix: Dealers will install updated power steering software.
If You Own One: Mercedes expects to notify affected owners about the recall in January. “Customers may continue to drive their vehicles until the software update has been completed at an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer,” company spokesman Christian Bokich told Autoblog.
More Information: Mercedes also recalled the 2015 C300 4Matic and 2015 C400 4Matic in March 2015 to fix two problems with the fuel delivery module on 3,039 of them in the US.
Show full PR text
RECALL Subject : Loss of Electric Power Steering Assist
Report Receipt Date: DEC 16, 2015
NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V845000
Component(s): STEERING
Potential Number of Units Affected: 28,452
All Products Associated with this Recall
Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s)
MERCEDES BENZ C300 2015
MERCEDES BENZ C400 2015
Details
Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
SUMMARY:
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2015 C300 and C400 4matic sedans manufactured January 27, 2014, to December 1, 2014. Due to an error in the electric power steering control unit software, the affected vehicles may have a loss of electric power steering assist.
CONSEQUENCE:
If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required, especially at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
REMEDY:
MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the power steering software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in January 2016. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
NOTES:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
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