Recall 17V178 affects 26 2016 Mercedes-Benz G550 and G63 vehicles for inner-door-handle cables that break after a crash. Free repair at a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer.
Mercedes-Benz is recalling 26 2016 G550 and G63 vehicles under recall 17V178 because an inner door handle release cable can break when a door is hard to open after a crash. If that cable breaks, an occupant can be unable to open the door from inside and face a higher injury risk; Mercedes-Benz dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The inner door handle on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz G550 and G63 uses a Bowden cable, a flexible pull cable inside the door. When you pull the handle, that cable transfers the movement to the latch so the door releases from the inside. The latch system depends on the cable staying strong enough to release a door that is hard to open.
On these vehicles, a supplier production problem changed how a batch of Bowden cables was made during stamping. Mercedes-Benz traced the issue to tool wear in a production machine after cable production moved to another supplier plant. If the door is difficult to release after a crash, an out-of-spec cable can break instead of pulling the latch open.
There is no warning sign before failure. The concern shows up when the inner handle is pulled under a hard release load, and the door does not unlatch from inside the vehicle.
Who's affected?
Both models list the same June 2 to June 16, 2016 manufacturing window for the door latch issue.
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz G550 | Latch |
|---|---|
| 2016 Mercedes-Benz G63 | Latch |
| Units affected | 26 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 2 field incidents to date. |
A matching 2016 Mercedes-Benz G550 or G63 does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific SUV is included.
What's the safety risk?
After a crash, a broken inner door handle cable can keep an occupant from opening the door from inside, increasing injury risk by delaying exit. Schedule the cable replacement soon, and tell the dealer the recall covers the inner handle cable on each door. Repair is free at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016 Mercedes-Benz G550 or G63 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer to schedule the free inner-door-handle cable replacement on all four doors.
- Bring the recall notice if Mercedes-Benz mailed one. If not, reference recall number 17V178 when you call.
- Ask the dealer to inspect the door-release cable issue if an inside door handle feels hard to release or does not open the door.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Mercedes-Benz technician replaces the cable that connects the inner door handle to the door lock on all four doors. The replacement parts and labor are free under recall 17V178. Out-of-pocket repairs already paid are handled through the new vehicle warranty, not through a separate reimbursement program, because the involved vehicles remain covered by that warranty. Ask the service desk how warranty coverage applies if you have prior repair paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| March 14, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 5, 2017 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| April 28, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V178?
Recall 17V178 covers 26 2016 Mercedes-Benz G550 and G63 vehicles with an inner-door-handle cable that can break if the door is difficult to release after a crash. Mercedes-Benz dealers replace the cables on all four doors for free.
What should I do if my 2016 Mercedes-Benz G550 or G63 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 17V178. If it is, contact a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer to schedule replacement of the inner-door-handle and door-lock cables on all four doors. Reference recall 17V178 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Mercedes-Benz dealers replace the cable that connects the inner door handle and door lock on all four doors free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is being unable to open a door from inside the vehicle after a crash. If the cable breaks and the door stays closed, an occupant faces an increased risk of injury. The dealer repair replaces the affected cables.
When did the Mercedes-Benz recall repair begin?
The recall repair began on April 28, 2017. Mercedes-Benz dealers have been able to replace the affected door cables since then. Owners can call Mercedes-Benz customer service at 1-800-367-6372 or a franchised dealer for scheduling.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V178000 |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz customer service | 1-800-367-6372 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V178 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V178000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →