Recall 21V509 covers 1,467 2018-2021 Mercedes-Benz vehicles for an LED-headlight adjustment defect. Free repair once Mercedes-Benz opens the final remedy.
Mercedes-Benz is recalling 1,467 2018-2021 vehicles, including C 300 and A 220 models, because LED headlights were incorrectly adjusted during vehicle repair. The wrong headlight aim can reduce visibility and increase crash risk, and the Mercedes-Benz dealer repair will be free once Mercedes-Benz opens the remedy.
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What's wrong?
The LED headlight unit on these 2018-2021 Mercedes-Benz vehicles is the front lighting assembly that aims the low and high beams onto the road. Its control unit stores calibration data so the beam pattern meets FMVSS 108 and gives the driver forward visibility without putting light where it does not belong.
The problem is not the bulb or lens. A supplier applied an incorrect data matrix code label to some headlamps. That label is a scannable code a workshop used during certain repairs, such as replacing the headlamp control unit or the headlamp itself. If the wrong code was used during that repair, the headlight adjustment can fall outside the federal lighting standard.
You will not get a dashboard message or visible early symptom from this label problem. There is no warning sign before failure.
Who's affected?
Covers 10 Mercedes-Benz car and SUV model lines across the 2018-2021 model years, all tied to the same right static lighting unit for the headlights.
| 2020 Mercedes-Benz C 300 | Headlights |
|---|---|
| 2018 Mercedes-Benz C 300 | Headlights |
| 2019 Mercedes-Benz C 300 | Headlights |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63 | Headlights |
| 2020 Mercedes-Benz Gle 580 | Headlights |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53 | Headlights |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz Gle 450 | Headlights |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz Gle 350 | Headlights |
| 2020 Mercedes-Benz Glb 250 | Headlights |
| 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 | Headlights |
| 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG C43 | Headlights |
| 2020 Mercedes-Benz A 220 | Headlights |
| 2020 Mercedes-Benz Gle 450 | Headlights |
| 2020 Mercedes-Benz Gle 350 | Headlights |
| 2019 Mercedes-Benz A 220 | Headlights |
| 2019 Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 | Headlights |
| 2019 Mercedes-Benz AMG C43 | Headlights |
| Units affected | 1,467 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
Incorrectly adjusted headlights reduce visibility and increase the risk of a crash, especially when road edges, signs, or other vehicles are harder to see. There is no advance warning before the problem affects lighting performance. Repair will be free at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer once Mercedes-Benz opens it.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2018-2021 Mercedes-Benz C 300, AMG GLE63, Gle 580, AMG GLE53, Gle 450, Gle 350, Glb 250, AMG C63, AMG C43, or A 220 is included in this recall.
- Wait for Mercedes-Benz to confirm the final LED-headlight replacement before scheduling dealer work.
- Call Mercedes-Benz customer service at 1-800-367-6372 with questions and reference recall number 21V509 when you call.
- Keep the Mercedes-Benz owner notice mailed in January 2022 with your service records.
- Drive with extra care at night until the repair is complete because incorrectly adjusted LED headlights reduce visibility.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Mercedes-Benz technician will replace the LED headlights covered by this recall once the final remedy is available. Parts and labor will be covered by the recall. Mercedes-Benz mailed interim safety letters on August 13, 2021, and owner notification letters in January 2022, but the remedy status for this page is still interim, so treat the final dealer replacement as not yet open for scheduling. Out-of-pocket repairs already paid are handled through the new vehicle warranty, not through a separate reimbursement program, because Mercedes-Benz identified the involved vehicles as warranty-covered in its recall filing.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| July 2, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 12, 2021 | Dealer notification began |
| August 13, 2021 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| January 7, 2022 | Owner notification mailed |
| January 7, 2022 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V509?
Recall 21V509 covers 1,467 2018-2021 Mercedes-Benz C 300, AMG GLE63, Gle 580, AMG GLE53, Gle 450, Gle 350, Glb 250, AMG C63, AMG C43, and A 220 vehicles with LED headlights that were incorrectly adjusted during repair. Incorrect aim can reduce visibility and increase crash risk.
What should I do if my 2018-2021 Mercedes-Benz C 300, AMG GLE63, Gle 580, AMG GLE53, Gle 450, Gle 350, Glb 250, AMG C63, AMG C43, or A 220 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 21V509. If it is, contact a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer and ask whether the LED headlight replacement is open for your VIN. Reference recall number 21V509 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to perform the recall repair at no cost. Mercedes-Benz dealers will replace the LED headlights free of charge for vehicles included in recall 21V509.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is reduced visibility from incorrectly adjusted LED headlights. Mercedes-Benz reported that the headlight issue can increase crash risk, especially when proper light aim matters for seeing the road and being seen by other drivers.
When did Mercedes-Benz notify owners?
Mercedes-Benz mailed interim letters about the safety risk on August 13, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed in January 2022, after the follow-up notice process described in the recall remedy.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V509000 |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz customer service | 1-800-367-6372 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V509 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V509000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 20, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →