WASHINGTON—The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has granted the petition of Mercedes-Benz U.S.A. L.L.C. for a decision of inconsequential noncompliance involving vehicle tire placards with incorrect sizes for spare tires.
The vehicles involved in the petition are 2,917 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class multipurpose passenger vehicles manufactured between Dec. 1, 2015, and Feb. 5, 2016, according to the NHTSA notice published in the Jan. 18 Federal Register.
These included:
- 2,482 GL 450 4Matic SUVs;
- 280 GL 550 4Matic SUVs; and
- 155 GL 350 Bluetec 4Matic SUVs.
Mercedes told NHTSA that the tire placards affixed to the vehicles' B-pillars identified the spare tire size as T165/90 R19 119M, whereas the correct size is T155/80 R19 114M.
The auto maker argued that the noncompliance was inconsequential, because both tire sizes can be used on the vehicles and the tire pressure is the same for both.
Also, the owners' manuals and the electronic parts catalogue contain the correct tire size information, according to Mercedes. Field data support Mercedes' contention that the error is inconsequential, it said.
NHTSA's ruling means that Mercedes is excused from conducting a formal recall of the vehicles. The notice can be found online.