Mercedes-Benz GLA & A-Class Recalls Over Incorrectly Adjusted Headlights

Both the GLA-Class SUV and A-Class Sedan have been hit with a safety recall. Merc determined that a noncompliance with federal motor vehicle safety standard number 108 cannot be ruled out for certain vehicles due to incorrectly adjusted headlights.
 

As per documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Stuttgart-based automaker started investigating said issue back in October 2021. During an internal check, a Merc employee discovered a vehicle with a slight deviation in the headlamp adjustment.
 
The root cause for this deviation was promptly investigated with the supplier. Mercedes-Benz AG originally determined that the angle may have been adjusted slightly above or below specifications.
 
As a result, Mercedes initiated a plant rework measure to check headlamp adjustments. That should have been the end of it, but Merc continued to monitor this problem in the field. In the second half of 2022, a customer-submitted complaint from outside the US market alleged a deviation of the headlamps. Lo and behold, subsequent review of plant action data, production records, and service history showed that certain headlamps might have been adjusted to exceed the specified tolerances.
 
Even so, Mercedes-Benz AG isn’t aware of any field reports, service reports, or warranty claims from the US market. A grand total of 32 vehicles are called back in the United States, namely 12 examples of the A 220, followed by 14 units of the GLA 250 and 6 units of the AMG-ified GLA 35.
 
All these 32 vehicles were produced for the 2022 model year in the period between November 11, 2021 and December 3, 2021 at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Rastatt. Said assembly complex started churning out front-drive compacts back in 1997 with the original W168 A-Class hatchback.
 
The third and current generation is referred to as the 177 series, with W used for the hatchback, V for the sedan, and Z for the long-wheelbase sedan exclusive to the Chinese market. The GLA is codenamed H247. This generation of the compact utility vehicle rolled out for model year 2020.
 
Turning our attention back to the recall, Mercedes will inform A and GLA owners via first-class mail no later than November 28. Dealers nationwide will be notified on October 6 to check and correct the headlamp adjustment. Mercedes changed the headlamp adjustment system’s calibration back on December 6, 2021.
 
At $33,950 from the outset, the A-Class Sedan is the most affordable Mercedes on sale today. Of course, the A 220 can be had with 4MATIC all-wheel drive if you’re prepared to pony up a few bucks over that. As for the GLA, the 250 starts at $37,500 (sans destination charge). Level up to the 35 series, and you’re looking at $49,500 for 302 horsepower from a 2.0-liter turbo four-pot lump.
 
The 250 sports a 2.0-liter turbo as well, although it makes 221 ponies at full chatter. Lower down the spectrum, the A 220 Sedan makes do with 188 horsepower and 221 pound-feet (300 Nm) of twist.