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Mercedes-Benz face flak for negligent recalls

[THE INVESTOR] Complaints are rising in Korea over negligence of Mercedes-Benz in carrying through an effective recall program for the German carmaker’s vehicles.

When car owners who were informed to receive recall services for faulty air bags called up Mercedes-Benz last week, some were told to wait for a month until they can secure the right parts. When asked what happens if an accident occurs before the recall, they were told to “drive safely.”

“They told me to wait until the end of February, and when I asked what happens if I get in an accident, the person on the other end just told me to try and drive safely,” one Mercedes owner told The Investor on the condition of anonymity on Jan. 22.

Mercedes-Benz also told customers that if an accident does happen and they incur injuries, they would have to prove legally that it was due to their air bags.

In December last year, Mercedes-Benz Korea decided to recall 32,000 vehicles equipped with Takata air bags, widely known as “deadly” air bags, after postponing the decision for more than a year since the ministry first gave the order. The company delayed the recall saying that the issue has not been resolved with its headquarters.

The problematic air bags have been blamed for the deaths of at least 18 passengers worldwide due to shrapnel that are expelled when it inflates.

Despite the findings, Mercedes-Benz says it’s OK to be relaxed about safety because it’s doing something it doesn’t really need to do.

“Our independent findings show that the air bags aren’t defective, so we are actually doing something that isn’t necessary,” a spokesperson explained. “And we also agreed to do more recalls than the government asked, so it’s taking more time to prepare the parts.”

Experts say the German carmaker appears to be dragging its feet due to a lack of stronger guidelines or penalties in Korea.

“Unlike the US, where carmakers can be fined for being passive in examining the cause of accidents, there are no such regulations here. This is why it’s almost as if companies like Mercedes are doing us a big favor by 'agreeing' to recalls,” said Lee Ho-geun, professor of automotive engineering at Daeduk University.

He added that even if the auto company does not find problems on its own, there is a reason why the government ordered a recall, and the first priority should be safety.

Mercedes-Benz’s attitude on safety is also in contrast with BMW Korea, which is also undergoing recalls for the same Takata airbags.

“We inform our customers to receive recall services after we are fully prepared,” said a spokesperson of the local unit of the Germany luxury carmaker. Customers can come in immediately to get their services, so the chance of an accident happening is quite slim.”

Mercedes-Benz started selling cars in Korea in in 2002. Last year, the carmaker sold 68,861 units here with its sales growing 22.2 percent from the previous year.

By Song Seung-hyun (ssh@heraldcorp.com)