Mercedes diesel software update leads to NOx sensor fault

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Our member now faces a repair bill of almost £700 plus VAT for the cost of a new NOx sensor, which they say is consequential to the Mercedes software update.

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So was the outcome of a recent main dealer’s recall for one of our members.

It would seem that this particular update modifies the way the engines run and how much AdBlue is injected into them to lower NOx emissions.

Clearly, software updates are not uncommon and are not of issue by themselves.

That said, shortly after the update, the vehicles’ NOx sensor faulted and it is suggested that the two factors are linked.

Indeed, it would seem that this is not an isolated incident, as evidenced by the below:  

https://forums.mbclub.co.uk/threads/diesel-software-update.258459/

https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/index.php?threads/nox-sensor-recall.177245/

If which appears to be the case, the original NOx sensor is incompatible with the software update provided by Mercedes, then it must follow that Mercedes should also replace/update the sensor without charge as part of its recall cycle to ensure complete compatibility.

As it is, our member now faces a repair bill of almost £700 plus VAT for the cost of a new NOx sensor, which they say is consequential to the Mercedes software update and against which they have now received a derisory ”goodwill” offer of just 5% towards such cost.

It has also been suggested that if such offer is unacceptable, which it is not, then our member should now look to a suitable Alternative Dispute Resolution provider (ADR). The “alternative” is court proceedings for damages and costs.

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Lawgistics would like to hear from anyone else with the same issue and/or Mercedes, should they take a different view.

Howard TilneyHead of Strategy / Legal AdvisorRead More by this author

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