A safety defect with the Mercedes-Benz emergency call system has caused the manufacturer to recall more than one million cars.

The BBC reports that the problem is with the cars’ eCall feature. The feature alerts emergency services to a vehicle’s location in the event of  an accident. However, due to a fault, the wrong location could be sent.

According to the BBC, the problem impacts almost 1 300 000 cars in the United States alone. This includes more than 200 different models manufactured between 2016 and 2021. Mercedes-Benz in the UK said that the software update would also be implemented in other countries. Meanwhile, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that Mercedes “determined that a safety risk cannot be ruled out”.

The problem, being software-related, can reportedly be fixed via a wireless download using the car’s mobile data connection. If, however, due to a bad connection, or other problems, it cannot be resolved, the vehicle owner can bring their car into an authorized dealer for the update.

According to the BBC, since 2018, the eCall system was made mandatory for all cars sold in the EU.

Umm Muhammed Umar