Mercedes diesel cars RECALLED: 3 million Mercs called back over harmful TOXIC emissions

Almost every new Mercedes-Benz diesel cars bought in the UK over the past six years is being voluntarily recalled. 

The reason for the recall is so that the engines can be adjusted to improve the car’s emissions performance, 

The action is being taken in relation to nearly all cars with diesel engines meeting the Euro 5 standard – implemented in 2011 – and the existing Euro 6 rules.

It has not been confirmed how many UK owners are to be affected by the recall, but it is estimated that one million cars in Germany and two million cars across Europe are expected to be recalled. 

The company has estimated that the voluntary recall will cost around 20 million euros (£195 million).

In 2015 Volkswagen Group admitted that 482,000 of its vehicles in the US were fitted with defeat device software to switch engines to a cleaner mode when undergoing environmental tests.

Diesel cars have come under huge scrutiny since then with experts wanting a diesel scrappage scheme, citywide bans and toxin taxes to be introduced. 

Earlier this month, Volvo stated that they would stop making diesel cars in 2019 and France declared that sales of petrol and diesel cars would be banned by 2040.

The German manufacturer said 11 million of its vehicles were affected worldwide – including almost 1.2 million in the UK.

A Government report published in April 2016 showed diesel cars being sold in the UK emit an average of six times more NOx in real-world driving than the legal limit used in official tests.

Dr Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the board of management of Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, said: “The public debate about diesel engines is creating uncertainty – especially for our customers.

“We have therefore decided on additional measures to reassure drivers of diesel cars and to strengthen confidence in diesel technology.

“We are convinced that diesel engines will continue to be a fixed element of the drive-system mix, not least due to their low CO2 emissions.”

Over 170,000 Mercedes cars were registered in the UK last year alone.