Why Mercedes-Benz Is Warning 800,000 Car Owners About Possible Vehicle Fires

As many as 800,000 Mercedes-Benz owners were warned by parent company Daimler that their cars have a defect that could cause a fire.

Daimler issued the warning in a letter to vehicle owners but did not issue a recall as the parts to fix the problem are currently not available, German newspaper Bild first reported.

The issue stems from a leak in the coolant pumps that could cause some components to heat up, which could lead to a fire, Daimler said on Tuesday, according to Reuters.

Bild published the letter that Daimler sent to about 800,000 Mercedes-Benz owners impacted by the defect, which said in part that “the risk of a fire could not be ruled out.”

The letter continued by saying, “In the meantime the affected vehicle should be driven in a particularly prudent manner and usage reduced to the bare minimum.”

Mercedes-Benz models affected by the defect include certain GLE/GLS (167 platform), C-Class (205 platform), E-Class (213 platform), S-Class (222 platform), S-Class (223 platform), E-Class Coupe/Convertible (238 platform), GLC (253 platform), CLS (257 platform) and G-Class (463 platform) vehicles, as reported by Reuters.

Daimler added that a recall would be issued as soon as the parts to repair the issue became available, Reuters said. The automaker did not confirm that 800,000 vehicles were affected by the issue.

In a statement to Reuters, Daimler said, “The owner of a vehicle affected by a recall should always contact the nearest Mercedes-Benz service partner immediately.”