Recall campaigns, where automakers cover the costs to fix defects, are underway worldwide. On February 20, Mercedes-Benz disclosed a recall affecting about 250,000 vehicles due to a potential fire risk. The recall also includes premium models introduced in 2023. Even after the brand withdrew from Russia, cars reached the market there through parallel imports officially allowed by the government and by private dealers.
Yet buyers of these imported vehicles cannot count on recall remedies. According to sources, recall-related actions apply only to vehicles that were originally sold directly by the German importer. Mercedes-Benz AG’s recall plans do not extend to cars that were not sold through official channels in Russia.
Mercedes-Benz has halted official sales and production in Russia since March 2022, and as a result, it is not conducting inspections within the country.
Moreover, the company suspended official servicing for dealers who cannot perform qualified repairs under factory programs by the end of 2022.
JSC MB RUS stated that it supports the manufacturer’s recall measures previously announced for cars on the Russian market. The full list of events and the vehicles covered can be found on Rosstandart’s portal or through MB RUS service partners, as communicated by the company’s press service to socialbites.ca.
In 2022, 10,600 Mercedes-Benz passenger cars were sold in Russia, followed by 6,900 in 2023.
Volkswagen, Skoda and Audi
The situation is markedly tougher for Volkswagen and its brands Skoda, SEAT, Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini and Bentley. This manufacturer group holds a large fleet of foreign vehicles in Russia, yet neither older nor newer recall campaigns are reported for owners. AGR LLC, the former official importer and maker of Volkswagen cars from 2003 to 2023 and now owned by Art-Finance, shared this update.
AGR LLC notes that it does not receive recall information from the Volkswagen group because the brand does not provide such notices. Still, when there is evidence of product noncompliance with technical standards, the manufacturer or its authorized representative fulfills all required obligations under regulatory law.
Other automobile companies
Contacts within the dealer community indicate that many European, Japanese and American brands face challenges in repairing potentially defective parts for previously sold foreign cars. Still, recall campaigns continue and affect millions of vehicles worldwide. In 2023, notable activity included Honda announcing recalls affecting around 6.5 million vehicles in the United States, with about 2.3 million needing repairs for a flawed fuel pump impeller that could abruptly stall engines [attribution: socialbites.ca].
In the United States, Ford announced 54 service campaigns impacting roughly 5.7 million vehicles for the year. Kia followed with 3.3 million recalls, mostly for brake fluid leaks in ABS modules that could cause short circuits or fires. Affected models included several Hyundai and Genesis lines, as well as 10 Kia models. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration advised owners to park certain vehicles outdoors before service visits.
Among models under scrutiny, Hyundai Tucson, Santa Fe, Veloster, Elantra and Sonata were cited, along with Kia Optima, Soul, Sorento and Sportage. The safety agency’s guidance highlighted the importance of timely inspections and repairs.
The competent authority remains silent
In Russia, Rosstandart holds the authority to initiate recalls for vehicles sold within the country. The department also posts announcements of such actions, whether mandatory or voluntary, on its official site [attribution: Rosstandart].
Rosstandart reported 16 recall campaigns for cars, trucks and buses in 2023, with 20 events in 2022 and a higher number in the years before the crisis. Brands that reduced sales in 2023 include BMW, which recalled over 42,000 vehicles to replace airbag plugs, Toyota with 22,700 recalls for the same issue, and Subaru with 2,800 Foresters needing condenser checks. More than 8,000 Lexuses were recalled to replace a fuel tank vent pipe, and 5,500 Kia Sorentos required transmission control unit reprogramming without spare parts. Vehicles from Peugeot, Jeep and Lexus were also recalled in 2023 due to software and settings concerns. A batch of 142 Jeep Wranglers in Russia needed a service call to remove an extra nail from the chassis that could puncture the fuel tank. Communications with Rosstandart regarding whether global campaigns will expand to include Russia yielded no response at publication time [attribution: Rosstandart].
Your situation
Russian car owners monitoring foreign service campaigns must often address the most serious malfunctions themselves, since some recalls in other countries are funded by automakers. This reality was underscored by Jan Heitzeer, vice president of the National Automobile Association, in discussing matters with socialbites.ca. He noted that not all serious malfunctions should trigger recalls, while many recalls cover problems that do not endanger safety.
Owners of brands that have exited the Russian market may have to rely on themselves for issues. Yet Autostat’s Igor Morzharetto pointed out that many brands that stopped sales still offer some service support.
Morzharetto suggested that several brands continue warranty and service functions and conduct inspections, while others have completely withdrawn from Russia. Brands such as Mercedes-Benz and Volvo have stated they will not operate in the Russian market in any capacity. In this situation, there is little comfort for owners [attribution: socialbites.ca]. Morzharetto also noted that some brands, including Hyundai and Kia, maintain ongoing service support despite other market exits.