Mercedes-Benz is recalling nearly 48,000 GLE models from 2016 and 2017 to address a software flaw that could prevent the crossover's airbags from working as intended. The problem is rooted in the GLE's occupant classification system (OCS), which determines whether or not an adult is seated in the front passenger's seat and turns the associated airbags on or off, accordingly.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that the OCS software on some GLE models may not have been properly calibrated, and as a result, it may mistakenly identify an adult passenger as a child, disabling the front passenger airbags. Should that happen, the airbags wouldn't deploy during a collision, increasing the risk of injury to anyone riding in the front passenger's seat.
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