Cars from all manufacturers have been adding more and more screens to cars, even swapping out traditional gauges for them. Mercedes-Benz has especially embraced the screen life, with some of its newest models offering dashboards that are, effectively, all screen. So, between possibly spending a fair bit of money to get fancy screens, and the fact that at least one of them has the information to keep you from being pulled over, you're going to want them working at all times.Unfortunately for some Mercedes-Benz owners, that might not be the case. Problems have led to the recall of nearly 150,000 of the luxury automobiles.Mercedes-AMG This Covers Many Models The actual total of recalled vehicles is 144,049, and they're spread across a wide range of 2024 to 2026 models. They include the AMG GT, C-Class, CLE, E-Class, GLC, and the SL. These also span an array of variants from entry-level to high-performance. In fact, the specific SL that's recalled is the Mercedes-Maybach SL 680, while the AMG GT recalled is the basic four-cylinder GT 43.According to the recall documentation, the screen problem came about as the result of software designed to improve infotainment performance. Apparently the infotainment system can reset while driving. Unfortunately, this can also lead to the instrument screen shutting off during the reset.Jared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/Valnet As we've already established, it's not great to lose information about speed and potential vehicle warnings while you're actually driving, even if it's only brief. It's inconvenient and annoying at best, and could result in a speeding ticket at worst. The documentation goes on to note that the company was receiving many complaints in South Korea, which led to a recall there, and now in the U.S. The good news, if not especially surprising, is that Mercedes reported that no crashes, injuries, or deaths have happened related to this issue.Mercedes-AMG Also unsurprising is that the fix for these cars is simple. Just as software caused the problem, it will also be the solution. Owners of affected models can simply go to their local dealer, where they will update the software, eliminating the behavior that shuts off the instrument display. Dealers should already be aware of the issue and ready to provide updates, as well. For additional information, owners can call Mercedes at 1-800-367-6372, or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at 1-888-327-4236. Screens Will Probably Never Go Away, But They Might Not Be As Prominent Even though we feel they're overused, there's no denying that screens offer loads of benefits. Unlike physical gauges, screens can change to display whatever you want, and at just about any time. You can also achieve many different effects and designs all with one simple component. However, their ubiquity and occasional overuse may lead to a reversal in their use. The chief design officer for Mercedes surprisingly declared last year, "Screens are not luxury."So, it's entirely possible that future Mercedes models will step back from the full-dash arrays of today. Perhaps the company will even bring back some dedicated dials. Bentley is a great model for using real dials. The Continental GT has some lovely ones that sit in the center stack on a trick revolving panel that reveals the infotainment screen. Hopefully, Mercedes is taking notes.
