Abu Dhabi/Dubai: The UAE Ministry of Economy on Tuesday asked Mercedes Benz agencies to recall some models specified by the manufacturer to replace defective parts.
In December, Mercedes owners Daimler Chrysler announced a major recall in Germany involving 130,000 vehicles to fix windshield wiper motors that may be defective.
The recall affects A and B Class, as well as C-Class vehicles built between May 2005 and May 2006.
Hashem Saeed Al Nuaimi, director of the newly-established consumer protection department in the ministry, issued the circular informing vehicle owners that they should contact their dealers to change the defective parts.
Emirates Motor Company (EMC) general manager Monzer Al Refai and Gargash Enterprises general manager Richard Barber denied that there was a recall of vehicles, calling the move a "service measure."
"There is a huge difference between a recall and a service measure. We were going to change the defective parts whether the ministry had instructed (us) or not," he said, insisting that EMC did not recall 37 vehicles.
"I wonder where this figure came from," he said.
"Road safety is a major concern for us. Yet there are issues related to weather and terrain that require local specifications. We have warmer weather than Europe, and our terrain is sandy," Al Refai added.
"A thorough inspection will be carried out and any rectification work pertinent to this service measure will be done at no cost to the customer," Barber said.
Consumers expressed satisfaction with the ministry panel's move.
They said despite the claims of car dealers that they abide by the directive of manufacturers, drivers would feel much safer if strict rules were applied.
"It is dangerous to deny manufacturers' requirements on the basis of local environmental conditions," said Malcolm Thomson, a consultant at Gear One automotive television.
