Mercedes-Benz bulletin LI82.85-P-079088
What it saysComplaint The following most common complaints may be observed: Brief connectivity interruptions when using Apple CarPlay over Wi-Fi Audio cuts out Device not recognized No operation possible Cause There are multiple… NHTSA’s full summary ↓
Mercedes-Benz filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated Aug 14, 2026, received May 30, 2025, about the electrical system — 2 documents under this number. It names 51 model years (2018–2026). A service bulletin is not a safety recall: it is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a condition, and whether the work is paid for depends on the warranty in force. Quoting the number at a service desk can save a diagnosis.
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What the bulletin says
Source: NHTSA's summary of the manufacturer's communicationComplaint The following most common complaints may be observed: • Brief connectivity interruptions when using Apple CarPlay over Wi-Fi • Audio cuts out • Device not recognized • No operation possible Cause There are multiple possible causes for an iPhone disconnecting from a vehicle’s head unit while using Apple CarPlay. These include hardware, software, and environmental factors: Environmental Interference External Sources: • Passing under toll bridges, driving near airports, or areas with heavy electronic interference (e.g., as described in LI82.85-P-076157) can cause connection drops. Cellular Networks: • Interference from nearby cell towers operating on similar frequencies (usually 2.4GHz or 5GHz) can disrupt the signal. Storage Location: • Keeping your phone in a handbag or surrounded by other objects inside the vehicle can create physical or electronic interference. Device and Software Issues Head Unit Software/Hardware: • Outdated firmware, bugs, or hardware faults in the vehicle’s head unit can prevent a stable connection. iPhone Software/Hardware: • Similar issues in the iPhone, including buggy iOS updates or hardware problems, may affect performance. Reset or Reboot:• Automatic rebooting or resetting of either the head unit or the iPhone will temporarily disrupt CarPlay. Connection and Settings Wired Connections: • Faulty Cable: A damaged or poor-quality USB cable can cause intermittent or total loss of connection. • USB Port Issues: Dust, debris, or physical damage in the USB port of either the head unit or the iPhone can also lead to disconnects. Wireless Connections: • Intermittent Bluetooth/Wi-Fi: Unstable wireless communication (Bluetooth/Wi-Fi) can frequently break the Car- Play connection. Power Management: • Battery Saver Mode: Enabling low power mode may restrict background processes, affecting CarPlay. • Vehicle’s Electrical System: Unstable power delivery from the car’s battery or electrical interruptions can cause the head unit to malfunction. Phone & App Configuration Phone Settings: • Incorrect or conflicting settings (especially Bluetooth or Wi-Fi) on your iPhone can interfere with the CarPlay link. • Third-Party Apps/Profiles: • Installed apps or configuration profiles may conflict with CarPlay’s operation. • Native apps are apple maps, apple music, audio books, apple news, podcasts, messages and phone. All other apps are considered
Documents filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id | At NHTSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LI82.85-P-079088 | Service bulletin | Aug 14, 2026 | 11036237 | PDF, 43 KB |
| LI82.85-P-079088 | Service bulletin | May 30, 2025 | 11018714 | PDF, 42 KB |
The summary is NHTSA’s abstract of the document, as filed under 49 CFR 579.5. One communication is usually filed as several documents — the bulletin, a dealer notice, an owner letter — and the number on any of them finds this page. A PDF link is shown only once NHTSA’s own server has been seen to serve that document; the rest are checked over the following nights. Quote the number at a service desk; it is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Model years it names
Source: as the manufacturer filed themAlso filed against model years this site has no page for: 2018 Mercedes-Benz A 220; 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 S; 2024 Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 S E; 2024 Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 S E 4MATIC+; 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG S 63 E 4MATIC+; 2024 Mercedes-Benz AMG S 63 E 4MATIC+; 2026 Mercedes-Benz AMG S 63 E 4MATIC+; 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG SL43; 2024 Mercedes-Benz AMG SL53E; 2024 Mercedes-Benz AMG SL63 S E; 2020 Mercedes-Benz S 550.
A vehicle page’s bulletin list shows the newest few communications filed against that model year; the count there is every one.
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What owners reported
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseOwners of the 40 model years this bulletin names have filed 909 complaints with NHTSA since 2015. 235 of them name Electrical System — the same broad component group this bulletin is filed under. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so that means the same area of the vehicle, not necessarily the same fault.
My mom and I were in her car brand new Mercedes adaptive cruise was on the car started to act up with all the warning lights again, which shut all safety systems down air back seatbelts, adaptive cruise, Tronics and the engine wall between 18 wheeler and the freeway wall slammed the vehicle into the freeway hall causing about $5000 worth…
2023 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class · Electrical System · filed with NHTSA Jan 21, 2025 · ODI 11637467
While driving my lease vehicle on two separate days, it completely shut down while in motion with no prior warning. The first incident occurred while crossing a MAX train intersection in downtown Portland. The engine stopped mid intersection, emitted a strong mechanical odor, ticking noises began, and dashboard alerts appeared.
2021 Mercedes-Benz A-Class · Electrical System · filed with NHTSA May 10, 2025 · ODI 11660206
Car stops accelerating and shifts into neutral without warning I nearly got hit from behind. I have consulted several other Mercedes vehicle owners and all had the same issue. Two of the other owners stated that this happened on the interstate and was very lucky they were not involved in a collision. Both vehicles were GLC 300.
2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class · Electrical System · filed with NHTSA Apr 3, 2026 · ODI 11729030
A complaint is one owner’s account, not a defect finding, and a bulletin is not a recall. Nothing here says this bulletin was issued because of these complaints, or that the repair it describes fixed them. Complaint files on this site begin in 2015.
More bulletins about the electrical system
Source: same model, same component group219 other manufacturer communications filed against these Mercedes-Benz models under the same component group (electrical system), newest first. The eight newest are listed; the rest are on the Mercedes-Benz list.
| Number | Kind | Dated | NHTSA’s summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| LI47.70-P-079912 | Service bulletin | Sep 29, 2026 | Complaint Vehicle will not start after DC charging Warning in the instrument cluster related to High‑voltage on board electrical system The… |
| LI54.30-P-080963 | Service bulletin | Sep 17, 2026 | Complaint Issue after OTA Update IC Odometer Reading blank("_ _ _ _") IC Maintanence data unavailable Cause OTA Update E61.0 Remedy In the I… |
| LI82.60-P-080383 | Service bulletin | Sep 15, 2026 | Complaint Radio station cover art does not refresh when switching stations. The UI continues to show the old station’s artwork instead of up… |
| LI54.71-P-079104 | Service bulletin | Sep 11, 2026 | Complaint Traffic sign symbol for "Traffic Sign Assist" is blinking in instrument cluster without obvious cause usually with one of the foll… |
| LI82.60-P-079747 | Service bulletin | Sep 4, 2026 | Complaint The Apple Music app is no longer available in the head unit apps menu after updating the software of the… |
| NCU - 2026080001 | Service campaign | Aug 15, 2026 | Issue Mercedes-Benz AG, the manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, has determined that on certain Model Year 2027 S-Class (223 platform) ve… |
| LI54.65-P-080132 | Service bulletin | Aug 12, 2026 | Complaint 1. General Diagnostic Tips 2. One or More PARK Sensor Activations 3. Red Ring Around Vehicle 4. "Active Parking and Parking Assist… |
| LI54.10-P-080880 | Service bulletin | Aug 12, 2026 | Complaint Customer Complaint: - AC charging is not possible. - The departure time, charging pause, location-based charging or target SOC lim… |
Quote the number at the service desk. It is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Every manufacturer communication NHTSA holds for Mercedes-Benz, by the number printed on the letter.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR 579.5Is Mercedes-Benz LI82.85-P-079088 a recall?
No. A service bulletin is a manufacturer communication filed with NHTSA under 49 CFR 579.5; a safety recall carries an NHTSA campaign number (two digits, a letter, six digits) and a federal duty to repair for free. Check the vehicle’s recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or on its page here.
Is the LI82.85-P-079088 repair free?
Not automatically. A service bulletin describes how to diagnose or repair a condition; who pays depends on the warranty in force, any extension, and the dealer. Quoting the number can save a diagnosis either way. Every Mercedes-Benz warranty extension on file lists the ones Mercedes-Benz has filed.
Which vehicles does LI82.85-P-079088 cover?
The manufacturer filed it against 51 model years: 2022 Mercedes-Benz A-Class, 2021 Mercedes-Benz A-Class, 2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class, 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class, 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class and more. Whether one particular vehicle is affected is a matter of its VIN and its build, not its model year alone.