The road to build an F1 engine-powered hypercar is paved with delays and recalls, and Mercedes-Benz is finding this out the hard way. The German luxury car maker was forced to recall 219 out of 275 AMG One units globally. Ever since Mercedes-Benz showcased this car in September 2017, it has been marred by delays and is now a potential fire hazard. The Mercedes-AMG One hypercar officially debuted in June 2022, with production starting in August 2022. However, customer deliveries began six months later, starting in January 2023.
Mercedes AMG One: Potential fire risk
Powering a road-legal car with a turbocharged 1.6-litre V-6 from Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes F1 car is so insane that current Mercedes-Benz Group CEO Ola Kallenius joked and said the decision makers in the company must have been “drunk” to give a green light to this project.
Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority, the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA), has told Mercedes-AMG to address a defect that could impact 219 vehicles. KBA explained that the problem originates from the hydraulic line of the active rear spoiler, which might be missing a crucial pin lock. Due to this, it could lead to hydraulic fluid leaking and be a serious fire hazard. Vehicles affected by the recall need to be inspected to verify the presence and correct installation of the split pin. According to the KBA, the repair should take approximately 90 minutes to complete.
Mercedes AMG One recall: What you need to know
With almost 80% of the AMG One models having been issued for a recall, this affects the 219 models manufactured between December 12, 2022, and May 9, 2025. According to Motor1, 183 vehicles are located in Germany. Owners have been asked to contact Mercedes-AMG and schedule a workshop visit to address a potential fire risk.
Despite two separate incidents where AMG One hypercars caught fire, one in the UK in May 2023 and another recently in Germany, KBA has clarified that these fires are not attributed to the missing pin lock defect. The recall is a proactive safety measure.
The Mercedes-AMG One, hand-assembled at the Coventry, UK facility in partnership with Multimatic, stands as one of the most advanced hypercars in the world, featuring a Formula 1-derived hybrid powertrain.
