Mercury Marine recalls V12 engines to fix sensor glitch

The recall, issued this week, is for both the 500hp V12 SeaPro commercial engine and the 600hp V12 Verado recreational engine.

Only around a dozen of the engines sold into Australia are affected by the recall. In most instances, by the time the recall is officially announced on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission website, owners will have already been contacted to let them know of the issue.

According to documents filed on the consumer watchdog’s website, the V12 engines may have been fitted with a faulty steering sensor.

“If the sensor fails the engine will enter ‘guardian mode’ which reduces the engine’s power output and may reduce the steering capability of the vessel,” the recall notice says.

If the sensor does fail, Mercury says there may be a risk of injury or property damage “from unexpected change to the boat’s steering capability, leading to a collision”.

Owners of the V12 SeaPro and Verado engines have been asked to stop using the engines until they are able to have the steering system inspected and repaired if needed.

According to the documentation, the repair involves replacing the faulty sensor with a new one.

Mercury’s innovative V12 engine has set a number of firsts in the industry, with one of them being an engine that is fixed to the boat’s transom while only the lower drive leg turns.

The electric steering system is integrated inside the outboard engine, hidden away beneath the cowling.

Companies issue voluntary recalls for products all the time, usually in response to a problem that seems to repeat itself, or even if they think something might not be right. The fault may also have been noticed by the company that supplies the parts that are used to build products.

Anyone with any concerns can contact Mercury Marine either via email at merc.info@mercmarine.com or by phone on 03 9791 5822 between 8.30am and 4.30pm on weekdays.