Mercedes recalls over 30,000 high-end sedans due to faulty brake hoses

Mercedes-Benz is recalling 30,064 cars in the United States because a front brake hose can weaken, leak, and potentially rupture. The expanded campaign covers certain S-Class, Mercedes-Maybach, and Mercedes-AMG sedans built between February 2021 and late November 2024, corresponding to model years 2022 through 2025.

Breakdown

NHTSA recall number 26V638 breaks the total vehicles down by model and trim. The S580 4Matic accounts for the bulk of the affected units at 16,881 cars, followed by 7,143 S500 4Matic sedans and 2,277 S580 e 4Matic plug-in hybrids. The rest of the vehicles split across high-end nameplates, including 1,746 AMG S63 E Performance sedans, 1,070 Maybach S680 4Matic cars, and 947 Maybach S580 4Matic sedans. Heat and mechanical stress over time weaken the front brake hose material, and a leak on the front corners reduces hydraulic pressure at the wheels, leading to a longer stopping distance.

Repair

Mercedes-Benz states it is not aware of any crashes, injuries, or property damage tied to the defect. Authorized dealers will replace the affected hose for free, and owner notification letters are scheduled to go out by November 27, 2026. Mercedes-Benz first opened a related campaign back in February 2025 and later expanded it after receiving more reports. The automaker corrected the hose in production starting in late November 2024, which means vehicles built after that date carry the revised design and are not included in the recall.

Context

Vehicle recalls of this nature are a standard safety procedure managed by federal regulators to fix manufacturing or material defects before they cause accidents on public roads. Major automakers routinely issue recalls to replace faulty components at authorized dealerships without any cost to the vehicle owner.