Home › Guides › Mercedes-Benz › Power Train
Mercedes-Benz Power Train Recalls Involving Rollaway and Lost Drive
⚠ 1 of these recalls carries a do-not-drive advisory.
These Mercedes-Benz power train recalls involve three distinct outcomes: rollaway, loss of drive, and loss of handling. Rollaway appears in the 2019-2022 Sprinter parking-pawl notice and the 2022 EQB 300 and EQB 350 front-axle drivetrain notice, but their causes differ: a fatigued guide bushing versus an improperly welded spur gear. Driveshaft problems affect certain 2017-2018 Metris vans through loosening securing bolts and specified E-Class and S-Class vehicles through universal-joint breakage. E-Class vehicles appear in two notices, including certain 2025 E 350 and E 450 variants with a rear-axle carrier bracket weld problem. That axle notice specifically instructs owners not to drive.
Warning signs to watch for
- July 2018 Metris driveshaft recall: driveshaft separation may cause loss of drive.
- October 2022 Sprinter parking-pawl recall: failure of the parking pawl to engage may result in vehicle rollaway.
- May 2024 EQB front-axle recall: spur-gear failure may result in vehicle rollaway.
- April 2026 E-Class and S-Class driveshaft recall: universal-joint breakage may cause a sudden loss of drive power.
Can you keep driving? What the notices say
The December 2024 E 350 rear-axle weld recall tells owners of affected 2025 E-Class vehicles not to drive until the remedy has been performed. It is the only listed power train notice with a stop-driving instruction; none carries a park-outside instruction. The July 2018 Metris driveshaft-bolt, October 2022 Sprinter parking-pawl, May 2024 EQB front-axle gear, and April 2026 E-Class and S-Class driveshaft-joint notices do not tell owners to stop driving. Those notices provide no stop-driving instruction for their respective affected vehicles.
What the free repair involves
Repairs are free. Dealers replace the E-Class rear axle carrier; replace the Metris transmission flange and securing bolts and clean the shaft seal; update four specified Sprinter control units; replace the EQB front axle electric drivetrain; and inspect and replace the E-Class/S-Class drive shaft as necessary. The April 2026 driveshaft notice says additional letters will follow when its remedy is available.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| critical | 1 |
| high | 4 |
Models affected most
Where owners report power train problems most
NHTSA owner complaints filed under power train for the Mercedes-Benz models and years in this guide. Complaints are unverified reports and are not limited to the recalled defects.
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 3, 2026 | Mercedes-Benz E-Class and S-Class Drive Shaft Joint Failure | high |
| Dec 18, 2024 | Mercedes-Benz E 350 Rear Axle Weld Defect · do not drive | critical |
| May 10, 2024 | Mercedes EQB 300, 350 Front Axle Gear Defect | high |
| Oct 21, 2022 | Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Parking Pawl May Fail To Engage | high |
| Jul 29, 2018 | Mercedes-Benz Metris Driveshaft Bolts May Loosen | high |
Common questions
Which Mercedes-Benz power train recall tells owners not to drive?
The December 18, 2024 rear-axle weld notice instructs owners of affected 2025 E 350, E 350 4MATIC, E 450 4MATIC, and E450 4MATIC station wagon vehicles not to drive until the remedy is performed. Dealers replace the rear axle carrier.
Does the Sprinter parking-pawl recall replace the transmission?
The October 2022 notice specifies software updates to the electronic stability, transmission control, direct select module, and electronic ignition switch control units. It covers certain 2019-2022 Sprinter vehicles equipped with a manual parking brake and seven-speed automatic transmission.
What repair does the April 2026 E-Class and S-Class driveshaft recall require?
Dealers will inspect the drive shaft and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The notice says interim safety-risk letters were mailed May 22, 2026, and additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.