Home › Mercedes-Benz › E 450 4MATIC › 26V216000
Mercedes-Benz E-Class and S-Class Drive Shaft Joint Failure
high How serious is it? About this label
The notice says a sudden loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.
Key facts
| NHTSA campaign number | 26V216000 |
|---|---|
| Reported to NHTSA | Apr 3, 2026 |
| Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC |
| Part affected | Power Train:driveline:universal Joint |
| Vehicles covered | 7 model/year combinations, model years 2018–2020 |
| Do-not-drive advisory | No |
| Park-outside advisory | No |
| Repair | Free at any franchised dealer |
What's wrong, in plain English
On certain Mercedes-Benz E 400 4MATIC, E 450 4MATIC, E 450 4MATIC Coupe, and S 560 4MATIC vehicles, a universal joint in the drive shaft may break. If this joint breaks, the vehicle can suddenly lose the power that turns the wheels while it is being driven, meaning the car stops being able to move under its own power at that moment.
What you should do
2. Contact a Mercedes-Benz dealer, or call MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
3. Dealers will inspect and replace the drive shaft as needed, free of charge.
Where do I find my VIN, and what do I tell the dealer?
Your VIN is the 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield, on your registration and usually on your insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether this recall is still open on your car. When you call the dealer, say you have an open safety recall and give them NHTSA campaign number 26V216000. More in how recalls work.
Affected vehicles (7)
Who to contact
Mercedes-Benz — official Mercedes-Benz recall lookup
Customer service: 1-800-367-6372
The bigger picture
- Mercedes-Benz Power Train Recalls Involving Rollaway and Lost Drive · all 5 Mercedes-Benz recalls in this area
Other Mercedes-Benz E 450 4MATIC recalls
- May 1, 2026Mercedes-Benz Instrument Panel Display May Go Blankhigh
- Dec 18, 2024Mercedes-Benz E 350 Rear Axle Weld Defectcritical
Official notice
- Component
- POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
- Summary
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018 E 400 4MATIC Sedan, E 400 4MATIC Wagon, E 400 4MATIC Cabriolet, E 400 4MATIC Coupe, 2018-2020 Maybach S 560 4MATIC, S 560 4MATIC Coupe, S 450 4MATIC, 2019-2020 E 450 4MATIC Sedan, E 450 4MATIC Wagon, E 450 4MATIC Coupe, and E 450 4MATIC Cabriolet vehicles. The drive shaft universal joint may break, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power.
- Safety risk
- A sudden loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the drive shaft as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed May 22, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 10, 2026.
Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.