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Mercedes-Benz drive shaft joint may break suddenly

NHTSA campaign 26V216000 · Reported 2026-04-03 · Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

high How serious is it? About this label

Losing power without warning while driving is serious and could cause a crash; the notice does not tell owners to stop driving, but watch for the follow-up letter and get the repair as soon as it is offered.

What's wrong, in plain English

The drive shaft is the spinning bar that carries power from the engine back to the wheels. A joint in that shaft can break. If it does, the vehicle suddenly stops pulling while you are driving, which is dangerous in traffic or on the highway. Dealers will inspect the drive shaft and replace it when needed, at no cost. A first warning letter went out May 22, 2026, but the actual repair parts are not ready yet.

What you should do

1. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm your vehicle is included. 2. Call MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372, or your dealer, to ask about an inspection. 3. Watch for the second letter saying the remedy is available, then book the free repair.

Affected vehicles (7)

Who to contact

Mercedes-Benz — official Mercedes-Benz recall lookup

Customer service: 1-800-367-6372

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

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.