Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling~30,000 S-Class vehicles. Included are model-year 2022-2025 S 500 4MATIC, Maybach S 580 4MATIC, Maybach S 680 4MATIC, S 580 4MATIC, 2023-2025 S 580 E 4MATIC, and 2024-2025 AMG S 63 E Performance vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V116.* The driver will not receive a warning. When the rupture occurs, the driver might notice a red brake fluid warning message in the instrument panel.
“Affected brake hoses might not meet durability specifications as a result of accumulated material fatigue due to increased thermal and mechanical stresses sustained over the vehicle’s lifetime,” MBUSA told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public by NHTSA this morning.
Dealers will replace the front brake hoses, free of charge as required by US safety regulations (49 CFR § 573). Owner notification letters are not expected to be mailed until 27 November 2026. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V116. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall are searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Chronology
“This recall expands upon the vehicle population subject to Recall No. 25V116, filed on February 24, 2025. Based on the field information and technical evidence then available, MBAG had identified two factors associated with the condition: climatic exposure and a particular vehicle production period. The available field data indicated that the reported cases were concentrated in particular climatic regions and within that production period. MBAG therefore defined the original recall population using those factors,” MB told NHTSA.
- Following the decision to conduct a recall, MBAG continued monitoring field performance of the front brake hoses, including vehicles both within and outside the original recall population.
- Between March and August 2025, MBAG received additional field reports from markets outside the United States involving vehicles produced outside the original recall production range and, in some instances, operated outside the climatic regions on which the original population determination had been based. These reports presented information that was not reflected in the data available when the original recall population was determined and prompted MBAG to reassess whether the condition might extend beyond the originally identified production period and climatic regions.
- During September and October 2025, MBAG reviewed the additional reports and available vehicle and production information to determine the appropriate means of obtaining and analyzing representative field parts.
- In November 2025, MBAG began coordinating a dedicated Field Engineering Activity to obtain additional brake hoses from vehicles exhibiting the reported condition.
- From November 2025 through February 2026, MBAG identified candidate vehicles and markets, developed the collection protocol, and coordinated the retrieval and shipment of the requested components.
- The Field Engineering Activity was formally launched in March 2026. By June 2026, the requested brake hose components had been collected and returned to MBAG. MBAG forwarded the components to the supplier for detailed technical analysis and testing.
- In July 2026, MBAG reviewed and discussed the results of the supplier’s laboratory and durability testing for the retrieved field parts. Based on the additional field reports, the analysis of the retrieved components, and the resulting laboratory and durability testing, MBAG reassessed the affected vehicle population with respect to production range and climatic restrictions. As a result, MBAG identified an expanded vehicle scope covering vehicles produced up to the implementation of a modified brake hose design in series production. MBAG subsequently identified the potentially affected vehicles in the field.
- On September 25, 2026, MBAG determined that a potential safety risk cannot be ruled out for the expanded vehicle population and decided to expand the recall. In the United States, MBAG is aware of three reports involving vehicles in the expanded recall population, dated 04/02/2026, 05/29/2026 and 08/10/2026.
- MBAG is not aware of any cases of crashes, injuries, or property damage related to this condition in the expanded recall population.
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