The defect
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.
The risk
A sudden loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The 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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz E 400 4MATIC | 2018 |
| Mercedes-Benz E 400 4MATIC Cabriolet | 2018 |
| Mercedes-Benz E 400 4MATIC Coupe | 2018 |
| Mercedes-Benz E 400 4MATIC Wagon | 2018 |
| Mercedes-Benz E 450 4MATIC | 2019, 2020 |
| Mercedes-Benz E 450 4MATIC Cabriolet | 2019, 2020 |
| Mercedes-Benz E 450 4MATIC Coupe | 2019, 2020 |
| Mercedes-Benz E 450 4MATIC Wagon | 2019, 2020 |
| Mercedes-Benz S 450 4MATIC | 2018, 2019, 2020 |
| Mercedes-Benz S 560 4MATIC | 2018, 2019, 2020 |
| Mercedes-Benz S 560 4MATIC Coupe | 2018, 2019, 2020 |
| Mercedes-Maybach S 560 4MATIC | 2018, 2019, 2020 |
Components: POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz E 400 4MATIC | 2018 | 3 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz E 400 4MATIC Cabriolet | 2018 | 0 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz E 400 4MATIC Coupe | 2018 | 0 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz E 400 4MATIC Wagon | 2018 | 0 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz E 450 4MATIC | 2019 | 4 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz E 450 4MATIC | 2020 | 3 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz E 450 4MATIC Cabriolet | 2019 | 0 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz E 450 4MATIC Cabriolet | 2020 | 0 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz E 450 4MATIC Coupe | 2019 | 1 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz E 450 4MATIC Coupe | 2020 | 0 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz E 450 4MATIC Wagon | 2019 | 0 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz E 450 4MATIC Wagon | 2020 | 0 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz S 450 4MATIC | 2018 | 0 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz S 450 4MATIC | 2019 | 0 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz S 450 4MATIC | 2020 | 0 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz S 560 4MATIC | 2018 | 4 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz S 560 4MATIC | 2019 | 2 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz S 560 4MATIC | 2020 | 2 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz S 560 4MATIC Coupe | 2018 | 0 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz S 560 4MATIC Coupe | 2019 | 0 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz S 560 4MATIC Coupe | 2020 | 0 | 1 |
| Mercedes-Maybach S 560 4MATIC | 2018 | 7 | 6 |
| Mercedes-Maybach S 560 4MATIC | 2019 | 1 | 5 |
| Mercedes-Maybach S 560 4MATIC | 2020 | 0 | 3 |
Other power train recalls in 2026
30 of the 666 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2026 concerned the power train; Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC filed 180 campaigns in all.
| 26V658000 7 Oct 2026 | BMW of North America, LLC |
| 26V607000 23 Sept 2026 | Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC |
| 26V576000 9 Sept 2026 | Ford Motor Company |
| 26V525000 12 Aug 2026 | BMW of North America, LLC |
| 26V454000 15 Jul 2026 | E-One Incorporated |
| 26V437000 8 Jul 2026 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing |
| 26V417000 30 Jun 2026 | Ford Motor Company |
| 26V413000 30 Jun 2026 | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2026