MERCEDES-BENZ power train recall — 26V216000
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC reported recall 26V216000 to NHTSA on April 3, 2026.
26V216000
Official NHTSA text (English)
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.
A sudden loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign number: 26V216000 · Report received: April 3, 2026
https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=26V216000
What does this record mean?
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC reported recall 26V216000 to NHTSA on April 3, 2026. The record falls under power train and covers 7 make-model-year combinations across MERCEDES-BENZ, model years 2018–2020.
A recall is the manufacturer identifying a safety-related defect or a non-compliance with a standard in a group of vehicles, and reporting it officially. It does not mean the whole vehicle is faulty: it covers a specific condition found in a specific part, within a specific build range.
This record concerns the engine, power train or speed control. The consequence most often recorded in this family is an unexpected loss of power while driving, or the vehicle moving when it should not.
What should I do?
If you notice engine shudder, a check engine light, the transmission behaving unexpectedly, or the vehicle moving while parked, contact the dealer. Making a habit of the parking brake is a practical precaution for records in this family.
Work carried out under a recall is done at no cost to the owner. This does not depend on the vehicle still being in warranty: a recall is not a warranty claim, it is a separate obligation. The dealer should not charge you for labour or parts.
Whether a record covers your vehicle is determined by make, model and model year — but not every vehicle of that model year is necessarily included. The manufacturer usually covers a specific build date range. Only a VIN-based lookup gives a definite answer.
Where is the VIN?
The VIN has 17 characters and appears in four places: on a plate at the lower left corner of the windscreen, on the label inside the driver's door jamb, on the registration document, and on most vehicles on a label in the engine bay. VINs never use the letters I, O or Q; the similar-looking characters are the digits 1, 0 and 9.
Before you go to the dealer
The work is done at the manufacturer's authorised dealer. Quoting the campaign number when you book shortens the process, because the dealer can order the part in advance. If you are not sure whether your vehicle is covered, verify it on the manufacturer's own VIN lookup page; that link is provided on this page.
Before you go to the dealer, have three things ready: the VIN, the registration document and the campaign number. If you have seen a symptom related to the defect, note when and under what conditions; that speeds up diagnosis. Keep the paperwork showing the work that was done: it is useful when you sell the vehicle or if a second record appears.
Source and currency
The official text on this page is reproduced exactly as NHTSA published it. It has not been summarised, rewritten or interpreted. The rest of the page is written in this language.
NHTSA records cover vehicles sold in the US market. A model with the same name sold in Europe or elsewhere may have been built with different equipment and different suppliers, so whether a record covers your vehicle is settled only by the manufacturer's own lookup.
When a record stops appearing in the source, this page is taken down the same day and the address returns a 410 response; no text is left behind. If you have an objection about a record, you can send it from the correction page.
Vehicles covered
Frequently asked
What does recall 26V216000 cover?
The record falls under power train and covers vehicles from MERCEDES-BENZ in model years 2018–2020. The detail is in the official text on this page.
How do I know if my vehicle is included?
If make, model and model year match, your vehicle may be included; but the manufacturer usually covers a specific build date range. Only a VIN lookup gives a definite answer.
Is there a charge?
No. Recall work is free of charge and independent of warranty.
How soon should I have it done?
There is no reason to wait. If a part has to be ordered the dealer will give you a date; in the meantime follow the advisories shown on this page.
Why is the official text in English?
Because that is the record NHTSA published. It is not summarised, rewritten or interpreted; the rest of the page is in this language.