Mercedes Recalls 30,064 S-Class Sedans Over Brake Hose Leak Risk
Mercedes-Benz USA is recalling 30,064 S-Class, Mercedes-Maybach and AMG sedans because front brake hoses may leak or rupture, reducing braking performance and increasing stopping distance.
The expanded campaign covers six variants from model years 2022 through 2025, including two plug-in hybrids. Mercedes-Benz filed the new recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on October 2, 2026, and affected VINs became searchable on October 9. The federal campaign number is 26V638.
Mercedes says there is no advance warning before the hose begins to leak. If the failure occurs, the driver may see a red brake-fluid warning in the instrument cluster. A leak can reduce performance in one of the car’s two brake circuits, according to the company’s official safety filing.
Which Mercedes models are included?
The recall applies to certain vehicles produced from February 2, 2021, through November 28, 2024. Model year and vehicle totals in Mercedes-Benz’s NHTSA filing are:
| Model | Model years | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz S 580 4MATIC | 2022–2025 | 16,881 |
| Mercedes-Benz S 500 4MATIC | 2022–2025 | 7,143 |
| Mercedes-Benz S 580 e 4MATIC | 2023–2025 | 2,277 |
| Mercedes-AMG S 63 E Performance | 2024–2025 | 1,746 |
| Mercedes-Maybach S 680 4MATIC | 2022–2025 | 1,070 |
| Mercedes-Maybach S 580 4MATIC | 2022–2025 | 947 |
Those model-year ranges are not a substitute for a VIN check. Production records determine which individual cars are included, so owners should use the NHTSA recall lookup or Mercedes-Benz USA’s recall checker rather than relying only on the badge and model year.
Why Mercedes expanded the earlier recall
This is an expansion of NHTSA recall 25V116, filed in February 2025. Mercedes initially defined that campaign using a narrower production period and climate-related exposure. The company continued monitoring vehicles inside and outside that group, then received additional reports from overseas markets involving cars built or operated beyond the original limits.
Mercedes collected brake hoses through a field-engineering program and sent them to the supplier for analysis. After reviewing laboratory and durability testing, the automaker concluded in September 2026 that it could not rule out a safety risk in a wider vehicle population.
The filing attributes the potential failure to accumulated material fatigue from thermal and mechanical stresses over the vehicle’s life. The affected front brake hose carries part number A2234201800 and was supplied by Continental Automotive Technologies. Mercedes says an optimized hose entered production on November 29, 2024.
Mercedes reported three U.S. cases within the expanded population, dated April 2, May 29 and August 10, 2026. At the time of the filing, the company said it was not aware of crashes, injuries or property damage connected to the condition in that expanded group. NHTSA’s filing does not carry a “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside” advisory.
The repair and what owners should do
Authorized Mercedes-Benz dealers will replace the front-axle brake hoses at no charge. Dealers were scheduled to receive notice on October 9, while owner letters are planned for November 27, 2026. Owners can contact Mercedes-Benz USA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
If a red brake-fluid warning appears, owners should treat it as a serious safety alert and follow the instructions in the owner’s manual. The recall filing does not direct every affected owner to stop driving immediately, but reduced brake performance can lengthen stopping distance.
The inclusion of the S 580 e and AMG S 63 E Performance also makes this a relevant update for electrified-vehicle owners. Chiefs Review recently covered Mercedes-Benz’s vehicle-to-grid charging rollout, while a separate federal safety item examined NHTSA’s review of a Tesla robotaxi petition.
The key action is simple: enter the vehicle’s VIN in an official recall checker now and again after receiving a mailed notice. Recall repairs are free, and VIN-specific results are more reliable than a general model list.
Primary source: Mercedes-Benz USA Part 573 Safety Recall Report 26V638, submitted to NHTSA October 2, 2026. Featured image: Illustrative Mercedes-Benz hood ornament photo by Rama Laksono on Unsplash; it does not identify a specific recalled vehicle.