- The recall impacts 396 Mercedes-Benz E350 and E450 models.
- NHTSA recall notice says dealers will fix the poorly routed wiring harness.
- Mercedes-Benz is not aware of any incidents caused by the issue.
Several hundred Mercedes-Benz E-Class models delivered in the United States need to be repaired or else there’s a chance they could shut down unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
The German carmaker has revealed through a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall notice that the transmission wiring harness of 2024 Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic, 2024 E450 4Matic All-Terrain, and 2024 E450 4 Matic models could contact the front drive shaft and chafe over time. If this happens, the wiring harness could be damaged and may lead to a loss of vehicle power. That’s bad news for owners and other motorists.
Read: Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Debuts With Up To 603 HP Of Electrified Muscle
Mercedes says the issue has been caused by a deviation in the development and production process that meant the transmission wiring harness could be routed too close to the drive shaft. Owners of affected models could be alerted to the fault by a warning message on the instrument cluster but will not receive any advanced warning about an imminent failure.
The recall involves 396 vehicles in the U.S. All impacted E350 and E450 models were manufactured between April 27, 2023, and January 29, 2024. Each one is believed to have a poorly routed transmission wiring harness and is at risk of failure.
An investigation into a potential issue was launched in October 2023 after Mercedes found there was contact between the wiring harness and the drive shaft in one of its internal vehicles. The luxury brand doesn’t know of any warranty claims, field or service reports, or injuries or deaths related to the problem.
Dealerships were alerted to the recall on March 29 while owners will be notified before May 21. Mechanics have been instructed to check the wiring harness routing and rework it if necessary.
