Mercedes Recalls 24K Luxury Cars Over Driveshaft Break Risk

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the recall on March 27 for 24,092 Mercedes-Benz vehicles, pinpointing a faulty universal joint in the front drive shaft that may fracture unexpectedly.[2][5] This defect, stemming from incorrect supplier manufacturing parameters between October 1, 2017, and December 18, 2019, allows lubricant to escape, causing premature wear and potential separation of the transfer case from the front-axle transmission.[5] A sudden loss of propulsion increases crash risks, especially without prior noises or vibrations in some cases, as Mercedes confirmed after probing a late-2025 overseas complaint.[5] Affected models span luxury 4MATIC all-wheel-drive lines: 2018 E 400 Sedan, Wagon, Cabriolet, and Coupe; 2018-2020 Maybach S 560 4MATIC, S 560 4MATIC Coupe, and S 450 4MATIC; plus 2019-2020 E 450 Sedan, Wagon, Coupe, and Cabriolet.[3][4][5] Mercedes logged 30 U.S. warranty claims from January 2022 to April 2025 but reported no crashes or injuries.[5] The problem was resolved with a revised supplier process starting December 20, 2019.[5] Dealers received recall notifications on April 10, with owner letters mailing by June 2.[2][5] Free inspections and drive shaft replacements will address any defects, performed at authorized Mercedes service centers.[2][3] Owners can verify eligibility by entering their vehicle identification number on NHTSA.gov or calling Mercedes customer service at 1-800-367-6372.[2][3] This recall underscores ongoing scrutiny of luxury automakers' drivetrain reliability, amid broader NHTSA actions like a separate Ford recall of over 422,000 vehicles for wiper failures.[2] Mercedes has not commented publicly, but the swift federal response highlights the stakes for drivers in these premium sedans, coupes, and wagons.