Mercedes-Benz is proceeding with a recall in the United States covering 310,667 vehicles due to a defect in the driver's door lock microswitch. The failure lies in the material surrounding the component, which may allow moisture to pass through under certain conditions, promoting corrosion of the contacts and, over time, component failure. When this happens, the vehicle may no longer recognize that the driver's door has been opened, compromising the automatic activation of safety systems such as the electronic parking brake and the Auto-Park function.
The campaign has number 26V481 and was submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on July 24. Several models are covered, including Mercedes-Benz CLA from model years 2020 and 2021, A-Class from 2019 to 2022, C-Class from 2022 and 2023, CLE from 2024, GLA and GLB from 2020 to 2026, and GLC from 2023 and 2024, including AMG variants. Identification depends on production records and the vehicle identification number (VIN) of each vehicle.
When the door-open signal is not recognized, the car may lack automatic immobilization and move unintentionally, increasing the risk of collision. One possible manifestation is the radio continuing to play after the driver leaves the vehicle. As of the report date, Mercedes-Benz indicated it was aware of 176 occurrences in the United States related to comfort functions, with no record of vehicles moving unintentionally in that market due to the defect.
The solution involves free replacement of the driver's door lock at an authorized workshop, with installation of a microswitch that meets the required resistance specifications. Owner notification is scheduled for September 18, 2026. Regarding Portugal, it was not possible to confirm a specific campaign for this defect, so owners are advised to contact a dealer or the brand's customer support, providing the vehicle identification number (VIN or chassis number), to clarify their individual situation.
