Nearly 300,000 Mercedes cars are at risk of brake problems

Mercedes-Benz is facing one of the largest recalls in its history. The vehicles affected by the recall are the Mercedes-Benz ML, GL and R-Class manufactured between 2006 and 2012.

In July 2021, a customer complained about reduced brake assist. While studying the car to find the problem, Mercedes engineers noticed corrosion on the brake booster housing. Instead of just fixing this one vehicle, Mercedes launched a global investigation into models using the same brake booster. This investigation was carried out with the help of Continental Tire The Americas, the company that supplies this part to Mercedes-Benz.

A similar case was identified in March 2022 and Mercedes is now recalling more than 292,000 vehicles manufactured between 2006 and 2012. Fortunately for the automaker, the recall is not as large as the 2017 recall because fire hazard.

This is a serious problem and Mercedes asks owners not to drive their vehicle as the brakes could fail. Mercedes will provide free transportation to the nearest dealer. If the problem cannot be fixed on the same day, the dealer will help the owner find a car to borrow.

It is worth noting that no accidents or injuries have been reported as a result of this issue.

The US Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released details about the recall earlier this week. Brake boosters covered with rubber hoses can leak water, leading to corrosion. If exposed to water long enough, the brake booster may leak, resulting in loss of brake force.

In severe cases, the brake booster can be irreparably damaged. However, these cases are extremely rare. Mercedes also claims that the issue does not affect the vehicle’s handbrake.

The recall of vehicle models will not be limited to a specific batch. All ML, GL and R-Class models are subject to the recall. The way to identify fault for car owners is to notice a difference in the feeling of braking, or hear a hissing sound.

Given the relatively high replacement cost of brake boosters, Mercedes may want to avoid installing a new part for each of its nearly 300,000 vehicles. So, for cars with little or no wear on the power steering, Mercedes will not replace it, but only check it for the owner.