Mercedes-Benz recalls over 310.000 cars in the US. What Romanian drivers need to know
A technical problem with a microswitch in the driver's door has prompted German carmaker Mercedes-Benz to launch a massive recall of 310,667 cars. The fault, caused by corrosion, can prevent the parking brake from automatically engaging, leaving the car to roll uncontrollably after the driver gets out.
How a part in the driver's door can set the vehicle in motion
The origin of this campaign is a manufacturing error at a component supplier. Certain parts inside the driver's door closing mechanism were made of a material vulnerable to moisture.
In conditions of high humidity, high temperatures and condensation, water penetrates the mechanism and causes corrosion of the electrical contact.
- The locking mechanism remains functional: The door continues to lock and unlock normally.
- Sensor problem: The car's electronic system no longer detects when the driver opens the door to get out.
- Major risk: Automatic safety features such as Auto-Park or the electronic parking brake no longer activate automatically when the door is opened. As a result, the vehicle can remain unsecured and move in an uncontrolled manner.
Model range affected: From A-Class to AMG versions
The campaign targets a wide variety of models from the German manufacturer's portfolio, covering both front-wheel or all-wheel drive (4Matic) versions, as well as AMG performance variants:
- Recalled range: A-Class, CLA, C-Class, CLE, GLA, GLB and GLC.
- The bulk of the recalls: The GLB SUV model has the most units affected. The GLB 250 4Matic version (produced between 2020 and 2026) accounts for 71,696 units, and the GLB 250 front-wheel drive variant adds another 56,879 units.
- Extreme case: The official documentation even mentions a single Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe (2024 model).
Early signs of failure and problem history
The first complaints began to appear between 2021 and 2024, but initially only concerned secondary comfort features. Owners reported that the radio or interior lights no longer turned off automatically after they left the car – a first indication that the system was not registering the door opening.
Although 176 complaints have been registered in the United States (with no accidents or uncontrolled vehicle movements reported), the manufacturer confirmed that such uncontrolled vehicle movement incidents have already been reported in other markets.
Are drivers in Romania also affected?
Although the initial announcement targets a campaign launched in the United States market, there is a very high possibility that drivers in Romania will also be affected.
Car manufacturers use identical technical platforms and components globally. Given that the models involved (A-Class, C-Class, GLA, GLB, GLC) are particularly popular on the European market and that Mercedes-Benz has already acknowledged the existence of similar cases in other international markets, it is expected that the measure will be extended or that there will be parallel campaigns in Europe.
What can Mercedes-Benz owners in Romania do:
- Watch for symptoms: If you notice that the infotainment screen, radio, or ambient lights do not turn off shortly after opening the driver's door, the system may not detect your exit.
- Manually securing the car: Until serviced, manually engage the parking brake before turning off the engine and getting out of the vehicle.
- Checking the chassis number (VIN): Owners can contact any authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership in Romania or enter the VIN number on the official recall portal to check if their car is subject to any technical recall.
The solution offered in service
The fix is simple and completely free for customers. Authorized dealers will replace the driver's door latch mechanism with a modified part that is resistant to corrosion and moisture.
Mercedes-Benz has confirmed that cars rolling off the assembly line from May 20, 2026 are already equipped with the new updated mechanism from the factory, being completely safe from this problem.
