Going big and rich doesn’t always mean avoiding your problems, as owners of certain 2021-2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedans are about to find out. The automaker’s legendary sedan has been recalled over front brake lines that may rupture, leaking brake fluid and increasing stopping distances according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. As is the case with most recalls (even those from dead companies), Mercedes will replace the faulty components free of charge via its dealership service departments.
Almost The Entire 2021-2023 S-Class Lineup Is Affected
The recall pertains to 20,339 examples of the S-Class from the 2021 to 2023 model years. The full roster is listed below, which includes nearly every S-Class variant from the current generation of cars, although the Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance is spared since it debuted for the 2024 model year.
- 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz S500
- 2021-2023 Mercedes-Benz S580 4Matic
- 2023 Mercedes-Benz S580e 4Matic
- 2021-2022 Mercedes-Maybach S580 4Matic
- 2022 Mercedes-Maybach S680 4Matic
As you can see, not even spending a quarter million bucks on the long-wheelbase, ultra-luxurious Maybach exempts its owner from the recall. Also, credit NHTSA for reminding us the plug-in hybrid six-cylinder S580e exists, but those owners might be grateful for their choice since the car’s regenerative braking might improve its stopping performance should a brake line fail.
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Newer S-Class Models Aren’t Affected
The recall stops at the 2023 model year, so it seems likely that Mercedes-Benz solved the problem as a running change in the S-Class’ production. And although the braking issue is serious, it’s nowhere close to the company’s largest recall. That honor might belong to a 2022 campaign that brought in more than 230,000 vehicles – nearly every single car in the company’s lineup built from 2017 to 2022 – to rectify a fault in the SOS system that might not activate in the case of a crash. In such an event, an incapacitated driver might be unable to summon emergency services.
In other S-Class news, a facelift is on the way, which will bring a more classically handsome interior design and revised styling to the large sedan. The tweaked S-Class should debut sometime in the next few months for the 2026 model year, and it might also boast more power, efficiency, and luxury (as well as cost).
