2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE and GLS models air bag deployment failure recall
Mercedes-Benz is recalling certain 2026 GLE and GLS models because the passenger air bag fabric may have been manufactured incorrectly, preventing proper deployment during a crash and increasing injury risk.
What this means for you
Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.
Our severity reasoning: This is a structural/safety-system defect (air bag malfunction) where injury or death risk exists in a crash scenario. The source text explicitly states the consequence increases "risk of injury" and contains no reports of actual injuries or deaths, placing it at score 3 per the rubric criterion for risk-of-harm products where injury has not yet been reported.
Plain-English summary
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC is recalling certain 2026 GLE 350 4MATIC, GLE 450 4MATIC, GLE 350, GLE 580 4MATIC, GLS 580 4MATIC, GLE 450 E 4MATIC, AMG GLE53 4MATIC, AMG GLS63 4MATIC, AMG GLE63 S 4MATIC, GLS 450 4MATIC, and GLS 600 4MATIC vehicles. The passenger air bag fabric may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended during a crash.
Air bags that do not deploy as intended during a crash increase the risk of injury to vehicle occupants. The manufacturer has identified this defect and is taking action to remedy the safety risk.
Dealers will replace the passenger air bag module free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed May 22, 2026, and additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Mercedes-Benz USA customer service at 1-800-367-6372 for more information. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 3, 2026.
The recalled product
- Product
- 2026 MERCEDES-BENZ GLE 350 4MATIC
- Brand
- MERCEDES-BENZ
- Manufacturer
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
- Hazard
- air-bag-failure
- deployment-defect
- Affected units
- 932
Is your product affected?
Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.
Model numbers (11)
- GLE 350 4MATIC
- GLE 450 4MATIC
- AMG GLE63 S 4MATIC
- AMG GLS63 4MATIC
- GLS 580 4MATIC
- GLS 450 4MATIC
- GLS 600 4MATIC
- AMG GLE53 4MATIC
- GLE 350
- GLE 450E 4MATIC
- GLE 580 4MATIC
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.