German luxury automotive manufacturer Mercedes-Benz has issued a large-scale safety recall affecting nearly 59,000 passenger vehicles built between 2018 and 2026, after confirming a widespread electrical manufacturing defect that could increase the likelihood of traffic accidents and serious harm to drivers and pedestrians.
The root of the issue lies in a tiny door-lock microswitch, a component critical to the vehicle’s safety and parking systems. According to the official recall notification published by the automaker, the microswitch can suffer permanent failure when exposed to water damage. When this failure occurs, the vehicle’s on-board systems cannot properly detect when a car door is not fully closed, which in turn disables the automatic parking feature designed to keep the vehicle stationary when parked.
Without a functioning automatic parking system, the vehicle is at risk of unexpected unintended movement even after the driver has exited. This flaw creates a significant danger: it can lead to collisions that cause serious injury or even death for vehicle occupants, pedestrians, and other road users, the notice warns. The affected model range covers a wide cross-section of Mercedes-Benz’s popular lineup, including entry-level luxury compact models like the A 180 and B 180, plug-in hybrid options, all-electric EQA variants, and high-performance AMG models, some of which carry retail prices as high as $190,000. Specifically named affected vehicles include the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4MATIC SUV and the Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 4MATIC, alongside dozens of other trim and configuration combinations.
To mitigate the risk ahead of repairs, Mercedes-Benz has issued immediate guidance for owners of potentially affected vehicles: before exiting the car, drivers must manually select the park position on the gear selector and fully engage the handbrake to secure the vehicle. The automaker is contacting registered owners of affected vehicles, and all repairs will be completed free of charge. Owners are encouraged to reach out to local Mercedes-Benz service centers in writing to schedule a repair appointment as soon as possible.