Mercedes-Benz issued a “Do Not Drive” recall for nearly 300,000 crossovers from the 2006-2012 model years due to a corrosion problem related to the vehicles’ brake.
The problem could make it impossible for the driver to use the brakes to stop the vehicle. The company said the issue affects about 292,000 ML, GL and R-Class vehicles from the 2006 to 2012 model years.
The automaker’s U.S. business says there have been no crashes, injuries or deaths related to the problem, Reuters reported. The company is offering to tow owners’ vehicles to dealers.
What’s the problem?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the problem centers on potentially corroded brake boosters. If the corrosion is bad enough, it can affect the driver’s ability to stop the vehicle, increasing the possibility of a crash.
“After extended time in the field and in conjunction with significant water exposure, this corrosoion might lead to leakage of the brake booster,” according to a NHTSA filing. “In this case, the brake force support might be reduced, leading to an increase in the brake pedal forces required to decelerate the vehicle and/or to potentially increased stopping distance.
“Additionally, in rare cases of very severe corrosion, it might be possible or a particularly strong or hard braking maneuver to cause mechanical damage in the brake booster, whereby the connection between brake pedal and brake system would fail. In such a very rare case, it would not be possible to decelerate the vehicle via the service brake.”
NHTSA said vehicles that do not exhibit advanced corrosion can be driven with no further action, while vehicles with advanced corrosion must be examined. The agency also noted the foot parking brake is not affected.