Mercedes-Benz Recalls Over 144,000 Vehicles Due to Potential Instrument Cluster Malfunctions, Increased Crash Risk

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Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC is initiating a safety recall affecting approximately 144,049 of its light vehicles. According to information submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), certain models from model years 2024 through 2026 may experience issues with their infotainment system software, potentially leading to a brief interruption of critical driving information displayed on the instrument cluster.

The defect arises from the software of the infotainment control unit, which might trigger an increased number of system resets as part of an intended fallback behavior. While this system is designed to improve performance, the reset process can cause a temporary loss of visibility of essential driving data on the instrument cluster. This interruption, though brief, could increase the risk of a crash as drivers may be unable to view important information. The manufacturer has indicated that drivers will not receive a warning before the issue occurs, but they may notice the interruption in display information when it happens.

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The affected vehicles include a wide range of Mercedes-Benz models, specifically various configurations of the AMG GT, C-Class, E-Class, SL, CLE, and GLC. Production dates for these vehicles span from September 19, 2022, to February 06, 2026. The recall population was determined based on potentially affected software versions, and the company notes that vehicles with infotainment software that does not exhibit the system reset protocol are outside this recall. Mercedes-Benz AG, the manufacturer of these vehicles, initiated the rollout of a new display software version in August 2025 designed to enhance system robustness.

The decision to convert the software update campaign into a safety recall was made in April 2026, following discussions with NHTSA and in consideration of previous regulatory expectations in other markets. As of April 2026, approximately 62% of the vehicle population had already received the over-the-air (OTA) software update. The company is aware of numerous warranty and field reports related to this issue between October 2023 and April 2026, but it is not aware of any crashes, accidents, or injuries resulting from this condition.

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To address the defect, authorized Mercedes-Benz dealerships will update the infotainment control unit software on the affected vehicles. This software update is intended to correct the behavior that triggers excessive system resets. The company states that the updated software version, which has been in production since July 09, 2025, ensures more robust system behavior. Owners of affected vehicles will be notified of the recall campaign before June 26, 2026, and dealerships will be notified by May 08, 2026. Owners can check if their vehicle is affected by searching the VIN on the NHTSA website starting May 08, 2026. In the interim, drivers are advised to park their vehicles outside and not to drive them if they notice the instrument cluster display is not functioning correctly.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC and NHTSA

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