Mercedes-Benz announced that it is immediately recalling nearly one million older vehicles worldwide due to a potential problem with the brake system.
The German Federal Transport Authority (KBA) said the recall affected cars built between 2004 and 2015 of the ML and GL series SUVs, and the R-Class luxury van.
993,407 vehicles have been recalled worldwide, including around 70,000 in Germany, the KBA added.
It is not known how many vehicles in the UK are affected.
“Corrosion on the brake booster can, in the worst case, lead to a break in the connection between the brake pedal and the brake system,” the KBA said.
“As a result, the service brake may stop working.”
Mercedes-Benz confirmed the recall in a statement to AFP news agency, saying the decision was based on “analysis of isolated reports for certain vehicles”.
“In rare cases of very severe corrosion, it could be possible that a particularly strong or harsh braking maneuver could cause mechanical damage to the brake booster, resulting in a failure of the connection between the brake pedal and the braking system” , said Mercedes.
“In such a rare case, it would not be possible to decelerate the vehicle via the service brake. Thus, the risk of accident or injury would be increased.
The company said it would “immediately begin the recall” and contact owners of “potentially affected vehicles”.
“The recall process will involve the inspection of potentially affected vehicles and, depending on the results of the inspection, the replacement of parts if necessary,” the Stuttgart-based company said.
“Until the inspection takes place, we ask our customers not to drive their vehicles.”
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