Mercedes has issued a recall for 184 copies of the new favorite car of the rich and famous: the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter van, because their brake pedals might suddenly require more force than expected.
Modern cars have brake boosters – devices that change light pressure on the brake pedal into heavier pressure on the brakes. Mercedes tells federal safety regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that eSprinter brake boosters can fail in the event of an electrical fault in the van.
The brakes are still strong enough to stop the van without a properly working brake booster. Mercedes says the driver will receive no warning of the failure, so they might not know to brake harder than normal. Failure to boost braking could contribute to an accident.
Mercedes says it knows of no accidents or injuries related to the problem, which technicians discovered in testing at the factory.
Dealers will fix it with a software update. But, since eSprinters can’t receive updates over the air, owners must bring them in for repair. Maybe you’ll get to line up between Anthony Mackie and Anya Taylor-Joy.
Recall repairs are always free. Automakers recall many cars, often more than once, during their lifespan. Automakers try to contact every owner but don’t always reach them all. Find out whether your car has any outstanding recalls with the easy VIN tool at our recall center.
