Mercedes-Benz recalls more than 144,000 cars due to digital glitch
Mercedes-Benz confirmed a recall of more than 144,000 vehicles after detecting faults in main driving screens
Mercedes-Benz was under pressure in the United States after confirming a recall that affects more than 144,000 recent vehicles. The problem is not motorcycle-related no brakes, but it does hit a sensitive spot for any current driver. The fault can cause the main information to disappear while the car is running.
Read also: If you didn't want it, now yes: Kia EV6 2026 lowered its price
The situation generated concern because many of the models involved belong to the newer ranges of the German brand. In several c asos are vehicles delivered a time and equipped with digital systems that concentrate practically all the driving information.
You can read: Five reasons why an SUV can be better than a pickup
The documents submitted to the National Traffic Safety Administration on the Highway of the United States detail that the problem affects both the multimedia system such as the digital instrument cluster. When the fault occurs, the display in front of the driver may be turned off temporarily without prior notification.
The driver may be left without key information
Although Mercedes-Benz clarified that there are reports of accidents or injuries linked to this situation, the problem is still serious. If the screen turns off while If the vehicle is driving, the driver may lose critical data such as speed, mechanical alerts, fuel level or safety-related warnings.
In practice, that means driving for a few seconds without essential references. And although the failure doesn't directly affect the mechanical capacity of the vehicle, it can become a major risk depending on the driving conditions.
The brand explained that everything originates in the control unit of the infotainment system. According to Mercedes-Benz, the software can execute automatic restarts as part of a mechanism designed to protect and stabilize the electronic system.
The problem appears when those reboots end up affecting the digital instrument cluster as well. As a consequence, the main screen stops showing information temporarily until the system boots up again.
What models are involved
The recall involves exactly 144,049 vehicles sold in the United States. Among the affected models appear the Mercedes-AMG GT, C-Class, E-Class, SL, CLE and GLC corresponding to units manufactured between 2024 and 2026.
All of them have certain versions of the multimedia software installed by the company. The striking thing is that this time the drawback is not related to traditional physical components, but to programming and electronic stability.
The case also puts on the table an increasingly frequent debate within the industry. As the brands eliminate analog clocks and move everything to digital screens, any software error can affect essential vehicle functions.
Mercedes-Benz already working on the solution
The first reports started to appear in mid 2025. Faced with that situation, Mercedes-Benz started the development of a software update in August of that year to try to reduce unnecessary reboots.
The company even released fixes through OTA updates, known as Over the Air, although complaints continued to appear.Eventually, pressure from NHTSA led to make the recall official.
Now, authorized dealers will install a new version of the multimedia unit's software. Mercedes-Benz claims that this update improves the overall stability of the system and significantly reduces the possibility of unexpected failures.
The brand also confirmed that vehicles produced after July 9 2025 already incorporate the corrected software and do not present this behavior.
Dealers began to receive official notifications on May 8, 2026. For their part, affected owners will be contacted before June 26, 2026 to coordinate the corresponding update.
Those with doubts can verify whether their vehicle is part of the recall using the VIN number or by approaching directly any official Mercedes-Benz dealership in the United States.

