2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz S 500 Foundation Components Recall (25V116)

Recall 25V116 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz S 500 in recall 25V116?

The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2022 S 500, Maybach S 580 4MATIC, 2021-2023 S 580 4MATIC, 2022 S 680 4MATIC, and 2023 S 580e 4MATIC vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.

Is it safe to drive a 2021-2022 S 500 with recall 25V116?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A brake fluid leak can extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: A brake fluid leak can extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your S 500 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the foundation components, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 25V116?

Recall 25V116 covers 20,339 vehicles: 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz S 500; 2021-2023 Mercedes-Benz S 580; 2023 Mercedes-Benz S 580 E.

NHTSA lists 20,339 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the S 500 foundation components recall?

Yes. Dealers will replace the front brake hoses, free of charge.

Dealers will replace the front brake hoses, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2025030007.

When was recall 25V116 announced?

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC reported recall 25V116 to NHTSA on February 24, 2025. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as April 25, 2025.

This recall was filed 19 months ago. If your S 500 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my S 500 is part of recall 25V116?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V116 is open on your S 500, it will be listed there.

Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 25V116000 is open on your S 500, it will be listed there, along with Mercedes-Benz recall number 2025030007. You can also ask any Mercedes-Benz dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.

What should S 500 owners do about recall 25V116?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 25V116000 applies to your S 500.
2. Call a Mercedes-Benz dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the foundation components happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.

What are S 500 owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 86 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 12 of them about the brakes.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the brakes have been filed since recall 25V116 was reported (4) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 86 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 12 of them involve the brakes. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.

• 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 580: 33 complaints in total, 3 about the brakes
• 2022 Mercedes-Benz S 580: 25 complaints in total, 7 about the brakes
• 2022 Mercedes-Benz S 500: 21 complaints in total, 2 about the brakes
• 2023 Mercedes-Benz S 580: 6 complaints in total, 0 about the brakes
• 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 500: 1 complaints in total, 0 about the brakes
• 2023 Mercedes-Benz S 580 E: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the brakes

Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):

While driving on highway car made a complete sudden full stop This has happened twice in last 60 days Thankful car behind was far enough away to avoid a rear ender Second problem is dealer still not addressing fuel pump recall…

2022 Mercedes-Benz S 500 owner, NY, NHTSA complaint 11554973, filed November 13, 2023

The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz S580. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH, the brakes failed to function as needed while the brake pedal was being depressed. The failure resulted in a crash. There were no injuries sustained.

2021 Mercedes-Benz S 580 owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11444036, filed December 16, 2021

Driving on highway at about 50 mph when the brakes suddenly slammed on and brought car to a sudden, near stop. The stop was so sudden our seatbelts engaged and we thought we were struck in the rear by another car.

2021 Mercedes-Benz S 580 owner, PA, NHTSA complaint 11501439, filed January 12, 2023

Can recall 25V116 make my S 500 a lemon in California?

Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.

A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

If the 2021-2022 Mercedes-Benz S 500 brakes have needed more than one trip to the dealer, keep every repair order. Brake defects are treated as serious safety problems under California law.

The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.

For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the S 500 went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.

An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.

Frequently asked questions about recall 25V116