2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 4MATIC Air Bag Recall (26V199)

Recall 26V199 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 4MATIC in recall 26V199?

The passenger air bag fabric may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended.

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2026 GLE 350 4MATIC, GLE 450 4MATIC, GLE 350, GLE 580 4MATIC, GLS 580 4MATIC, GLE 450 E 4MATIC, AMG GLE53 4MATIC, AMG GLS63 4MATIC, AMG GLE63 S 4MATIC, GLS 450 4MATIC, and GLS 600 4MATIC vehicles. The passenger air bag fabric may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended.

Is it safe to drive a 2026 GLE 350 4MATIC with recall 26V199?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Air bags that do not deploy as intended during a crash increase the risk of injury.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: Air bags that do not deploy as intended during a crash increase the risk of injury.

NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the cushion.

Which vehicles are included in recall 26V199?

Recall 26V199 covers 932 vehicles: 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 4MATIC; 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 4MATIC.

NHTSA lists 932 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the GLE 350 4MATIC air bag recall?

Yes. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge.

Dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 12, 2026. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 3, 2026.

When was recall 26V199 announced?

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC reported recall 26V199 to NHTSA on March 27, 2026. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as June 12, 2026.

This recall was filed 6 months ago. If your GLE 350 4MATIC was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my GLE 350 4MATIC is part of recall 26V199?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V199 is open on your GLE 350 4MATIC, it will be listed there.

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 26V199000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.

What should GLE 350 4MATIC owners do about recall 26V199?

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 26V199000 applies to your GLE 350 4MATIC.
2. Call a Mercedes-Benz dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
4. Keep a simple log of any cushion symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
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 GLE 350 4MATIC owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the air bags.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the air bags have been filed since recall 26V199 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 9 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 0 of them involve the air bags. 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.

• 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 4MATIC: 5 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
• 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 4MATIC: 4 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags

Can recall 26V199 make my GLE 350 4MATIC 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)).

Air bag defects are hidden until the moment they matter most. A recall repair may replace an inflator or sensor, but if warning lights return or the system faults again, that is a repeat repair for a safety defect.

A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 4MATIC has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.

For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the GLE 350 4MATIC 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 26V199