2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA 350 4MATIC (ev) Seat Belt Retractor Recall (26V278)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC · 15 vehicles · Reported May 1, 2026
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC is recalling 15 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ (ev); 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA 350 4MATIC (ev) vehicles. The front passenger seat belt retractor may have been manufactured with a defect that prevents the deactivation of the child seat safety function (Automatic Locking Retractor). As a result, the seat belt may remain in a locked position and cannot be extended. A passenger who is unable to fasten their seat belt is not properly restrained, increasing their risk of injury in a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 26V278 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 26V278000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | Not listed |
| Date reported to NHTSA | May 1, 2026 |
| Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ (ev); 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA 350 4MATIC (ev) |
| Units affected | 15 |
| Build dates | November 11, 2024 to November 10, 2025 |
| Component | Seat Belts > Front > Retractor |
| Safety risk | A passenger who is unable to fasten their seat belt is not properly restrained, increasing their risk of injury in a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA 350 4MATIC (ev) in recall 26V278?
The front passenger seat belt retractor may have been manufactured with a defect that prevents the deactivation of the child seat safety function (Automatic Locking Retractor).
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2026 CLA 350 4MATIC (EV) and CLA 250+ (EV) vehicles. The front passenger seat belt retractor may have been manufactured with a defect that prevents the deactivation of the child seat safety function (Automatic Locking Retractor). As a result, the seat belt may remain in a locked position and cannot be extended.
Is it safe to drive a 2026 CLA 350 4MATIC (ev) with recall 26V278?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A passenger who is unable to fasten their seat belt is not properly restrained, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A passenger who is unable to fasten their seat belt is not properly restrained, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your CLA 350 4MATIC (ev) shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the retractor, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 26V278?
Recall 26V278 covers 15 vehicles: 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ (ev); 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA 350 4MATIC (ev).
NHTSA lists 15 vehicles in this campaign, built November 11, 2024 to November 10, 2025. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Mercedes-Benz | CLA 250+ (ev) |
| 2026 | Mercedes-Benz | CLA 350 4MATIC (ev) |
What is the fix for the CLA 350 4MATIC (ev) seat belt retractor recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the front passenger seat belt, free of charge.
Dealers will replace the front passenger seat belt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 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 May 8, 2026.
When was recall 26V278 announced?
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC reported recall 26V278 to NHTSA on May 1, 2026. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as July 24, 2026.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 11, 2024 | First affected vehicle built (per Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC's filing). |
| November 10, 2025 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| May 1, 2026 | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 26V278000. |
| July 24, 2026 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 5 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 364 days. If your CLA 350 4MATIC (ev) was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my CLA 350 4MATIC (ev) is part of recall 26V278?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V278 is open on your CLA 350 4MATIC (ev), it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2026 CLA 350 4MATIC (ev) vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should CLA 350 4MATIC (ev) owners do about recall 26V278?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 26V278000 applies to your CLA 350 4MATIC (ev).
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any retractor symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are CLA 350 4MATIC (ev) owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 1 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the seat belts.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the seat belts have been filed since recall 26V278 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 1 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 0 of them involve the seat belts. 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 CLA 250+ (ev): 1 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
- 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA 350 4MATIC (ev): 0 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
Can recall 26V278 make my CLA 350 4MATIC (ev) 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.
Recall 26V278000 does not automatically make your CLA 350 4MATIC (ev) a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
A seat belt that does not latch or retract correctly on the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA 350 4MATIC (ev) affects safety directly, and a failed recall repair is a repair attempt under California law.
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 CLA 350 4MATIC (ev) has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
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.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your CLA 350 4MATIC (ev) been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Frequently asked questions about recall 26V278
Is the 26V278000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed July 24, 2026.
How do I know if my CLA 350 4MATIC (ev) is part of recall 26V278000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
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.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 26V278000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Mercedes-Benz. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.