Mercedes S-Class Brake Hose Recall Expanded: AMG S 63 and Maybach Models Included, What Owners Should Do

Mercedes-Benz has widened a brake hose recall it first filed in February 2025. The original campaign, NHTSA 25V116, covered 20,339 S-Class sedans from the 2021 to 2023 model years. The new filing, 26V638, covers 30,064 cars on the current 223-generation S-Class platform. One widely syndicated report put the figure at 30,078, so expect small differences depending on where you read it.

The problem sits at the front axle. The flexible brake hoses that carry fluid from the hard lines to the front calipers can weaken over time and start to leak. If one ruptures, braking performance drops and stopping distances get longer.

VINs for the expanded recall became searchable in NHTSA's database on October 9, 2026, and dealers have already been told about it.

By the counts in the filing as reported, the expanded recall breaks down like this: 16,881 S 580 4MATIC, 7,143 S 500 4MATIC, 2,277 S 580e 4MATIC, 1,746 Mercedes-AMG S 63 E Performance, 1,070 Mercedes-Maybach S 680 and 947 Mercedes-Maybach S 580.

Model years run 2022 to 2025 for most of those cars, 2023 to 2025 for the S 580e plug-in hybrid, and 2024 to 2025 for the AMG S 63 E Performance. The build window that matters is February 2, 2021, to November 28, 2024. Mercedes believes every car built in that window carries the suspect hoses. Cars built after the cutoff got a modified front hose that meets the company's durability specification.

For readers of this site, the AMG and Maybach numbers are the headline. The S 63 E Performance is AMG's plug-in hybrid flagship, and the Maybach S 680 is the V12 car at the top of the range. These are low-volume, expensive sedans, but the fix is the same part swap as on an S 500.

The first recall was built on a theory that didn't hold up. When Mercedes filed 25V116, its field data clustered the failures in hot, humid regions, so the company tied the problem to climate exposure and a specific production period. That kept the population limited.

Then reports came in from markets outside the US with very different climates. That broke the climate explanation. Mercedes collected suspect parts and sent them to the supplier, Continental Automotive Technologies, for testing, and a review in July 2026 widened the scope to every car built before the modified hose entered series production.

The cause Mercedes now describes is a combination of thermal and mechanical stress. A front brake hose flexes every time the suspension moves and the wheel steers, it sits close to a brake that gets very hot, and it's exposed to water and road spray. A hose that doesn't meet its durability spec will eventually crack or seep under that kind of cycling, wherever the car lives. Reporting on the filing says the supplied hoses fell short of Mercedes' durability requirements.

Mercedes reported three US incidents in the expanded population, in April, May and August 2026, and no crashes or injuries tied to the cars in this recall.

Mostly, you wouldn't, and that's the uncomfortable part. Mercedes says there's no warning before a hose fails. The first sign the driver gets is a red brake fluid warning in the instrument cluster, and that only appears once enough fluid has already been lost to drop below the reservoir threshold.

Modern brake systems are split into two hydraulic circuits, so a single failed hose doesn't take away all braking. The car will still stop, but less effectively, and the pedal may feel different. Reports describe it as a significant increase in stopping distance, which is exactly the situation you don't want in a heavy sedan at highway speed.

If the red brake fluid warning comes on, treat it as a stop now message. Slow down gently, leave plenty of room, pull over when it's safe and have the car towed rather than driven to a dealer. A wet patch or fluid streaks on the inside of a front wheel or on the caliper are also worth taking seriously, since brake fluid shouldn't be anywhere outside the system.

Start with the VIN. Enter it on NHTSA's recall lookup or Mercedes-Benz USA's own recall page. Don't assume a letter will reach you quickly: owner letters are scheduled to go out by first class mail around November 27, 2026, but the VINs are already live and dealers already have the information. Mercedes-Benz USA customer service is at 1-800-367-6372 if the online lookup is unclear.

The remedy is straightforward. A Mercedes-Benz dealer replaces both front axle brake hoses with the updated design, free of charge. Recall work like this generally has to go through an authorized dealer for the free repair, so even if an independent specialist does the rest of your servicing, this one belongs at the dealer.

While you wait for parts or an appointment, keep an eye on the brake fluid warning and look at the inside of the front wheels when the car is parked. If you notice anything wet or the pedal changes, stop driving it and call the dealer. It's also sensible to ask whether a loaner is available, since this is a safety recall on the car's primary braking system.

If you're shopping for a used 223-generation S-Class built between February 2021 and November 2024, the recall status should be on your checklist. Run the VIN before you buy, and ask for the dealer invoice that shows the front hoses were replaced under 26V638 or the earlier 25V116 campaign. A car that was fixed under the first recall may still need attention under the second if it falls in the expanded population, so check the current status, not just the history.

An open recall isn't a reason to walk away, since the fix is free. It is a reason to get the work done before the car goes on a long trip, and it's a fair point to raise if a seller can't show any recall paperwork at all.

A good pre-purchase inspection should cover the brakes regardless: fluid condition and age, the hoses at all four corners, pad and rotor wear, and any warnings stored in the car's fault memory. On a hybrid like the S 580e or the AMG S 63 E Performance, regenerative braking means the friction brakes can see less use, which is another reason to look at the hardware rather than assume it's fine.