Recall 14V818 covers 1,378 2015 Mercedes-Benz E250, E350, E63, and E400 vehicles for rear buckle failure. Free dealer repair once available.
Mercedes-Benz is recalling 1,378 2015 E250, E350, E63, and E400 vehicles because the double seat belt buckle for the rear middle seat can fail under load in a severe frontal crash. That failure increases injury risk for the seat occupant, and the Mercedes-Benz dealer repair will be free once the remedy is available.
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What's wrong?
The rear double seat belt buckle in the 2015 Mercedes-Benz E250, E350, E63, and E400 is the buckle assembly shared by the middle and right rear seating positions. Its job is simple: hold the latch plate locked when a rear passenger buckles in, then keep that belt anchored when crash forces load the restraint system.
On affected vehicles, an internal locking cam was not hardened properly by the supplier. The locking cam is the metal piece inside the buckle that helps keep the latch locked. If that part is too soft, the buckle can fail under the high belt loads of a severe frontal crash, reducing the restraint for a rear passenger.
There is no warning sign before failure. The buckle can look and feel normal during everyday use, because the problem shows up only when the belt is loaded hard in a crash.
Who's affected?
Covers the E250, E350, E63, and E400 under the same rear seat belt buckle assembly.
| 2015 Mercedes-Benz E250 | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2015 Mercedes-Benz E350 | seat belt |
| 2015 Mercedes-Benz E63 | seat belt |
| 2015 Mercedes-Benz E400 | seat belt |
| Units affected | 1,378 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific car is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the middle position double seat belt buckle fails under load in a severe frontal crash, the seat occupant has a higher risk of injury. There is no warning sign before failure, so the VIN decides whether this recall applies. Repair will be free at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015 Mercedes-Benz E250, E350, E63, or E400 is included in this recall.
- Watch for the Mercedes-Benz owner notice if you have not received one; notices were mailed February 2, 2015.
- Contact a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer to confirm timing for the free rear middle-seat double-buckle replacement.
- Reference recall number 14V818 when you call Mercedes-Benz customer service or the dealer.
- Limit use of the rear middle seat until the double seat belt buckle is replaced.
What happens at the repair
Mercedes-Benz's remedy filing says owners were notified and the dealer repair is a free replacement of the double seat belt buckle for the rear middle seat. Because the remedy status is not listed as available, schedule only after a Mercedes-Benz dealer confirms the repair is open for your VIN. Once available, a Mercedes-Benz technician replaces the buckle assembly and checks that the rear center belt latches correctly. Out of pocket repairs already paid are handled through the new vehicle warranty, not through a separate reimbursement program, because the involved 2015 vehicles remained under warranty.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| December 23, 2014 | Dealer notification began |
|---|---|
| December 23, 2014 | Dealer notification ended |
| December 24, 2014 | NHTSA published the recall |
| February 2, 2015 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 14V818?
Recall 14V818 covers 1,378 2015 Mercedes-Benz E250, E350, E63, and E400 vehicles with a rear middle-seat double buckle that can fail under load in a severe frontal crash. Mercedes-Benz dealers replace the double seat belt buckle for free.
What should I do if my 2015 Mercedes-Benz E250, E350, E63, or E400 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 14V818. If it is, contact a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer to schedule the rear seat belt buckle replacement. Reference recall number 14V818 or Mercedes-Benz recall number 2014120006 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Mercedes-Benz dealers replace the affected rear double seat belt buckle free of charge. Parts and labor are covered by the recall.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is injury to the rear middle-seat occupant in a severe frontal crash. The double seat belt buckle can fail under crash loading, which reduces the protection the seat belt is designed to provide.
What if I bought this Mercedes-Benz used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific 2015 Mercedes-Benz E-Class model is included, then call a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer for the buckle replacement.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/14V818000 |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz customer service | 1-800-367-6372 |
| NHTSA recall # | 14V818 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 14V818000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 1, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →