Recall 20V226 affects 120 2020 Mercedes-Benz Gle 350 and Gle 450 vehicles for pinched second-row seat wiring. Repair is free at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer.
Mercedes-Benz is recalling 120 2020 Gle 350 and Gle 450 vehicles with an electrically adjustable second-row seat because the wiring harness under the seat can be pinched during adjustment and damage the wires. Damaged wires can keep rear side air bags from deploying as intended or leave the driver without a warning that the seat is not locked, increasing injury risk in a crash; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The wiring harness under the right second row seat on the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Gle 350 and Gle 450 is a bundled set of wires. It carries power and signals for the electrically adjustable seat and related electrical circuits, including lines tied to the side airbag system.
On affected vehicles, that harness was not routed according to current production specifications during assembly. When the second row seat is adjusted, the harness can get trapped or pinched under the seat. That pressure can damage wires inside the bundle and interfere with the functions those wires support.
If the side airbag wires are damaged, the owner sees an SRS warning message in the instrument cluster. That warning message is the sign to report when calling a Mercedes-Benz dealer.
Who's affected?
The same electrically adjustable second row wiring harness appears across both listed Gle models, with the recall tied to the air bag system and wiring.
| 2020 Mercedes-Benz Gle 350 | air bag system |
|---|---|
| 2020 Mercedes-Benz Gle 350 | wiring |
| 2020 Mercedes-Benz Gle 450 | air bag system |
| 2020 Mercedes-Benz Gle 450 | wiring |
| Units affected | 120 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 1 field incident to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific SUV is included.
What's the safety risk?
Damaged wiring can stop the rear side air bags from deploying as intended. The driver also can miss a warning that the second row right seat is not locked after Easy Entry use. Watch for an SRS warning message in the instrument cluster and schedule service soon. Repair will be free at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2020 Mercedes-Benz Gle 350 or Gle 450 is included in this recall.
- Contact your nearest franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer and ask whether the free wiring-harness inspection and rerouting repair is open for your VIN.
- Schedule the under-seat wiring-harness repair that prevents pinched wires from affecting rear side air bag deployment and the right second-row seat lock warning.
- Bring the recall notice if Mercedes-Benz mailed one. If not, reference recall number 20V226 when you call.
- Call Mercedes-Benz customer service at 1-800-367-6372 with questions and reference Mercedes-Benz recall 2020050009.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Mercedes-Benz technician will inspect the wiring harness under the electrically adjustable second-row seat. If the harness is routed where seat movement can pinch it, the technician will reroute it and repair any damaged wiring. The dealer repair will be free once available. Out-of-pocket repairs already paid are handled through the new vehicle warranty, not through a separate reimbursement program, since the involved vehicles remain under warranty. Ask the service desk how warranty coverage applies if you have prior repair paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| April 22, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 28, 2020 | Dealer notification began |
| April 28, 2020 | Dealer notification ended |
| June 4, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
| June 20, 2020 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| June 20, 2020 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V226?
Recall 20V226 covers 120 2020 Mercedes-Benz Gle 350 and Gle 450 vehicles with electrically adjustable second-row seats. The wiring harness under the seat can become pinched during seat adjustment and damage the wires. Mercedes-Benz dealers will inspect and reroute the harness, and repair wire damage for free.
What should I do if my 2020 Mercedes-Benz Gle 350 or Gle 450 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 20V226. If it is, contact a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer and ask for recall repair 2020050009. The dealer will inspect the second-row seat wiring harness, reroute it as needed, and repair damaged wires for free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Mercedes-Benz will cover the inspection, harness rerouting, and wire repair at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer. The recall repair began June 4, 2020.
What is the safety risk?
Damaged wires can stop the rear side air bags from deploying as intended in a crash. The driver can also lose the warning that the second row right seat is not locked into place correctly after using the Easy Entry function. Either issue increases injury risk in a crash.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V226000 |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz customer service | 1-800-367-6372 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V226 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V226000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →