Recall 25V865 covers 117 2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 4MATIC+ Wagon vehicles for transmission wiring damage. Repair is free at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer.
Mercedes-Benz is recalling 117 2025 AMG E 53 4MATIC+ Wagon vehicles because the transmission wiring harness can sit too close to the front driveshaft. If the harness is damaged, the wagon can lose drive power and raise crash risk; the Mercedes-Benz dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The transmission wiring harness on the 2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 4MATIC+ Wagon is the bundled set of wires that carries electrical signals between the transmission and the rest of the vehicle. Those signals help the transmission communicate with control modules so the driveline can manage power delivery while the car is moving.
On affected vehicles, the harness was routed too close to the front driveshaft. The driveshaft is a rotating shaft that helps send power to the wheels, so it needs clear space around it. If the harness sits too near that spinning part, contact or rubbing can damage the wiring. Damaged wiring can interrupt transmission communication and cause a loss of drive power.
There is no warning sign before failure. Mercedes-Benz says the driver does not receive an advance warning because of how this failure occurs.
Who's affected?
| 2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 4MATIC+ Wagon | wiring |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 117 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 4MATIC+ Wagon is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific wagon is included.
What's the safety risk?
Loss of drive power can raise crash risk because the vehicle can stop responding as expected in traffic. The driver receives no warning before the failure, so treat any sudden loss of propulsion as a reason to move out of traffic when safe and call a Mercedes-Benz dealer. Repair will be free at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 4MATIC+ Wagon is included in this recall.
- Confirm with a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer that repair scheduling is open for your VIN.
- Schedule the free transmission wiring harness inspection and repair, which checks routing near the front driveshaft to prevent harness damage and loss of drive power.
- Bring the owner letter if Mercedes-Benz mailed one. If not, reference recall number 25V865 when you call.
- Call Mercedes-Benz customer service at 1-800-367-6372 with questions about this recall.
What happens at the repair
Mercedes-Benz has identified the dealer repair as an inspection of the transmission wiring harness routing, with repair if the harness is too close to the front driveshaft or has damage. Once the repair is available, a Mercedes-Benz technician will inspect that routing and repair the harness as needed. Parts and labor will be free under the recall. Out-of-pocket repairs already paid are handled through the new vehicle warranty, not through a separate reimbursement program, because 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
| December 12, 2025 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 19, 2025 | Dealer notification began |
| December 19, 2025 | Dealer notification ended |
| December 19, 2025 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| February 6, 2026 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 25V865?
Recall 25V865 covers 117 2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 4MATIC+ Wagon vehicles with a transmission wiring harness routed too close to the front driveshaft. Contact can damage the harness and cause loss of drive power, increasing crash risk.
What should I do if my 2025 Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 4MATIC+ Wagon is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 25V865. If it is, contact a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer to schedule the transmission wiring harness inspection and any needed repair. Reference Mercedes-Benz recall number 2026010001 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 will inspect the transmission wiring harness routing and repair it, if needed, free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is loss of drive power. Mercedes-Benz says the transmission wiring harness can be damaged if it sits too close to the front driveshaft. A loss of drive power increases crash risk, so confirm your VIN and arrange the free dealer inspection.
What if I bought this Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 4MATIC+ Wagon used?
The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law follows the vehicle, not the first owner. If you did not receive the owner letter Mercedes-Benz mailed on February 6, 2026, check your VIN and call a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer with recall number 2026010001.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/25V865000 |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz customer service | 1-800-367-6372 |
| NHTSA recall # | 25V865 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 25V865000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 19, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →