Recall 26V353 covers 207 2026 Mercedes-Benz SUVs with loose rear seat belt bolts. Repair will be free at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer once available.
Mercedes-Benz is recalling 207 2026 Gle 350, Gle 450E 4MATIC, and related GLE and GLS vehicles because rear seat belt bolts were not tightened properly. A loose seat belt can fail to properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing injury risk, and the dealer repair will be free once Mercedes-Benz makes it available.
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What's wrong?
The rear seat belt buckle assembly is the part a passenger clicks the belt into before riding. On these 2026 Mercedes-Benz SUVs, a cylinder fit screw holds that rear belt hardware in place so the belt can stay anchored when it is loaded.
The issue is the tightness of that screw. On affected vehicles, the rear seat belt bolts were not tightened to the required torque, which is the measured clamping force needed to keep the buckle assembly fixed to the vehicle. A loose bolt leaves the rear belt hardware without the hold it was designed to have.
There is no warning sign before failure. The belt can look normal, latch normally, and still have a rear buckle bolt that was not tightened correctly.
Who's affected?
Covers GLE, GLS, AMG, and GLS 600 variants in the 2026 model year, all tied to the rear seat belt buckle assembly.
| 2026 Mercedes-Benz Gle 350 | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2026 Mercedes-Benz Gle 450E 4MATIC | seat belt |
| 2026 Mercedes-Benz Gle 450 4MATIC | seat belt |
| 2026 Mercedes-Benz Gle 580 4MATIC | seat belt |
| 2026 Mercedes-Benz Gls 450 4MATIC | seat belt |
| 2026 Mercedes-Benz Gls 580 4MATIC | seat belt |
| 2026 Mercedes-Maybach Gls 600 4MATIC | seat belt |
| 2026 Mercedes-Benz Gle 350 4MATIC | seat belt |
| 2026 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLS63 4MATIC+ | seat belt |
| 2026 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53 4MATIC+ | seat belt |
| 2026 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63 S 4MATIC+ | seat belt |
| 2026 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63 S 4MATIC+ Coupe | seat belt |
| 2026 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53 4MATIC+ Coupe | seat belt |
| 2026 Mercedes-Benz Gle 450 4MATIC Coupe | seat belt |
| Units affected | 207 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific SUV is included in this recall.
What's the safety risk?
A loose rear seat belt bolt can keep the belt from restraining an occupant as designed in a crash, increasing injury risk. Because there is no listed warning sign, confirm your VIN and schedule service when the repair opens. Repair will be free at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2026 Mercedes-Benz Gle 350, Gle 450E 4MATIC, Gle 450 4MATIC, Gle 580 4MATIC, Gls 450 4MATIC, Gls 580 4MATIC, Gls 600 4MATIC, Gle 350 4MATIC, AMG GLS63 4MATIC+, AMG GLE53 4MATIC+, AMG GLE63 S 4MATIC+, AMG GLE63 S 4MATIC+ Coupe, AMG GLE53 4MATIC+ Coupe, or Gle 450 4MATIC Coupe is included in this recall.
- Watch for the Mercedes-Benz owner letter expected July 28, 2026, then contact a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer for the free repair.
- Call Mercedes-Benz customer service at 1-800-367-6372 with questions and reference recall number 26V353.
- Schedule the rear seat belt bolt inspection, tightening, and missing-bolt replacement that fixes the loose rear seat belt attachment.
- Bring the recall notice to the dealer if Mercedes-Benz has mailed one.
What happens at the repair
Once the dealer repair is available, a Mercedes-Benz technician will check the rear seat belt bolt locations, tighten bolts that were not properly secured, and install replacement bolts where a bolt is missing. The final dealer repair will be free once it opens. Because this repair involves seat belt attachment points, ask the service desk to confirm that the rear seat belt bolts are secured before the vehicle is returned.
Timeline
| May 29, 2026 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 26V353?
Recall 26V353 covers 207 2026 Mercedes-Benz Gle and Gls vehicles with rear seat belt bolts that were not tightened properly. A loose seat belt can fail to restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing injury risk. Mercedes-Benz dealers will tighten the bolts and replace missing bolts for free.
What should I do if my 2026 Mercedes-Benz Gle 350 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 26V353. If it is, contact a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer to schedule the rear seat belt bolt inspection and repair. Reference recall number 26V353 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Mercedes-Benz dealers will tighten the rear seat belt bolts and replace any missing bolts free of charge at any franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is poor occupant restraint in a crash. If a rear seat belt bolt is loose or missing, the belt can fail to hold the passenger properly, increasing the risk of injury. Mercedes-Benz will correct the seat belt bolt issue for free.
When will Mercedes-Benz send owner letters?
Mercedes-Benz expects to mail owner letters on July 28, 2026. VINs became searchable on June 5, 2026, so you can check your VIN before the letter arrives and then call a franchised Mercedes-Benz dealer with recall number 26V353.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/26V353000 |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz customer service | 1-800-367-6372 |
| NHTSA recall # | 26V353 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 26V353000 |
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 9, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →