STUTTGART, Germany — Mercedes-Benz Group AG has confirmed Saturday it is recalling nearly 1 million older-model vehicles sold worldwide, citing potential braking system problems.
According to The Guardian, Germany’s federal transport authority confirmed that the recall affects ML- and GL-series sport utility vehicles, as well as its R-class luxury minivans, built between 2004 and 2015.
It was not immediately clear how many affected models are on U.S. roads, but the global recall totals 993,407 vehicles, only an estimated 70,000 of which are in Germany, the news outlet reported.
“We have found that in some of those vehicles, the function of the brake booster could be affected by advanced corrosion in the joint area of the housing,” Mercedes-Benz said in a statement, obtained by Reuters.
The braking system issues could result in an increase in the brake pedal force required to decelerate the vehicle, as well as a potential increase in the stopping distance required, the news outlet reported.
“Corrosion on the brake booster can in the worst case lead to the connection between the brake pedal and the braking system being interrupted. As a consequence, the service brake can stop functioning,” the transport authority stated, according to The Guardian.
Mercedes-Benz confirmed the recall in a statement to the AFP news agency, stating the move was based on “analysis of isolated reports for certain vehicles,” The Guardian reported.
“The recall process will involve inspecting potentially affected vehicles and, depending on the results of the inspection, replacing the parts where necessary,” the Stuttgart-based company told AFP, classifying the recall as immediate.
“Until the inspection takes place, we ask our customers not to drive their vehicles,” Mercedes-Benz stated.
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