Use cautionVehicle recall · NHTSA · Published May 1, 2026
Mercedes-Benz 2026 CLA 250+ EV Seat Belts May Not Unlock in Crashes
Mercedes-Benz recalls 2026 CLA 250+ EV vehicles with faulty seat belts that may stay locked, preventing passenger restraint during crashes. Owners must have seat belts replaced free by dealers.
A passenger who is unable to fasten their seat belt is not properly restrained, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.
✎ GovInfoNow plain-language explainer
Mercedes-Benz is recalling certain 2026 CLA 250+ EV vehicles because the front passenger seat belt may stay locked and cannot be extended, increasing injury risk in crashes. Owners should contact dealers for a free replacement. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/402746-mercedes-benz-2026-cla-250-ev-seat-belts-may-not.
“Mercedes-Benz 2026 CLA 250+ EV Seat Belts May Not Unlock in Crashes.” GovInfoNow, updated August 27, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/402746-mercedes-benz-2026-cla-250-ev-seat-belts-may-not. Based on NHTSA recall #26V278000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=26V278000).
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC recalled certain 2026 CLA 350 4MATIC (EV) and CLA 250+ (EV) vehicles for seat belt defects, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The agency announced the recall on May 1, 2026, because the front passenger seat belt may remain locked and cannot be extended.
How to tell if you have it
Mercedes-Benz CLA 350 4MATIC (EV), 2026
Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ (EV), 2026
What to do
Dealers will replace the front passenger seat belt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2026. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
The hazard
A passenger who is unable to fasten their seat belt is not properly restrained, increasing their risk of injury in a crash. The defect prevents the deactivation of the child seat safety function, causing the seat belt to remain in a locked position.
Context
GovInfoNow's records show Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC has 66 other recalls on record since 2016-05-17. Other recent recalls of similar products include BMW X1 2026 Seat Belts Recall (2025-10-21), Ford 2025 Escape Seat Belts May Not Secure Properly in Crashes (2025-12-12), and Audi Q6 E-Tron 2025 Seat Belts Recall (2025-12-19).
How to tell if you have this one
Check for 2026 CLA 250+ EV vehicles. The recall involves specific VINs that can be searched on NHTSA.gov starting May 8, 2026.
Brand
Mercedes-Benz
Category
Vehicle
Based on the official NHTSA remedy
What to do — step by step
Contact Dealer for Replacement
Dealers will replace the front passenger seat belt free of charge.
Check VIN on NHTSA
Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall can be searched on NHTSA.gov starting May 8, 2026.
May 8, 2026
Official remedy
What NHTSA says to do
Dealers will replace the front passenger seat belt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2026. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 8, 2026.
How this recall unfolded
Recall timeline
Owners were mailed letters 3 months after NHTSA received the defect report.
1NHTSA received the defect report
2Owner letters mailed
3Added to GovInfoNow
Dates from the agency record only; steps without a date are left out.
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on August 27, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.