Stuttgart-based marque Mercedes-Benz is, with immediate effect, recalling almost a million vehicles worldwide due to a potential issue with the braking system.
According to the regulator known as KBA, the recall affects the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class, GL-Class and R-Class minivan vehicles built between the years 2004 and 2015.
A statement from the German carmaker has confirmed the recall saying that a ‘particularly strong or hard’ braking could cause mechanical damage to the car’s brake booster in ‘rare cases’ of very severe corrosion. The damage could also make the service brake stop working.
"In such a very rare case, it would not be possible to decelerate the vehicle via the service brake. Thus the risk of a crash or injury would be increased," says Mercedes-Benz. With that said, over 993,000 vehicles worldwide are affected by the recall as reported by AFP. Mercedes-Benz further says that about 70,000 of the affected units belong to the German market.
The recall will see the affected car inspected and, if need be, parts will be replaced accordingly. As for the South African market, Mercedes-Benz says that less than 5% of units sold between 2004-2015 are affected.