‘Stop driving immediately’: Mercedes-Benz recalls more than 17,000 cars

The owners of 17,687 Mercedes-Benz vehicles have been warned to stop driving their cars immediately.

Mercedes-Benz is recalling the vehicles over a brake system fault.

The affected vehicles are ML-Class, GL-Class and R-Class models.

Dealer-bought cars stamped with model years 2005 to 2013 are impacted, and some privately-imported 2016 cars are also affected.

The recall notice lodged with the Department of Infrastructure warns the defect has led to a reduction in braking performance which “could increase the risk of an accident causing injury or death to vehicle occupants and other road users”.

Anyone with an affected vehicle has been told to stop driving their car and contact an authorised Mercedes-Benz service centre to arrange an inspection.

Motoring expert Paul Gover says there haven’t been any instances of brake system faults in Australia, but Mercedes-Benz is conducting a global recall.

“Basically if all the pressure leaks out of your brakes, well you don’t have power brakes anymore so you’re not going to stop very well,” he told Neil Mitchell.

Press PLAY below for details on the fault

Models, Model Years, and the first six digits of Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the affected vehicles:

ML 280 WDC164 2005 – 2011
ML 300 WDC164 2005 – 2011
ML 320 WDC164 2005 – 2011
ML 350 WDC164 2005 – 2011
ML 500 WDC164 2005 – 2011
ML 63 WDC164 2005 – 2011
GL 320 WDC164 2006 – 2012
GL 350 WDC164 2006 – 2012
GL 420 WDC164 2006 – 2012
GL 450 WDC164 2006 – 2012
GL 500 WDC164 2006 – 2012
R 280 WDC251 2005 – 2016
R 300 WDC251 2005 – 2016
R 320 WDC251 2005 – 2016
R 350 WDC251 2005 – 2016
R 500 WDC251 2005 – 2016
R 63 WDC251 2005 – 2016