Introduced for the 2024 model year, the 214-series Mercedes-Benz E-Class faces a safety recall in the United States due to a transmission wiring harness issue. Documents submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveal that a small number of sedans and wagons may have a wiring harness positioned too close to the driveshaft, risking a loss of drive power.
Approximately 396 vehicles manufactured between April 27, 2023, and January 29, 2024, are affected by this recall. Authorized dealers have been instructed to inspect the affected E 350, E 450, and E 450 All-Terrain vehicles for incorrectly routed harnesses.
If necessary, they will correct or replace the harnesses. Both the original and remedy harnesses share the same part numbers: A2145409207 and A2145409407. Mercedes-Benz asserts that this issue was rectified in production starting February 26 by enhancing quality control measures.
All recalled vehicles bear VINs beginning with “W,” denoting German production. Notably, all variants of the E-Class available in the US feature standard 4MATIC all-wheel drive. Affected owners can easily verify if their vehicles are subject to recall by checking their vehicle identification number on the manufacturer’s US website.
Mercedes-Benz USA is mandated to notify impacted owners via mail, with notification letters scheduled for dispatch no later than May 21, 2024. The 214-series Executive Class, closely associated with the CLE Coupe and CLE Cabriolet, is offered in two variants: the E 350 4MATIC Sedan starting at $62,300 and the E 450 4MATIC Sedan at $68,100 before destination fees.
The E 450 4MATIC All-Terrain, sharing the S214 codename with the E-Class T-Modell, is currently listed as a forthcoming vehicle on the Mercedes website. Also noteworthy is the sedan-exclusive E 53 Hybrid, despite its nomenclature suggesting hybrid power, it’s a plug-in hybrid.
Integrating a six-cylinder turbo engine with a synchronous electric motor, it delivers a combined output of 577 horsepower or 604 with Race Start. Equipped with an AMG SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9G automatic transmission, it can operate in zero-emission mode up to 87 miles per hour, with an electronically limited top speed of 174 miles per hour. However, details regarding its EPA-rated electric range remain undisclosed.
Due to limited availability and product diversity, the 214 series isn’t anticipated to surpass the delivery volume of its predecessor, the 213 series, in 2023. Together with the 213-based CLS, the previous generation accounted for 17,075 units sold last year, compared to 32,698 units of the C-Class. The locally produced GLE emerged as the most popular nameplate, with 57,686 units sold in this region.