Photo: Mercedes-AMG / modified
A handful of GLB 35 4MATIC vehicles produced for the 2024 model year have been recalled for a rather troubling issue. As it happens, the rear axle brake hoses may have been routed incorrectly, allowing the brake hoses to rub against the rear axle.
The resulting loss of brake fluid obviously leads to a reduction in braking performance, increasing the risk of an accident. Mercedes-Benz AG blames a deviation in the assembly process. In the event of a leak, the digital instrument cluster will display a warning message instructing the driver to check the brake fluid level.
Mercedes-Benz USA has not received any field reports or warranty claims related to this condition. The number of potentially affected vehicles produced for the U.S. market is 16, with the aforementioned crossovers assembled between October 17, 2023 and November 10, 2023. Dealers have already been instructed to check the routing of the rear hoses.
If necessary, dealers will redirect them to affected customers at no cost. Owner notification letters will be mailed by October 8, 2024. Owners can determine whether their AMGMarked crossovers are recalled by running the VIN number on the automaker's recall portal.
The VIN may start with W for (what was once West Germany), but all North American versions of the GLB come from the COMPAS assembly plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Potential customers may also want to know that the Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 4MATIC It's not a true AMG, as its 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine was not developed by AMG.
Photo: Mercedes-AMG
M260 is the name Mercedes-Benz AG gives to the GLB 35-spec lump, while M139 is the internal code name for the hand-built engine in the A 45, GLA 45, C 43, SL 43 and so on. It goes without saying that the M139 is a hand-assembled engine. At press time, it is the most powerful production I4 in the world.
Its punchiest version makes 469 horsepower and 402 pound-feet (545 Nm) of torque. By comparison, the M260 in the GLB 35 4MATIC is rated at 302 horsepower and 295 pound-feet (400 Nm) of torque. Sixty miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour) takes 5.4 seconds in the GLB 35 4MATIC, which is pretty good for a compact SUV with three-row seating.
Sitting above the Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 4MATIC, the Mercedes-Benz GLB 35 4MATIC isn’t exactly affordable. Prices start at $60,100 before destination or any extra options. Destination fees add $1,150 to the total, and you don’t get a heated steering wheel for that amount. Crazy, right?
A heated steering wheel is a no-brainer if you’re willing to shell out $450 for the Winter Package, which also includes heated windshield washers. The $2,150 Exclusive Trim sweetens the deal with Traffic Sign Assist, a year of free navigation map updates, augmented video for the satellite navigation system, MB Navigation, AMG illuminated front door sills, and active LED headlights. The pricier $3,450 Exclusive Trim builds on the Exclusive Trim with the addition of animated logo projectors, MBUX Interior Assistant, and an AMG-specific head-up display.