Mercedes-Benz Sports Cars Recalled for Drive Shaft Separation Risk

By Chris Chase

May 26, 2016

Car News

Summary

Dealers will inspect the carbon-fibre shafts and replace if necessary

Transport Canada has issued a recall notice for the Mercedes-AMG GT S sports car to fix drive shafts that could separate from the engine or transmission.

The GT S uses a lightweight carbon-fibre drive shaft, shared with the company's touring race cars, that connects the front-mounted engine to the car's seven-speed transmission, which is integrated with the rear axle. The recall says the bond between the drive shaft and the engine and transmission flanges to which it connects may not have been manufactured properly, and the shaft could separate and cause a loss of power transmission to the wheels. At least there's no way for the drive shaft to fall off the car: it's contained inside a "torque tube" that connects the engine and transmission.

Dealers are being instructed to inspect the drive shafts in the 26 affected cars, all sold as 2015 models, and replace it if necessary.

Meet the Author

As a child, Chris spent most of his time playing with toy cars in his parents’ basement or making car sounds while riding his bicycle. Now he's an award-winning Algonquin College Journalism grad who has been playing with real cars that make their own noises since the early 2000s.