Mercedes Recalls Over 8,000 Electric Vehicles in the U.S. Due to Software Issue

Mercedes-Benz USA has announced that it will recall 8,281 electric vehicles in the United States due to a software issue that is causing problems with the propulsion system. The recall affects the EQS sedan, EQS SUV, and EQE models. Mercedes launched an investigation into the issue in October 2022 after receiving a single field report indicating a malfunction of the electric drivetrain. The automaker found that under specific conditions, a fault management response logic could deactivate the electric drivetrain, causing the vehicle to lose power and increasing the risk of a crash.

The Root Cause of the Issue

Mercedes suggests that the issue may be caused by contact with a specific plug connector within the electric drivetrain. Unfortunately, drivers will not receive any warning prior to the failure. However, after the issue occurs, they will see multiple messages in the instrument cluster. Mercedes has not received any reports of injuries, accidents, or fatalities stemming from this issue. It is only aware of two field reports of this occurring in the U.S., both in October 2022.

Recalled Models and Affected Years

Mercedes will recall 5,051 EQS 450s from the 2022-2023 model years, 2,736 EQS 580s from the 2022 model year, 492 AMG EQSs from the 2022-2023 model years, one EQS 580 SUV from the 2023 model year, and one AMG EQE from the 2023 model year.

How Mercedes Plans to Address the Issue

Mercedes plans to start reaching out to owners of affected vehicles on August 4, and they will be asked to return their vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer who will update the electric drivetrain software. The automaker claims that this will ensure that the issue can no longer occur.

Conclusion

If you own one of the affected Mercedes electric vehicles, it is important to take action as soon as possible to ensure your safety and the safety of others on the road. Contact your local Mercedes-Benz dealer for more information on how to proceed with the recall process.