Mercedes-Benz has had to issue a recall for certain models of EQS, EQE, and S-Class hybrids because of a problem with the battery warning system. The affected models may not alert drivers in the event of a battery problem, making them non-compliant with federal regulations.
How did Mercedes discover this fault? Well, the system checks worked. The automaker learned of the issue in May 2022, during battery and software testing. It determined that some vehicles’ Battery Management System could experience a glitch in which certain diagnostic functions failed to work.
Upon further investigation, Mercedes determined that the battery warning system issue could potentially cause these vehicles to be non-compliant with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 305, which governs “Electric-powered vehicles: Electrolyte Spillage and Electric Shock Protection.”
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Although the battery warning system issue itself does not create an immediate safety risk for drivers, it could potentially result in a driver not being alerted to a more serious problem if it develops. This could increase the risk of a crash, injury, or even a fire.
The problem affects 3,823 vehicles built between February 14, 2021, and September 8, 2022. Specifically, the recall relates to 133 Mercedes-AMG EQS 53s and 2,772 EQS 450+s from the 2022 model year, 871 EQS 580s and 27 EQS 450s from the 2022-2023 model years, as well as eight EQS SUV 580s, four EQS SUV 450+s, three 2023 EQS SUV 450s, three S580Es, and two 2023 EQE 350s from the 2023 model year.
Fortunately, Mercedes states that it is not currently aware of any warranty claims, service reports, accidents, injuries, deaths, or property damage related to the battery warning system issue. Nevertheless, the automaker will initiate a recall campaign, and plans to start reaching out to owners on June 27.
As a precautionary measure, Mercedes-Benz will have authorized dealerships update the software for the Battery Management System on the affected EQS, EQE, and S-Class hybrid models. This update will enable the system to detect any faults and properly alert drivers of their existence, ensuring compliance with federal safety regulations. The automaker is advising affected customers to contact their authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership to schedule a service appointment for the software update.
