Mercedes-Benz has announced a recall of 8,281 electric vehicles in the United States due to a software problem affecting the propulsion system. While the primary impact is on the EQS sedan, the recall also includes the EQS SUV and EQE models.
The investigation into the issue was initiated by Mercedes in October 2022 after receiving a single field report indicating a malfunction in the electric drivetrain. The automaker proactively looked into the matter to identify the root cause, suspecting a loss of propulsion as reported by the driver.
Through detailed analysis of field data, Mercedes determined that the electric drivetrain could be deactivated under specific conditions due to a fault management response logic. This deactivation could result in power loss, potentially increasing the risk of a crash.
Mercedes suggests that the problem might be related to contact with a specific plug connector within the electric drivetrain. Unfortunately, there are no prior warning signs for drivers, but multiple messages will be displayed in the instrument cluster once the issue occurs.
Thankfully, there have been no reported injuries, accidents, or fatalities associated with this problem. Mercedes is aware of only two incidents in the U.S., both occurring in October 2022.
To address the issue, Mercedes will recall the following models: 5,051 units of the EQS 450 from the 2022-2023 model years, 2,736 units of the EQS 580 from the 2022 model year, 492 units of the AMG EQS from the 2022-2023 model years, one unit of the EQS 580 SUV from the 2023 model year, and one unit of the AMG EQE from the 2023 model year.
Starting from August 4, Mercedes plans to contact the owners of the affected vehicles, urging them to bring their cars to an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer. The dealers will then update the software of the electric drivetrain, ensuring that the issue is resolved and cannot occur again.
