2022-2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS Problems & Issues

Mercedes-Benz USA recalled 31,848 model-year 2023-2024 vehicles built roughly February 6 to November 10, 2023, including the EQS sedan, because 80-amp fuses in the main fuse boxes were manufactured incorrectly and can fail in service. A failed 80-amp fuse can cut power to the electric drivetrain (sudden loss of drive power while driving) or to critical safety systems such as the restraint system and instrument cluster, and Mercedes also cited an increased fire risk. The campaign was botched on some cars: in April 2025 a follow-up recall (25V255000) was filed because technicians had installed fuse boxes not intended for the specific model or variant during the 2024 repair, producing contact interruptions or wrong amperage values and re-creating the loss-of-propulsion risk. EQS owners on MBWorld report multi-week parts waits for the replacement fuse box.

Because of a software development deviation, continuous diagnostic requests from other control units might overload the memory of the battery management system. The high-voltage battery contactors might then open, potentially causing a loss of propulsion without prior warning; once the vehicle has come to a standstill it can be restarted. Applies to: certain 2024 EQS 450+, EQS 450 4MATIC, EQS 580 4MATIC and Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC sedans built February 1, 2023 to May 11, 2024 (the 2023-2025 EQS SUV is also included); Mercedes recall 2024060002. 2022-2023 EQS sedans are not listed.

Owners report the 12-volt battery running down so the car will not start or keeps shutting off, including after sitting at a film and tint shop. A Mercedes workshop tip for several current models, including the EQS, covers a 12V message at start-up when fault code U116000 (a bus keep-awake unit was detected) is stored; the tip gives the cause as software updates that need to be performed. Applies to: Pre-facelift EQS sedans (V297), as discussed by owners including a 2022 EQS 580 owner. The workshop tip also covers other Mercedes models (206, 223, 232, 254, 294, 295, 296 platforms).

Because of MBUX multimedia software, the central display might not activate when the car is unlocked. The rearview camera image would then not appear when reverse is engaged and the display would stay black, which does not meet FMVSS 111 and might increase the risk of a crash. Mercedes says the driver gets no warning beforehand. Applies to: Certain 2022 EQS 450 (1), EQS 580 (13) and AMG EQS 53 (2) built July 13, 2020 to January 19, 2022, per the Part 573 report; Mercedes recall 2022080002. Corrected in production from March 24, 2022.

The monitoring function of the high-voltage battery might be impaired over time. In certain circumstances the warning that alerts the driver to a battery malfunction might not activate in the event of a fault, which would not comply with FMVSS 305 and could increase the risk of injury. Applies to: Certain 2022-2023 EQS 450, 2022 EQS 450+, 2022-2023 EQS 580 and 2022 AMG EQS 53 built February 14, 2021 to September 8, 2022, per the Part 573 report (September 19, 2023 revision); Mercedes recall 2023070013.

Owners report lower displayed driving range in cold weather. The cited search-result excerpts discuss predicted miles, which are not a measurement of battery capacity or proof of degradation. Applies to pre-facelift EQS V297 sedans, including an EQS 450+ owner report. Search result only; page not opened.

On a handful of reworked cars, the bolts that secure the rear seat belt buckles to the body might not meet torque specifications. They might loosen from vibration while driving or in a crash, impairing the restraining effect of the rear seat belts and increasing the risk of injury. The driver gets no warning. Applies to: Six cars only: certain 2022-2023 EQS 450 (5) and 2022 EQS 580 (1) built October 21, 2021 to December 7, 2022, chosen from production records; Mercedes recall 2023070009.

On cars with a heated leather steering wheel, the hands-off detection might not detect when the driver's hands are away from the wheel while Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC is in use. The driver may then not get the warning to grip the wheel, and in a medical emergency the car would not trigger Active Emergency Stop Assist, would not stop and would not make an emergency call. Applies to: Certain 2022 EQS 450 (45), EQS 580 (89) and AMG EQS (2) with a leather steering wheel with steering wheel heating, built February 10, 2020 to February 28, 2022, per the Part 573 report; Mercedes recall 2022040010.

Mercedes found that the driving assistance system control unit software does not meet current specifications. Near uniquely shaped structures that run alongside the road at about 26-33 feet high, such as large overhanging bridge abutments, the car may apply the brakes on its own. Mercedes says the driver remains in control and can override the system at any time. Applies to: Certain 2022-2023 EQS (297 platform), along with C-Class and S-Class; about 24,840 vehicles in total, Mercedes-Benz USA service campaign 2023040017 (May 19, 2023). It is a service campaign, not a safety recall.

The Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System may have software that plays a noise tone instead of the intended beep tone when reversing. The volume meets requirements, but the sound is not consistent within the model year as FMVSS 141 requires, and emitting a sound other than the intended pedestrian alert theoretically might increase the risk of a crash. Applies to: A small number of 2022-2024 EQS 450+ (10), 2022-2024 EQS 580 4MATIC (4) and 2023-2024 EQS 450 4MATIC (2) sedans built February 21, 2022 to October 22, 2024, selected by software version; Mercedes recall 2025070005. The 2023-2025 EQS SUV is also in this recall.

Because of a development-process deviation, the electric drivetrain software may respond improperly to a detected fault at a specific plug connector within the electric drive. The fault-management logic may then deactivate the drivetrain, and a loss of propulsion cannot be ruled out, which could increase the risk of a crash. Multiple warning messages appear in the instrument cluster when it happens. Applies to: Certain 2022-2023 EQS 450 (5,051), 2022 EQS 580 (2,736) and 2022-2023 AMG EQS (492) built February 24, 2021 to December 29, 2022, per the Part 573 report; Mercedes recall 2023060009. New software went into production from February 2, 2023.

Under certain conditions the ESP monitoring software could wrongly detect a fault at the start of a drive. The car would then limit its dynamics control systems (ABS, ASR, ESP and EBD) and the speedometer would read 0 mph regardless of actual speed, which might increase the risk of a crash. Warning messages and lamps appear in the instrument cluster when it happens. Applies to: Certain 2022 EQS 450 (4,285) and EQS 580 (2,522) built April 20, 2021 to February 27, 2023, per the Part 573 report; Mercedes recall 2023060004. New ESP software went into production from May 1, 2023.

Owners report the MBUX screens going completely black during a drive, with loss of radio, navigation, phone and some driver-assistance functions, or the home screen restarting. In the reports, the system came back after the car was parked and shut down for a while, or after a dealer reset. Owners with and without the Hyperscreen describe it. Applies to: Pre-facelift EQS sedans (V297), as discussed by an EQS 580 owner and an EQS 450+ owner and in the MBWorld EQS sedan forum. Separate from recall 22V493, which covers a display that stays black at unlock on 16 specific 2022 cars.

Mercedes technical information filed with NHTSA describes two flush door handle faults. On some cars the handle does not retract when the car is locked until locking is repeated, because the handle bracket electronics detect a motor fault. On others the handle must be pulled with increased force to open the door manually, because a turning angle sensor lever is broken. Applies to: EQS (model 297) with code 889 flush door handles. The non-retracting handle document covers cars built up to July 2, 2022; the extra-force document has no build-date limit. The same documents cover other Mercedes models.