2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450

Routine

Owners filed 28 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the forward collision avoidance › automatic emergency braking. It has been recalled 6 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes11
105
Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking6
001
Electrical System6
000
Structure › Body2
100
Unknown or Other1
000
Suspension1
000
Forward Collision Avoidance › Warnings1
000

6 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Back Over Prevention › Warnings › External/Pedestrian Alert25V366000
Filed Jun 5, 202594 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc

Defect. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2022-2025 S-Class, EQE SUV, EQE, EQS SUV and EQS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. Software in the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) may cause an incorrect external pedestrian warning sound while reversing. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid Electric Vehicles."

Risk. A vehicle that makes an incorrect sound may fail to alert pedestrians of a reversing vehicle, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy. Dealers will update the AVAS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 1, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2025070005.

Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit Breakers25V255000
Filed May 12, 2025443 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc

Defect. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023-2024 C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL, GLC, EQE SUV, EQE, EQS SUV, and EQS vehicles that were incorrectly repaired under recall 24V-115. An incorrect fuse box that was not designed for the vehicle may have been installed.

Risk. An incorrect fuse box can result in a sudden loss of drive power or a loss of critical safety functions such as the restraint systems or instrument cluster, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Additionally, there could be an increased risk of a fire.

Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the main fuse boxes, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2025050003/4.

Air Bags › Critical Fasteners24V960000
Filed Dec 20, 20241 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc

Defect. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling a certain 2023 EQS 450+ vehicle. The mounting brackets near the roof may have sharp edges that can damage the side-curtain air bag during deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 214, "Side Impact Protection," and 226, "Ejection Mitigation."

Risk. An air bag that is damaged during deployment can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy. Dealers will inspect and if necessary, replace the window airbags, and mounting brackets, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 7, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2025010005.

Seat Belts › Rear/Other › Buckle Assembly23V464000
Filed Jun 30, 20236 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc

Defect. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2022-2023 EQS450 and 2022 EQS580 vehicles. The bolts that secure the rear seat belt buckles to the body of the vehicle may not be secured properly.

Risk. Unsecured seat belts may not properly restrain occupants in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of an injury.

Remedy. Dealers will inspect and secure the rear seat belt buckle bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 28, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6373. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2023070009.

Electrical System › Propulsion System23V405000
Filed Jun 5, 20238,281 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc

Defect. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2022-2023 EQS 450, AMG EQS, EQS 580, and 2023 AMG EQE vehicles. A software error in the electric drivetrain may cause a loss of drive power.

Risk. A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Dealers will update the electric drivetrain software, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed beginning July 19, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2023060009.

Electrical System › Propulsion System › Traction Battery Thermal › Management › Software23V309000
Filed May 2, 20233,828 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc

Defect. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023 EQE 350, S580e, 2022-2023 EQS 450, EQS 580, 2022 AMG EQS 53, and EQS 450+ vehicles. The high-voltage battery monitoring system software may not alert the driver of a battery malfunction. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 305, "Electric-powered vehicles: Electrolyte Spillage and Electrical Shock Protection."

Risk. A high-voltage battery monitoring system that does not alert the driver of a battery malfunction may increase the risk of an injury.

Remedy. Dealers will update the battery management system software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning August 18, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2023070013.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Forward Collision Avoidance › Warnings
Filed Sep 9, 2026CA

The vehicle has experienced recurring intermittent failures of Active Brake Assist and Active Blind Spot Assist. The systems may function normally and then unexpectedly become unavailable, with warning messages appearing in the vehicle. The primary driver was nearly involved in an accident during one occurrence when Active Brake Assist unexpectedly became unavailable. No collision occurred, but the loss of the braking-assistance function created a serious safety concern. The problem has been inspected by authorized Mercedes-Benz dealers on multiple occasions. During an April 2026 dealer visit, the dealer documented both the Blind Spot and Active Brake Assist warnings, stored communication fault codes involving the front radar sensor/DISTRONIC, a bent front radar sensor bracket, and a loose front grille. The problem later recurred, and the vehicle was returned to a Mercedes-Benz dealer on August 27, 2026. The vehicle remains at the dealership and is available for inspection. The dealer now states that the front radar/module mounting bracket is cracked and attributes the condition to outside impact. The vehicle has never been in an accident and there is no visible damage to the front emblem or exterior front of the vehicle. When asked how the dealer determined that an impact caused the bracket damage, the owner was told that the DTC report supported that conclusion, but the dealer declined to provide a copy of the report. During the same discussion, a Mercedes-Benz service cons

Service BrakesCrash2 injured
Filed Apr 17, 2026MD

While making a left turn at low speed, I applied the brakes, but the vehicle did not respond as expected and instead appeared to drift, surge, or accelerate forward. The vehicle struck a fire hydrant and a bus stop pole before crashing into a tree. Airbags deployed and both occupants sustained injuries. I suspect a possible malfunction involving braking, propulsion, electrical, or speed control systems. No final cause has been determined. The vehicle should still be available for inspection. Mercedes-Benz USA has opened a case regarding this incident.

Electrical System
Filed Mar 21, 2026CA

I am reporting a serious safety issue with my 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV. On multiple occasions, the vehicle has suddenly lost power and completely stopped while driving on the freeway without warning. During these incidents, a red warning symbol appeared on the dashboard (a red turtle icon), indicating a critical malfunction. These failures created extremely dangerous situations, as the vehicle lost the ability to maintain normal driving speed in active freeway traffic. At the time of these incidents, my three children were in the vehicle, which significantly increased the risk of a serious accident. This issue has occurred multiple times, suggesting a serious and recurring defect. The sudden loss of power combined with dashboard warning signals presents a major safety hazard and could lead to severe injury or fatal accidents. I no longer feel safe operating this vehicle and request that this issue be investigated as a potential safety defect.

Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking
Filed Feb 9, 20268,000 milesCA

The contact leases a 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS450. While driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly stopped with no other vehicle or object nearby. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions; however, the cause of the failure could not be determined. The contact was informed that it was a common failure and that other vehicle owners had sustained injuries due to the failure. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving 10-15 MPH and approaching a red traffic light, the failure recurred, almost causing the vehicle to be rear-ended. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000.

Electrical System
Filed Dec 26, 2025OK

The vehicle throws a “charging fault” error when I try to charge my vehicle with a high speed charger. I tried two different chargers and two different locations with the same result. The safety risk is a faulty high voltage battery system. I have not taken it to the dealer yet. This just happened today. My understanding is that this is a fairly widespread issue and MB is denying all warranty claims and blaming the charging station. The only warning is the “charging fault” message on the dash display.

Electrical System
Filed Dec 15, 2025CA

While traveling cross-country from Chicago, IL to San Diego, CA, my Mercedes-Benz EQS experienced a battery and system malfunction in Erick, Oklahoma at approximately 11:17 PM. At the time of the incident, the vehicle displayed approximately 93 miles of remaining range. I stopped to charge the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to initiate charging and subsequently lost power. Following the shutdown, the vehicle doors would not unlock. The vehicle appeared to have no usable electrical power, and there were no visible or audible instructions provided regarding emergency exit procedures. I was unaware of any mechanical emergency door release and could not reasonably locate one during the shutdown. As a result, the vehicle effectively trapped its occupants. Both my phone and my passenger’s phone were fully discharged, leaving us unable to contact roadside assistance, emergency services, or any outside help. We remained confined inside the vehicle for several hours overnight. I eventually fell asleep and woke up around 4:00 AM extremely cold. The outside temperature was approximately 31°F, and the vehicle had no heating capability due to the system shutdown. Extended confinement in freezing temperatures without heat created a serious risk of hypothermia or medical emergency. This situation caused me to experience a panic attack, and I developed a severe cough afterward, which I believe was related to cold exposure. At approximately 4:00 AM, the vehicle briefly powered on for a

Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking1 injured
Filed Dec 2, 2025CA

This afternoon, while I was driving on freeway at a normal speed (75 miles/hour) with an ample distance (30 feet) from the car in front of me , I suddenly felt a huge impact. It was so violent that I immediately thought my car was hit by the car behind me. I stopped the car on freeway and called 911. But from the back mirror, I did not see any damage on the car behind me. I got out to inspect my car but did not see any collision damage. According to my online search, this model - Mercedes-Benz EQS - has a frequently reported issue of "Phantom Braking" from the Forward Collision Avoidance System. It was very startling and dangerous experience for me. Now 5 hours later I still feel the pain in my neck and back from the impact. Please address this issue to save lives.

Suspension
Filed Oct 9, 2024AZ

Two weeks ago, I returned back from work and later on in the evening was driving to go to grocery store when the car seemed to get pulled to one side and started shaking when driving around 40MPH. Not knowing what was going on, I turned back and slowly drove it back home. Next morning, I thought may be there is low tire pressure ( even though it was in range), I slowly drove to get air filled. After that coming home the car started pulling on the left side and shaking around 40MPH speed. So I slowly drove it back home with flashers on and then towed it to the dealership not knowing what was going with it. Car has only 6700 miles on it. Dealership looked at it and said that the left rear strut was broken and right rear strut is damaged. No other damage to the car. They think I might have drove over 'some object'. I have the same drive to work for 10 years, I drive about 2 to 3 times a week to work. There is no major trenches or big bumps on the road. Majority of drive is freeway driving of about 25 miles plus. This is brand new luxury vehicle, and I would know if I drove over some thing so big to cause such a major damage. At no point I drove over any thing major - otherwise I would not have thought of 'tire problem' initially. I am really shocked that driving for 40 years, I have never encountered such an issue. My concern is that the car is so smooth driving that it had such a major damage without driving over any large potholes etc. Not sure if other Mercedes EQS has had si

Service Brakes
Filed Sep 26, 2024TX

2023 Mercedes EQS 450 Normal Recuperation driving around 40 mph suddenly the brakes were applied and seat belts engaged with no apparent reason or obstacle. It was for a second and released so no damage except the scare and jolt of the brake. The internet is full of discussions about this Phantom Braking with electric and non-electric vehicles of all brands. This is the first incident in the 3 months that we have owned this sedan and we will be taking it to the Mercedes dealership soon. This car is always giving warning lights and sounds with so many safety features.

Electrical System
Filed Jun 6, 2024TN

Car stopped abruptly on a two lane highway and a flashing warning came up that said electrical failure. Car jerked to a stop. Had to be towed to the dealership. Very dangerous. A friend has the same car and it happened to him twice. The cars do not need to be on the road until absolutely corrected. Needs a recall.

Service Brakes2 injured
Filed May 13, 2024CA

I was stopped at a stop sign and when the light turn green I pressed the accelerator to move forward unfortunately, the vehicle hard braked for no reason. At first, I thought someone hit me from behind since there was no one in front of me but that was not the case. The braking was so violent that it caused my neck to snap back and forth, which caused the back of my head to hit the seat head support. I was going no faster then 10 mph but not slower then 5mph. In turn, the vehicle is available for inspection. My safety was at risk because I had no control or indicator that the braking was going to automatically brake on its own. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by the dealer or independent service center because the incident happened today (Sunday) therefore, I plan on making an appointment as soon as possible to see if they can identify any defects. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others since I plan on taking it to the Mercedes dealer where I purchased the vehicle. There were NO warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to failure.

Service Brakes
Filed Apr 7, 2024TX

The vehicle pre collision automatically stops the car completely five times with no car or any objects in the front. I took the car to Mercedes dealership to see if they can find the issues, but they can’t. On 04/07/2024 I had my wife record while I’m driving and we got video of the car just completely hard breaking on its own with no cars in the front. I am worry that another vehicle will rear end me at higher speed when it does happen again.

Structure › BodyCrash
Filed Feb 21, 2024NJ

Please note that back in April 2023 my car was lawfully parked, and other SUV (Mercedes MB) was backing up and touch my front bumper. Because of that impact my front plastic grill got cracked and damaged front camera. The estimate to repair was almost $3000.00. I might assume it was a large impact, but yesterday during carwash when my car was not moving, car in front (another small SUV) suddenly rolled back and simple touched my front bumper. Because of that impact i got similar damage - front plastic grill is cracked and front camera is damaged. please note that other car didn't hit plastic grill as bumper is located further front. Its just of impact to front bumper to force front plastic to crack or poorly design of the components. I have both videos of impacts that i can provide upon request. I uploaded estimate from prior accident

Service Brakes
Filed Jan 23, 2024MD

On two separate occasions, while driving my 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 SUV, my vehicle abruptly came to a stop on the highway. The sudden and intense phantom braking caused me to experience whiplash on both occasions, even though there was no imminent collision threat. What was particularly concerning is that my car usually alerts me to any potential dangers and prompts me accordingly, but in these instances, it came to a halt unexpectedly. I reported the issue to the Mercedes-Benz of Annapolis Service Center, only to be told by my service advisor that this was a normal and preventive measure to avoid collisions. To my surprise, he even compared it to his experiences with a non-Mercedes vehicle. Strangely, this wasn't the first time I encountered such an incident; the initial occurrence was in a loaner vehicle provided to me due to other functionality issues with my car. To date, both the Mercedes service centers in Annapolis and Arlington have not taken my concerns seriously, which is deeply troubling. It's alarming that there are others like me facing similar problems, and there seems to be a lack of information on where and how to report these incidents for a resolution. The question remains: must someone be seriously injured or killed before Mercedes takes accountability for these potentially dangerous episodes? My vehicle is presently at the Mercedes-Benz service center in Annapolis, addressing various hazardous functionality issues, including phantom braking, pulsating

Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking
Filed Nov 2, 2023NC

I drove the EQS without issue for six months. Then, about a month ago while I was in reverse backing out of my garage, the car slammed on brakes and the seat belt forcefully engaged. It felt as if I hit a brick wall. There was nothing behind me--nothing in the driveway. Then last Sunday, October 29, 2023, I was at a stop light and began accelerating down an off ramp. Nothing was in front of me; however, the car slammed on brakes again--with the selt belt forcefully engaging, and I came dangerously close to getting rear ended. My husband turned off the automatic emergency breaking system, and we got an appointment with the Mercedes dealership. They had the car all day on Tuesday and Wednesday (Oct. 31 and Nov. 1), and basically, the dealership is saying they cannot make any repairs because they cannot replicate the issue.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 22, 2023NY

Vehicle would start and then shutdown. It would display the battery malfunction error. You would need to reset the vehicle with the key in order to activate/start the vehicle again. Dealer said they need to replace the MUC but Mercedes told the dealer to try a software update before. The vehicle is still not running the more recent software RL_NTG7_E316.505_22092AC3. Other vehicles are running E330. I don’t believe the dealer updated my software and this issue could happen and caused the vehicle to become disabled somewhere which would case an issue.

Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 3, 2023CA

As I was traveling on a highway at 70 mph in my 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS, 450+, the overhead sunroof glass spontaneously exploded without warning or signs. The glass blew out edge to edge into hundreds of tiny pieces of tempered glass. If it had not been for my *closed* cloth sunroof sunshade, the 100s of tiny pieces of tempered glass would have rained down onto my head and body while I was driving at highway speed. The sound was EXTREMELY loud, like a gun shot or bomb explosion. For a moment, I literally thought someone had shot a gun at my vehicle. I was extremely fortunate that I was able to maintain control of my vehicle, as this sudden explosion could’ve easily caused me to lose control and crash.

Service Brakes
Filed Jul 21, 2023CA

While driving the Brakes locked in the middle of the Freeway and Street it happen 3 Times already and the only thing that the Service department from Mercedes Benz saids is that they cant duplicate the malfunction a return the car It Dangerous because it just stops the brakes lock and the car stops completly in the middle of the road

Electrical System
Filed Jun 23, 2023TX

On 05Jun23, EQS 450+ suddenly reduced the speed to 30mph on the SRT highway while I was driving with cruise control set to 70mph. This creates sudden deceleration in the car and slow down as well as on the left lane traffic where there was a following car behind me with high speed. This happens multiple times when I was driving on the different highways in Texas as well as in FM roads. Car’s Behavior while Cruise control is SET to 70+mph and Intelligent Recuperation is ON. Highway Speed Sign is 70mph. 🔴 Sudden, unexpected deceleration 🔴 Wrong speed sign pops up on the dashboard 🔴 Confusing warning sound 🔴 Speed sign Indicator acts like inconsistent or confused by changing from 30mph to 45mph or vice versa.

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 2, 2023CA

On June 1 2023 at 6:24 pm, driving at around 40 mph, the car suddenly braked hard and lurched to the left. There were no cars or other obstructions in front of the car. This braking and lurching to the left lasted a few seconds, but almost came to a complete stop. After a few seconds it resumed normal operation.

20 of 28 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2022
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20245210Routine
2023 — this page28600Routine
2022341300Routine

Compare every EQS 450 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jun 5, 2025. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.