Mercedes-Benz recalls Mercedes-Benz EQB for the third time due to battery fire risk
Mercedes-Benz announced the third recall of the EQB electric crossover in the United States due to a possible high-voltage battery fire. The reason is cited as the risk of internal short circuiting.
What is known
The recall campaign affects 11,895 vehicles, some of which have already had two previous recalls for the same issue.
Previously, the manufacturer attempted to fix the defect with a software update. It was supposed to reduce the risk until the exact cause of the malfunction was determined. However, further analysis conducted jointly with the Chinese company Farasis Energy — the battery supplier, showed that the software solution does not completely address the issue.
Now the company will replace the high-voltage batteries free of charge. Before the new recall was announced, approximately 74% of affected vehicles had the software update installed, according to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the USA.
The recall affects 2022–2024 model year vehicles manufactured from December 13, 2021, to May 9, 2024. According to the NHTSA report, a combination of early battery production characteristics and operating conditions can lead to internal short circuits and an increased risk of fire.
It is noted that some elements of early production batteries are less resistant to stress compared to later versions. At the same time, a possible short circuit may occur at a high charge level. Owners of vehicles that have not yet received previous updates are advised to limit charging to 80% and park the cars outdoors until the battery is replaced.
Mercedes-Benz reported two incidents of fires in the United States related to this issue. Both occurred with vehicles subject to the recall. The company states that it has not received reports of fires in the U.S. on vehicles where the software update was previously installed.
Production of the EQB was halted at the end of last year. The model will be replaced by the new GLB with EQ Technology.
Source: InsideEVs
