2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 Auto Crash Notification Recall (21V00J)

Recall 21V00J at a glance

What is wrong with the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 in recall 21V00J?

The communication module software may restrict or disable the emergency call system (eCall).

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2022 EQS450, S500, and S580 vehicles. The communication module software may restrict or disable the emergency call system (eCall).

Is it safe to drive a 2022 EQS 450 with recall 21V00J?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting emergency services through the call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting emergency services through the call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your EQS 450 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the auto crash notification, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 21V00J?

Recall 21V00J covers 1,239 vehicles: 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450; 2022 Mercedes-Benz S 500; 2022 Mercedes-Benz S 580.

NHTSA lists 1,239 vehicles in this campaign, built February 15, 2021 to December 4, 2021. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the EQS 450 auto crash notification recall?

Yes. The fix is an over-the-air software update.

The communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 23, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022010006.

When was recall 21V00J announced?

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC reported recall 21V00J to NHTSA on December 27, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as February 23, 2022.

This recall was filed 57 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 292 days. If your EQS 450 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my EQS 450 is part of recall 21V00J?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V00J is open on your EQS 450, it will be listed there.

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 21V00J000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.

What should EQS 450 owners do about recall 21V00J?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V00J000 applies to your EQS 450.
2. Call a Mercedes-Benz dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
4. Keep a simple log of any auto crash notification symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.

What are EQS 450 owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 72 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 4 of them about the other equipment.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the other equipment have been filed since recall 21V00J was reported (4) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 72 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 4 of them involve the other equipment. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.

• 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450: 26 complaints in total, 2 about the other equipment
• 2022 Mercedes-Benz S 580: 25 complaints in total, 1 about the other equipment
• 2022 Mercedes-Benz S 500: 21 complaints in total, 1 about the other equipment

A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):

i am an owner of Mercedes 2022 EQS, living in Westchester, New York. There are a number of flaws in the auto drive software system that the company refuses to acknowledge. 1) the sensors on the passenger side of the car do not register a car immediately adjacent to you.

2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 owner, NY, NHTSA complaint 11516288, filed April 10, 2023

Car is equipped with Distronic cruise and has maximum 4 car lengths stopping distance. It was set on 4 car length. While driving north on 55 fwy and exiting to 405 fwy in California. Exit (single lane) was dead stop due to traffic and while I was on cruising at 70 mph.

2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11541570, filed August 30, 2023

We're on our fifth windshield, and I'm concerned that there is some sort of structural issue. We've lived in the same area for more than 10 years and have never had this problem with any of our other cars, SUVs, or trucks.

2022 Mercedes-Benz S 500 owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11592292, filed June 3, 2024

Can recall 21V00J make my EQS 450 a lemon in California?

Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.

Owners often ask whether this auto crash notification recall means their EQS 450 qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

What matters for a lemon law claim is not the recall label but whether the defect substantially impairs the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 and whether the dealer can fix it in a reasonable number of tries.

Because the remedy is an over-the-air update, there may be no repair order unless you take the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 in. If the symptom continues after the update, get it documented at the dealer so it counts.

California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.

An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.

Frequently asked questions about recall 21V00J