2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 Electrical Software Recall (21V931)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC · 227 vehicles · Reported November 29, 2021
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC is recalling 227 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450; 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580; 2022 Mercedes-Benz S 500; 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 580 vehicles. The MBUX infotainment system might allow activation of the television and internet display while driving, causing a distraction for the driver. Driver distraction can increase the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V931 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V931000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 2022010003 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | November 29, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450; 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580; 2022 Mercedes-Benz S 500; 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 580 |
| Units affected | 227 |
| Component | Electrical System > Software |
| Safety risk | Driver distraction can increase the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 in recall 21V931?
The MBUX infotainment system might allow activation of the television and internet display while driving, causing a distraction for the driver.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 S580, 2022 EQS450, EQS580, and S500 vehicles with an active and connected Mercedes me connect account. The MBUX infotainment system might allow activation of the television and internet display while driving, causing a distraction for the driver.
Is it safe to drive a 2022 EQS 450 with recall 21V931?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Driver distraction can increase the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Driver distraction can increase the risk of a crash.
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 software, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V931?
Recall 21V931 covers 227 vehicles: 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450; 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580; 2022 Mercedes-Benz S 500; 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 580.
NHTSA lists 227 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Mercedes-Benz | EQS 450 |
| 2022 | Mercedes-Benz | EQS 580 |
| 2022 | Mercedes-Benz | S 500 |
| 2021 | Mercedes-Benz | S 580 |
What is the fix for the EQS 450 electrical software recall?
Yes. MBUSA has updated their computer server to correct the issue for most vehicles, free of charge.
MBUSA has updated their computer server to correct the issue for most vehicles, free of charge. For vehicles that were not able to be updated remotely, dealers will provide the software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 25, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Manufacturer recall number: 2022010003.
When was recall 21V931 announced?
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC reported recall 21V931 to NHTSA on November 29, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as January 25, 2022.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 29, 2021 | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V931000. |
| January 25, 2022 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 58 months ago. 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 21V931?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V931 is open on your EQS 450, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 21V931000 is open on your EQS 450, it will be listed there, along with Mercedes-Benz recall number 2022010003. You can also ask any Mercedes-Benz dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should EQS 450 owners do about recall 21V931?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V931000 applies to your EQS 450.
- Call a Mercedes-Benz dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any software symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are EQS 450 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 86 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 21 of them about the electrical system.
Since recall 21V931 was reported on November 29, 2021, owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 4 of them (20%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the electrical system and were received on or after November 29, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related electrical system issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 86 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 21 of them involve the electrical system. 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.
- 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 580: 33 complaints in total, 9 about the electrical system
- 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450: 26 complaints in total, 4 about the electrical system
- 2022 Mercedes-Benz S 500: 21 complaints in total, 6 about the electrical system
- 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580: 6 complaints in total, 2 about the electrical system
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
The vehicle was driving and suddenly lost power, and started driving very slowly, almost causing an accident on the road.
2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 owner, MN, NHTSA complaint 11704192, filed December 10, 2025
I own a 2022 Mercedes EQS 580 electric vehicle which has a high voltage battery for propulsion. On [XXX], in Seoul, Korea, a Mercedes EQE with a high voltage battery made by Farasis Energy spontaneously burst into flames while parked in a garage and not on a charger.
2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 owner, VA, NHTSA complaint 11610504, filed August 23, 2024
On four instances my car thinks that there is an object in front of it and automatically initiates emergency breaking.
2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11477627, filed August 4, 2022
Can recall 21V931 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 software 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)).
Electrical faults are hard to diagnose, so dealers often try several fixes before one works, if one works at all. That pattern of repeat visits for the same software problem is common in lemon law claims.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
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.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A software update can count as a repair attempt, especially if you complained about the problem or the update keeps being repeated. I've seen dealers do the same software update five or six times with no fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your EQS 450 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V931
Did the recall 21V931 fix work?
Since recall 21V931 was reported on November 29, 2021, owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 4 of them (20%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed January 25, 2022.
Is the 21V931000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my EQS 450 is part of recall 21V931000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
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.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V931000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Mercedes-Benz. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.