2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 Electrical Management Software Recall (23V309)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC · 3,828 vehicles · Reported May 2, 2023
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC is recalling 3,828 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG EQS 53; 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 4MATIC; 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450; 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+; 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580; 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS450; 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS580; 2023 Mercedes-Benz S 580 E 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." A high-voltage battery monitoring system that does not alert the driver of a battery malfunction may increase the risk of an injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V309 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V309000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 2023070013 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | May 2, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG EQS 53; 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 4MATIC; 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450; 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+; 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580; 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS450; 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS580; 2023 Mercedes-Benz S 580 E |
| Units affected | 3,828 |
| Component | Electrical System > Propulsion System > Traction Battery Thermal > Management > Software |
| Safety risk | A high-voltage battery monitoring system that does not alert the driver of a battery malfunction may increase the risk of an injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 in recall 23V309?
The high-voltage battery monitoring system software may not alert the driver of a battery malfunction.
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."
Is it safe to drive a 2022 EQS 450 with recall 23V309?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A high-voltage battery monitoring system that does not alert the driver of a battery malfunction may increase the risk of an injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A high-voltage battery monitoring system that does not alert the driver of a battery malfunction may increase the risk of an 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 software, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V309?
Recall 23V309 covers 3,828 vehicles: 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG EQS 53; 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 4MATIC; 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450; 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+; 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580; 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS450; 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS580; 2023 Mercedes-Benz S 580 E.
NHTSA lists 3,828 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 | AMG EQS 53 |
| 2023 | Mercedes-Benz | EQE 350 4MATIC |
| 2022 | Mercedes-Benz | EQS 450 |
| 2022 | Mercedes-Benz | EQS 450+ |
| 2022 | Mercedes-Benz | EQS 580 |
| 2023 | Mercedes-Benz | EQS450 |
| 2023 | Mercedes-Benz | EQS580 |
| 2023 | Mercedes-Benz | S 580 E |
What is the fix for the EQS 450 electrical management software recall?
Yes. Dealers will update the battery management system software, free of charge.
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.
When was recall 23V309 announced?
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC reported recall 23V309 to NHTSA on May 2, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| May 2, 2023 | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V309000. |
| August 18, 2023 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 41 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 23V309?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V309 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 23V309000. 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 23V309?
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 23V309000 applies to your EQS 450.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the software happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- 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 63 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 13 of them about the ev and hybrid battery.
Since recall 23V309 was reported on May 2, 2023, owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the ev and hybrid battery on these vehicles. 1 of them (11%) 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 ev and hybrid battery and were received on or after May 2, 2023, 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 ev and hybrid battery issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 63 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 13 of them involve the ev and hybrid battery. 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, 4 about the ev and hybrid battery
- 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS450: 11 complaints in total, 2 about the ev and hybrid battery
- 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+: 8 complaints in total, 4 about the ev and hybrid battery
- 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 4MATIC: 7 complaints in total, 0 about the ev and hybrid battery
- 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580: 6 complaints in total, 2 about the ev and hybrid battery
- 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS580: 4 complaints in total, 1 about the ev and hybrid battery
- 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG EQS 53: 1 complaints in total, 0 about the ev and hybrid battery
- 2023 Mercedes-Benz S 580 E: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the ev and hybrid battery
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
when I was driving on freeway at 40-50 miles/hour with my daughter I started getting messages " Risk of vehicle rolling away" "Active Emergency Stop Assist currently unavailable" " Service required do not change transmission position". I got scared and moved to side safety lane in heavy running traffic.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS580 owner, AZ, NHTSA complaint 11573909, filed February 26, 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
On several occasions driving at 50+ mile per hour maintaining a safe distance and with no hazards around, the vehicle abruptly stops and the last time it skid damaging my rim. 1) It appears that the electronic braking system (EBS) is defective.
2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11497454, filed December 14, 2022
Can recall 23V309 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)).
High-voltage battery and drive system defects in EVs and hybrids can mean reduced range, charging faults, loss of drive power or a fire risk. These repairs often need parts on backorder, so days out of service add up quickly.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
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.
Recall repairs depend on parts. Owners can wait days, weeks or months, usually about one to three months in our cases, and those days count toward California's 30-day out-of-service rule.
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 23V309
Did the recall 23V309 fix work?
Since recall 23V309 was reported on May 2, 2023, owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the ev and hybrid battery on these vehicles. 1 of them (11%) 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.
Is the 23V309000 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 23V309000?
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.
Can a battery recall reduce my EV's range?
Some battery recalls limit the state of charge or range until a module or pack is replaced. Check your owner letter for any interim limits, and keep notes if range or charging changes after the repair.
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 23V309000 (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.