2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE350 Electrical Software Recall (23V853)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC · 10 vehicles · Reported December 15, 2023
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC is recalling 10 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE350 vehicles. The headlights may be incorrectly adjusted due to a software error in the headlight control unit. Incorrectly adjusted headlights can reduce the visibility of oncoming traffic and impair the dynamic driving control performance. Both scenarios increase the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V853 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V853000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 2024010009 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | December 15, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE350 |
| Units affected | 10 |
| Component | Electrical System > Software |
| Safety risk | Incorrectly adjusted headlights can reduce the visibility of oncoming traffic and impair the dynamic driving control performance. Both scenarios increase the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE350 in recall 23V853?
The headlights may be incorrectly adjusted due to a software error in the headlight control unit.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023 EQE 350 vehicles equipped with comfort suspension. The headlights may be incorrectly adjusted due to a software error in the headlight control unit.
Is it safe to drive a 2023 EQE350 with recall 23V853?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Incorrectly adjusted headlights can reduce the visibility of oncoming traffic and impair the dynamic driving control performance. Both scenarios increase the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Incorrectly adjusted headlights can reduce the visibility of oncoming traffic and impair the dynamic driving control performance. Both scenarios increase the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your EQE350 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 23V853?
Recall 23V853 covers 10 vehicles: 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE350.
NHTSA lists 10 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Mercedes-Benz | EQE350 |
What is the fix for the EQE350 electrical software recall?
Yes. Dealers will update the headlight control unit software, free of charge.
Dealers will update the headlight control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed by February 2, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Manufacturer recall number: 2024010009.
When was recall 23V853 announced?
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC reported recall 23V853 to NHTSA on December 15, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| December 15, 2023 | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V853000. |
| February 2, 2024 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 34 months ago. If your EQE350 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my EQE350 is part of recall 23V853?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V853 is open on your EQE350, 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 23V853000. 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 EQE350 owners do about recall 23V853?
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 23V853000 applies to your EQE350.
- 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.
- 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 problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are EQE350 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 2 of them about the electrical system.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the electrical system have been filed since recall 23V853 was reported (2) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 4 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 2 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.
- 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE350: 4 complaints in total, 2 about the electrical system
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
Driving almost 60 mph, car shuddered and went to 20 mph then 10 mph in seconds. Drove on the shoulder, only 650 miles since I leased the car. Second time has happened in four weeks.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE350 owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11579179, filed March 24, 2024
Can recall 23V853 make my EQE350 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.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of 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.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE350 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.
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 EQE350 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Frequently asked questions about recall 23V853
Is the 23V853000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my EQE350 is part of recall 23V853000?
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.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
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 23V853000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 7, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq., Founder and Managing Attorney of America’s Lemon Lawyer (Wynn Law Group, APC). Licensed by the State Bar of California, No. 362320. His practice focuses on California lemon law under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act.
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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.