2022 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4MATIC Problems

The contact owns a 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQB350 4MATIC. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V073000 (Electrical System). The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle failed to start for approximately five minutes. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the battery was at 80 percent and then fell to 50 percent extremely quickly. While charging the battery, the battery failed to fully charge. The message "Vehicle not Ready to Drive" was displayed in a red rectangle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact was advised that the battery should not be charged above 80 percent, as stated in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,304.

PRIORITY COMPLAINT: MANUFACTURER RECALL OBSTRUCTION & COERCIVE SAFETY WAIVER INDUCEMENT. My vehicle is actively subject to NHTSA Campaign 26V073 for a severe high-voltage battery defect causing an immediate fire hazard while parked or operating. Because the manufacturer has no immediate remedy available, I filed an administrative buyback request due to the extreme danger of driving the car. Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has formally blocked my safety relief by deceptively citing irrelevant Florida Lemon Laws, despite the vehicle being legally purchased in Maryland and registered/operated continuously in Virginia. Furthermore, MBUSA is actively attempting to obstruct the safety intent of this NHTSA recall by trying to bribe me with a $5,500 cash payment in exchange for signing a mandatory "Waiver of Rights" liability release. This release legally bars me from pursuing future recall remedies or lawsuits if the battery catches fire. MBUSA has explicitly stated in writing that if I refuse to sign this total liability waiver, they will offer zero further assistance, effectively forcing me to continue operating a known, catastrophic fire hazard on public roads. I request that NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) launch an immediate inquiry into MBUSA for utilizing deceptive out-of-state legal tactics and coercive monetary waivers to suppress safety claims and minimize their financial exposure to Campaign 26V073.

The vehicle is subject to Safety Recall 26V073 (High-Voltage Battery Fire Risk). Since March 2023, at 6,177 miles, the vehicle has experienced recurring powertrain and battery malfunctions. Despite 11 total service visits and 8 specific attempts to repair the battery management system and powertrain modules, the defect remains unresolved. The vehicle currently displays sudden red dashboard warnings stating "Engine will not restart" and "Malfunction" while driving at highway speeds and on sideroads. These incidents cause a sudden loss of confidence in the vehicle's propulsion and power. According to the manufacturer’s recall chronology, these warnings indicate a potential internal battery short circuit, which could lead to a thermal event/fire. Safety is compromised as the vehicle may stall in high-speed traffic, and the manufacturer has directed that the vehicle be parked outside and away from structures due to fire risk. The manufacturer has admitted that previous software "remedies" were failed attempts and that a hardware remedy (battery replacement) is unavailable for at least 9 months (December 2026) . This leaves the driver (owner) in a dangerous, non-conforming vehicle for an unreasonable duration. All malfunctions have been confirmed by authorized dealership service centers (Invoices #685069 and #687727 are attached as references).

The vehicle is subject to Safety Recall 26V073 (High-Voltage Battery Fire Risk). Since March 2023, at 6,177 miles, the vehicle has experienced recurring powertrain and battery malfunctions. Despite 11 total service visits and 8 specific attempts to repair the battery management system and powertrain modules, the defect remains unresolved. The vehicle currently displays sudden red dashboard warnings stating "Engine will not restart" and "Malfunction" while driving at highway speeds and on sideroads. These incidents cause a sudden loss of confidence in the vehicle's propulsion and power. According to the manufacturer’s recall chronology, these warnings indicate a potential internal battery short circuit, which could lead to a thermal event/fire. Safety is compromised as the vehicle may stall in high-speed traffic, and the manufacturer has directed that the vehicle be parked outside and away from structures due to fire risk. The manufacturer has admitted that previous software "remedies" were failed attempts and that a hardware remedy (battery replacement) is unavailable for at least 9 months (December 2026) . This leaves the driver (owner) in a dangerous, non-conforming vehicle for an unreasonable duration. All malfunctions have been confirmed by authorized dealership service centers (Invoices #685069 and #687727 are attached as references).