What 39 owners told NHTSA about the 2023 Mercedes-benz Eqe SUV

Severe, life-threatening autonomous safety system and powertrain failures in a 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV. The vehicle exhibits sudden, violent unintended acceleration, unprovoked emergency braking, and steering lockups. On multiple occasions, including at 75 MPH on the freeway and 45 MPH on city streets, the vehicle abruptly applies maximum braking force down to a near-stop without driver input or any road obstruction, nearly causing multiple catastrophic rear-end collisions with semi-trucks and buses. Conversely, the vehicle experiences sudden unintended acceleration; during one severe city street incident, the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated from 40 MPH to 60 MPH while the driver was actively braking, causing the brake pedal to feel completely locked, stiff, and unresponsive for several seconds before stopping. While stopped at red lights, the vehicle violently surges and rocks forward/backward as if wanting to accelerate without driver input. The steering assistance system abruptly locks up or pulls hard to the right without warning, requiring the driver to physically wrestle control to maintain lane alignment. The braking system suffers from severe malfunctions, including the pedal randomly repositioning itself lower while driving and dropping completely to the floor during parking, causing the vehicle to roll until pumped. The electronic parking brake intermittently fails to release when shifting into drive/reverse. Additional systemic electrical and safety defects include: complete instrument cluster/gauge blackouts impairing speed monitoring; steering wheel physically blocking gauge visibility; total failure of rearview/surround-view cameras, blind spot monitors, and mirror controls; exterior door handles failing to deploy; rear trunk malfunctions; severe high-voltage battery range loss; and continuous infotainment/navigation crashes. Authorized dealerships have failed to repair these critical safety components across 4 distinct repair attempts.

NHTSA ODI 11742216

Severe, life-threatening autonomous safety system and powertrain failures in a 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV. The vehicle exhibits sudden, violent unintended acceleration, unprovoked emergency braking, and steering lockups. On multiple occasions, including at 75 MPH on the freeway and 45 MPH on city streets, the vehicle abruptly applies maximum braking force down to a near-stop without driver input or any road obstruction, nearly causing multiple catastrophic rear-end collisions with semi-trucks and buses. Conversely, the vehicle experiences sudden unintended acceleration; during one severe city street incident, the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated from 40 MPH to 60 MPH while the driver was actively braking, causing the brake pedal to feel completely locked, stiff, and unresponsive for several seconds before stopping. While stopped at red lights, the vehicle violently surges and rocks forward/backward as if wanting to accelerate without driver input. The steering assistance system abruptly locks up or pulls hard to the right without warning, requiring the driver to physically wrestle control to maintain lane alignment. The braking system suffers from severe malfunctions, including the pedal randomly repositioning itself lower while driving and dropping completely to the floor during parking, causing the vehicle to roll until pumped. The electronic parking brake intermittently fails to release when shifting into drive/reverse. Additional systemic electrical and safety defects include: complete instrument cluster/gauge blackouts impairing speed monitoring; steering wheel physically blocking gauge visibility; total failure of rearview/surround-view cameras, blind spot monitors, and mirror controls; exterior door handles failing to deploy; rear trunk malfunctions; severe high-voltage battery range loss; and continuous infotainment/navigation crashes. Authorized dealerships have failed to repair these critical safety components across 4 distinct repair attempts.

NHTSA ODI 11742218

This vehicle is extremely unsafe to drive and will cause an accident. I am constantly having to fight the steering as the car constantly fights the direction I wish to turn or maneuver. In addition several times I tried to break to slow the vehicle and the brakes did not allow me to engage them. I have been driving since 1980s. If something is not done to get this vehicle off the road quickly someone will get hurt.

NHTSA ODI 11552764