What 66 owners told NHTSA about the 2023 Mercedes-benz Eqs SUV

While making a left turn at low speed, I applied the brakes, but the vehicle did not respond as expected and instead appeared to drift, surge, or accelerate forward. The vehicle struck a fire hydrant and a bus stop pole before crashing into a tree. Airbags deployed and both occupants sustained injuries. I suspect a possible malfunction involving braking, propulsion, electrical, or speed control systems. No final cause has been determined. The vehicle should still be available for inspection. Mercedes-Benz USA has opened a case regarding this incident.

NHTSA ODI 11731921

Description of Incident: While attempting to reverse out of my driveway, I experienced a catastrophic and life-threatening malfunction with my vehicle. I was in reverse gear when the car came to an abrupt, extremely forceful stop, which caused the vehicle to jerk violently forward. This sudden and unprovoked halt put me and my passenger at risk of serious injury. My foot was on the brake the entire time. As the car stopped so unexpectedly, I shifted into Drive in an attempt to inch forward. However, despite my foot remaining firmly on the brake, the car accelerated at full power, without warning, and with no input from me to do so. The car then drove directly into the foundation of my house, causing significant damage. Despite applying constant pressure to the brake, the vehicle failed to stop or respond. This malfunction resulted in the destruction of my home’s foundation and caused bodily injury to both me and my passenger. This was a life-threatening event and could have resulted in severe harm or death to anyone nearby. The car’s acceleration while my foot was still on the brake indicates a severe safety risk and defect in the vehicle’s systems, which also places others at risk.

NHTSA ODI 11615797

I was stopped at a stop sign and when the light turn green I pressed the accelerator to move forward unfortunately, the vehicle hard braked for no reason. At first, I thought someone hit me from behind since there was no one in front of me but that was not the case. The braking was so violent that it caused my neck to snap back and forth, which caused the back of my head to hit the seat head support. I was going no faster then 10 mph but not slower then 5mph. In turn, the vehicle is available for inspection. My safety was at risk because I had no control or indicator that the braking was going to automatically brake on its own. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by the dealer or independent service center because the incident happened today (Sunday) therefore, I plan on making an appointment as soon as possible to see if they can identify any defects. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others since I plan on taking it to the Mercedes dealer where I purchased the vehicle. There were NO warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to failure.

NHTSA ODI 11588360

I had a forward collision with 2 cars. My brake has been failed and forward collision warning system failed. I leased the car because of the safety features but I am really disappointed. Since I had my kids in the car with me. It was a really horrible experience and I can't drive the car anymore because of the safety issues.

NHTSA ODI 11530268

At approximately 10:30 p.m. on January 8, 2023 I, and three passengers (my wife, and another couple), were completing a one hour drive returning from an event in southern California. We traveled on the freeways as we headed home. The speeds on those freeways average between 65 and 75 miles per hour with the flow of traffic. I exited the freeway and pulled up to a traffic light. I made a right turn at the light, then traveled up the road. The weather was clear and dry, and there were no cars either behind, in front of, or beside me as I drove up a cleanly paved and level road at a speed of approximately 35 – 40 MPH. During the drive up the road, the car inexplicably and suddenly stopped, hard, as though I had run into a dense hill of sand. It was a violent and sudden jolting stop, and all four passengers’ seatbelts activated, firmly tightening and restraining us in our seats. My wife’s head whipped back and forth, resulting in an enduring headache for her through the rest of the evening. No one knew what had happened, or why, as there was absolutely no obstruction in the road and no traffic around us. We pulled over and inspected the car and it was in pristine perfect condition with no evidence of any contact of any kind. We looked in the road and it was clear, paved and level. No animals; no objects; no obstruction. When I arrived home I searched online to determine if this had ever before been reported, and it turned up several “hits,” apparently filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) on this very issue, apparently involving both the 2021 and 2022 EQS. My model year is 2023. The discussions I have read point to a possible defect in the Autonomous Emergency Braking System (EBS). It might be the car is sensing something that is not there, and reacting as though it were. At 70 MPH on a freeway, this could be fatal, should the EBS activate suddenly, with no cause to do so, with an ensuing rear-end collision. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11501082