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

I am reporting a serious safety issue with my 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV. On multiple occasions, the vehicle has suddenly lost power and completely stopped while driving on the freeway without warning. During these incidents, a red warning symbol appeared on the dashboard (a red turtle icon), indicating a critical malfunction. These failures created extremely dangerous situations, as the vehicle lost the ability to maintain normal driving speed in active freeway traffic. At the time of these incidents, my three children were in the vehicle, which significantly increased the risk of a serious accident. This issue has occurred multiple times, suggesting a serious and recurring defect. The sudden loss of power combined with dashboard warning signals presents a major safety hazard and could lead to severe injury or fatal accidents. I no longer feel safe operating this vehicle and request that this issue be investigated as a potential safety defect.

NHTSA ODI 11725988

While the vehicle was stationary and connected to a DC Fast Charging station (Electrify America), a thermal event occurred at the charging interface. The charging connector overheated and thermally fused (welded) to the vehicle's high-voltage charging inlet. The connector could not be released by the vehicle or the station. A technician dispatched by the charging network was unable to remove the connector using standard release protocols. The technician confirmed the equipment had failed and was forced to use physical leverage to pry the fused connector off, resulting in the fracture of the vehicle's charging receptacle. I couldn't charge the vehicle anymore and so I took it to the Mercedes dealership. The certified manufacturer diagnosis confirmed the failure was caused by a "loose connection" and thermal defect in the external charging station cable, not the vehicle. The high-voltage receptacle was destroyed. This failure mode presents a critical safety risk of fire and entrapment, as the vehicle could not be disconnected or moved during the thermal event.

NHTSA ODI 11705614

I recently noticed that the charging port is showing signs of melting, which is both concerning and potentially hazardous. This issue is affecting the functionality and safety of my vehicle, and I am deeply disappointed that such a problem has occurred. The charging port is a critical component of the high-voltage system. Its failure poses significant safety concerns such as overheating, sparking, and charging failure, or even potentially catch on fire. I have bring my vehicle to Walter's Mercedes of riverside @ 3213 Adams St, Riverside, CA 92504 which dealership claim it's not cover under warranty. I acquired my Mercedes-Benz vehicle in March/2024, and it is still under warranty. I've always charge the vehicle by manufacturer recommendation and use the charging station Mercedes provided which is Electrify America, Given the nature of the issue, I believe it falls under the warranty coverage or manufacture defect recall.

NHTSA ODI 11687662