MERCEDES-BENZ Complaints

I own a 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 300. After the dealership performed the recall Update Battery Management System Software – Campaign 2025040005 / 25V050 / 25P5496507, my vehicle immediately experienced a significant loss of battery performance. Problems that began right after the recall update: Driving range decreased by approximately 25–30 miles. DC fast-charging speed dropped from about 100 kW before the update to a maximum of around 80 kW after the update. Vehicle was performing normally before the recall software was installed. This update appears to have negatively affected the performance, efficiency, and charging capability of the high-voltage battery. Mercedes has not yet provided an explanation or solution. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether the recall update is improperly derating or limiting the high-voltage battery and whether this safety recall is causing reduced functionality for other EQB owners.

WHEN I VISITED MY SISTER IN THE MIDWEST, SHE GAVE ME AN E-320 MODEL MERCEDES TO DRIVE, AND LATER OFFERED THE CAR FOR MY KEEPING, WHICH SERVED AS AN EXTRA CAR, AND HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN MUCH, AS EVIDENT FROM THE YEAR AND MILEAGE COMPARISON WITH OTHER SAME YEAR MODELS. MY SISTER EXPECTED ME TO PAY MAINTENANCE COSTS, AND I DIDNT MIND THE EXTRA COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH A HIGH END CAR. I DIDNT EVEN MIND PAYING A FEW THOUSAND A FEW YEARS AGO, TO CHANGE BOTH BATTERIES, THE ALTERNATOR AND THE OVERHEAD DOME, WHEN THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DETECT THE ORIGIN OF A BATTERY DRAIN. HOWEVER, WHAT TRANSPIRED RECENTLY IS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT STORY. A FEW MONTHS AGO, I NOTICED A SMELL OF GASOLINE AS I STEPPED INTO THE GARAGE, ADJACENT TO THE KITCHEN. AFTER BACKING THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE, I REPEATEDLY LOOKED FOR ANY POSSIBLE FLUID LEAKS ON THE GARAGE FLOOR, BUT NEVER FOUND ANY. THEREFORE, I DISMISSED THE MATTER AS A NON-EMERGENCY. I REMEMBER THINKING THAT AFTER ALL, WITH SUCH A TOP BRAND CAR AS MERCEDES, THE COMPANY WOULD SEND ALL RELATED RECALL NOTICES. HOWEVER, WE NEVER RECEIVED ANY SUCH RECALL NOTICE ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE GASOLINE TANK. WHEN THE CAR CAME UP FOR INSPECTION AND RENEWAL TAGS, I TOOK THE CAR TO CARX, AND NOT TO MY USUAL MERCEDES MECHANIC. I ASKED THE MECHANIC TO CHECK FOR ANY POSSIBLE GAS LEAKS, SINCE THE CAR HAD TO BE ON THE LIFT AS PART OF THE INSPECTION. TO THE MECHANICS SURPRISE AND MINE, HE FOUND A PUDDLE OF GASOLINE IN THE TRAY BENEATH THE ENGINE. WITH A CLEAR CASE OF A GAS LEAK, THE CAR OBVIOUSLY WOULD NOT PASS THE INSPECTION UNLESS RECTIFIED. HOWEVER, WE BOTH EXPECTED THE FIX TO BE A WORN OUT

HEADLIGHT GLARE AND BRIGHTNESS HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE YEARS ON NEW OEM VEHICLES. A FOLLOWING VEHICLE TO MINE ILLUMINATES MY CARS INTERIOR AND REAR VIEW MIRROR. ONCOMING VEHICLES CAUSE GLARE AND TEMPORARILY BLINDS MY VISION OF THE ROAD. MOST ANNOYING IS WHEN A FOLLOWING VEHICLE HAS THESE HEADLIGHT SYSTEMS THAT HAVE THE LIGHT JUMP UP AND DOWN ILLUMINATING MY INTERIOR INTERMITTENTLY AND REAR VIEW MIRROR, THIS ON A FLAT HIGHWAY SETTING WHEN THE VEHICLE FOLLOWING SHOULD BE LEVEL RIDING ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT, VERY DISTRACTING. TAIL//BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE ALSO GOTTEN OVERLY BRIGHT AND WHEN IN TRAFFIC CAUSE ME DISCOMFORT. THESE BRIGHT LIGHTS ABSOLUTELY DIMINISH NIGHT VISION CAPABILITIES.

HEADLIGHT GLARE AND BRIGHTNESS HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE YEARS ON NEW OEM VEHICLES. A FOLLOWING VEHICLE TO MINE ILLUMINATES MY CARS INTERIOR AND REAR VIEW MIRROR. ONCOMING VEHICLES CAUSE GLARE AND TEMPORARILY BLINDS MY VISION OF THE ROAD. MOST ANNOYING IS WHEN A FOLLOWING VEHICLE HAS THESE HEADLIGHT SYSTEMS THAT HAVE THE LIGHT JUMP UP AND DOWN ILLUMINATING MY INTERIOR INTERMITTENTLY AND REAR VIEW MIRROR, THIS ON A FLAT HIGHWAY SETTING WHEN THE VEHICLE FOLLOWING SHOULD BE LEVEL RIDING ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT, VERY DISTRACTING. TAIL//BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE ALSO GOTTEN OVERLY BRIGHT AND WHEN IN TRAFFIC CAUSE ME DISCOMFORT. THESE BRIGHT LIGHTS ABSOLUTELY DIMINISH NIGHT VISION CAPABILITIES.

2007 MERCEDES BENZ E350-WHEN A PASSENGER SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, I GET A WARNING LIGHT THAT SAYS AIR BAG IS ON WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAGS IM NOT SURE IF THIS THING IS GOING TO ACTIVATE FOR NO REASON OR WHAT!

NEWER MODEL VEHICLES USE LED LIGHTS FOR DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS BUT AT NIGHT DRIVERS DON'T SWITCH TO THE "HEADLIGHT" FUNCTION. THIS ENABLES THE REAR MARKER LIGHTS FOR OTHER DRIVERS TO SEE THE VEHICLE. WHY DOESN'T THE DRL ENABLE THE REAR MARKER LIGHTS FULL TIME? THEN IF DRIVERS FAIL TO ENGAGE THE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION THE REAR MARKER LIGHTS ARE STILL ON AT NIGHT.

THIS IS A DESIGN FAILURE ON HEAD LIGHT SYSTEMS. MANY MANUFACTURERS ARE PUTTING IN HEAD LIGHTS THAT ARE BLINDING OTHER DRIVERS. SUPER BRIGHT WHITE LIGHTS ARE UNNECESSARY, DISTRACTING, AND IF THE DRIVERS OF THESE VEHICLES LEAVE THEIR HIGH BEAMS ON IT BECOMES LITERALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ANYTHING ON THE ROAD. JUST HAD A CAR ON THE HIGHWAY TODAY THAT BATHED MY VEHICLE AND ALL MY MIRRORS IN THE LIGHT OF TEN THOUSAND SUNS FROM BEHIND MAKING IT [XXX] NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ANYTHING ELSE, BACKWARDS OR FORWARDS. I FEEBLY ATTEMPTED TO BLOCK MY MIRROR WITH MY HAND TO AVOID HAVING MY RETINAS BURNED OUT. MY VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A TINTED BACK WINDOW AND SELF-DIMMING MIRRORS AND THESE ARE OF NO EFFECT AGAINST THE INTENSITY OF THESE HEAD LIGHTS. I REALLY CAN'T IMAGINE HOW THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO EXIST THIS LONG. IT REALLY IS A DANGER ON THE ROAD. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT'S GETTING WORSE,WITH MUCH MORE FREQUENT OCCURRENCES. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

ONCOMING HEADLIGHTS ON NEWER CARS ARE BLINDINGLY BRIGHT. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRIGHTER HEADLIGHTS IN ONES SIDE VIEW MIRROR ARE TOTALLY DISTRACTING. FINALLY, IT WOULD SEEM NEWER CARS ARE INTENDED TO AUTO-DIM, BUT THEY DO NOT DO SO EARLY ENOUGH.

2010 MERCEDES C300 INDOOR HANDLE BROKE AND MERCEDES WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT EVEN THE CAR IS UNDER CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED WARRANTY. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THAT THE HANDLE IS A TRIM DEVICE AND NOT A MECHANICAL ISSUE. UNFORTUNATELY, I SEE THIS A SAFETY ISSUE WHERE SOMEONE COULD BE TRAPPED INSIDE AND NOT ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR OUTSIDE IN THE EVENT OF EMERGENCY INCIDENT. ANYWAY, I HAVE SEARCHED THROUGH INTERNET AND FOUND THIS TYPE OF FAILURE WAS VERY COMMON. SURPRISINGLY, SOMEONE EVEN FILED A COMPLAINT TO NHTSA BACK IN 2012 AND HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY RECALL. HOPE THIS ISSUE IS RE-OPENED AND RECTIFIED BEFORE THIS TURN TO FATALITY.

1995 MERCEDES C-220 DECINIGRATING WIRING HARNEST. I BOUGHT THIS CAR AND I HAD IT FOR 1 WEEK AND NOW IT IS IN THE SHOP WITH $1700 IN REPAIR FEES. I WAS TOLD THAT THESE REPAIRS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL DONE BY MERCEDES AS IT IS A COMMON ISSUE THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD HAVE POTENTIONALLY BEEN DETRAMENTAL.