2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 300 4MATIC Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the high-voltage battery fire recall, saying the repair was not yet available and that they were given interim advice in the meantime. Other reports include reduced range and slower DC fast charging that owners link to battery software updates, while sudden drive-power loss and unexpected braking appear less often. Mileage is rarely given, so recall status and service history matter more than the odometer when checking a specific car.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   High-voltage battery fire recall: repair still pending

   • 40 complaints (74%)
   • median 10,000 mi at 2.3 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners describe high-voltage battery recall notices for fire risk, and say the repair could not yet be done because parts were not available or no date was given. Many complaints mention repair dates pushed out to late 2026 or 2027, and some say the dealer had no timeline to share. Some owners asked for a loaner car or buyback and were refused or given no help, and others say earlier battery software updates were followed by further recall action. A few owners say the dealer did not explain the recall during a visit. Mileage is rarely given, and where it is, the figure is 15,000 miles.

   Recall 26V073000Recall 25V894000Recall 25V050000Recall 25V487000

   What to check: Ask the dealer for the current repair date and whether parts are available for the battery recall on the car's VIN. Check the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup before buying, since a recall can be open even when a car looks normal.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was informed of this recall fire risk. And I contacted Mercedes dealership where I got the car. And they informed me that the battery is not available at this time. And to park the vehicle outside. I can’t do this because my charging port is located inside my garage. This is not a safe and the dealership won’t do anything about it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11729553, filed 2026-04

   “The affected component is the high-voltage traction battery and related battery management and bus-bar connection systems. My vehicle is available for inspection upon request. I am reporting a safety concern because my vehicle is subject to NHTSA Recall 25V050, which identifies a risk that the high-voltage battery could fail internally and cause a fire while parked or driving. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11760111, filed 2026-08
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Interim advice: limit charging and park outdoors

   • 31 complaints (57%)
   • median 10,000 mi at 2.3 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners describe interim instructions tied to the battery recall: limit charging to a lower charge level and park the car outdoors, away from buildings. Some say this limits daily use, including owners who cannot charge in a garage, and others worry about theft when the car is parked outside. Complaints describe being told to wait for a remedy with no firm timeline or a date months away. Mentioned from the time of delivery or after a recall notice, and mileage is rarely stated.

   Recall 26V073000Recall 25V894000Recall 25V050000

   What to check: Ask whether the car is covered by an open battery recall and what charging and parking guidance applies until the repair is done. Ask for the written recall notice, since owners say the guidance is temporary and may change.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Spoke with MB today and was told that the new battery for this recall would be available in late 2026 and that until then I should only park outside and not charge past 80%. When asked for a loaner car until they fixed the issue I was told no. Afraid to drive and or charge”

   NHTSA complaint #11726059, filed 2026-03

   “I am requesting that my 2023 Mercedes‑Benz EQB be added to the recall associated with high‑voltage battery safety issues. My vehicle is exhibiting the same symptoms described in NHTSA Recall No. 26V073000, but my VIN is not currently included. I was instructed not to fully charge the vehicle and warned that it may pose a fire hazard if parked inside my garage. These warnings indicate a serious safety defect involving the high‑voltage battery system. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11737954, filed 2026-05
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Lower range or slower DC charging after software updates

   Mentioned in 4 of 50 sampled complaints

   Owners describe reduced driving range and slower DC fast charging, with some saying the change began right after a battery management software update performed under a recall. Charging is described as taking much longer to reach the same charge level at fast chargers. One owner says repeated dealer visits and software updates did not restore range, and that range got worse over time. Mileage is not stated in these complaints, and the change is described as starting after a software update or service visit.

   Recall 25V0500001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the battery management update and the DC charge-connection unit software campaign were applied, and ask for the service records. Keep a note of range and fast-charge times before and after any software update so changes can be documented.

   An excerpt from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The EQB is advertised by Mercedes of having a range of 232 to 260 miles. The actual range currently is 145 miles, far less than what Mercedes advertises. I understand winter charging decrease range but not by 38 percent. That’s not acceptable. There are 4 EV’s at my dealer today all complaining about lack of advertised range. My car has been into service three times over the last month and will be going back in soon forms fourth time. The first two times, the dealer updated EV software, resolved a battery fault and the range only gets worse. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11633248, filed 2024-12
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Sudden loss of drive power while driving

   • 7 complaints (13%)
   • median 12,500 mi at 2.1 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners describe the car losing drive power or slowing suddenly while driving, including on a highway at speed. One complaint describes a high-voltage malfunction warning followed by a shutdown, along with instrument screens going dark while moving. Another owner says the car would not recharge after a power loss and was told the battery had failed, and one cites a recall describing possible sudden drive-power loss without warning. Where mileage is given, it is about 5,000 miles, and the events are described while the car is moving.

   Recall 25V4870002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether any high-voltage or 12V battery warning messages are stored in the fault memory, and ask for the repair order history. Some complaints say no warning light was shown before the power loss, so check the car's warning history rather than relying on the dashboard alone.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There is a recall associated with this model that causes catastrophic stoppage without any ability to drive. My vehicle VIN does not have a recall according to your site. Despite this, my vehicle catastrophically stopped multiple times. It was repaired at least three times and still stopped in the middle of the highway. My partner and I were stopped on I-85S with no ability to move, honk, put on hazards. Cars zoomed past at full speed. I called 911 as we braced for impact. We are lucky to be alive and now suffer from severe trauma. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11751342, filed 2026-07

   “The vehicle experienced multiple electrical and safety-related malfunctions while driving. On several occasions the instrument cluster and vehicle screens suddenly went black while the vehicle was in motion, causing loss of critical driving information such as speed and warnings. In another incident the vehicle displayed a “High Voltage Malfunction” warning while driving and the vehicle shut down shortly after. This resulted in a sudden loss of propulsion and created a dangerous situation on the road. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11727383, filed 2026-03
5. 5
   Forward collision avoidance

   Unexpected braking or acceleration when driving

   • 5 complaints (9%)
   • median 20,000 mi at 2.3 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe the car braking hard with no obstacle present, including at higher speeds and while reversing. One complaint describes a hard brake and swerve to one side on a multi-lane road with no traffic nearby. Another describes brake pedal vibration while parking in a garage, followed by the car accelerating on its own. Some owners also report parking sensors that activated without reason, and one reports backup cameras and parking sensors that stopped working. Where mileage is given, it is about 20,000 miles, and the other events are described during ordinary driving, reversing, or parking.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether any emergency braking or parking-sensor fault codes have been stored, and whether a parking-assist service bulletin was applied. On a test drive, check for unexpected brake application at low speed and note whether the parking sensors give false alerts.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We were driving along a 4 lane state road and the car suddenly applied the brakes hard and swerved to the right. A light blinked on the dash with a picture of the car and a red line on the right hand side. No cars were in the next lane over and there were no issues with the roadway. I was driving straight in the line and not near the left hand side of the Lane.”

   NHTSA complaint #11558792, filed 2023-12

   “When driving above 40 mph, I have experienced seemingly random brakes, which most likely is due to the automatic emergency braking system. I have seen it work properly when a car cuts me off in traffic, which it makes sense then. But in several instances, it's pumped the brakes when there is no obstacle or car around. It's quite scary since you might get hit from behind. One time it braked so suddenly I was jolted forward in my seat. It also has an issue with parking sensors going off also randomly going under 10 mph. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11642086, filed 2025-02

Buying note. For this model year, check the VIN for open high-voltage battery recalls and ask the dealer for the current repair date and any interim support. Ask for records of battery and charging software updates, since some owners report range or charging changes afterward.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 50 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.