Forward collision avoidance, brake, and electrical system issues are the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS is a luxury electric sedan that has garnered a lot of attention. The automaker says this EV will “make every day a fresh start for your own future.” This all depends on what owners consider to be a fresh start! Complaints focus on stopping rather than starting, with emergency brake problems in the spotlight.
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2023
Complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) relate to a variety of components and systems. Most complaints (72%) are listed as forward collision avoidance issues. But many of these are also listed in other categories. For example, all brake, electrical, vehicle speed control, and so-called “unknown or other” complaints are also found in the forward collision avoidance section.
Overall, more than 70% of the complaints relate to problems with the emergency brake system.
Other components and systems considered to be responsible for problems are the airbags, exterior lighting, structure, and wheels of the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS.
Incredibly, there are also 13 recalls for the 2022 EQS and other Mercedes-Benz vehicles. More than half (7) are because of electrical system issues. There are 2 each for communication and structure problems and 1 each that relate to either backover prevention, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, seat belts, steering, or visibility.
Ironically, despite this high volume, none of the recalls relate to the serious problems that owners are reporting. And there are no recalls listed as forward collision avoidance issues.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Electrical System | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | |
| Lane Departure: Warning | |
| Structure:body | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | |
| Wheels |
Today’s safety systems are made to protect occupants from danger on the road, but what happens when the system itself is causing danger? Most complaints about forward collision-avoidance problems involve very new cars with minimal mileage. Most report emergency braking malfunctions, many of which recur.
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The first complaint lodged with the NHTSA pertains to a brand-new 2022 ESQ driven for only a few weeks. “I was traveling at 75 mph along the freeway on a clear day around 2 pm when all of a sudden the car’s autonomous emergency braking system fully engaged and brought the car to a dead stop.” There were no obstacles in front of or near the car at the time. “It was terrifying.” The complaint goes on to say that this had happened twice previously with the car “but in less dangerous conditions and at lower speeds.” The result was “ongoing anxiety and mental anguish and I feel very emotionally distraught.” An owner from Texas complained after 3 weeks of ownership. “I was driving at around 45 MPH, without any cars around me, and suddenly the car abruptly stopped. There were no obstacles or any reason for the automatic emergency brakes to engage. Thankfully there were no other cars around, or else there would have been a collision. This was a very frightening experience, and I am thankful this didn’t happen on the highway or at a higher speed, as that would have resulted in a significant accident.”
Another complaint describes how when driving at about 40 mph with “no imminent danger ahead,” the car braked with full force. “If there had been a vehicle behind me there probably would have been a collision.”
When the EQS had 500 miles on the clock, an owner from North Carolina had this unpleasant experience. It happened a second time at 1,041 miles. He was also driving at about 45 mph with nothing in front when the EQS activated the emergency braking system. It also activated the seatbelt pretensioners and all of the safety warnings. “This puts me at risk of injury to my body being thrown around, (and) neck and head thrown forward. It also stops in the middle of the road potentially causing me to be rear-ended.”
An owner from Florida reports that auto braking happened 4 times between April and December 2022. “It appears that the electronic braking system (EBS) is defective. My safety as well as vehicles behind me are at risk of collision due to this problem.”
The auto emergency brakes triggered twice in a Washington owner’s EQS. The first time, “I was trying to drive onto a car ferry, the braking system triggered as I neared an expansion joint on a bridge.” The second time, the car was driving straight and another car was traveling in the opposite direction in their own lane. After the brakes triggered again, the driver “ended up with a sore neck and headache.”
An owner from California states that twice the car thought there was an “object” in front and initiated automatic braking. “Today it did that and a driver almost collided into me.”
Another California owner states that the same thing had happened 4 times. Twice it happened on a highway “and I almost got smashed by (a) semi behind me!”
The owner of a 2022 EQS from New York states “There are a number of flaws in the auto drive software system that the company refuses to acknowledge.”
An owner states in a complaint that while “reversing out of the driveway, the vehicle experienced phantom braking. ”The failure recurred while driving at 30 mph and then again at 40 mph. There were no vehicles or objects nearby on any occasion. The third time, the driver “propelled towards the steering wheel.” The dealer updated “unknown” software. However, the owner asked for a buyback “because he was concerned for his safety.” The failure mileage was about 7,000, but the manufacturer denied the buyback request.
There is a service campaign launch notification dated 19 May 2023, more than 2 weeks after this complaint was filed. It is the only manufacturer communication filed as a forward collision avoidance issue. The issue is that “the driving assistance system control unit software does not meet current specifications.” So, when there are “uniquely shaped civil superstructures that parallel the roadway at a height of~26-33 feet (e.g. large overhanging bridge abutments, etc.), the vehicle may initiate brake applications during operation. In such cases, the driver remains in control of the vehicle and can override the system at any time.” This certainly wasn’t the case when the complainant was reversing down his driveway!
However, minor you might think your problems are, if your Mercedes-Benz EQS has problems that make you think it’s a lemon, do something about it.
Lemberg Law has many years of experience helping car owners who buy lemons. You don’t have to keep a lemon. You have legal rights that mandate the automaker to return, get a buyback, or demand cash for a car that doesn’t operate the way it should.
Call our Helpline today and we’ll evaluate your case. It’s not going to cost you anything because the law says that the manufacturer must pay.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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My 2022 EQS 450+ battery is terrible. They claimed during the sale that it was better than Tesla but I am getting less than 150 miles on 80% charge driving in ECO mode. Once I had a complete blank screen on my dashboard and hyper screen after charging up to 80%. Dealer said they have reloaded the software and it should be fixed.
My EQS 450+ does the same thing slams on brakes with nothing in front. The sensors detects something and beeps and before it used to stop at lower speeds the vehicle abruptly braked while I was reversing into a parking area . I think it was not tested well before release
I’ve experienced similar issues with my 2023 EQS 580. While driving in the center lane at around 45 mph, the car unexpectedly applied the brakes even though there was no obstruction in front. Moreover, on at least 10 occasions, the vehicle abruptly braked while I was reversing in parking areas or backing out of my two-car garage. Of all these instances, only once did the braking seem justified due to an oncoming car from the side while reversing from my driveway. I voiced my concerns to Mercedes EQS customer support, who recommended visiting the dealership. However, the dealership appears to lack the expertise needed to address the problem. They depend on Mercedes engineers who aren’t on-site. Although they updated the firmware and assured me the issue would be fixed, the unwarranted automatic braking persists.
My EQS 580 4matic slams on brakes with nothing in front of me .Now the avoidance braking does’t appear to be working at all. Also the battery range at 100 percent has consistently gone down. I am now at 265 miles on a 100 percent charge .