Owners of certain electric Mercedes-Benz EQB models are now facing a serious safety defect involving the high-voltage battery. According to filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an internal battery defect may lead to a thermal event and potential vehicle fire — whether the vehicle is parked or being driven.
If you own one of the following models, your vehicle may be affected:
- 2023–2024 Mercedes-Benz EQB 250+
- 2022–2024 Mercedes-Benz EQB 300 4MATIC
- 2022–2024 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4MATIC
The recall is listed under NHTSA Campaign Number 26V-073 and replaces earlier recalls 25V-050 and 25V-894.
What Is the Safety Risk?
Mercedes has acknowledged that certain battery cells produced during an early production period may not be sufficiently robust. Under certain production and usage conditions, an internal short circuit can develop within the high-voltage battery.
If that occurs:
- A thermal event may result
- There is an increased risk of vehicle fire
- The fire could occur while driving or while parked
If the event occurs while driving, drivers may see a high-voltage battery malfunction warning message in the instrument cluster. If the event occurs while the vehicle is parked, there may be no warning at all. That lack of warning is particularly concerning — especially for vehicles parked inside garages or near structures.
What Caused the Problem?
Mercedes-Benz identified deviations in the battery supplier’s production process. Certain battery cells from an early production range were found to be:
- Less resistant to stress factors over time
- More vulnerable at high state-of-charge (SoC)
- Potentially susceptible to short circuiting — especially when combined with:
- Charging infrastructure influences
- External damage
- Environmental stress
The risk appears elevated when the battery is charged to high capacity levels.
Chronology of Events
The recall began on January 31, 2025, when Mercedes-Benz filed an initial safety notice with NHTSA and later implemented a global software update in April 2025 to reduce the risk of battery-related thermal events. After additional incidents were reported outside the United States in May 2025, the recall was expanded, with a supplemental notice filed in October 2025. In November 2025, two fire incidents in Europe involving vehicles that had already received the software update raised concerns about the remedy’s effectiveness, prompting further investigation and discussions with regulators. Extensive testing and analysis conducted between December 2025 and January 2026 ultimately led Mercedes to conclude that the software update could not reliably eliminate the risk in all affected vehicles. As a result, on January 30, 2026, the company launched a new recall requiring full high-voltage battery replacement for certain vehicles, now identified as NHTSA Campaign Number 26V-073.
Fires Reported in the United States
Mercedes reports:
- Two fire incidents in the United States
- Both vehicles were part of the original recall scope
- No U.S. fires have been reported after the software update
- Approximately 74% of affected U.S. vehicles have completed the original recall repair
However, because the software update’s effectiveness cannot be fully confirmed, Mercedes is now requiring battery replacement.
What Owners Are Being Told to Do
Until repairs are completed, owners are advised to:
- Park outside and away from structures
- Limit charging to 80% battery capacity
- Await official notification letters (interim letters expected February 27, 2026)
Importantly:
Vehicles previously repaired under recall 25V-050 or 25V-894 must still undergo the new repair.
Lemon Law Implications
Battery replacement is not a minor repair. It is one of the most expensive and critical components of an electric vehicle.
If your Mercedes EQB:
- Experienced a fire or thermal event
- Has been out of service for extended periods
- Required multiple repair attempts
- Is subject to repeat recalls
- Has diminished value due to safety concerns
You may have rights under your state’s Lemon Law.
Even if the manufacturer ultimately offers a repair, repeated safety recalls involving fire risk may qualify the vehicle as defective.
Final Thoughts
Electric vehicles depend entirely on battery integrity. When the manufacturer acknowledges that a software update may not be sufficient — and ultimately requires full battery replacement — that is a serious development.
If you own a 2022–2024 Mercedes EQB and have concerns about:
- Safety
- Repair delays
- Diminished value
- Buyback eligibility
It may be time to speak with an attorney experienced in automotive defect and lemon law claims. Safety recalls are meant to protect consumers. But when defects involve fire risk, the legal and financial consequences can be significant. If you believe your vehicle may qualify as a lemon, you do not have to navigate this alone.
