Mercedes-Benz has recalled over 7,000 units of an electric SUV due to battery fire risks, according to Green Car Reports.
Covered in the recall are 7,362 units of certain 2022-2024 Mercedes EQB vehicles. Though no fires or related warranty claims have been received in the U.S., the automaker became aware of the issue after receiving reports of fires in other markets.
According to NHTSA, impacted models are from early production, and contain battery cells that are prone to internal short circuits. These short circuits can be triggered by events including battery pack damage or current ripples from charging equipment.
Impacted vehicles can be prone to battery fires whether in operation or not. Drivers will see a battery malfunction warning if anything happens while the vehicle is on, but if it’s in park and turned off, there may be no visible signs of the problem.
Vehicles manufactured prior to Jan. 24, 2024, are impacted. Mercedes said the battery supplier changed its manufacturing process to remedy the issue after that date.
The automaker is telling owners of affected vehicles to not charge over 80% capacity, with the company to notify them beginning April 1. Dealers have been instructed to install updated battery management software to resolve the problem.
