Mercedes-Benz issues a recall for EQB electric SUV due to fire hazard

• Mercedes-Benz has initiated a recall for 12,236 EQB electric SUVs that could pose a fire hazard.
• According to the recall documents, the high-voltage battery could short out, causing the battery to catch fire.
• Official documents show that Mercedes will replace the affected batteries of all 12,236 cars involved in the recall.

Mercedes-Benz has ordered a recall for 12,236 electric EQB SUVs, which could catch fire due to a problem in the high-voltage battery system. According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the recall population includes a subset of EQBs from the 2022, 2023 and 2024 model years.

The NHTSA documents show that a combination of manufacturing and use conditions can cause an internal short circuit of a battery cell in the high-voltage battery system. This short circuit could possibly cause a fire. According to the documents, variations in the supplier process mean that some battery cells from early production models are less robust than later versions, making them more vulnerable to damage from external factors, especially at high state of charge.

The official paperwork estimates that 100 percent of the 12,236 cars are affected by the problem. According to the recall documents, Mercedes will replace the high-voltage battery on its entire range of vehicles with a more robust version. The documents also state that all EQBs not included in the recall are already equipped with more robust batteries.

If a thermal event occurs while driving, a warning message should inform the driver of the problem. Unfortunately, owners are advised to park outside and away from structures and other cars as there is no warning prior to a thermal event. Owners are also asked to charge their vehicle to a maximum of 80 percent until they receive a new battery.

According to the filing, this recall is directly related to a voluntary recall conducted by Mercedes in October 2025. An internal investigation conducted by Mercedes and its suppliers revealed that a previous software fix may not have been completely sufficient to reduce the fire risk, leading to the decision to replace the entire set of affected batteries. Mercedes was aware of two reports of EQBs catching fire in the United States related to the original recall population, both of which occurred before the initial software fix was received.

Mercedes has already informed its dealer network of the recall. The first owner notification letters are expected to be sent on February 27, 2026, with remediation letters expected to be sent in early April.

Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his still unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealer group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford, and decided to pursue a career in automotive writing. By chasing down his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel across Wisconsin in search of stories about the automotive world before landing his dream job at Car and driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.