2015 Mercedes Benz B-Class Electric

The defect

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf

The risk

An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.

The remedy

MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. · up to 24,226 vehicles across all model years covered · fixed by software update

The defect

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 B-Class Electric Drive vehicles manufactured November 21, 2013, to May 26, 2015. Due to a communication error within the electric drive system, the electric powertrain unit may shut down, temporarily immobilizing the vehicle and resulting in a loss of propulsion power.

The risk

A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.

The remedy

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the electric drive system software, free of charge. The recall began on December 2, 2015. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. · up to 2,618 vehicles across all model years covered

Closed defect petition · opened January 27, 2023 · closed August 7, 2023 · led to recall 22V063000

the electrical system

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

Still open engineering analysis · opened September 17, 2021

the air bags

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

towed · 36,000 miles

THIS MB MODEL HAS AN ELECTRIC MOTOR THAT FAILS AT AROUND 35000 TO 40000 MILES, AND MAKES THE VEHICLE TO STOP SUDDENLY CAUSING SERIOUS RISKS TO THE DRIVER IF THIS HAPPENS IN ANY MAIN HIGHWAY. TWO WEEKS AGO MY WIFE WAS DRIVING NORTHBOUND AT THE FAST LANE OF THE PALMETTO EXPRESSWAY , IN MIAMI FL, WHEN THE CAR STOPPED GIVING NO TIME TO AVOID COMING TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY ONE FDOT RANGER WAS DRIVING SAME WAY AND PROTECT MY WIFE TURNING ON ITS EMERGENCY LIGHTS WHILE THEY WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK TO ARRIVE. THIS MODEL OF MB IS ASSEMBLED WITH A TESLA MOTOR THAT HAS BEEN PROVEN TO FAIL, BUT TESLA HAS TAKEN FAST ACTION TO AVOID INCONVENIENCES TO ITS CUSTOMERS. MB HAS DOING NOTHING TO ADVICE ITS CUSTOMERS …

NHTSA complaint 11281313, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

towed

Vehicle stopped suddenly and would not restart. Needs a new $17k drive unit and is out of warranty. Drive unit failed due to faulty design where coolant contaminated the electric motor. Vehicle only has 40k miles. The drive unit was built by Tesla for Mercedes. Tesla also built the same unit for Toyota for the electric Rav4. Toyota recalled their units free of charge for customers. Mercedes is aware of this issue and refuses to extend the warranty or recall the roughly 4000 B250E cars that they sold in the USA from 2014-2017.

NHTSA complaint 11481618. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

MERCEDES DEALER NOTES : 07/19/2022 CLIENT STATES STEERING IS STIFF. STARTED ABOUT 1 TO 2 MONTHS AGO AND WOULD SHOW UP ONCE AND AWHILE. WHEN IT WOULD ACT UP WOULD NOT DRIVE IT AND IT WOULD LOCK THE STEERING . THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, WITH ACCIDENT HAZARD. WE DID THE BELOW WORK. ELECTRIC POWER STEERING RACK FAULTY REPLACE COMPLETE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING RACK. WHICH COST US OVER $3000. NOW WE HAVE SIMILIAR PROBLEM STEERING IS TIGHT AGAIN, MAKING FLAPPING NOISE, DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF POWER STEERING RACK, GEAR BOX 07/02/24 , MERCEDES HAS RECALL ON MANY MODELS DURING YEAR 2015-2018 FOR electric power steering systems, Mercedes says the cars use electric power steering systems …

NHTSA complaint 11599546, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

The electric motor was leaking coolant and needs to be replaced. I have read countless accounts that this is a known issue with this car.

NHTSA complaint 11520040. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Occasionally the car will lurch forward when coming to a stop. As you come to a stop it tries to propel the car forward as you are breaking and coming to a stop. Happens rarely but when it does it's a big safety concern.

NHTSA complaint 11503744. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Failure of seals and or bearings in the electric motor causing coolant to leak into the electric motor, creating an internal electrical fault, seizing electric motor.

NHTSA complaint 11500606. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

The main electric drive motor will start leaking coolant which then damages the motor and even electronics. Well known issue and makes the vehicle unsafe and isn't a matter of "if" but "when" the seals will go bad and this is on our car that has less than 40k miles on the odometer.

NHTSA complaint 11469255. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.