12,000 electric Mercedes cars recalled through fear of battery fire

Mercedes-Benz EQB recall alerts have been issued for over 12,000 electric cars amid a serious EQB battery fire risk. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the US confirmed the defect in high-voltage lithium-ion batteries, telling owners of affected 2022-2024 models to park outdoors and limit charging to 80 per cent only until repairs have been carried out. This Mercedes electric SUV recall comes during growing safety concerns in the EV sector, with free battery replacements now available at dealerships.

Mercedes-Benz EQB recall: What is the worry?

The Mercedes-Benz EQB recall affects approximately 12,236 vehicles in the United States, according to NHTSA filing 26V073. Impacted models include the EQB 250+, EQB 300 4MATIC, and EQB 350 4MATIC, produced between December 13, 2021, and May 9, 2024. Battery cells from supplier Farasis Energy exhibit production deviations, making them “less robust” at high states of charge. Mercedes-Benz is replacing these high-voltage packs at no cost to restore full safety.

EQB battery fire risk: How the defect occured

At the heart of the EQB battery fire risk is the potential for internal short circuits in the lithium-ion cells. This can start a “thermal event”, leading to fires whether the vehicle is parked or in motion. Drivers may see a dashboard warning during driving, but parked vehicles offer no alert, heightening the urgency of the Mercedes-Benz EQB recall. NHTSA data shows similar issues in prior recalls, like last year’s limited EQB advisories.

Affected models and production details in the Mercedes electric SUV recall

So far, this recall only affects cars in the United States, so European consumers need not worry. And this Mercedes electric car recall targets specific EQB variants. The defect traces to supplier process variations, a common thread in EV battery challenges seen in recalls from Tesla, Volvo, and Hyundai.

Why the Mercedes EQB recall puts safety in the spotlight again

As electric vehicles grow exponentially in popularity, the EQB battery fire risk and this Mercedes electric SUV recall shows battery quality’s critical role. While lithium-ion fires are rare, incidents with e-bikes and chargers show the vulnerabilities electric vehicles are exposed to, especially with thermal runaway.

Mercedes-Benz’s proactive remedy is good for consumer trust, but it signals the need for stricter supplier standards across the industry. Globally, verified battery fires total some 511 from 2010 to June 2024 (according to EV FireSafe), with Europe contributing modestly due to high adoption in Norway and the Netherlands.

Battery fires (most often from thermal runaway) are rare and mostly non-battery related in EVs, but they burn hotter and are much more difficult to extinguish. In Spain, the issue has been something of a conundrum for insurance companies. Seeing that many across the country tends to park and charge their electric vehicles in underground shared garages below blocks of flats, the potential for massive insurance pay outs is huge.