2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE: What to check before buying

Owners have filed 30 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, airbags, and brakes. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.

2023

Owner complaints: 30
Recalls: 10
Crashes reported: 6; 4 injuries
Reliability: Mixed; 56/100 on Auto Reliability Index

Your inspection sheet

Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.

0/9 checked

Paperwork and questions

Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2

01Confirm the 10 recalls listed below show as completed for this VIN. A Mercedes-Benz dealer can look them up for free.
02Get service records showing every recall repair and software update has been completed.

Walk-around and cabin

Engine off, key in hand0/1

03Play USB audio and listen for buzzing or dropouts from the rear speakers in the headliner.

Cold start, engine bay, and underside

Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2

04Start the car several times and confirm the instrument cluster comes on every time.
05Check all four tires for bulges or blisters and ask how often tires were replaced, especially on 21-inch wheels.

Test drive

At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/4

06Drive at highway speed and watch for shudder, sudden power loss, or tow-required warnings.
07Drive a quiet road with nothing ahead and watch for sudden hard braking with no cause.
08In an empty lot, brake lightly then firmly. Walk away if the pedal goes soft or sinks.
09Check the creep setting in the driver profile and confirm the car stops when you lift off the accelerator.

These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.

Why these checks: what owners reported

NHTSA complaints for the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.

Electrical91 crash
Sudden stalls and loss of propulsion happen while driving, often at 40 to 45 mph, with warning messages that sometimes say towing is required. Repeated shutdowns can also reduce braking assistance. These failures appear early, around 2,500 to 5,700 miles. Dealers reboot the system, update control unit software, or cannot reproduce the fault, and one dealer had no repair part available. Other reports describe a black instrument cluster with no speed display, range dropping about 40% in winter, and buzzing rear speakers from loose headliner wiring. One EQE350 loaner caught fire in a garage.
Airbags33 crashes
None of the airbags deployed in a severe frontal crash that totaled the car, and automatic braking and collision warnings also failed to act. All three reports involve crashes and injuries. The other two appear to describe one incident: the car accelerated hard while the driver held the brake in a parking spot. It jumped the parking block, spun its tires on the sidewalk, and hit a building wall. Those reports are mainly about unintended acceleration, not airbag faults.
Brakes31 crash
The brake pedal goes soft and sinks when light braking turns into harder braking. Stopping power barely increases, and the driver has to release and press the pedal again. The problem is intermittent and happens more often over time. Dealers say nothing is wrong or won't inspect the car. Other reports describe violent sudden stops with a loud noise and no car ahead. One crash report says the car moved forward in stop-and-go traffic right after the driver switched regeneration to its strong one-pedal setting.
Transmission3No crashes
Shuddering and sudden power loss at speed are the common complaint. Speed can drop from near 60 mph to 20 mph within seconds, or power cuts out entirely in highway traffic with several warnings, including a rear differential message. Drivers coast to the shoulder and can usually restart after a short wait. Episodes repeat, and one began within 650 miles. Another nearly new car shows severe jerking under 20 mph, pulsing when braking, and acceleration well below full power.
Wheels and tires2No crashes
Blowouts and blisters after hitting bumps repeat on both the original Pirelli tires and their replacements. Reports cover 21-inch AMG wheels with P Zero run-flats and 20-inch P-Zero All Season tires. One owner reports six blowouts, and another had failures on all four original tires around 5,000 miles. No crashes are reported, but each blowout is an immediate safety risk. No cause was found, and the dealer and manufacturer offered no help.

In owners' own words

Excerpts from complaints EQE owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.

Electrical

Electrical interference with USB audio. There are loose connections that travel on the headliner all the way to the back of the car rear top speakers. Audio source suddenly gets disconnected and make a huge buzzing sound on the rear left speaker mounted to headliner. A potential fire hazard.

Filed with NHTSA, August 2023

Transmission

Driving almost 60 mph, car shuddered and went to 20 mph then 10 mph in seconds. Drove on the shoulder, only 650 miles since I leased the car. Second time has happened in four weeks.

Filed with NHTSA, March 2024

How the 2023 compares with other EQE years

Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.

The 2023 has the most owner complaints of the 2 EQE years we cover, about 2.1 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.

2023 Average of other years

Electrical93
Airbags30
Brakes30
Transmission30
Wheels and tires22

Where the 2023 fits in the EQE's history

Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.

The 2023 is the second model year of the EQE's first generation (2022–2023).

Recalls to confirm (10)

Recall repairs are free at any Mercedes-Benz dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.

25V533000SteeringAug 2025
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023-2026 EQE and GLC vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. The steering coupling bolt may have been improperly tightened, allowing the steering coupling to loosen from the steering rack.
Risk: A loose steering coupling can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will tighten the steering coupling bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 6, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
25V366000Backup cameraJun 2025
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2022-2025 S-Class, EQE SUV, EQE, EQS SUV and EQS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. Software in the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) may cause an incorrect external pedestrian warning sound while reversing. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid Electric Vehicles.".
Risk: A vehicle that makes an incorrect sound may fail to alert pedestrians of a reversing vehicle, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the AVAS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 1, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2025070005.
25V255000ElectricalMay 2025
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023-2024 C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL, GLC, EQE SUV, EQE, EQS SUV, and EQS vehicles that were incorrectly repaired under recall 24V-115. An incorrect fuse box that was not designed for the vehicle may have been installed.
Risk: An incorrect fuse box can result in a sudden loss of drive power or a loss of critical safety functions such as the restraint systems or instrument cluster, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Additionally, there could be an increased risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the main fuse boxes, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2025050003/4.
25V150000Wheels and tiresMar 2025
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023 EQE 350 4MATIC and EQE 350+ vehicles. The rim inserts may detach from the wheels while driving.
Risk: Wheel rim insert detachment can create a hazard for other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rim inserts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2025030016.
24V372000ElectricalMay 2024
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2024 EQE 350 4MATIC, EQE 350+, EQE 500 4MATIC, EQS 450 4MATIC, EQS 450+, EQS 580 4MATIC, AMG EQE 53 4MATIC, AMG EQS 53 4MATIC, 2023-2025 EQE SUV 350 4MATIC, EQE SUV 350+, EQE SUV 500 4MATIC, EQS SUV 450 4MATIC, EQS SUV 450+, EQS SUV 580 4MATIC, 2024-2025 EQS SUV 680 4MATIC, and AMG EQE SUV 53 4MATIC vehicles. The battery management system software may cause the high-voltage battery to shut down, which can result in a sudden loss of drive power.
Risk: A sudden loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the battery management system software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 5, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024060002.
24V115000ElectricalFeb 2024
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023-2024 C300, AMG C43, S580e, S580, Maybach S580, Maybach S680, AMG SL43, AMGSL63, GLC300, EQE350, EQE500, EQS450, EQS580, AMG EQS, 2023 S500, AMG SL55, AMG EQE, 2024 E350, E450, AMG C63e S, CLE300 Coupe, CLE450 Coupe, and GLC300 Coupe vehicles. The 80-Amp fuses may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the fuses to fail.
Risk: An 80-Amp fuse that fails can result in a sudden loss of drive power or a loss of critical safety functions such as the restraint systems or instrument cluster, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Additionally, there could be an increased risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the main fuse boxes, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 5, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024030008.
23V853000Exterior lightsDec 2023
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023 EQE 350 vehicles equipped with comfort suspension. The headlights may be incorrectly adjusted due to a software error in the headlight control unit.
Risk: Incorrectly adjusted headlights can reduce the visibility of oncoming traffic and impair the dynamic driving control performance. Both scenarios increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the headlight control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed by February 2, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
23V555000Body and structureAug 2023
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023 AMG EQE, EQE 500, and EQE 350 vehicles. The absorbers in the roof frame may not be secured properly and can detach during window air bag deployment.
Risk: In the event of a crash with window air bag deployment, detached absorbers can strike vehicle occupants and increase their risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the absorbers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 1, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2023080004.
23V405000ElectricalJun 2023
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2022-2023 EQS 450, AMG EQS, EQS 580, and 2023 AMG EQE vehicles. A software error in the electric drivetrain may cause a loss of drive power.
Risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the electric drivetrain software, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed beginning July 19, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2023060009.
23V309000ElectricalMay 2023
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023 EQE 350, S580e, 2022-2023 EQS 450, EQS 580, 2022 AMG EQS 53, and EQS 450+ vehicles. The high-voltage battery monitoring system software may not alert the driver of a battery malfunction. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 305, "Electric-powered vehicles: Electrolyte Spillage and Electrical Shock Protection.".
Risk: A high-voltage battery monitoring system that does not alert the driver of a battery malfunction may increase the risk of an injury.
Fix: Dealers will update the battery management system software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning August 18, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2023070013.

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2023 owner complaints, side by side