Mercedes-Benz has issued a recall in the United States. It’s not that rare that drivers find some issues on cars, which can be dangerous for their safety. This is what’s happening with 14 different models of electric and hybrid vehicles sold in the U.S. by Mercedes-Benz. The company decided to recall as a preventive measure, it wasn’t a serious issue but it is an infraction of a mandatory safety standard.
So, let’s find out what happened to these Mercedes-Benz vehicles and what the company did to solve this situation.
The issue
All started with a customer complaint because he noticed the warning sound when the reverse gear was engaged was so low. I mean, if that sound was to warn the driver, it’s nonsense if there’s a possibility of not listening to the warning.
Here is when Mercedes-Benz decided to care about what the client was saying, and they checked the volume and it matched the standards, but what they found out was the type of sound the car emitted wasn’t the right one. Instead of sounding like a traditional whistle (beep) we all recognize, this car emitted the sound that wasn’t approved by authorities. This might seem nothing serious, but it has important consequences from the legal and safety point of view.
Why is this strange sound worrying?
The sound that warns drivers when going backwards in electric and hybrid vehicles is important to prevent accidents, mostly with silent cars. This whistle is useful for more than warning the driver he is near someone or an obstacle, it also warns pedestrians and cyclists the car is moving. So, this whistle issue can reduce the efficiency of this warning, which is an additional risk for traffic safety.
Another negative consequence of this issue is that it doesn’t obey the U.S. federal rule FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard) number 141 that requires electric vehicles to emit a specific sound to make sure every person hears it.
Mercedes-Benz affected models
The company has issued a recall on models from EQE, EQS, SUV, Maybach and AMG manufactured from 2022 to 2025. Let’s see some examples of all 14 affected cars by this sound issue:
- Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ (2023-2024)
- Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ (2022-2024)
- Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV 680 4Matic (2023-2025)
- Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV 500 4Matic (2023-2025)
- Mercedes-Benz S 580 E 4Matic (2025)
The company’s solution
As we mentioned before, it is true this issue with the warning sound could be a safety risk, but this issue is not complex to solve. Basically, they just have to update the vehicle audible warning system’s software and the whistle will match the legal requirements.
The company has confirmed that this update will be free for every owner of an affected vehicle and there won’t be any need to change any pieces nor complex repairs. What’s more, if you own one of their cars, you will receive an official notice before August 2025.
Mercedes-Benz reinforcing their reputation
This company is known for their role as employer and their social responsibility, focused on education programs to help youngsters. Mercedes has shown their commitment with safety and customers’ satisfaction, because Mercedes has taken action very fast by offering a solution and maintaining their quality commitment.
We should always claim if something we have paid is not what it’s supposed to be. Normally, customers tend to have a negative experience in these types of situations, but the fact that Mercedes has listened to their customers is an important factor to be a great company, even though some issues can happen. Don’t you think every company should act like Mercedes-Benz? Everything would be much easier to solve.