Mercedes Cautions EV Owners Against Charging Beyond 80% To Avoid Potential Issues | Carscoops

      The potential for a battery short circuit leading to a fire has led to a recall of EQBs.

      Owners of 169 EQBs are advised against fully charging their vehicles. Dealers will implement a battery software update to mitigate short circuit risks.

      Drivers of Mercedes EVs experiencing range anxiety may need to consider some relaxation aids, as the manufacturer has cautioned them not to charge their vehicles completely. The German automaker has instructed certain electric SUV owners to limit charging to 80 percent due to the possibility of what engineers refer to as a “thermal event.”

      In simpler terms, a battery cell short circuit could potentially lead to a fire—something we’ve all seen in numerous videos showing devastating EV fires that are challenging to extinguish.

      Fortunately for both Mercedes and its customers, this problem impacts only a small number of vehicles—specifically 169—which includes 100 EQB 300 4Matics and 48 EQB 350 4Matics. Both vehicles are equipped with dual motors, but the recall also affects 21 owners of the single-motor EQB 250.

      While this safety initiative is limited in scope, some may recall that the brand previously recalled over 7,000 SUVs in the U.S. early in 2025 due to a fire risk, issuing similar advice about limiting charges to 80 percent until a software update could be performed.

      All of the newly recalled EQBs are classified as “early-stage” model year 2022-2023 vehicles, with Mercedes claiming that batteries in later EQBs are more durable and not included in the recall.

      However, the company also states that while owners of the affected 169 EVs will likely receive dashboard warnings if the situation under the vehicle becomes critical while driving, a parked EQB could ignite without any warning.

      Given that these early EQBs feature less robust batteries, many might expect Mercedes to replace them with newer ones. However, that is not the case; instead, owners will receive a straightforward software update, which will necessitate a visit to a Mercedes service center in early 2026.

      The EQB 350 was rated for a disappointing 227 EPA miles (366 km) on a full charge, so limiting charges to 80 percent would reduce the maximum range to about 180 miles (290 km). Considering the need to maintain a safety buffer at the lower end of the battery charge indicator, drivers might only be looking at approximately 150 miles (242 km) between charges. One can only hope relatives live nearby or that they are okay with spending part of the holidays at freeway charging stations.