Model year record

2015 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric recalls & problems

The 2015 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric has 2 safety recalls and 25 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (14 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints25filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

CommunicationNov 1, 2019

Communication

Recall 19V78700024,226 vehicles

Problem: 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
Risk: An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.

Electrical systemOct 14, 2015

Propulsion system › Traction battery

Recall 15V6550002,618 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Range & efficiency

B-Class Electric Drive EV

87mi range

Efficiency	40 kWh/100 mi
MPGe city / hwy / comb	85 / 82 / 84
Charge time (240 V)	3.5 h

Automatic (A1) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $900/year to charge

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Typical mileage*
Power train	14	1,600 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	10	1,613 mi
Engine	7	2,450 mi
Vehicle speed control	6	1,453 mi
Electrical system	5	3,300 mi
Steering	2	—
Unknown or other	2	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Steering
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…
Jun 15, 2024
Electrical system
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.
Apr 29, 2023
Power train
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.
Jan 19, 2023
Engine
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.
Nov 11, 2022
Power train
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.
Aug 28, 2022
Engine
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.
Feb 1, 2022
Engine
THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE A SOFT TICKING SOUND. I BOUGHT THE CAR AT 11121 MILE ON JULY 2,2018 LAST WEEK I HAD THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER PICK. THE PROBLEM WAS THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MILEAGE ON CAR NOW IS 28452. ASKING 17,000 DOLLARS FOR REPAIR. I HAVE THE PREMIUM SAFE DRIVE EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY ARE WILL TO PAY ONLY 10,000 DOLLARS. *TR
May 20, 2020
Electrical system
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…
Nov 1, 2019 · 36,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

Pedestrian alert soundsClosedLed to recall 22V063000
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…
DP22005 · opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
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…
EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021