The electric flagship SUV from Mercedes-Benz, built on the dedicated EVA2 platform. Launch cars have a 107.8 kWh battery offering up to 660 km WLTP range, while current 450+ models have 118 kWh. The official curb weight of the current EU 450+ is 2,780 kg. The 450+ is the rear-wheel-drive entry point with a single 265 kW motor and AIRMATIC air suspension as standard. It shares its electronics, MBUX Hyperscreen, and drivetrain software with the EQS sedan, bringing both the luxury and the early-generation software growing pains that come with it.· more· less
Class-leading range and comfort6-year/90,000 km complimentary maintenance where eligible
Software and MBUX glitchesAIRMATIC repairs costly long-term
Buy if: You want the most spacious luxury EV SUV with outstanding range and can accept that software maturity is still catching up.
Avoid if: You expect flawless infotainment and ADAS performance or cannot budget for potential air suspension repairs outside warranty.
Price & maintenance
Used price
€75,800
median asking price, typically 40,000 km
Typical range€71,900 – €80,000
Maintenance cost
€900 – €1,700/year
at 15,000 km/year
Fixed costsservice, tyres, brakes€500 – €900 /yr
Risk bufferunplanned repairs€400 – €800 /yr
Price estimates are based on German asking prices. Prices and costs vary by vehicle condition and location.
Ownership costs
Maintenance assumes 15,000 km a year. Price estimates are based on German asking prices. Prices and costs vary by vehicle condition and location.
Infotainment system freezes, reboots, or fails OTA updates, primarily on 2022-2023 production cars · more· less
The 56-inch MBUX Hyperscreen is widely reported to suffer from freezing, black screens, and random reboots, especially on early 2022-2023 cars. When frozen, navigation, climate control, charge planning, and the reversing camera all become unavailable. Failed OTA updates can leave the system in a partially updated state requiring dealer reflashing. Mercedes has issued several software updates to address stability. Most fixes are software-based and covered under warranty, but out-of-warranty dealer diagnostic sessions for reflashing typically cost around €200-500. Later 2024-2025 cars are noticeably more stable thanks to cumulative updates.
Phantom braking and ADAS false alerts
up to €3002 of 6
Forward collision system triggers hard braking with no obstacle present, or ADAS disables mid-drive · more· less
Individual EQS SUV owners report sudden phantom braking at moderate speeds (35-60 km/h) with no vehicles or obstacles ahead. The often-quoted figure that around 75% of complaints involve braking or forward collision avoidance comes from US complaints about the 2022 EQS saloon, before the EQS SUV reached the US market, so it does not measure prevalence on this car. These individual SUV reports still make the failure mode itself plausible. Other reported symptoms include the lane-keeping system fighting normal lane changes, adaptive cruise canceling unexpectedly, and blind-spot monitoring going intermittently offline. Mercedes has not issued a specific recall for these ADAS behaviors. Software updates have improved but not fully resolved the issue. Cost is generally zero (software update) but sensor recalibration after windshield replacement can run €200-300.
AIRMATIC air suspension strut leak or compressor failure
up to €5,0003 of 6
Air springs develop leaks or compressor fails from overwork, typically after 60,000-100,000 km · more· less
The AIRMATIC air suspension is standard on the EQS SUV 450+. Air spring bags can develop micro-cracks or porous seals over time, leading to slow leaks that cause uneven ride height, especially visible after the car sits overnight. If a leaking strut is not addressed, the compressor works overtime and can burn out. A single air strut replacement costs roughly €800-1,500 including labor at a Mercedes dealer. A failed compressor adds €500-1,500. A full system refresh addressing multiple leaks can reach €3,000-5,000. These costs are outside warranty coverage. The EQS SUV's high curb weight, officially 2,780 kg for the current EU 450+, puts more stress on the air springs than on lighter Mercedes models.
12V auxiliary battery drain and failure
up to €5004 of 6
12V battery goes flat when parked, preventing the car from starting or responding to key fob · more· less
Multiple EQS SUV owners report the 12V auxiliary battery going flat after the car sits for several days, leaving the vehicle unable to wake up or respond to the key fob. Causes range from a loose negative terminal to a software bug that prevents the high-voltage battery from properly recharging the 12V system while parked. Mercedes has addressed this with software updates in many cases. The physical battery itself (12V 1.3Ah lithium unit) costs around €200-300 including dealer installation. If the failure triggers cascading fault codes, additional diagnostic time at the dealer can add €100-200 to the bill.
DC fast charging connector or onboard AC charger failure
up to €3,0005 of 6
CCS port pins get damaged, or the European 11 kW onboard AC charger fails, disabling AC charging · more· less
Some EQS owners report misaligned DC pins inside the CCS charging port, which can cause overheating or physical damage when plugging in at DC fast chargers. Charge port replacement has been quoted at around €2,500-3,000 at dealers. Separately, the onboard AC charger can fail, preventing AC charging entirely while DC fast charging still works. European cars have an 11 kW onboard charger as standard with 22 kW optional; the 9.6 kW figure is US-specific. A failed onboard charger is a dealer-only repair requiring XENTRY diagnostic software for coding, and is expensive outside warranty. Many charging-related problems are software-based and resolved with updates, so a dealer software check should always come first.
High-voltage battery management shutdown
up to €5006 of 6
Battery management software can cause HV battery shutdown and sudden loss of propulsion (recall issued) · more· less
Mercedes recalled EQS SUV models under EU campaign KBA 13902R, covering production from August 2022 through May 2024, because the battery management system software could cause the high-voltage battery to shut down, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power while driving. This is a software-only issue resolved by a free dealer update. The recall covers EQS SUV 450+, 450 4MATIC, and 580 4MATIC models. If the recall work has been completed, the risk is essentially zero. If it has not been completed, the consequences could be serious. Always verify this recall is completed before purchasing.
Software-heavy ownership, mechanically sound once updates are applied
The EQS SUV 450+ is a mechanically robust vehicle built on a purpose-designed EV platform. The electric drivetrain itself has proven reliable, and no widespread motor or HV battery degradation issues have surfaced. However, the first-generation MBUX Hyperscreen and ADAS software have been a consistent source of frustration, particularly on 2022-2023 builds. Air suspension is a known long-term cost center on any Mercedes with AIRMATIC. Buyers of later 2024-2025 models benefit from substantially improved software. Where eligible, the 6-year/90,000 km maintenance package and the 10-year/250,000 km battery certificate provide meaningful cost protection.
Service history
Verify complete Mercedes dealer service records. Confirm by VIN whether the specific car is eligible for the 6-year/90,000 km complimentary maintenance package.
Tires
Check tread depth, age (date codes), and uneven wear. The EQS SUV's weight accelerates tire wear. Rear tires wear faster on the 450+ (RWD).
Test drive
Drive for at least 30 minutes including highway speeds. Pay attention to ride quality, ADAS behavior, and infotainment stability.
Cold start
Start the vehicle from completely off. Check that all screens boot cleanly and all systems initialize without errors.
Specific for this vehicle
Verify battery management system recall completed
This is the most critical check. Ask the dealer to confirm EU campaign KBA 13902R / Mercedes 5496226 for HV battery shutdown has been completed. Do not purchase without confirmation.
Check AIRMATIC suspension ride height
Park the car on a flat surface and look for uneven ride height corner-to-corner. Check again after the car sits overnight if possible. Sagging on one side indicates a leaking air strut.
Test all charging modes
If possible, test AC charging (Level 2) and DC fast charging. A car that only charges on DC but not AC may have a failed onboard charger.
+ 3 more checksShow less
Test MBUX Hyperscreen thoroughly
Navigate through menus, use voice commands, check the reversing camera, and verify climate controls respond. Frozen screens or delayed responses may indicate pending software updates.
Check 12V battery health
Ask the dealer for a 12V battery health readout. Repeated 12V failures are a known issue. Look for any fault codes related to auxiliary battery charging.
Test ADAS at various speeds
Activate adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping on highway. Watch for false collision warnings, phantom braking, or the system disabling unexpectedly.
Recalls and Technical Service Bulletins
Battery management system software causing HV battery shutdown and loss of drive power - EU campaign KBA 13902R / Mercedes 5496226 covers production from August 2022 through May 2024 (the 2023-2025 model-year scope is US NHTSA 24V-372)Critical - verify completed
Electric drivetrain software deactivation causing loss of propulsion (2022-2023 EQS, EQE, EQS SUV models)Critical - verify completed
Incorrect fuse box installed during previous recall repair (2023-2024 EQS SUV and other models)Verify if applicable
The EQS SUV has been subject to several software-related campaigns. Contact a Mercedes-Benz dealer with the VIN to verify which apply and have been completed. The battery management system recall, KBA 13902R, is safety-critical and must be confirmed before purchase.
Warranty Status
Factory warranty (2 years, no km limit)Expired on 2022-2023 models, may remain on 2024+
High-voltage battery warranty10 years / 250,000 km (70% capacity guarantee, Mercedes battery certificate for the EQS SUV)
Complimentary maintenance package6 years / 90,000 km where eligible; availability depends on model year and market, so confirm for the specific car
Rust perforation warranty30 years (aluminium/steel body)
Where it applies, the 6-year / 90,000 km maintenance package is a significant benefit for used buyers because it covers all scheduled service work, but eligibility depends on model year and market rather than covering every EVA2 car, so confirm it against the specific VIN. Mercedes issues a 10-year / 250,000 km battery certificate for the EQS SUV and it transfers to subsequent owners. The standard 2-year factory warranty will be expired on most used examples, but Mercedes offers extended warranty packages through dealers.
Sources: Research draws on model-specific owner forums and owner communities, recall information from official authorities, German automotive press, and multiple workshop cost references cross-checked against each other.
This report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Estimates may be inaccurate. Always have a qualified specialist inspect the vehicle before purchase. We accept no liability for decisions made based on this information.
