It appears there is really no software update. In actuality, they are just reflashing the computer and clearing the codes. The first time our car shut down due to the 48v issue we were told it was the paint on the terminals/connections. I questioned this as the car has had numerous electrical issues since new and this didn’t happen until it was almost 2yrs old and had 22k miles. MBUSA insists that the paint was the cause. The second time we got stuck (6 months later) they just reflashed the computer and said if it happens again to bring it back. I asked if they did a software update and they said no, it was currently up to date. So in essence, they did nothing except clear the codes. My service advisor said it’s such a complex system they really don’t know of a fix or why it’s happening.
the kicker is , MBUSA acts as if my car is the only car this has happened to and they say all the threads online about this issue are fake news! They are in total denial.

 

Paint on the terminals seems to be a default for anything they can't figure out. Told that to me early on about a non-start issue. That went away later after a software update.

 

Actually, your issue seems to be different from most of the rest of ours mentioned on this thread. When mine failed it required a new battery and a software update. There was a test run on mine as per Mercedes Tech Bulletin to confirm that I needed a new battery. Yours seems more like a transient glitch, the kind that is hard to replicate and diagnose.

 

Hello
2021 GLE450
I have had this happen twice with 48V battery malfunction
Frist time with 200 miles on car--I was told by dealer that after they discussed this with MB, they were to clear the codes and return the car to me. No known fix.
This just happened again last night. Car is currently at dealer. Not sure what they will tell me this time. This really is dangerous when it happens--losing power when driving is not safe for anyone.

 

please research this! U will see they are all related to the same issue…MBUSA taking wild guesses on the fix. You will see many folks who had their batteries replaced, had the same issue happen again.

 

I have the exact same issue and response from MBUSA.

 

What does Mercedes charge for a new 48V battery if not covered by warranty? Too bad we peons in the USA can't get the 6 cylinder diesel, or does that motor use the same 48V battery system?

 

I believe the 48v battery is covered under warranty but MBUSA is no longer replacing them to fix this issue. It appears their fix now is to clear the codes/faults and reset the computer. this issue appears to be company wide affecting all models with the 48v system….6 or 8cyl.

 

I did research it to the extent that I went over this with the the Tech and Service Manager. I was very concerned about having it happen again in some remote location. They said that the battery that failed could not be fixed since it was a fault in the controller made for that series of 48 volt battery. The new battery has a different part number and required a software update that the Tech said “is designed to keep it from happening again”. He is a 30+ year guy in charge of the Mercedes Tech’s and has won several “top 5” awards at Mercedes training sessions.
My assumption is that yours has failed because of a software conflict of some kind that shuts down the 48 volt battery. This happens when an accident occurs to reduce the fire hazard. There may be other events that cause a shutdown such as another component in the car sending a false signal that shuts it down. Mine and many others appeared to be more hardware related requiring a replacement. Yours appears to be software related since they can clear the codes and it still works. That’s just my opinion….
I had something similar happen to my 2020 with MBUX and Nav. I could clear the issue by turning off my car and restarting. It turned out to be a component problem causing a software conflict that appeared erratically and it took several months before it got to the point that it could be diagnosed and fixed. These vehicles and many others have many chips and systems designed by different companies that don’t always play nice together. This has been discussed in other threads…Superswiss seems to have good insight on the subject in some of his posts. SoC vs fragmented systems that most Auto Co’s use today. And also the old tech computer chips vs modern ones is exacerbating the ongoing chip shortage.

 

i wish u luck! It’s just a matter of time. By the way, I believe they are on their third part number for the battery. Hopefully it works for but seems battery replacement has not worked for others. It still doesn’t explain why now, they stopped replacing batteries, and are now just resetting the code for this issue.

 

Sorry but you are incorrectly lumping all failures together. Unless you have information not included your posts, it appears that you are just making assumptions to suit your claim that all are a problem. Since replacement, I have added more than 12,000 miles (11 months) on my car. You don’t deserve the issue but few people outside of Mercedes know all of the facts. It’s not likely a Mercedes design problem but much more likely a supplier issue that Mercedes “owns” but might not have all the answers yet.

 

My car failed a second time 12k miles after the first fix! It is a 2020 that was delivered 11/19. The problem didn’t occur until 21k miles 18months later. Long before chip/supply issues. There are several Xfinity bulletins on this issue with no real solution per MBUSA. I’m not lumping this issue, MBUSA is. If it is like u say, why are not all 48v models being recalled for a software update like they did on mine and urs? Why only update after it occurs? Makes no sense. I really believed my car was fixed until it happen the second time. Take a look at the GLS, CLS, GLC & E forum’s. They can’t all be outliners.

 

Latest member of the club...
2022 GLE 450 delivered 1/8/2022
Happened yesterday (4/18/2022) while driving. Only 900 miles on car. "Upgraded" from a 2016 Honda Pilot angel. Should I consider going back to Honda if reliability is my priority? I love the look and feel of the GLE but I don't think I'll ever feel confident enough to drive it far or on any highways. Yall's thought?

 

You answered your own question. Sell it and go back to the Honda.

 

Update
After happening twice, my battery was replaced. We will see if this works
Thanks

 

was the car left idle for a long time before the incident ?

 

Not at all, just an hour on both occasions

 

I’m an optimist…you are in the “bad batch” timeframe so the replacement should be good. Honda isn’t perfect either. My daughters 2019 CR-V had the “gas in the oil” issue, at least as much of a concern.

 

No, not at all for me either.

 

Am I correct in assuming you needed a flatbed (i.e., it could not be re-started or jumped)? Please keep us posted on diagnosis and proposed fix. Thanks. BTW, I had two 48v batteries replaced by the time I was at 900 miles. (I'm at 6,000 now and so far so good.)

 

We had this happen Again today for the THIRD time! Driving down the freeway and 48 v malfunction error. This is a 2020 GLE 450 4Matic. It happened to us the second time last year, May of 2021 and the First time was Feb. 2020. We had ordered the vehicle, waited many months to finally receive it in November 2019. We’ve driven this model line for years, as well as other Mercedes. However, three times of putting our lives on the line when the vehicle loses power…I’m done with this one. It is at the dealer sitting to be looked at…again. Two previous times faulty grounds were identified etc etc.. After a google search today I see a recall has been issued for model years 20-22 and class action lawsuits have been filed in some cases. I can deal with a repair, maintenance etc issues, but ones that repeat and have potential for a catastrophic outcome, cannot be overlooked. When it happened the second time, we were out of state with the vehicle so more than one Mercedes dealer has looked into our vehicle for this problem. It doesn’t appear the recall is doing anything different than what has already been done in our two previous failures. Very disappointed, loss of confidence in this vehicle. It’s historically been a safe vehicle in crash tests but it fails if the vehicle itself causes an accident due to the malfunction.

 

Rjsan11--I am not sure about this, but isnt it true that when the same thing goes wrong three times you can lemon the car?
Thoughts?

 

That's unacceptable. I have to say you're taking it relatively well. If it happened to me twice, I'm quite sure I wouldn't give it a chance to happen a third time. Heck I'm not sure I'd let it happen twice.

 

hmm not seeing anyone provide any update in the thread any more
The error happened to my 21 GLS 63 couple days ago, towed to dealer and they replaced the battery, old battery 13/21 A000 982 91 08 and the new one is 02/22 - 005 541 10 01
hopefully the issue is resolved and not happen again...

 

Reading some of the posts from 2020 bears all the trappings of 20/20 hindsight.