Walterscm

Hi all. I just reported this issue (48v battery malfunction) that happened with my 2020 GLS 450. It has almost 14k miles on it. Have had it for 14 months purchased new. My dealer told me they’ve had 3 cars come in with this same issue, the dealer that took my car in (in a different state because the issue occurred while traveling), that they just had one other car come in for the same issue.

spoke to MBUSA today. That person told me she is not aware of this issue (which is curious because I have knowledge of 4 other incidents). So I reported my incident to NHTSA.gov where these types of issues really need to be reported to protect the public at large.

My post is not really for discussion but rather to encourage others to report to the site above next this does seem to be a very serious malfunction.

We are all in this together!

thanks.

jomama

that's a little disconcerting that it happened that long and that many miles later. there's a fairly lengthy thread with a poll in the v167 GLE folder here. The GLE 450, if i'm not mistaken, has pretty much the identical drivetrain and electronics as the GLS 450.

9157

It happened to me at 23k miles. Dealer had it for 15 days and there is no real solution from MBUSA. If fact, MBUSA acted as if it’s not an issue even though they have a bulletin out with 3 possible fixes…. I use the word possible as most of the cars that had these “fixes” had the issue repeatedly occur afterwards.
MBUSA offer me $3k towards a new car or an additional year of warranty as compensation.
Funny though, they say all the posts on the forum is not to believed and just chatter!

Alvinkimmy

Our new truck broke down. We were told it had a 48v battery malfunction. A little concerned only 5000 miles!! This problem seems to be a recurring issue. What can we do!???

NCMountie

It happened to my 2021 at around 4500 miles. MB had to send a roll-back truck to pick it up and take it to the shop. It happened when I was leaving the house and headed to the airport and the car wouldn't start. I was gone for the week and had to Uber to the shop to pick it up. MB reimbursed me for my Uber... :-)

9157

The lack of a fix is as box a problem as the problem itself. People are going to get hurt. Ours shut down shortly after the malfunction messages with no warning on a busy street!

nc211

I had it one time around 7k miles (at 28k now). Went to grocery store. When came back and started the car, it threw the error but the car ran fine. Triggered the check engine light too. Drove it home and it somehow corrected itself by the time I got there. Never happened again since.

personally, I think it’s the start/stop and all the
overly complicated BS incorporated into the car. I’ve notice at times when the start/stop is active and on that split second when it want to turn off right when I need to go, it’ll stumble like it’s confused on what to do. I’ve stomped on the gas as those moments and it’ll usually correct itself pretty quickly but not immediately. It’s now just habit to turn it off the moment I start the car, just like in my W212 (2014). Start/stop is just a stupid feature and I’ve yet to see any manufacturer actually make it work correctly in a way that doesn’t either cause operational issues, annoyances, or accelerate wear and tear in the starter.

I’ll say this - this $87,000 car strands my wife and kids just one time, and MB will get a letter from a former MB owner on why Lexus exists. I’m not going down this rabbit hole. We’re approaching 30lk miles and noticing some hard kick downs to 3rd gear. I know nothing is perfect, but gets under my skin sometimes when it’s something everyone else can figure out successfully and MB can’t. I just don’t get it sometimes from them. It’s like they intentionally try to not get some of the absolute basics correct. Same on my w212 on a few items (like having to remove the passenger driveshaft to replace the gear oil in the front differential, and no drain plug on the torque converter. Just stupid…

I do believe I’ll research the extended warranty situation. Usually a waste of money for me over the years, but thinking this one might make sense. Too bad the Penske network of MB dealerships near me are utterly useless in service and repair. I don’t even let them change the oil any more. Absolutely the worst.

chassis

MB is in a downward spiral, the comments on this thread are just a few of the many examples.

nc211

They’re certainly pushing the envelope on a couple of fronts that’s for sure. I do think they make the most handsome vehicles who’s appearance and visual appeal last a lot longer than most on the market, but wish they’d stop trying to prove that 2+2=5 on some critical elements of design.

I think all manufactures are going to struggle with incorporating all of this silly “tech” into the cars for awhile. I think Mb is better at it than most, but it’s just so damn much. A gasoline engine with a turbo and a hybrid motor running through it matted to a complicated AWD system - what could go wrong there?

I think a lot of the issues were going to face for awhile with this stuff will be almost entirely software driven. Good if they can fix it with a computer program update. Bad if those who are supposed to do that fix, have no clue how to do it…

I will say, MB transmissions are some of the worst I’ve ever seen. Lumpy and clunky. I don’t know about the dual clutch gearbox they have, but the normal gear boxes are now where near as smooth in operation as the Asian brands are (except maybe Honda). But nothing cruises quite like a MB, which is what I like the most.

chassis

@nc211 Agree. Here is my report card after three years of MB ownership and reading as much of this site as possible.

Exterior and interior aesthetics and comfort: A
Features (number of them and gee whiz factor): B
New vehicle delivered quality: D
Medium and long term reliability: F
Dealer network: F

For me it's a shame that the reliability and dealer network are so bad. MB's aesthetics are very good, but it's a very bitter pill to swallow when the car breaks and the dealers don't have a clue, or seek to thwart the owner's efforts to obtain a remedy.

It's a schizophrenic brand DNA, to have good ratings in some areas, and pitifully atrocious ratings in others.

Separately, regarding transmission. MB transmissions are bottom of the barrel, compared to what is available today. MB should exit the transmission design and production aspect of their business. MB differentials and transfer cases aren't bad in the SUV, the X/W164 excepted. The sedan transfer case integrated into the transmission doesn't seem like a good implementation.

Aisin and ZF should be the world's only two transmission makers in my view. I have driven both of these suppliers boxes for many hundreds of thousands of miles, and those boxes are excellent.

rhorhoz

I just purchased a custom 2021 GLE 53 coupe and had a 48v issue, My car had about 400 miles and 9 days old, It stopped and wouldn't start giving the please wait message every time i tried to start. It finally started after about and hour and a half. The next morning I took it to the dealer and the error code indicated it was 48v battery. They checked w/ Germany followed the whole protocol per Germany. Also did the whole update software and now Germany is telling them to replace.

how do i found out what type of 48v is in the car?
I want a new car period. This is a lemon.
Looking for input

9157

good luck with that. Mercedes is in denial. Offer me a 1yr warranty extension or $3k towards a new one. They are very a matter of fact. Dealer had mine almost 3 weeks and did nothing! No real fix yet. Even though they have for technical bulletins, none are effective. Hit and miss!!!

ksalno

This is kind of surprising. A friend of mine returned a new S-Class after it had a similar shutdown with the 48v system on his way to work. He is fortunate that he buys a lot of Mercs from the same dealer, so they worked out a trade that gave him full credit for what he paid for the S-class. That had to be at least 2-years ago. I can’t believe a company with Mercedes engineering resources hasn’t found and fixed the problem by now, because we chalked it up to being a first year tech problem with the 48v.

tony cls63

I have the same problem with the 48 V battery system My GLS 63 only has 197 miles

9157

welcome to the club!

Ekcom1

I’ve had my 2021 gle 63 amg coupe for 33 days and it’s been at the dealer 31 of those days. On second malfunction and only 232 miles on the odometer…mostly from the dealer test driving my vehicle. 48V battery malfunction was first then engine warning when truck was bouncing down the freeway at 50mph. Uuuggghh…guess this is what you get for only spending $140k.

rhorhoz

I had the same 48v problem and requested a trade assist from the dealerr, I also requested the manufacturer get involved but they said I'd be governed be the lemon laws of my state. the dealer offered me a carnote payment and a dinner. I declined, and asked for an extended warranty to 100k and got it. The next time if theres a next time the trade assist will be granted. I just need clarity that the 48v is not just a battery which is stated it is not covered in a warranty.


But it appears that 3 more custom ordered cars from Germany came in with the same issues.........so the 48v must can't sit idle for the period on the boat,,,lol is my assessment.

nc211

My understanding from reading about this in the GLE forum is that it is a battery issue, and Elon Musk is to blame in a round-about way. As I read it, Tesla bought the battery manufacturer for the 48v system and then defaulted on the contract to supply the battery to MB. A method for Tesla to keep others from making electric cars to compete with Tesla. So MB is scrambling to secure a new battery manufacture or get into the battery manufacturing business themselves. If this is true, then I suspect those with this issue have a first generation battery from a different part supplier, and given the supply chain issues around the globe, may be a inferior battery to what was originally intended to be in the car.

mikapen

This is correct. Tesla also violated the contract with BMW.

donarizon

It happened to me as well. 2021 E 450 with 3,000 miles on it. Battery died and car had to be towed. It took more than three weeks before a replacement battery came in. Everyone I spoke with -- at MB USA and the dealership -- told me this was the first time they had heard of this happening. I doubt their sincerity ...

nc211

This article gives some insight to MB batteries. Looking like we’re just the tip of the iceberg, the test dummies and lab rats…

Mercedes reveals its plans to be 'ready' to go all-electric by 2030

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/cars/article-9814103/Daimler-invest-40-bln-euros-2030-electric-vehicles.html

tltworld

I encountered the “48V Battery Malfunction” message today in my 2021 GLS 580. I was driving in light traffic approx 35-40 mph when the 48V battery malfunction message popped up in yellow along with the engine light. I slowed down and continued to drive when the red stop engine message popped up but after about 5 seconds that message disappeared. The engine did not die but my air conditioning stopped working. I pulled into a parking lot under a shade tree and switched it off for about five minutes. When I restarted, the engine light remained on but the 48V error message was gone and the air conditioning was working again. I switched off the Eco stop/start and drove about 10 minutes to a restaurant for lunch with no error messages appearing but the engine light still on. After an hour lunch, the car started up as normal and no engine light or error messages. I switched the Eco start/stop off again and drove another 20 minutes across town to a shopping area with no additional errors or malfunctions. The car just passed the 2,000 mile mark, I’ve had it since mid-March.

nc211

that exactly what mine did as well around the 8k mark. Only happened once. Now at 28k with no issues.

John M. Karian

Exact same issue - car was off-road when it would not start . A nightmare to get a tow truck which needed dollies to get the vehicle in position .to tow. Tow operator said he’s had a bunch of these occur. Required a new battery

Longroof45

I've read that report as well and there was a link to a news article on the subject. I also read that the old part number on the 48v battery has since been discontinued, so maybe that's the smoking gun. I haven't been able to find the new part number (my own E450 wagon is on its third battery, and they all bore the old, now discontinued, 48v battery part number).