Mercedes announces global recall for EQC over faulty steering unit

Mercedes-Benz’s fully electric EQC is at the centre of an international recall relating to the model’s power steering control unit. 

Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority found that the unit is vulnerable to water, which can lead to damage in its wiring harness and subsequent steering failure. The recall specifically applies to EQCs built between December 11, 2019, and May 18, 2020.

It’s worth noting that no specific examples of owners experiencing a failure have been reported. Rather, this is a preventative measure from the premium marque. 

“Mercedes-Benz AG has determined that on certain EQC vehicles (293 platform), the wiring harness of the electrical steering might have been damaged during the assembly process,” said the marque in a statement to Autocar UK.

“In this case, water might ingress into the wiring harness through a damaged isolation and advance over time into the steering control unit. As a consequence, the steering assist might fail spontaneously, also during driving. In this case, the driver would be notified by a red warning message in the instrument cluster.”

In total, 19,253 EQCs worldwide have been impacted by the recall, with Mercedes requesting that these examples be brought back to their respective dealerships for analysis and any repairs. 

NZ Autocar has contacted Mercedes-Benz’s local arm to ask whether any EQCs in New Zealand have been included in the recall. We will update this story once we’ve heard back from them. 

The EQC has endured an up and down tenure thus far. While it’s received wide praise from critics, the model has also had five recalls issued in Europe so far. These include one recall for weak front differential bolts and another for corroded battery housings. 

The Motor Industry Association reports that just one EQC was registered in New Zealand in late 2019, with 35 registered in 2020, and 90 registered year-to-date in 2021.