2019-2023 · 80 kWh battery · Dual electric motors (408 hp / 760 Nm)
Mercedes' first purpose-built electric SUV arrived with high expectations but notable teething problems. The dual-motor AWD system delivers strong performance (0-100 km/h in 5.1 seconds), but real-world range disappoints at 280-320 km versus the claimed 417 km WLTP. Built on a modified GLC platform rather than dedicated EV architecture, the EQC suffers from motor coolant seal failures (major recall in China affecting 10,104 units), persistent 12V battery drain issues, and air suspension failures in cold weather. The 8-year/160,000 km battery warranty provides reassurance, but Mercedes ranked only 22nd out of 31 manufacturers in 2024 reliability surveys. Battery degradation is reasonable at 8-10% over 234,000 km of documented taxi use. Service costs are high for an EV at €365-750 annually. Check all recalls completed, especially the critical front axle bolt defect (pre-October 2019 cars) and power steering wiring harness issue (December 2019-March 2020 production).
Coolant leaks into electric motor, causing insulation failure and motor replacement · more· less
Manufacturing defect in cars produced November 2018-December 2021 allows coolant from the cooling system to seep into the electric motor through faulty seals. Initially presents as "low coolant" warnings that dealers would top up without proper investigation. Once coolant saturates the motor windings, insulation resistance drops and the motor monitoring software prevents vehicle startup. Affected motors always require replacement, and some battery packs are also damaged. Mercedes recalled 10,104 units in China in August 2022, though some believe this is a global issue affecting all EQC/EQA/EQB models due to imported faulty motors. Check service records for repeated coolant top-ups as an early warning sign.
12V battery drain and system failures€200 - €1,500
Auxiliary battery depletes while parked, preventing entry and startup · more· less
The 12V system powers Mercedes Me connected services, alarm, and battery monitoring even when parked, causing constant drain. Cars left standing more than 5-7 days often wake to "12V battery critical" warnings with central locking inoperative. Root causes include faulty DC-DC converter (€800-1,200 to replace), loose battery terminal connections, and software issues. The HV battery automatically charges the 12V when parked, but if the DC-DC converter fails, the 12V cannot recharge and drains completely. Dealers sometimes can't access the car without specialized charging equipment. Software updates have improved the situation for some owners, but the 12V battery typically lasts only 3-3.5 years (€200-350 replacement). Check Mercedes Me app for 12V status and ensure terminal connections are tight.
Air suspension compressor/valve failure€1,200 - €2,500
Rear air suspension drops, especially in cold weather; drives under 50 mph advisory · more· less
The EQC uses 2 rear air spring bags with height sensors and a solenoid valve block (front has conventional coil-over struts). Cold weather is a significant trigger - moisture enters the 48V air compressor and freezes, blowing the orange 48V fuse. The compressor can also work overtime due to air spring leaks, eventually blowing the fuse or failing completely. Common failure points include the air spring bellows valve (€800-1,200) and defective cables/plugs on the compressor (€600-900). Mercedes Germany issued instructions that simple fuse replacement is no longer acceptable - proper repair requires replacing both the relay fuse and compressor together (€1,200-2,500 total). Covered under warranty if under 3 years, but owners who drove in snow/ice have needed recovery. Check for uneven ride height or compressor running excessively.
High-voltage battery malfunction€15,000 - €35,000
Sudden "Battery Malfunction" warning, car slips into neutral and becomes unresponsive · more· less
Rare but catastrophic failure where the HV battery management system detects a fault and immediately shuts down the drivetrain. Owners report no warning signs beforehand - while driving, a "Battery Malfunction" warning appears, the car slips into neutral, and becomes unresponsive. One 2023 EQC with only 1,450 km experienced HV Battery Failure and Drive System Failure simultaneously after a loud pop, and never started again. Possible causes include cell module not screwed tight enough (August 2022 recall), corrosion of battery housing (September 2020-2021 production), or battery management system software faults. Battery replacement costs €15,000-35,000 but should be covered under the 8-year/160,000 km battery warranty. Heat sensor failures on the battery pack have also been reported within first 800 miles of ownership.
MBUX software crashes and update failures€0 - €800
Touchscreen freezes, black screen on startup, OTA updates fail to install · more· less
Mercedes recalled certain 2019-2021 vehicles including the EQC (342,366 vehicles total) because MBUX software can cause the display to remain black or reboot after startup, preventing the rearview camera from displaying. Common issues include touchscreen freezing after failed updates, voice control stopping when microphone desyncs, navigation errors from GPS drops, Bluetooth pairing failures, and random system restarts from memory overload. OTA updates often stall on unstable Wi-Fi, with the "continue" button greyed out even at 80%+ charge. Dealers follow a "no problems, no update" policy in some regions - they won't perform updates unless you can reproduce a specific issue. Major updates require leaving the vehicle at the dealership for 2+ hours and aren't delivered OTA. Some owners report 7+ minor updates and 2 major updates available that weren't notified via the app. Software updates are typically free under warranty, but out-of-warranty diagnostic fees can reach €150-250, with major reflashing costing €500-800.
Coolant switchover valve failure€400 - €900
Stuck valve prevents heat pump from functioning, causing cooling system warnings · more· less
The EQC uses a heat pump that harnesses waste heat from the battery to warm the cabin. A switchover valve (part A0005061400) directs coolant either to cabin heating or to the front radiator for battery cooling. This valve can stick, causing "coolant warning" messages within weeks of ownership. Dealers initially release pressure, but the problem returns. The valve costs €400-600, with labor adding €200-300 (total €650-900). Additionally, many owners report persistent "low coolant" warnings caused by pressure buildup in one of two header tanks, making liquid level fall below sensor probes. Mercedes updated the coolant cap from black to red to allow excess pressure to escape - this fix costs €80-150. Some dealers misdiagnose by just topping up coolant without addressing the root valve or cap issue.
Charging system issues€150 - €2,000
Slow charging, DC fast charging failure, insulation test errors · more· less
AC charging limited to 7.4 kW onboard charger (1-phase), so connecting to faster chargers has no benefit. However, the supplied Mercedes cable is often only 20A rated, limiting charging to 5.4 kW instead of the full 7.4 kW - a 32A cable (€150-250) solves this. DC fast charging accepts up to 110 kW but multiple issues reported: battery temperature affects charge curve significantly (cold battery drastically reduces speed), state of charge above 80% causes major slowdown, and some cars have had insulation test failures preventing DC charging entirely. One owner's EQC progressively worsened over 6 months until it couldn't pass the insulation test of any fast charger, limiting use to slow chargers only. Battery controller software updates have helped some owners achieve proper DC speeds (€0 under warranty, €200-400 out of warranty). Check that both AC and DC charging work properly at full rated speeds before purchase.
Premature tire wear€700 - €1,400
Heavy vehicle weight (2,425 kg) causes rapid tire wear, especially rear tires · more· less
The EQC's 2,425 kg curb weight and 760 Nm of torque cause accelerated tire wear. One owner had to replace rear tires at just 14,500 km. OEM tire sizes are 235/55R19 (front) and 255/50R19 (rear) on 19-inch wheels, or 235/50R20 and 255/45R20 on 20-inch wheels. Premium tires (Continental EcoContact 6Q, Pirelli Scorpion Verde) cost €180-250 per tire for 19-inch, €220-300 for 20-inch. Budget options run €120-160 per tire. Rear tires wear significantly faster due to weight distribution and torque. Expect to replace rear tires every 25,000-35,000 km (€360-600 for budget, €500-900 for premium), and front tires every 40,000-50,000 km. Regular rotation can help equalize wear.
Higher risk than typical luxury EVs
The EQC suffers from significant quality control issues, particularly the motor coolant seal defect that led to a 10,104-unit recall in China. The 12V battery drain problem is endemic across Mercedes EQ models and can leave you locked out. Air suspension failures in cold weather are common and expensive. While the 8-year battery warranty provides reassurance for the high-voltage system, other components have proven less reliable than competitors like the Audi e-tron or BMW iX3. Mercedes ranked only 22nd out of 31 manufacturers in 2024 reliability surveys. Budget €500-950 annually for unexpected repairs beyond routine maintenance.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
General checks
Service history
Complete Mercedes dealer records essential. Verify 12-month/15,000 km service intervals followed, alternating between Minor (€235-260) and Major (€255-370) services.
Tires
Check tread depth and uneven wear. Rear tires wear faster due to 2,425 kg weight. OEM sizes: 235/55R19 front, 255/50R19 rear (19-inch) or 235/50R20 front, 255/45R20 rear (20-inch).
Charge cables
Verify all charging cables present and functional. Mercedes-supplied cable may be only 20A rated (limits charging to 5.4 kW instead of 7.4 kW). Test both AC and DC charging.
Battery warranty documentation
Confirm 8-year/160,000 km battery warranty status. Battery should maintain at least 70% capacity or be eligible for replacement/refurbishment.
Test drive
Minimum 30 minutes including motorway speeds. Listen for motor whining/humming/grinding noises on acceleration. Check real-world range matches expectations (280-320 km realistic).
Specific for this vehicle
Verify front axle bolt recall completed (critical)
Cars built before 6 October 2019 had defective front differential bolt that can wear prematurely and cause front wheels to lock if broken bits lodge in differential. Absolutely verify this recall completed with Mercedes using VIN.
Check power steering wiring harness recall
Cars built 12 December 2019 - 18 March 2020 have wiring harness that may allow water ingress, causing sudden power steering failure. Verify completed.
Inspect for coolant system warnings
Check service records for repeated coolant top-ups (early sign of motor seal failure). Ask dealer to check coolant level and pressure test system. Red coolant cap indicates updated part (older black caps allow pressure buildup).
Test 12V battery system thoroughly
Check Mercedes Me app for 12V battery status (should show "charged" not "partially charged"). Verify DC-DC converter functioning (400V to 12V stepdown). Check battery terminal connections are tight (loose negative terminal common issue). Battery over 3.5 years old is near replacement.
Air suspension operation check
Start car from cold and listen for excessive air compressor running. Check for even ride height side-to-side. Test ride height adjustment functions properly. Look for signs of air spring leaks or misting. Orange 48V fuse in good condition.
MBUX system full functionality test
Check touchscreen responsiveness, no black screen on startup. Verify rearview camera displays properly. Test navigation, Bluetooth pairing, voice control. Check for pending software updates in system menu. Ensure screen doesn't freeze or randomly restart.
High-voltage battery health verification
Use Mercedes diagnostic tool to check battery State of Health (SOH). 2-3% degradation per year normal. Ask dealer for Ah capacity reading (original 238.8Ah, should be >227Ah after 5 years for 5% loss). No "Battery Malfunction" warnings in history.
Motor sounds during acceleration
Listen for abnormal humming, whining, grinding, or droning from motors. These are very common in EQC/EQA/EQB and may indicate early coolant seal degradation or motor bearing issues.
Charging speed test
Test AC charging reaches 7.4 kW (check cable is 32A rated, not 20A). Test DC fast charging reaches at least 80-100 kW from low state of charge. Verify no "insulation test failed" errors at charging stations.
All 15 recalls verified completed
EQC has 15 recalls total including eCall software (6 recalls for cars made until Jan 2021), seat backrest lock (24 Jan-9 March 2020), headlight wiring (Feb-May 2022), battery housing corrosion (Aug-Sep 2020), cell module bolts (2022), and side crash sensor (May 2019-Dec 2020). Get full recall completion documentation from dealer using VIN.
Recalls and Technical Service Bulletins
Front axle differential bolt failure (pre-Oct 2019)CRITICAL - Verify completed
Power steering wiring harness water ingress (Dec 2019-Mar 2020)CRITICAL - Verify completed
Motor coolant seal leak (Nov 2018-Dec 2021) - China recallCheck if applies globally
MBUX black screen/reboot (2019-2021 models)Verify software updated
eCall emergency system software (6 recalls, pre-Jan 2021)Verify all completed
Seat backrest lock defect (24 Jan-9 Mar 2020)Verify completed
Headlight wiring not watertight (Feb-May 2022)Verify completed
Side crash sensor connector lock (May 2019-Dec 2020)Verify completed
15 total recalls issued for EQC
Contact a Mercedes-Benz dealer with the VIN to verify all recalls have been completed. The front axle bolt and power steering wiring harness recalls are safety-critical and must be confirmed. The motor coolant seal recall was issued in China for 10,104 units but may affect vehicles globally - ask dealer to inspect. Request full recall completion documentation before purchase.
Warranty Status
Factory warranty (3 years/unlimited km)Expired on all 2019-2021 models
High-voltage battery warranty8 years / 160,000 km (check remaining)
Extended warranty (if taken before expiry)€420-715/year or €40/month rolling
Extended warranty (after lapse)€700/year or €1,500/2 years
Extended warranty highly recommended
The 8-year/160,000 km battery warranty covers HV battery technical malfunctions and replacement if capacity drops below 162 Ah (approximately 70%). This warranty is separate from the 3-year vehicle warranty. Given the EQC's history of coolant system, 12V battery, air suspension, and MBUX issues, an extended warranty (€420-715/year) is strongly recommended if the vehicle warranty has expired. The battery warranty alone doesn't cover most common EQC problems. Extended warranty valid in UK and Continental Europe (up to 60 days/year pro-rata abroad).
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.