Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 2016 Mercedes Benz B-Class Electric with NHTSA between 2016 and 2024.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 3 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 17
Against the median year of the Mercedes Benz B-Class Electric. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
How 2016 compares with every other Mercedes Benz B-Class Electric
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2016 Mercedes Benz B-Class Electric
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Engine & Cooling
330.0%
Other & Unspecified
110.0%
Wheels
110.0%
Median failure at 40,306 miles
Tires
110.0%
Median failure at 40,306 miles
Steering
110.0%
Airbags
110.0%
Electrical System
110.0%
Transmission & Drivetrain
110.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Oct 2016peak 3Sep 2024
NHTSA investigations into the 2016 Mercedes Benz B-Class Electric
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.C...
DP22005Opened 27 Jan 2023Closed 7 Aug 2023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after Marc...
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Seattle, WA
ENGINE
Drive unit failed. Manufacturer's Faulty coolant seal. Coolant leaked into engine, Dashboard displayed "Workshop" warning about 2-3 times before breakdown.
NHTSA complaint #11613247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fayetteville, GA
POWER TRAIN
On 4/19/22 while driving my Mercedes B250e, I received a 'check coolant level' warning message, followed closely by 'without starting engine again, consult workshop' and then 'stop, switch engine off'. All messages appeared in less than 30 minutes time, and then my engine completely shut off while I was pulling into a parking lot. Prior to this date, there were no warning signs of the issue. The issue was diagnosed by the Mercedes Atlanta South dealership as a catastrophic electric drive unit failure caused by a coolant leak due to a faulty rotor seal. I was quoted a price of $12K-$20K to replace the EDU. I declined the service while trying to get assistance from Mercedes customer care, so the vehicle is still in an inoperable condition and available for inspection. This issue has happened to countless B250e drivers, and it is completely unsafe to allow these cars to continue driving without recall since the engine can shut down while driving, and become completely inoperable, with little to no warning. This is a known issue to Mercedes - see attached invoice which references 'SEVERAL PTSS CASES'.
NHTSA complaint #11466784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fayetteville, GA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On 4/19/22 while driving my Mercedes B250e, I received a 'check coolant level' warning message, followed closely by 'without starting engine again, consult workshop' and then 'stop, switch engine off'. All messages appeared in less than 30 minutes time, and then my engine completely shut off while I was pulling into a parking lot. Prior to this date, there were no warning signs of the issue. The issue was diagnosed by the Mercedes Atlanta South dealership as a catastrophic electric drive unit failure caused by a coolant leak due to a faulty rotor seal. I was quoted a price of $12K-$20K to replace the EDU. I declined the service while trying to get assistance from Mercedes customer care, so the vehicle is still in an inoperable condition and available for inspection. This issue has happened to countless B250e drivers, and it is completely unsafe to allow these cars to continue driving without recall since the engine can shut down while driving, and become completely inoperable, with little to no warning. This is a known issue to Mercedes - see attached invoice which references 'SEVERAL PTSS CASES'.
NHTSA complaint #11466784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fayetteville, GA
ENGINE
On 4/19/22 while driving my Mercedes B250e, I received a 'check coolant level' warning message, followed closely by 'without starting engine again, consult workshop' and then 'stop, switch engine off'. All messages appeared in less than 30 minutes time, and then my engine completely shut off while I was pulling into a parking lot. Prior to this date, there were no warning signs of the issue. The issue was diagnosed by the Mercedes Atlanta South dealership as a catastrophic electric drive unit failure caused by a coolant leak due to a faulty rotor seal. I was quoted a price of $12K-$20K to replace the EDU. I declined the service while trying to get assistance from Mercedes customer care, so the vehicle is still in an inoperable condition and available for inspection. This issue has happened to countless B250e drivers, and it is completely unsafe to allow these cars to continue driving without recall since the engine can shut down while driving, and become completely inoperable, with little to no warning. This is a known issue to Mercedes - see attached invoice which references 'SEVERAL PTSS CASES'.
NHTSA complaint #11466784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
La Crescenta, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2021-11-29, 10a PST. The "check coolant level" warning appeared while I was driving westbound on the 210 freeway in Glendale, California. As I took the exit to La Crescenta Ave, another alert appeared that there was a sudden "malfunction: visit workshop" warning. As I was trying to turn off on a side street to pull over (with my 4 year old in the back seat), the car stopped in the middle of the road and would not start back up again. Some good citizens helped me push my car up the hill to the side street where I could safely park the vehicle. There are other accounts of this issue occurring with this vehicle, apparently the coolant leaks into the engine and the electric drive motor needs to be replaced. The repair cost is prohibitive ($17,000) and my car is 4,000 miles out of warranty.
NHTSA complaint #11445157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
La Crescenta, CA
ENGINE
2021-11-29, 10a PST. The "check coolant level" warning appeared while I was driving westbound on the 210 freeway in Glendale, California. As I took the exit to La Crescenta Ave, another alert appeared that there was a sudden "malfunction: visit workshop" warning. As I was trying to turn off on a side street to pull over (with my 4 year old in the back seat), the car stopped in the middle of the road and would not start back up again. Some good citizens helped me push my car up the hill to the side street where I could safely park the vehicle. There are other accounts of this issue occurring with this vehicle, apparently the coolant leaks into the engine and the electric drive motor needs to be replaced. The repair cost is prohibitive ($17,000) and my car is 4,000 miles out of warranty.
NHTSA complaint #11445157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hopkins Park, IL
AIR BAGS
2016 MERCEDES-BENZ B CLASS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO INSUFFICIENT ELECTRICAL GROUNDING SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL REPAIR EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.
NHTSA complaint #11075935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hopkins Park, IL
STEERING
2016 MERCEDES-BENZ B CLASS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO INSUFFICIENT ELECTRICAL GROUNDING SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL REPAIR EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.
NHTSA complaint #11075935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,306 milesDelmar, NY
WHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES BENZ B-CLASS ELECTRIC EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK TIRES, TIRE LINE: EVENT EMT, TIRE SIZE: 225/55/CR1797W, AND DOT NUMBER: BCKC1AH2116. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES ABNORMALLY PREMATURELY WORE OUT. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE TIRES WERE REPLACEMENT TIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE AND TIRES WERE 40,306.
NHTSA complaint #10918850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,306 milesDelmar, NY
TIRES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES BENZ B-CLASS ELECTRIC EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK TIRES, TIRE LINE: EVENT EMT, TIRE SIZE: 225/55/CR1797W, AND DOT NUMBER: BCKC1AH2116. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES ABNORMALLY PREMATURELY WORE OUT. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE TIRES WERE REPLACEMENT TIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE AND TIRES WERE 40,306.
NHTSA complaint #10918850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.