Mercedes EQS Long-Term Reliability

The Mercedes EQS has been on sale globally since 2021, and with many examples now crossing the three-to-five-year ownership threshold, long-term reliability data is starting to crystallize.

The flagship electric sedan carries Mercedes’ most ambitious infotainment system, the MBUX Hyperscreen, and pricing that places it in direct competition with the Tesla Model S, BMW i7, and Lucid Air. For buyers eyeing a new or used example, durability and software dependability are now the deciding factors.

How Reliable Is the Mercedes EQS After Three to Five Years?

Mercedes EQS reliability has held up broadly well, though specific component failures have surfaced more often than in the brand’s combustion flagships. Owner forums and dealer service bulletins consistently flag the air suspension system, 108 kWh battery management modules, and DC fast-charging ports as the most frequently serviced items.

Build quality on early 2022 and 2023 model-year cars drew criticism for wind noise around the frameless doors and panel alignment on the rear haunch. Mercedes’ standard battery warranty covers eight years or 160,000 km, whichever arrives first, which insulates most owners from the biggest financial risk. The drivetrain itself, shared with the EQE and EQE SUV, has proven largely trouble-free in independent technician reports from European markets.

What Are the Most Common EQS Reliability Complaints?

Software glitches and 12-volt battery failures dominate the complaint list. Owners frequently report the MBUX system freezing mid-route, requiring a hard reset via the steering column, and occasional loss of climate control responsiveness.

The 12V auxiliary battery, not the high-voltage pack, has been the subject of several technical service bulletins, with premature failure often triggering a cascade of warning messages. Build-quality gripes include creaking rear seats, premature wear on the vegan leather upholstery, and inconsistent operation of the rear-wheel steering at low speeds. None of these issues are catastrophic, but they do erode the sense of occasion that justifies the EQS’s near-luxury pricing.

Is the MBUX Hyperscreen Infotainment System Dependable Long-Term?

The Hyperscreen is visually stunning but has proven less bulletproof than Mercedes’ older COMAND systems. Three displays sit under a single glass panel: a 12.3-inch driver’s cluster, 17.7-inch central touchscreen, and 12.3-inch passenger display. The central and passenger screens rely on a shared processor, and lag becomes more noticeable as background apps accumulate.

For context on how competitor systems age, our Tesla Model 3 Ownership analysis covers a similar three-year arc. Mercedes has issued over-the-air updates that have meaningfully improved responsiveness, but hardware-level complaints persist on early production cars. Voice control, branded “Hey Mercedes,” remains one of the more reliable elements, though it occasionally misfires in heavy accent scenarios.

How Does EQS Reliability Compare to the Tesla Model S and Lucid Air?

The EQS sits in the middle of the flagship EV reliability spectrum, ahead of early Lucid Air examples and roughly level with the Tesla Model S. Lucid’s software maturity has lagged behind, and the brand has issued multiple recalls for drive-unit and charging-related issues on 2022 and 2023 cars.

Tesla’s Model S, despite its age, benefits from a mature software ecosystem, though panel gaps and road-noise complaints remain common. For a deeper look at where the Lucid roadmap now stands, see our Lucid Cosmos Delay to coverage. If you’re cross-shopping, the Tesla Model 3 and comparison piece offers useful context on Tesla’s broader reliability patterns. The i7 from BMW, meanwhile, has its own air-suspension quirks but generally scores well on dealer service satisfaction.

What Should Buyers Watch for on a Used Mercedes EQS?

Prioritize cars built after the 2024 facelift, which addressed several early-build complaints. The mid-cycle refresh brought a revised battery management controller and improved MBUX processing hardware, reducing freeze incidents meaningfully.

Check service records for 12V battery replacements, air suspension compressor work, and any software recall campaigns completed. A pre-purchase inspection should include a full DC fast-charging session to verify port integrity, and a slow-charge cycle to confirm the onboard charger’s health. Verify that the high-voltage battery state of health sits above 90 percent, as anything below that on a three-year-old car suggests heavy fast-charging use or climate-stress exposure.

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FAQs

Is the Mercedes EQS expensive to maintain?

Yes, service costs run higher than mainstream EVs, though Mercedes’ prepaid maintenance plans can reduce out-of-pocket expenses during the warranty period. Does the EQS hold its value well? Depreciation has been steep, often cited as one of the steepest among flagship EVs, which makes used examples attractive if reliability checks pass.

Can the MBUX system be updated over the air? Yes, Mercedes has pushed multiple OTA updates since launch, addressing navigation, voice control, and charging logic improvements. Will the EQS be reliable in India’s climate? High ambient temperatures accelerate battery degradation, so buyers in Indian metros should prioritize garage-kept examples with verified battery health reports. For buyers weighing power-export features across the EV segment, our Tesla Model Y: Power analysis offers useful comparison context.