Mercedes-Benz bulletin NCU-OTA051923
What it saysMercedes-Benz AG (“MBAG”), the manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz, has determined that on certain MY 2021-2023 EQE, EQS, EQS SUV, and S-Class (223, 295, 296, and 297 platform) vehicles, the software of the sound system does… NHTSA’s full summary ↓
Mercedes-Benz filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated May 19, 2023, received Jun 5, 2023, about the electrical system. It names 6 model years (2021–2023). A service bulletin is not a safety recall: it is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a condition, and whether the work is paid for depends on the warranty in force. Quoting the number at a service desk can save a diagnosis.
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What the bulletin says
Source: NHTSA's summary of the manufacturer's communicationPicked out of NHTSA’s summary below, word for word. The document itself is the record, and the dealer checks the VIN.
Mercedes-Benz AG (“MBAG”), the manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz, has determined that on certain MY 2021-2023 EQE, EQS, EQS SUV, and S-Class (223, 295, 296, and 297 platform) vehicles, the software of the sound system does not correspond with the latest series production configuration. The software update serves as the necessary preparation for additional functionalities that will be included in the future to improve and expand the sound system of the vehicles. The update is free of charge and will be carried out in the background. The installation will take approximately 3 minutes, the system can be used without restrictions during this period. The new software will be active during the next driving cycle. What We’re Doing MBUSA will conduct an OTA service campaign. Remote software updates are automatically downloaded and installed in the customer’s vehicle free of charge without an additional workshop visit via the data link of the communication module. All customers will be mailed a letter informing them of this software update.
Document filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id | At NHTSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCU-OTA051923 | Service bulletin | May 19, 2023 | 10237270 | PDF, 160 KB |
The summary is NHTSA’s abstract of the document, as filed under 49 CFR 579.5. One communication is usually filed as several documents — the bulletin, a dealer notice, an owner letter — and the number on any of them finds this page. A PDF link is shown only once NHTSA’s own server has been seen to serve that document; the rest are checked over the following nights. Quote the number at a service desk; it is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Model years it names
Source: as the manufacturer filed themA vehicle page’s bulletin list shows the newest few communications filed against that model year; the count there is every one.
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What owners reported
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseOwners of the 6 model years this bulletin names have filed 241 complaints with NHTSA since 2015. 65 of them name Electrical System — the same broad component group this bulletin is filed under. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so that means the same area of the vehicle, not necessarily the same fault.
The contact owns a 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4MATIC. The contact stated that while attempting to open the front driver’s side door, the door sensors failed to detect a hand and retracted independently and closed on the right index finger. Medical attention was not sought. The failure mileage was approximately 63,350
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS · Electrical System · filed with NHTSA Sep 25, 2026 · ODI 11766894
Was driving the car at 3:00 P.M. and all of a sudden thr dash display when total black out nothing on the display screen. Speed,fuel,turnning singles nothing total black out. Took it to the dealership to fix as this can and would be a life threathing at loss of life could and can happen in a traffic sistiution
2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class · Electrical System · filed with NHTSA Jan 6, 2026 · ODI 11709116
On April 15, 2026 at approximately 1:30 PM PT, I entered my 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV 500 4MATIC (approximately 20,000 miles) in my garage. The vehicle was not plugged in or charging prior to entry. I opened the car, sat in the driver's seat, and authenticated via the fingerprint scanner.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE · Electrical System · filed with NHTSA Apr 16, 2026 · ODI 11731586
A complaint is one owner’s account, not a defect finding, and a bulletin is not a recall. Nothing here says this bulletin was issued because of these complaints, or that the repair it describes fixed them. Complaint files on this site begin in 2015.
More bulletins about the electrical system
Source: same model, same component group155 other manufacturer communications filed against these Mercedes-Benz models under the same component group (electrical system), newest first. The eight newest are listed; the rest are on the Mercedes-Benz list.
| Number | Kind | Dated | NHTSA’s summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| LI47.70-P-079912 | Service bulletin | Sep 29, 2026 | Complaint Vehicle will not start after DC charging Warning in the instrument cluster related to High‑voltage on board electrical system The… |
| LI54.30-P-080963 | Service bulletin | Sep 17, 2026 | Complaint Issue after OTA Update IC Odometer Reading blank("_ _ _ _") IC Maintanence data unavailable Cause OTA Update E61.0 Remedy In the I… |
| LI82.60-P-080383 | Service bulletin | Sep 15, 2026 | Complaint Radio station cover art does not refresh when switching stations. The UI continues to show the old station’s artwork instead of up… |
| LI54.71-P-079104 | Service bulletin | Sep 11, 2026 | Complaint Traffic sign symbol for "Traffic Sign Assist" is blinking in instrument cluster without obvious cause usually with one of the foll… |
| NCU - 2026080001 | Service campaign | Aug 15, 2026 | Issue Mercedes-Benz AG, the manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, has determined that on certain Model Year 2027 S-Class (223 platform) ve… |
| LI82.85-P-079088 | Service bulletin | Aug 14, 2026 | Complaint The following most common complaints may be observed: • Brief connectivity interruptions when using Apple CarPlay over Wi-Fi • Aud… |
| LI54.65-P-080132 | Service bulletin | Aug 12, 2026 | Complaint 1. General Diagnostic Tips 2. One or More PARK Sensor Activations 3. Red Ring Around Vehicle 4. "Active Parking and Parking Assist… |
| LI54.10-P-080880 | Service bulletin | Aug 12, 2026 | Complaint Customer Complaint: - AC charging is not possible. - The departure time, charging pause, location-based charging or target SOC lim… |
Quote the number at the service desk. It is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Every manufacturer communication NHTSA holds for Mercedes-Benz, by the number printed on the letter.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR 579.5Is Mercedes-Benz NCU-OTA051923 a recall?
No. A service bulletin is a manufacturer communication filed with NHTSA under 49 CFR 579.5; a safety recall carries an NHTSA campaign number (two digits, a letter, six digits) and a federal duty to repair for free. Check the vehicle’s recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or on its page here.
Is the NCU-OTA051923 repair free?
Not automatically. A service bulletin describes how to diagnose or repair a condition; who pays depends on the warranty in force, any extension, and the dealer. Quoting the number can save a diagnosis either way. Every Mercedes-Benz warranty extension on file lists the ones Mercedes-Benz has filed.
Which vehicles does NCU-OTA051923 cover?
The manufacturer filed it against 6 model years: 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE, 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS, 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS, 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Whether one particular vehicle is affected is a matter of its VIN and its build, not its model year alone.