Not exactly what people expect from AMG — one of the brand’s crossovers turned out to be too quiet.
Mercedes-Benz has issued a recall for 1,899 units of the 2024–2025 Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 SUV in the United States, and the reason is more unusual than most would guess. In certain drive modes, the electric performance SUV doesn't produce the “proper” sound required for pedestrian safety.
The issue isn’t related to power output or braking performance, but to the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System — the mandatory low-speed sound generator designed to help pedestrians, including those with visual impairments, hear an approaching EV.
According to the company, the affected vehicles do meet the minimum volume requirements at specific speeds. The potential problem lies in how the sound changes as the vehicle accelerates. The audio cue is supposed to increase smoothly and proportionally with speed. If the increase is uneven or too subtle, pedestrians may get less accurate information about the vehicle’s movement.
The fix is straightforward and familiar to owners of modern EVs: a software update that adjusts how the alert system behaves. Mercedes-Benz plans to begin notifying owners at the end of January, after which dealers will be able to install the update.
The situation is especially ironic given ongoing debates in Europe, where some AMG models may soon face pressure in the opposite direction — for being too loud.