Bentley Motors, Inc. has submitted a safety recall report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) concerning specific 2023 Bentayga Hybrid vehicles. The filing addresses a potential defect in the high-voltage battery cell modules that could lead to overheating during charging sessions.
Highlights
- Campaign affects 130 model year 2023 vehicles.
- Defect poses a risk of thermal propagation and fire.
- Remedy involves improved diagnostic software installation.
- Samsung SDI Hungary Ltd identified as the component supplier.
Defect Description and Safety Risk
Bentley has been informed that the cell modules within the 48Ah High Voltage Battery may contain defects. The supplier, Samsung SDI Hungary Ltd, has identified two potential root causes for this issue: particle contamination or separator damage within the battery assembly.
These internal defects create a risk of a short circuit during the vehicle charging process or shortly thereafter. Such a short circuit could lead to overheating of the battery modules.
If overheating occurs, it may result in thermal propagation, increasing the risk of a fire. Bentley notes that there have been no reported fires or injuries related to this issue on their vehicles in the field.
Remedy and Software Update
To address this issue, authorized dealers will update the software in the Battery Management Controller. The new software, version SW0388 containing SDD2.0, introduces improved diagnostic capabilities to detect self-discharge conditions in the high voltage battery.
This procedure will be performed free of charge and takes approximately two hours to complete. While mandatory hardware replacement is not required for all units, the software may identify specific batteries or modules that require replacement.
Bentley anticipates that a very low percentage of the recalled population, approximately 1%, will require battery repairs or replacements following the software diagnostic.
Recall Scope and Chronology
The recall population consists of 130 Bentayga Hybrid vehicles produced between February 23, 2023, and November 20, 2023. The manufacturer estimates that 100% of the identified population may contain the defect.
The investigation began in October 2023 following a notification of potential battery issues in another VW Group brand. Although no field occurrences were reported on Bentley vehicles, the Product Safety Committee monitored the situation through 2024.
Following further technical analysis in November 2025, the committee authorized a safety recall as a precautionary measure.
Notification and Contact Information
Dealer notifications are scheduled for December 16, 2025. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on December 23, 2025.
Owners may contact Bentley customer service at 1-800-777-6923. The manufacturer’s number for this recall is RE25/46. The NHTSA campaign number for this action is 25V811.
Sign up for our popular daily email to catch all the latest EV news!
