Mercedes-Benz GLE problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 8 model years (2018–2025), NHTSA has logged 476 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls for the Mercedes-Benz GLE. That averages 12.8 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.30 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Luxury SUVs segment it ranks #4 of 9 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 15.1.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
Across eight model years from 2018 to 2025, NHTSA has logged 476 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls for the Mercedes-Benz GLE, averaging 12.8 complaints per year which is far fewer than typical at an index of 0.30 against all tracked vehicles. While the overall trend is worsening with the 2024 model year showing the highest rate of 18.7 complaints per year and the 2023 and 2024 models running 294% above the 2018 and 2019 models, half of all reported incidents occur within 30 months of the model year's start. The most common problem area is Engine accounting for 26.9% of complaints, followed by Electrical at 16.0%, with recurring terms including "cylinder head", "amg", "sunroof", "mbusa" and "matic". Owners report 26 injuries and 1 death across all model years, while 33 complaints or 6.9% describe a crash or fire, and the last 12 months saw 129 complaints versus 105 in the previous year.
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 294% above the 2018 and 2019 models (27 early complaints per model year versus 8).
The 2024 model year has the highest rate (18.7 complaints per year) and the 2019 model year the lowest (4.2). Model years 2018 and 2019 sit well below the model's average.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (26.9% of complaints), followed by Electrical (16.0%) and Body & structure (10.1%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “cylinder head”, “amg”, “sunroof”, “mbusa” and “matic”. 33 complaints (6.9%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 26 injuries and 1 death.
In the last 12 months owners filed 129 complaints versus 105 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace. The 2021 model year generated the most recent reports (28). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 30 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 2 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2025 (2). No NHTSA defect investigation covers the tracked model years.
Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Audi Q7, Lexus NX and Lexus RX; Mercedes-Benz GLC, Audi Q5, BMW X3 and BMW X5 have more.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 56 | 6.5 | 0.15 | 12 | 0.13 | 8 | 0 | Electrical | View › |
| 2019 Fewest complaints | 32 | 4.2 | 0.1 | 4 | 0.05 | 4 | 0 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2020 | 123 | 18.4 | 0.44 | 28 | 0.49 | 27 | 0 | Engine | View › |
| 2021 | 88 | 15.5 | 0.37 | 27 | 0.44 | 28 | 0 | Engine | View › |
| 2022 | 70 | 15.0 | 0.36 | 28 | 0.38 | 19 | 0 | Engine | View › |
| 2023 | 31 | 8.4 | 0.2 | 25 | 0.3 | 4 | 0 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2024 | 50 | 18.7 | 0.44 | 29 | 0.41 | 27 | 0 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2025 | 26 | 15.5 | 0.37 | — | — | 12 | 2 | Engine | View › |
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 129 · Previous 12 months: 105 Steady
Problem areas
Body & structure ›
48 · 10.1% · 1.1 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- sunroof21
- glass18
- panel windshield6
- roof panel6
Transmission / powertrain
39 · 8.2% · 0.7 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- cannot shift5
- neutral8
- move9
- reverse8
Wheels, tires & suspension
28 · 5.9% · 2.36 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- tires19
- size9
- dot7
- installed nov4
Brakes
27 · 5.7% · 0.94 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- brakes15
- rotor3
- pads3
- applying3
Driver-assist systems
22 · 4.6% · 0.81 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- active brake3
- assist8
- cruise8
- avoid5
Fuel system
21 · 4.4% · 1.02 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- fuel system13
- gasoline13
- diesel fuel4
- notification fuel7
Other
13 · 2.7% · 1.51 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- set4
- cruise5
- control6
- accelerating3
Airbags & seat belts
12 · 2.5% · 0.66 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- deploy5
- seat6
- body4
- air5
Lighting
9 · 1.9% · 1.21 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- night5
- beam3
- headlights3
- safe3
Steering
7 · 1.5% · 0.23 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- cylinder head38
- amg24
- sunroof34
- mbusa10
- matic10
- water28
- glass31
- control unit14
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 30 months
What owners report
I was told by the investigators that the fire was caused by an electrical component under the passenger seat that Mercedes is well aware of.
Catastrophic failure of the rear lower control arm. Complete fracture through its inboard mounting eye with no warning while my wife was driving the vehicle. The rear - passenger side corner dropped causing the vehicle to spin abruptly.
The vehicle was delivered to the dealer on XXX at 33,360 miles with an illuminated check engine light. The dealer diagnosed intake camshaft timing faults and found pieces of the central valve screen in the engine oil filter.
The vehicle was delivered to the dealer on July 13, 2026 at 33,360 miles with an illuminated check engine light. The dealer diagnosed intake camshaft timing faults and found pieces of the central valve screen in the engine oil filter.
The left side of the digital instrument cluster in my 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 intermittently goes completely blank while driving.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Luxury SUVs
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Audi Q7 | 349 | 7.3 | 0.17 | Improving | Steady | 20 | Engine |
| 2 | Lexus NX | 123 | 8.0 | 0.19 | Worsening | Steady | 7 | Electrical |
| 3 | Lexus RX | 303 | 11.3 | 0.27 | Worsening | Steady | 8 | Airbags & seat belts |
| 4 | Mercedes-Benz GLE | 476 | 12.8 | 0.3 | Worsening | Steady | 2 | Engine |
| 5 | Mercedes-Benz GLC | 510 | 13.9 | 0.33 | Worsening | Steady | 3 | Engine |
| 6 | Audi Q5 | 553 | 14.1 | 0.33 | Stable | Rising | 19 | Electrical |
| 7 | BMW X3 | 606 | 14.6 | 0.35 | Improving | Rising | 41 | Electrical |
| 8 | BMW X5 | 768 | 22.4 | 0.53 | Worsening | Steady | 42 | Electrical |
| 9 | Acura MDX | 923 | 27.9 | 0.66 | Stable | Rising | 16 | Engine |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 2
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (0) · 2019 (0) · 2020 (0) · 2021 (0) · 2022 (0) · 2023 (0) · 2024 (0) · 2025 (2)
Investigations
No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mercedes-Benz GLE model year has the most complaints?
The 2024 model year has the highest rate (18.7 complaints per year) and the 2019 model year the lowest (4.2).
Is the Mercedes-Benz GLE getting better or worse?
The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 294% above the 2018 and 2019 models (27 early complaints per model year versus 8). In the last 12 months owners filed 129 complaints versus 105 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace.
What are the most common Mercedes-Benz GLE problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (26.9% of complaints), followed by Electrical (16.0%) and Body & structure (10.1%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “cylinder head”, “amg”, “sunroof”, “mbusa” and “matic”.
How does the Mercedes-Benz GLE compare with other Luxury SUVs?
Within the Luxury SUVs segment it ranks #4 of 9 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 15.1. Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Audi Q7, Lexus NX and Lexus RX; Mercedes-Benz GLC, Audi Q5, BMW X3 and BMW X5 have more.
Does the Mercedes-Benz GLE have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 2 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2025 (2). No NHTSA defect investigation covers the tracked model years.