2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE300D: complaints, problems and recalls

THE LEFT SIDE EXTERIOR MIRRORS DO NOT PIVOT OUT FAR ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE DRIVER TO SEE THE BLIND SPOT BESIDE THE REAR SECTION OF THE VEHICLE IF THE DRIVER HAS HIS SEAT MOVED IN THE REAR-MOST POSITIONS. THIS HAS CAUSE SEVERAL NEAR-HIT SITUATIONS WITH ME WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. EVEN THOUGH A VEHICLE WAS PRESENT IN THE BLIND SPOT NOTHING WAS VISIBLE IN ANY OF THE MIRRORS NOR WAS THERE ANY INDICATION FROM THE BLIND SPOT MONITOR. THE MIRROR NEEDS TO PIVOT ABOUT 10 DEGREES FARTHER TO ALLOW THE DRIVER VISIBILITY OF THE BLIND SPOT OR THE MIRROR NE…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10923851 at NHTSA ↗

AFTER STOPPING, WHEN THE CAR TRANSMISSION IS IN DRIVE MODE. IF THE DRIVER PRESSES THE KEYLESS IGNITION BUTTON TO OFF, THE CAR TRANSMISSION SWITCHES TO NEUTRAL MODE. THIS CAUSES ROLLOVER RISK. IF THE DRIVER DOES NOT SEE THAT THE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL, THE CAR CAN ROLL AND CAUSE COLLISION AND RISK TO PEOPLE AROUND. THE CAR SHOULD EITHER STAY IN DRIVE MODE OR SWITCH TO PARK MODE WHEN THE OFF BUTTON IS SWITCHED WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE MODE.

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10983145 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLE300D. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF EL DORADO HILLS (1000 MERCEDES LN, EL DORADO HILLS, CA [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON WITH MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE F…

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11090294 at NHTSA ↗

THE REAR COLLISION ALERT SYSTEM HAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE SOUND ADJUSTED BY TECHNICIAN TO 100% IS BARELY AUDIBLE BY THE DRIVER, AND TYPICALLY AT OR AFTER IMPACT. IT IS ALSO NOT LINKED TO THE CAR DASH SOUND SYSTEM, SO THE RADIIO DOES NOT SHUT OFF ITS VOLUME. IN THIS INSTANCE, THE AUDIBLE ALARM IS INAUDIBLE. I HAVE HAD TWO ACCIDENTS WITH THE VEHICLE WHILE IT IS IN MOTION. THE DEALER DOES NOT ARGUE WITH MY ASSESSMENT, BUT SAYS THE SYSTEM IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. ATTACHED IS MY MERCEDES SERVICE RECORD DATED 10-23-2018 EXPECTING THE PRO…

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11142468 at NHTSA ↗

SINCE THE TIME I PURCHASED THIS CAR, THE BRAKES HAVE REPEATEDLY MADE LOUD SQUEALING NOISES. MERCEDES HAS REPEATEDLY EXAMINED THE CAR AND TOLD US IT IS FINE AND NOT DANGEROUS. THEY HAVE NEVER FIXED THE NOISE. HOWEVER, MORE RECENTLY IN DECEMBER 2019, THE CAR DEVELOPED A STRONG FUEL ORDER IN BOTH THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. WE BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CLAMP AND THE FUEL LINE. HE CALLED THE LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER WHO TOLD HIM TO ADJUST THE CLAMP. THAT HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE SMELL IS VERY STRONG, AND …

Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11299184 at NHTSA ↗

THE COMMAND HUB WILL NOT CONNECT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11361447 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM. ON A DESERTED ROAD SUCH AS THE ROAD THROUGH DENALI NATIONAL PARK VISIBILITY IS APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 50 FT. AT NIGHT. ALSO BECAUSE OF THE NATURE I IF THE BEAM SEEING MORE THAN 15FT. IN FOG OR SNOW IS EXTREMELY IMPEDED. THE BEAM CREATES A HALO STARTING AT 15FT. FROM VEHICLE THAT REFLECTS IN THE FOG AND CREATES AN OPTICAL ILLUSION.

Owner-reported narrative. 103,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11398835 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2016-10-20 (October 20, 2016)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 GLE 300d 4MATIC, GLE 350, GLE 350 4MATIC, and GLE 400 4MATIC vehicles manufactured October 14, 2015, to November 23, 2015. The low beam headlights on the affected vehicles may not be properly adjusted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."

Consequence: If the low-beam headlights are out of adjustment, the driver's visibility may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the headlight adjustment, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in November 2016. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Reported: 2016-12-15 (December 15, 2016)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 GL350 4Matic Bluetec, GL550 4Matic, GLE350 4Matic, GLE43 AMG Coupe, GLE450 4Matic, 2016 GLE300d 4Matic, GLE350, GLE350d 4Matic, GLE400 4Matic, GLE550e 4Matic, GLE63 AMG, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLE63S AMG 4Matic Coupe, and 2017 GLS63 AMG vehicles manufactured April 23, 2014, to May 10, 2016. The front passenger seat Occupant Classification System (OCS) calibration may be incorrect, and as a result, the system can incorrectly classify the occupant as a child seat, deactivating the front passenger air bag.

Consequence: If the front passenger air bag does not deploy as necessary in the event of a crash, the front passenger has an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Reported: 2017-03-14 (March 14, 2017)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 AMG GT-S, GLC300, CLA250 and GLE300d 4Matic vehicles, 2013 C250, E350 BlueTec and G63 AMG vehicles, 2008-2014 C300 vehicles, 2013-2014 C300 4Matic and ML350 4Matic vehicles, 2009 C350 vehicles, 2014 CLS550, E350 4Matic, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Wagon 4Matic, GLK350 and SL550 vehicles, 2012 CLS550 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2016 E350 vehicles, 2016-2017 GL450 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2014 ML350 4Matic BlueTec vehicles, 2015 S550, S550 4Matic and C300 4Matic Sedan vehicles, 2015-2016 C300 Sedan vehicles, and 2017 SL63 AMG vehicles. Various control units on these vehicles may have been updated with incorrect software, potentially affecting the correct deployment of the air bags in the event of a crash.

Consequence: If the air bags do not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, there would be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update software in the affected control units, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Reported: 2017-04-11 (April 11, 2017)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 GLE300d 4Matic, E400 4Matic Coupe, GL63 AMG, GLE350, GLE350 4Matic, GLE350d 4Matic, GLE400 4Matic, GLE43 AMG Coupe 4Matic, GLE550e 4Matic, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLE63S AMG 4Matic and GLE63S AMG Coupe 4Matic vehicles, 2017 E300 4Matic and GLS63 AMG 4Matic vehicles, and 2016-2017 GL350 4Matic BlueTec, GL450 4Matic, and GL550 4Matic vehicles. The affected vehicles have an electric power steering connector that may be insufficiently sealed, allowing water to enter the control unit.

Consequence: If water enters the power steering control unit, the power steering assist may be deactivated, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and inspect the electric power steering rack, replacing the rack as necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed June 30, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Reported: 2017-10-17 (October 17, 2017)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 GLE300d 4Matic, GLE400 4Matic, GLE350 4Matic, GLE63 AMG, GLE63 AMG Coupe, GLE63S AMG and GLE63S AMG Coupe, and 2017 GLS450 4Matic, GLE550 4Matic, and GLE63 AMG 4Matic vehicles. These vehicles may have excess bulkhead insulation extending into the lower windshield area, possibly affecting the windshield bonding and the full protective function of the passenger's frontal air bag in the event of a crash.

Consequence: If the passenger's frontal air bag does not function as designed in the event of a crash, the front seat passenger has an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will remove any excess bulkhead insulation and rework the windshield bonding, as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner letters will be mailed in December 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy is available in late January 2018. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018020002. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

Reported: 2019-11-01 (November 1, 2019)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf

Consequence: An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.

Reported: 2022-12-23 (December 23, 2022)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2012-2014 ML550, 2012-2015 ML350, AMG ML63, 2015 ML250, ML400, 2016 GLE450, GLE300, 2016-2018 GLE350, GLE550, 2016-2019 GLE400, 2017-2019 AMG GLE43, and 2016-2020 AMG GLE63 vehicles. Water might accumulate in the spare tire wheel well and damage the fuel pump control unit, which could cause an engine stall while driving.

Consequence: An engine stall while driving increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will install a water drain plug, inspect for water intrusion, and replace the fuel pump control unit as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 15, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010002 and 2023010003.