2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE350: complaints, problems and recalls

JUST BOUGHT A NEW 2017 GLE WITH ACTIVE LED AND ADAPTIVE HIGH BEAM ASSIST. DISCOVERED A SAFETY ISSUE WHERE THE DRIVER-SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL GO INTO HIGH BEAM WHEN IT SHOULD BE IN LOW BEAM, BLINDING ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND CARS IN FRONT. BECAUSE THE LIGHTS ARE SO BRIGHT, IT'S A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. NOTE THAT IT'S NOT KNOWN TO THE DRIVER, ONLY THOSE CARS IN FRONT OR ONCOMING THAT'S IT'S HAPPENING, WHICH MAY BE WHY MORE COMPLAINTS HAVEN'T BEEN FILED. MERCEDES BENZ, RICHMOND VA TESTED OTHER NEW GLE'S WITH SIMILAR LIGHTING ON THEIR LOT AND ALL ARE HAV…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10968325 at NHTSA ↗

THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER IS THE SAME AS THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER. WHEN SIGNALLING A TURN, IF I PULLED BACK AND UP OR DOWN ON THE LEVER, THE CAR WOULD LURCH AHEAD AT HIGH SPEED. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DANGEROUS CONDITION. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DESIGN DEFECT, AS THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE QUICKLY. I HAD IT LURCH ON ME SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE 1 WEEK WHEN I RENTED THE CAR. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, THE CAR SPED AHEAD FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS AT 65 MPH(I WAS GOING 50 MPH) WHILE I PLAYED WITH THE LEVER TO TRY TO DISABLE THE CRUISE CONTROL

Owner-reported narrative. 20,177 miles reported. Look up ODI 10969963 at NHTSA ↗

THE LOW BEAM HALOGEN HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE INSUFFICIENT FOR NIGHTTIME DRIVING. THEY BARELY LIGHT UP ROADWAYS .THE VISIBILITY IS SO POOR, THAT WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, PARTICULARLY DURING THE RAIN, YOU MUST FOLLOW A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU TO SEE THE ROAD.. MAKING IT SO DANGEROUS, WITH GREAT POSSIBILITY OF CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT. IT IS VERY HARD TO JUDGE ROAD PATTERNS WHEN YOU ARE ON UNFAMILIAR ROADS BECAUSE YOU CANNOT SEE CURVES, CURBS, TRAFFIC SIGNS, OR PEDESTRIANS CLEARLY. IT APPEARS THAT THESE LIGHTS JUST BARELY PASS FEDE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10984925 at NHTSA ↗

SINCE LEASING THIS VEHICLE ON DECEMBER 1, 2016, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS SAFETY ISSUES WITH THE SEAT BELT, ERRONEOUS WARNING ALARMS, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER. FIRST, WHILE DRIVING IN A SNOW STORM IN JANUARY 2017, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER WENT FLYING OFF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER. SECOND, WHILE DRIVING ON VARIOUS DATES/TIMES, THE CAR BEGAN SOUNDING AN ALARM AND A MESSAGE APPEARED THAT THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE. PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED VIDEO. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT INTO THE SHOP ON TWO…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11003253 at NHTSA ↗

MY CAR IS 2017 MERCEDES BENZ GLE 350 SUV. LAST SATURDAY (AUG 12), I DROVE ON HIGHWAY I-45 WITH MY FAMILY FROM DALLAS TO HOUSTON. SUDDENLY I HEARD SOMETHING HIT MY CAR UNDERNEATH, BUT THE CAR WAS MOVING LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED DURING THAT TIME. AFTER AROUND 10 MINUTES, ONE DRIVER DROVE UP AND KEPT WARNING ME TO STOP. I PULLED OVER MY SUV AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL WAS LEAKING BEHIND ON THE HIGHWAY, I LOOKED AT THE UNDERNEATH OF THE CAR, FOUND THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS BROKEN WITH A HOLE, BECAUSE IT WAS A PLASTIC FUEL TANK AND THERE WAS NO UNDER GU…

Owner-reported narrative. 15 miles reported. Look up ODI 11015923 at NHTSA ↗

THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK IN MERCEDES BENZ GLE 350 WAS RUPTURED BY ROAD DEBRIS DUE TO LACK OF SHIELD PROTECTION TO THE TANK. THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I-45 FROM DALLAS TO HOUSTON ON AUG 12 2017. THE HALF TANK OF THE GAS WAS LEAKING OUT WITHIN 10 MINUTES. THANKS TO NO TRAFFIC MET DURING THAT TIME, OTHERWISE WE COULD GET FIRE.

Owner-reported narrative. 15 miles reported. Look up ODI 11022552 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, THE DOOR LOCK WILL AUTOMATICALLY LOCK ON ITS OWN - WITH THE KEYS SILL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE "KEYLESS GO" FEATURE THAT WILL ALLOWS THE DRIVER TO LOCK/UNLOCK THE VEHICLE WITHOUT USING THE "KEYLESS REMOTE FOB'. AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE, IF THE REMOTE FOB IS DETECTED IN THE VEHICLE, THE DOORS ARE NOT TO LOCK. I HAVE TWO INFANTS AND I WOULD LOAD THEM INTO THE BACK SEATS, AS I CLOSE THE REAR DOOR, AND TRY TO ENTER THE DRIVER SEAT, ALL THE DOORS WOULD LOCK (THE REMOTE FOB WOULD STIL…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11023801 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ GLE350. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE EXTERIOR HEADLAMPS INSUFFICIENTLY ILLUMINATED THE DRIVER'S LINE OF SIGHT ON THE ROAD. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND NO WAY TO MODIFY THE POSITIONING OF THE LIGHTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,671.

Owner-reported narrative. 12,671 miles reported. Look up ODI 11054739 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: 2017-02-08 (February 8, 2017)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017 GLE 400 4Matic, GLE 350 4Matic, GLE 350, GLE 550E 4Matic, GLE 63 AMG, GLE 63S AMG, GLE 43 AMG 4Matic Coupe, GLE 63S AMG 4Matic Coupe, GLS 450 4Matic, GLS 550 4Matic, and GLS 63 AMG 4Matic vehicles. In certain types of crash events, the center console may unlatch, allowing the objects within to fly around the cabin. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact."

Consequence: In the event of a crash, if objects are not secured within the center console, they may strike the vehicle occupants, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will modify the center console so that it remains latched in a crash, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in early March 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Reported: 2017-12-18 (December 18, 2017)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017 GLE400 4Matic, GLE350 4Matic, GLE350, GLE550e 4Matic, GLE43 AMG 4Matic, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLS450, GLE63S 4Matic, GLS63 4Matic, S550e, S600, S63 AMG 4Matic, S65 AMG, S550, Mercedes-Maybach S600, Mercedes-Maybach S550 4Matic, GLE43 AMG 4Matic Coupe, GLE63S 4Matic Coupe, 2017-2018 GLS550 4Matic, S550 4Matic, 2018 S450, and S63 AMG 4Matic vehicles. The rear passenger door on the driver side may indicate that it is locked, when it may not be. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."

Consequence: If the door appears to be locked, the door may be unintentionally opened, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left rear door lock, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in January 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

Reported: 2021-02-05 (February 5, 2021)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 - 2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to the Part 573 report for specific vehicle model details. The software design of the communication module may fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (eCall) in the event of a crash.

Consequence: Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020025.

Reported: 2021-02-12 (February 12, 2021)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2019 C300, E300, 2018-2020 CLA250, 2020 CLS450, AMG E53, AMG GT53, GLE450, 2018 AMG E63, AMG GTA, 2017-2020 GLA250, GLC300, 2019 GLC350, AMG GLC43, 2017-2018 GLE350, 2019 AMG GLC 43, GLC350, GLE400, 2017 GLS450, S550, C300 Cabrio, and 2018-2019 S560 vehicles. On June 18, 2021, an additional 9 vehicles were added, including certain 2021 GLA250, GLC300, 2018 S450, E400, and 2017 CLA250 vehicles. The communication module might have been inadvertently deactivated during a service visit, which could have disabled the Emergency Call (eCall) function.

Consequence: A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting emergency services through the call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the communication module and activate it, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021. Letters for the owners of the 9 additional vehicles were mailed July 9, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021030005.

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.