The engine light warning or indicator light failed to appear when engine began misfiring and shaking causing connecting rod to put a hole in the engine. My safety and the safety of others was put at risk because engine failure can produce the following safety hazards: The primary safety hazards to others include: • Sudden Oil Slick on the Highway: The engine block holds the vehicle's motor oil under pressure. When the rod punctures the block, gallons of hot oil can instantly dump onto the road surface. This creates an immediate, highly slippery oil slick, causing trailing vehicles to lose traction, skid, or crash. • Engine Bay Fire: The expelled motor oil and fuel vapors/spreading vehicle fire • Flying Shrapnel: Metal fragments from the piston, rod, or engine block can be violently ejected from underneath the car. • Immediate Loss of Vehicle Control The problem has been confirmed by the dealer and inspected by others. There were no warning lamps, messages, or lights prior to the failure.
The worst 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine24
- Electrical9
- Driver assistance5
- Visibility5
- Transmission4
- Brakes3
- Body2
- Fuel system2
- Acceleration1
- Lights1
- Locks1
- Suspension1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350
Check engine light 14Engine failure 7Misfire 7Loss of power 6Stalling 6
Recalls 14
Electrical system: wiring
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2022 GLE 350 and 2021-2022 GLE 450 vehicles. The front acceleration sensor's wiring harness may be routed incorrectly, which can prevent the front air bags from deploying properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Risk
- An air bag that does not deploy properly can increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and reroute the wiring harness, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 1, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024100006.
Recall number 24V724000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2024 GLE, GLS, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL, GLC, CLS, AMG GT, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle details. The fuel pump may shutdown, causing a loss of drive power.
- Risk
- A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 28, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on February 23, 2024, April 19, 2024, June 28, 2024, August 9, 2024, October 1, 2024, and December 2, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372. This recall is an expansion of the federal safety agency recall number 23V‑445.
Recall number 23V880000 · Recall details
Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2022 GLE350 and GLE450 vehicles. A 12-Volt ground connection under the driver seat may not be secured properly, resulting in the ground connection overheating.
- Risk
- An overheated ground connection can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and secure the 12-Volt ground connection as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 26, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372.
Recall number 23V835000 · Recall details
Visibility: defroster/defogger/HVAC system
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020-2021 GLE350, GLE450, GLS450, GLS580, 2021 AMG GLE53, AMG GLE63, Maybach GLS600, AMG GLS63, and 2020 GLE580 vehicles. The air conditioner drain hoses may have been incorrectly installed, causing water to drain into the passenger compartment.
- Risk
- Water intrusion into the foot wells may cause corrosion and/or short circuits to electrical components, increasing the risk of fire. In addition, the emergency call (eCall) feature may be disabled and the doors may not unlock, increasing the risk of injury. Also, the engine may not start or may enter a limp-home mode, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and reinstall the air conditioner drain hoses, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372. This recall is an expansion of recall numbers 21V‑288 and 19V‑587. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023030014 and 15.
Recall number 23V177000 · Recall details
Steering: critical fasteners
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2022 GLE350, GLE450, 2022 AMG GLE53, AMG GLE63, and GLS450 vehicles. The steering coupling locking screw may loosen and possibly detach from the steering gear, resulting in a loss of steering control.
- Risk
- A loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the steering coupling locking screw, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 27, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022120016.
Recall number 22V936000 · Recall details
Structure: body
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020-2022 GLE350, GLE450, GLS450, 2021-2022 AMG GLE53, 2020-2021 GLE580, GLS580, and 2021 GLE400e, AMG GLS63, AMG GLE63 S, and Maybach GLS600 vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the rear door window trim bars may detach.
- Risk
- Detached trim bars may cause a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and secure the rear window trim bars, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 1, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022090010.
Recall number 22V680000 · Recall details
Electrical system: software
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2022 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, AMG GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL-Class, GLC-Class, CLS-Class, GLB-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. An error in the communication module's SIM card software can cause a mobile network connection failure, disabling the emergency call (eCall) system.
- Risk
- A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting the emergency services call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- The communication module software will be updated through an Over-the-Air (OTA) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2022. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on July 8, 2022, May 17, 2024, July 29, 2024, and September 27, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372. MBUSA's numbers are for this recall is 2022060005 and 2023110006.
Recall number 22V365000 · Recall details
Visibility: glass, side/rear
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 GLE 350, GLE 580, GLS 450, GLS 580, AMG GLE 53, AMG GLE 63 S, and AMG GLS 63 S vehicles. The rear window may be insufficiently bonded to the tailgate, which could allow the rear glass to detach.
- Risk
- Detached rear glass can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the rear window, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 8, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372.
Recall number 21V832000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: headlights
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2020 C300, 2019-2020 A220, AMG C43, AMG C63, 2020 GLE580, GLB250, 2020-2021 GLE450, GLE350, 2021 AMG GLE63, and AMG GLE53 vehicles. The LED headlights may have been incorrectly adjusted during a vehicle repair. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Risk
- Incorrectly adjusted headlights may reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the LED headlights, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed August 13, 2021. A second notice will be sent once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed January 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372.
Recall number 21V509000 · Recall details
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 CLA-Class, GLE/GLS-Class, A-Class, E-Class, E-Class Coupe and Convertible, GLA/GLB-Class, GLC-Class, CLS-Class, and AMG GT-Class 4-door Coupe vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The MBUX multimedia system software may cause the display to remain black, or reboot after startup. This could result in the rearview camera image not displaying properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Risk
- A backup camera that displays a blank image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- The multimedia system software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning June 28, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6373. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021050012.
Recall number 21V354000 · Recall details
Electronic stability control (ESC): control module: software
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020-2021 GLE450, GLE350, and 2020 GLS450, GLE580, GLS580 vehicles. During certain evasive driving maneuvers, the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) software may apply torque to one of the front wheels, pulling the vehicle to one side. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
- Risk
- If the vehicle unexpectedly pulls to one side during an evasive maneuver, it can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the ESP software, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021030004.
Recall number 21V071000 · Recall details
Electrical system: software
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 21V058000 · Recall details
Seat belts: rear/other: buckle assembly
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz AG USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 AMG GLE53, AMG GLE63, 2020 GLE580, 2020-2021 GLE350 and GLE450 vehicles with 5 passenger seating. While buckling the seat belt, the middle seat belt buckle could be pushed down into the gap below the seat cushion. If the buckle can't be retrieved, the buckle latch will be inoperable and unable to restrain an occupant.
- Risk
- An unrestrained occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
- Remedy
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will secure the middle seat belt buckle, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020110005.
Recall number 20V671000 · Recall details
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
- What is wrong
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020 CLA250, CLA250 4MATIC and CLA35 AMG 4MATIC, 2020-2021 GLE350, GLE350 4MATIC, GLE450 4MATIC, GLS450 4MATIC and GLS580 4MATIC and 2021 GLE53 AMG Coupe, GLE63S AMG 4MATIC, GLS63 AMG 4MATIC and Maybach GLS600 4MATIC vehicles. The instrument cluster software may deactivate the illumination of certain interior switches (switch bar, overhead control unit, steering wheel) if the hazard lights are turned on and the ignition switch is in the 'off' position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Control and Displays."
- Risk
- If the interior switches are not illuminated, they may be more difficult to find and operate, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1‑800‑367‑6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020030019.
Recall number 20V089000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 385
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Dear Mercedes-Benz Owner: In our continuing efforts to ensure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz...
- Fuel/propulsion system
- In our continuing efforts to ensure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the...
- In our continuing efforts to ensure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the...
- Dear Dealer Partners, The part numbers listed in the chart below should no longer be installed, and any...
- Customer concern of Air Conditioning not cooling
- Customer complaints relating to automatic transmission 725.0 (NAG3 Classic /9G‑TRONIC automatic...
- Slight creaking noises when steering
- Repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60MPH. NOTE: Although the symptom is...
- Red coolant warning in instrument cluster
2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | RWD | 19 | 26 | 22 |
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | 4WD | 19 | 26 | 22 |
What 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
While driving on the highway on three separate occasions the blind spot warning will pop up and show as inoperative, next the active break assist warning flashes as inoperative, and then the entire vehicle shows as inoperative and loses all acceleration and breaks down. This has happened three times. Stayed over night at the dealership they “drove it for 70 miles” it didn’t happen to them. They released the truck back to me saying it was perfectly fine. A day later it happened again while on the highway. Highly unsafe!
At approximately 87,000 miles, my 2021 GLE350 (M264 2.0T engine) experienced a severe engine misfire resulting in a flashing check engine light, rough idle, engine shaking, significant loss of power, and near-stall condition. The vehicle was taken to Speedhaus Automotive (Newbury Park, CA) where all four ignition coils and spark plugs were replaced. Total repair cost was approximately $635. This failure pattern is consistent with the documented M264 exhaust valve seat wear issue acknowledged by Mercedes-Benz technicians. A Mercedes dealer service report on an identical 2021 GLE350 explicitly states: "COMMON ISSUE FOR EXHAUST VALVE SEATS TO WEAR — KNOWN ISSUE WITH 260 AND 264 MOTORS." Mercedes-Benz has extended the warranty on the M260 engine (transverse variant) for this identical failure mode but has not extended it for the longitudinally-mounted M264 despite the same defect being present. Repair costs for full cylinder head failure on the M264 are being quoted at $6,000–$13,000. I am requesting the federal safety agency investigate whether a safety recall is warranted for the M264 engine across all affected GLE350, GLC300, C300, and E350 vehicles.
2021 mercedes-benz gle 350 w. Aprox: 30,000 miles. Purchased the vehicle 3 years ago, when it had 17,000 miles on it. When driving at times the passenger rear shock will start making sqeaking / creaking noises. Been like this for almost 1 year now. I dont drive the vehicle very often, but when I do drive it it irritates me. The dealership said the shock needs to be replaced. There are no visible leaks, no abnormal ride quality, etc.
The contact owned a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350. The contact stated that warm air was blowing from the A/C unit while activated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the contact was informed that a leak had caused the A/C unit failure. The mechanic referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where a diagnostic test was performed. The contact was informed that the HVAC system was inoperable and an estimate for the repair was provided. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was provided a case number. The manufacturer denied responsibility for the failure but offered a monetary credit towards the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact later traded the vehicle due to the A/C unit failure. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000. The VIN was not available.
While driving at night all error light showed up. I slowed down to the side of the road and while I was slowing down the engine died. I tried to start the car which worked but when I pressed the gas the engine died again. Tried it two more times with the same results. Then turned the car and waited a bit with the engine running. slowly started driving and was able to get home driving 20 mph. The next day took it to a shop that said that the battery was weak and they replaced the battery. Drove out of the shop and started hearing nosies from the engine. Immediately came back and was advised to take it to the dealer. Towed it to the dealer that checked it and said that they found metal in the oil filter and that I need to install a new engine. I read online and found many complains about the same engine issue with 2021 Mercedes GLE 350. Mercedes refuses to take responsibility that they built a faulty engine.
The vehicle has repeatedly experienced a sudden loss of acceleration, entering a reduced-power state while driving. Most recently, this occurred less than one week after I was advised that the issue had been fully resolved through a relay replacement. Critically, these incidents have occurred while my [XXX] child was in the vehicle, creating an unsafe and unacceptable situation. Below is a summary of the work that was done to resolve the safety concern. October: Drivetrain/Powertrain control unit internal fault Replacement of gateway/powertrain control module Wiring, grounding, and software inspections November: Active Brake Assist, ESP, and voltage supply faults Failure of both rear wheel speed sensors Replacement of left and right rear wheel speed sensors December: Dealership identified a faulty relay as the root cause Relay replaced and vehicle returned to service January, the vehicle again lost acceleration. And now, again in February. The same loss in acceleration incident. At this point, the vehicle has demonstrated a pattern of unresolved, safety-critical electrical failures. Given the repeated nature of the issue, the prior replacement of major components, and the involvement of braking and drivetrain systems, I no longer feel confident that additional part replacement without corporate oversight will result in a safe or permanent resolution. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
This is regarding a 2021 gle 350. The car was parked overnight and in the morning was unable to start or crank . I had to tow the vehicle to the service center that has maintained the car since purchased date and they told Me there’s a problem with the engine and I will need a new engine costing $28,000 dollars., the car has 42,000 miles and has an impeccable service history with Mercedes Benz. They did not tell me any specific engine part that’s faulty. There was no warning lights, check engine lights. Had I been driving this car and it happened it could have been catastrophic.
There is a known issue with the Cylinder Heads on specific models of Mercedes vehicles. Symptoms of M264 Cylinder Head Failure If your GLE 350 is experiencing these symptoms, it may be covered under the extension: Check Engine Light (MIL): Often triggered by misfire codes. Rough Idle: Noticeable shaking or uneven idling when stopped. Loss of Power: Potential stalling or significant power reduction during acceleration. Low Compression: Diagnostic tests often reveal low pressure in one or more cylinders. This is not being addressed my Mercedes USA where Mercedes Canada has offered an extended warranty. Using social media I have comprised a list of over a hundred impacted owners. Many more exist. What this does is cost catastrophic failure of the engine leaving the driver stranded in whatever lanes they were traveling in. I am disabled and for me this created a life threatening situation. When reaching out to MBUSA the answer is simply "not warranty exists" where MB Canada has extended the warranty to an additional 15k miles from notice. My engine blew. The replacement cost is near $20,000 dollars. The mileage on my engine was 65k. Many others are impacted and a class action lawsuit is the only other course of action it seems. Regards, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Sunroof makes loud, high pitched noise when it’s windy or driving high speeds. Sunroof complaints found online for bad seals or components of sunroof being bad or unaligned. Sounds could cause driver not to hear other safety issues with vehicle as well as leaking if water.
Compare the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350
GLE 350 vs Acura MDXGLE 350 vs BMW X5GLE 350 vs Volvo XC90GLE 350 vs Audi Q7GLE 350 vs Lexus RXGLE 350 vs Cadillac XT5
Other model years
Questions about the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350
Is the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 reliable?
Owners have filed 49 complaints about the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350, close to a typical GLE 350 model year.
What is the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 year score?
The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 scores 67 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Mercedes-Benz GLE 350: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350?
Engine and cooling, with 24 complaints, typically around 74,000 miles. Next is electrical (9).
How many recalls does the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 have?
14 recalls, covering electrical system, fuel system, gasoline and visibility.
What year does the Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 have bad engine?
The Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 model years with the most engine complaints are 2020 (34 complaints), 2021 (24 complaints) and 2022 (10 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 get?
Official estimates for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 range from 22 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl, RWD) gets 19 city and 26 highway.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history