2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 engine problems

Filed Nov 3, 2026 · Engine · FL

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.

Filed Jun 3, 2026 · Engine · CA

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.

Filed Feb 20, 2026 · Engine · CA

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.

Filed Feb 12, 2026 · Engine · NY

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.

Filed Jan 8, 2026 · Engine · FL

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)

Filed Dec 11, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · CO

Original owner of a 2021 GLE, purchased on April 21, 2021. The vehicle is currently 4 years and 6 months and 22 days old with approximately 49,000 miles. Despite meticulous adherence to all scheduled maintenance performed and no warning lights activated the vehicle suddenly shutdown and would not restart. According to MB maintenance department it suffered a catastrophic and complete engine failure. This type of premature and total engine failure in a properly maintained, low-mileage vehicle is clearly a defect in material or workmanship. This is a serious safety defect that rendered the vehicle completely inoperable with no warning. Issues are resulting from valve guide wear issues, camshaft codes, valve openness, and no-compression symptoms, camshaft, timing chain, etc.

Filed Nov 18, 2025 · Engine · CA

we own a Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 model 2021. Our vehicles engine has stopped running on two different occasions, resulting in a very scary near miss accident situation. The first time this happened was it 22,000 miles, the engine shut off as a result of a failure in the engine cylinder head valve that burned up, causing the car to shut off in the middle of an intersection. The second incident happened at 56,000 miles where the vehicles engine shut off. This was also in the middle of an intersection, this time turning left in front of traffic. The reason why the engine turned off was because the lower part of the engine lost a rod bearing.this is what the dealership told us which cause the engine to have low compression and turn off. In both incidences, the check engine light did not come on. There was no warning. There are several people that have exactly the same problem with their vehicle and have also had the same two situations with two separate repairs made to their cars. People online are calling these Covid engines because the materials that were used to build the engines were made during Covid and they have defects. The GLA 350 model year 2021 appears to be the only year the GLE 350’s are having these issues. Mercedes-Benz refuses to acknowledge any of these issues and is not willing to help properly fix the engines. The only way to properly fix the engine is to completely replace it because it is full of defective parts and after the engine has failed the engines cannot be repaired.. This leaves us with no alternative to try and repair the vehicle ourselves so we are 100% relying on Mercedes to do the right thing and fix the problems that they caused to this 2021 model year GLE 350.

Filed Nov 17, 2025 · Engine · 74,000 miles · CT

The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE350. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the cylinder head. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 74,000.

Filed Oct 24, 2025 · Engine · 69,100 miles · GA

The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE350. The contact stated that while driving 65-70 MPH, the vehicle was skipping. The contact immediately veered towards an exit ramp. The contact noticed knocking sounds coming from the engine, and the vehicle stalled on the exit ramp. There was smoke coming from underneath the hood. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had imploded and sustained a hole. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. Additionally, the dealer took the engine apart and informed the contact that the cause of the engine implosion could not be determined even with the assistance of the engineers. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact then brought an independent mechanic to the dealer to inspect the vehicle. The mechanic inspected the engine and informed the contact that the failure had occurred due to a lack of engine oil; however, the contact stated that the dealer had performed an oil change on the vehicle 27 days prior to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but denied assistance in covering the repair. The manufacturer informed the contact that the engineers had not yet determined the cause of the engine implosion. The failure mileage was 69,100.

Filed Oct 6, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · TX · fire

Not sure vehicle was parked and caught on fire from the drivers side completely burning