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.
Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 check engine light comes on
48 of the 354 owner complaints about the Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 describe check engine light, most of them for the 2020 model year.
- owner complaints
- 48
- worst model year
- 2020
- typical repair cost reported
- $10,000
- typical mileage
- 71,000
By model year
Often reported together
Misfire 12Stalling 8Loss of power 7Engine failure 7Fuel pump 4
Trouble codes mentioned
P0191 1
What owners say
Fuel Rail Pressure Sensor failure (P0191) This issue generated a check engine light and limp home mode to be initiated. I have had the part changed and when it was changed the previous part had a manufacturing date of 2025. After replacing with new certified part the issue happened again less than a month later. I have researched and found out that Mercedes has issued a Campaign (L107.70-P-078047) for this issue but they are saying my VIN does not have a recall or campaign attached to it. My vehicle is presenting with the exact issues this campaign states and the same P0191 code that is mentioned in the campaign. It states that there is a software update needed and a flash done on the computer. This issue is causing a safety hazard for driving for when it goes into limp home mode at any speed and any location.
On 8/28/2026, my Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 (W166, M276 engine) experienced a sudden, catastrophic engine stall while driving in active traffic. There was no Check Engine Light (CEL), dashboard warning, or mechanical hesitation prior to the failure. The vehicle instantly lost all propulsion, power steering, and power braking assist, creating an extreme crash hazard and requiring immense physical effort to maneuver the dead vehicle off the roadway. Independent diagnostic teardown by a module specialist confirmed the root cause: an unrepairable internal short circuit between the internal PCB layers of the Engine Control Unit (ECU). Because Mercedes-Benz chose to mount this sensitive electronic module directly to the top of the hot engine block, it is subjected to extreme thermal cycling and vibration. This predictable thermal degradation causes the internal board layers to delaminate and short out. When this internal short occurs, the ECU instantly dies and shuts down the entire vehicle without warning. This is a severe, life-threatening engineering defect. A safety investigation is urgently needed to address the mounting location and thermal failure rate of M276 ECUs before a sudden high-speed stall results in a fatal collision.
On 8/28/2026, my Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 (W166, M276 engine) experienced a sudden, catastrophic engine stall while driving in active traffic. There was no Check Engine Light (CEL), dashboard warning, or mechanical hesitation prior to the failure. The vehicle instantly lost all propulsion, power steering, and power braking assist, creating an extreme crash hazard and requiring immense physical effort to maneuver the dead vehicle off the roadway. Independent diagnostic teardown by a module specialist confirmed the root cause: an unrepairable internal short circuit between the internal PCB layers of the Engine Control Unit (ECU). Because Mercedes-Benz chose to mount this sensitive electronic module directly to the top of the hot engine block, it is subjected to extreme thermal cycling and vibration. This predictable thermal degradation causes the internal board layers to delaminate and short out. When this internal short occurs, the ECU instantly dies and shuts down the entire vehicle without warning. This is a severe, life-threatening engineering defect. A safety investigation is urgently needed to address the mounting location and thermal failure rate of M276 ECUs before a sudden high-speed stall results in a fatal collision.
While driving my 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350, the vehicle suddenly shut off and lost propulsion without warning. There was no check-engine light or other warning before the failure. The engine would crank afterward but would not restart, leaving the vehicle disabled. The vehicle has an open the federal safety agency safety recall (22V‑955) involving the fuel pump control unit and potential loss of propulsion. The vehicle is currently at Benzel-Busch Mercedes-Benz for recall inspection and diagnosis. I am reporting this because the sudden loss of propulsion while driving created a serious safety risk.
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.
The engine in my 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 experienced catastrophic internal failure while driving. No warning lights or check engine indicators came on. Prior to failure, the vehicle began making a loud metallic knocking/rattling sound during acceleration, similar to “rocks shaking in a box.” Shortly afterward, the engine suddenly stalled while driving and would no longer run. The vehicle still had electrical power but the engine would not restart. The vehicle was towed to Mercedes-Benz of Las Vegas for inspection. The dealer diagnosed the engine as seized and documented metal debris in the oil filter and oil/metal debris underneath the vehicle, indicating catastrophic internal engine damage. The dealer stated that the engine replacement was required.The failed engine and vehicle are currently located at Mercedes-Benz of Las Vegas and are available for inspection upon request.The vehicle stalled unexpectedly while being driven on a public roadway, causing sudden loss of engine power and creating a potentially dangerous traffic situation. The violent shaking and knocking before failure also caused concern that the vehicle could lose control or stop operating completely in traffic, which it ultimately did. A sudden engine seizure and stall while driving creates a significant safety hazard because the driver may lose the ability to accelerate, maneuver safely, or clear traffic. This could increase the risk of collision, especially at highway speeds or in heavy traffic conditions. Mercedes-Benz of Las Vegas inspected the vehicle and confirmed catastrophic engine failure. The dealer documented that the engine was seized and that metal debris was found in the oil filter and underneath the vehicle. The dealer advised that the engine required replacement and provided an estimated repair cost exceeding $27,000. The dealer has not yet identified the root cause of the failure. No dashboard warning lights, oil pressure warnings, or check engine lights illuminated.
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)
Check engine light came on. Called dealership on a Thursday and again on Monday after it stayed on all weekend. Was told to bring in vehicle for diagnostics and to have a ride home. Half way to the dealership the car spuddered and I had to coast to the shoulder of the road. After a few minutes, I restarted the vehicle and drive slowly to the dealership, barely making it it the shop. The service advisor indicated it could be the cylinder head even before running diagnostics because it had happened to numerous other customers. It was a defective cylinder head. The repair bill was over $10,000 but Mercedes offered a $3,500 assistance credit. After doing some research on the internet, this appears to be a widespread issue.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 check engine light
Why does the check engine light come on in the Mercedes-Benz GLE 350?
Owners who report it most often also describe misfire or rough idle, engine stalls while driving and sudden loss of power, and the codes they mention most are P0191.
Which Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 years have check engine light problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2020 (18 complaints), 2021 (14 complaints) and 2016 (7 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix check engine light on the Mercedes-Benz GLE 350?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $10,000 (median of 7 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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