What 103 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Mercedes-benz Gle-class Hybrid

The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE450. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front roof panel detached and flew off the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,620.

NHTSA ODI 11664622

In May 2023 I took my 2016 GLE 450 AMG into "Park Place Motor Cars Mercedes" (Dallas) for the (MBUSA 2023010002 and 2023010003) "Water that could Leak into the Spare Tire area, Impacting the Fuel Pump" recall. Park Place stated that they didn't locate any signs of water in the trunk area and would place a water drain plug in the spare tire area to drain water, incase water entered the area. In January 26, 2024, while driving, my GLE 450 loss propulsion without warning causing me to almost get rear ended. Unbeknownst to me, that this was related to the recall from 2023, I had the vehicle towed to a local "certified repair shop". The shop stated that i would need to replace the fuel pump units. Approximately 2 months later while my daughter was driving the GLE 450, the vehicle loss propulsion without warning once again causing my daughter to be stranded at a "Stop sign" 30 miles from home at approximately 1245 am. I had the vehicle towed to "Park Place Motorcars". Service advisor informed me that the Fuel pump unit had failed due to water entering into the trunk and they would have to determine where the water was coming from. I then asked to speak to manager and I remembered that a recall describing this situation had been conducted less than a year prior to this incident (2x). After approximately 1 month the service advisor messaged me and stated that the repair(s) wouldn't be covered under the recall warranty due to the fact that debris was found underneath the vehicle, causing the drain plug to be blocked. I am terrified to allow my family to continue driving this vehicle with the current remedy that Mercedes has chosen to use (drain plug), that did NOT fix the problem specified in the defective issue within the recall paperwork. The REMEDY should be to determine how the water is entering into the vehicle. The water has caused 2 fuel pump incidents within 1 year leading to the loss of propulsion without warning and increasing the risk of a serious crash.

NHTSA ODI 11594112

The door hinges are an issue with these cars many many people are expressing the same issues which is the door hinges fail and start popping and cracking. Mercedes isn’t issuing a recall or remedy for this. Also there’s an issue with the passenger airbag weight sensors going bad which is throwing the airbag light off (which this is also happening in my car) the service center I talked to knew about this is agreed it a issue they see time and time again with these cars. Mercedes needs to make this right.

NHTSA ODI 11564357

I tried to open the sunroof and it appeared that something was broken or out of alignment and it wouldn't open. I brought it to the dealership. I was told the track had broken off. They replaced it but also found out the reason it was getting off track was because of the panoramic shade that seems to get out of alignment when being manipulated. Overall, the fix to this problem was almost $4000.00 . I asked if there was any recall regarding this and they said no. I questioned why a part of the car that is rarely used has broken so easily and caused so much damage. My car has only 38K miles for a 2016 model. On my own research, I did find that Mercedes has recalled several thousands of cars with similar sunroof problems but my model car was not included. I wanted to reach out and report in case there are other similar reports that other people have come forward with. Thank you very much for your time.

NHTSA ODI 11534779

The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE350. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled and lost motive power. The vehicle failed to restart. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that the vehicle was then towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that an unknown module needed to be replaced; however, no repair was completed. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, where an unknown module was replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. Additionally, the contact stated that after a rainstorm there was water in the spare tire wheel well. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, where unknown repairs were completed. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V955000 (Fuel System, Diesel, Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 59,831.

NHTSA ODI 11509527

My 2016 Mercedes GLE 450 AMG was running perfectly but stalled while I was making a left turn onto a major roadway and I was inches from a catastrophic accident. My car was towed to Mercedes Benz dealership and the technician informed me that the trunk seal was not sealing properly causing water to get in through the trunk and shorted out a fuel pump module. My trunk was not wet and only indication of water was when the rear compartment was lifted near the spare tire area so I was not aware of a possible leak. My car is mostly garage kept unless I am at work where it’s exposed to weather. It had been raining for several days in our area. After doing online research, it appears to be an existing problem for Mercedes owners. I’m concerned because I could have lost my life due to this issue and someone may not be so fortunate if the problem goes unresolved.

NHTSA ODI 11482126

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLE450 AMG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL WELL LINER PIN/SCREW ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES WERE LOOSE, WHICH CAUSED THE WHEEL LINER TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE TIRES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. MERCEDES-BENZ OF BUCKHEAD (2799 PIEDMONT RD NE, ATLANTA, GA) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,001.

NHTSA ODI 11241685

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 PROBLEM TO BE CORRECTED BY DEALER PROGRAMABLE TECHNOLOGY. I ADVISED THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT HE MIGHT WANT TO DISCUSS THIS WITH MERCEDES BEFORE I FILED THIS REPORT. HE DECLINED. THIS IS NOT A SAFE CONDITION AND COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DAMAGE.

NHTSA ODI 11142468

THIS GLE 550$ 2016 LESS THAN 18 MONTHS WITH 5800 MILES. ELECTRICAL CHARGE OUTLET DOOR IS POSING SAFETY PROBLEMS. IT IS LOCATED HORIZONTALLY IN THE REAR BUMPER. THE SOLENOID VALVE EITHER UNLOCKS ITSELF DURING DRIVE, OR CANNOT BE CLOSED. DURING RUNNING THE DOOR OF THE OUTLET IS OPEN. THE CARS BEHIND ME HONK AND ATTEMPT TO OVERTAKE ME AND SLOW DOWN IN THE NEXT LANE TO WARN ME THAT MY GASOLINE DOOR IS OPEN (THEY DO NOT KNOW IT IS ELECTRICAL). I GET WORRIED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY AND MINE IN THE HGHWAY . WATER AND SNOW SEEPS INTO THE SOLENOID VALVE MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CLOSE THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET COVER OF THE CHARGING OUTLET. IT HAS GONE TO THE WORKSHOP THREE TIMES. THEY PRETTY MUCH GAVE UP AND REFERRED TO MERCEDES. TWO WINTERS, THE VALVE IS FROZEN AND NON FUNCTIONAL. NON CLOSURE OF THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET MAKES GASOLINE OUTLET DOOR INOPERABLE. OCCASIONALLY, A DUCT TAPE HAS TO BE USED TO KEEP THE DOOR CLOSED AND GASOLINE FILLED. INITIALLY, THE DEALER NOT KNOWING, I SUPPOSE, SUGGESTED I USE WD 40 SPRAY INTO THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET DOOR. I WAS RELUCTANT TO FOLLOW THIS MODE DUE TO FEAR OF ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT. LATER THE SOLENOID VALVE REPLACED WITH NO PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. IT SEEMS, THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE B CLASS ALSO AS PER THE LINK BELOW. HTTP://WWW.MYBCLASSELECTRICDRIVE.COM/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?P=3927 MERCEDES NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS AND RECALL THIS MODEL UNTIL FIX. BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE, THE PRE CLIMATIC CONTROL IS NON FUNCTIONAL AND GIVES WARNING OF LOW HV BATTERY VOLTAGE. THIS CAR IS PRETTY MUCH USELESS IN WINTER AS IT DOES NOT MEET ITS SPECIFICATIONS LISTED IN THE MANUAL.

NHTSA ODI 11060882

MY SUNROOF EXPLODED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THERE WAS NO SIGNS OF DAMAGE TO THE GLASS. THE GLASS FLEW BACK ON ROAD AND THE GLASS REMAINING ON TOO APPEARED BOWED.

NHTSA ODI 11057226