What 56 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Mercedes-benz Gle-class Hybrid

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC; Case: XXX My concerns has been denied and overlooked by Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC multiple times since Jan 2026--interims of defective electric system causing sudden locking of steering wheel and shut down car , due to malfunctioning electric system resulting in car crash into another parked car on the street, took car to auto body shop who diagnosed gas gauge misread as empty gas tank even though tank was 3/4 full , due to this car was totally locked out when driving on the street and hit another parked car due to loss of control. i have been in communication with Mercedes and they stated car was functioning fine and there was no defect or malfunction ,which i don't agree, as a results my wife into crash and sustained injuries I need your help to resolve this issue thx [XXX] & [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11733079

The contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in a pharmacy parking lot with the hold feature engaged, the driver released the brake pedal. Immediately afterward, the vehicle suddenly accelerated forward approximately 75 feet. The driver attempted to stop the vehicle by depressing the brake pedal; however, the brakes failed to respond. The vehicle continued moving, went over a curb, into a ditch, up a hill, and through a cement block wall before coming to an abrupt stop 5 feet from a house. The driver sustained arm and shoulder injuries, including emotional trauma, and was transported by ambulance to a hospital for medical treatment. The air bags deployed during the crash. There was no reported fire. A police report was filed, and the vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The driver attempted to contact a local dealer but did not receive a response. The vehicle has not yet been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.

NHTSA ODI 11723339

My wife was hit pretty bad and was transported to hartford hospital and none of the airbag was deployed. I need help to sue Mercedes Benz. I thank god my daughter not in the car and my wife is alive. Attach are the photos and the east hartford can testify that none of the airbag save or protect my wife. I am disappointed at Mercedes and I have another Mercedes at home which am even scared to drive

NHTSA ODI 11680517

Basic driving morning of 7/26/23, no recent vehicle issues, suddenly the car dash lights lit up, steering became stiff, car coasted to a stop, fire erupted inside the engine bay and spread to most of the car. The vehicle was taken by the insurance company. Vehicle was stock. No engine or electrical modifications. Well maintained.

NHTSA ODI 11575932

The contact owned a 2018 Mercedes-Benz 350 GLE. The contact stated while stopped at a traffic light at an intersection, the vehicle began to lunge forward while the brake pedal was still depressed. The vehicle lurched into the intersection and struck another vehicle. The contact stated he did not notice any warning lights being illuminated. The contact's vehicle struck a vehicle on the driver's side door with his front end. The vehicle's grill was crushed and shattered all the windows on the other vehicle's driver's side. There were no injuries. The police were on the scene and wrote a report. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer, where it was placed in the body shop and repaired. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 44,500. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI 11464519

I WRITE YOU TO REPORT A SERIOUS MERCEDES BENZ SAFETY HAZARD. THE GLE 43 WITH PIRELLI PZERO TIRES RESPONDS ADVERSELY (WITHOUT REASONABLE CONTROL) IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. IN EVEN MILDLY SNOWY CONDITIONS, THE TIRES PLANE ON THE SNOW AND ACT MORE AS SKIS THAN TIRES. IN 2018, AFTER LEASING MY GLE 43 I EXPERIENCED LOSS OF CONTROL, SLIDING SIDEWAYS, WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 5-10 MPH IN A PARKING LOT. FOLLOWING THAT EXPERIENCE I PURCHASED SNOW TIRES AND THE CAR HANDLED MUCH MORE FAVORABLY. IN 2018 WHEN I LEASED THE CAR, I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT ONLY THE SPORT TIRES WERE AVAILABLE FOR THE SIZE TIRE I REQUESTED. CLEARLY I WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE SNOW TIRES THE SAME YEAR AND I SUSPECT, BUT HAVE NOT CONFIRMED, ALL WEATHER TIRES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE. MERCEDES MISTAKENLY DID NOT OFFER (OR MAKE THE STANDARD) ALL WEATHER TIRES. THIS WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY MISTAKE WITH THE GLE 43. ON 07 SEP OF THIS YEAR (2020), DRIVING EAST ON I-70 IN COLORADO DURING A MILD SNOW STORM, I WAS REQUIRED TO COME TO A TRAFFIC STOP. CONDITIONS OFFERED AMPLE ROAD TO STOP. THE GLE SPEED WAS ~40-50 MPH WHEN I APPLIED BREAKS TO STOP THE CAR. INSTEAD OF RESPONDING WITH CONTROL, THE GLE FISHTAILED AND SPUN OUT OF CONTROL. I FINALLY SLID TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THREE LANES OF STOPPED TRAFFIC AFTER AT LEAST ONE 360 DEGREE SPIN. MY FAMILY AND I WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE ESCAPED INJURY OR DEATH. OTHERS AROUND US COULD HAVE ALSO BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. THE GLE'S PERFORMANCE WITH PIRELLI PZERO TIRES WAS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE. I BELIEVE MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THIS SAFETY CONCERN AND TAKE REASONABLE STEPS TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING TO OTHERS. SPECIFICALLY, I REQUEST THE FOLLOWING: 'MAKE THE PIRELLI PZERO SAFETY CONCERN IN WINTER CONDITIONS KNOWN TO ALL GLE OWNERS AND OFFER ALTERNATE TIRES 'REPLACE THE TIRES ON MY GLE WITH ACCEPTABLE ALL WEATHER TIRES 'REPAIR THE DAMAGE CAUSED TO

NHTSA ODI 11355025

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 MERCEDES-BENZ GLE43 AMG. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMALLY LOUD BOOM SOUND AND THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS NOT STRUCK BY ANY DEBRIS OR FOREIGN OBJECT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS GLASS IN HER HAIR, ON HER FACE, AND ON THE CHILDREN SEATED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE MINOR INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF HOUSTON NORTH (17510 NORTH FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77090, (281) 305-8970). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUN ROOF MAY HAVE SHATTERED BY A ROCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA ODI 11181513

CAR WAS STOPPED IN THE PARKING LOT,AND JUST BEFORE SWITCHING THE IGNITION OFF,IT ACCELERATED WITHOUT INTENTION, HITTING THE RESTAURANT WALL CAUSING PROPERTY DAMAGE AND LITTLE PHYSICAL INJURY. AFTER HITTING THE WALL CAR STOPPED WITH MAJOR DAMAGE TO FRONT. AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI 11172997

ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION, CAUSING UNSAFE CONDITION, LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND LOW SPEED COLLISION WITH CONCRETE WALL. VARIOUS WARNING MESSAGES IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER APPEARED. MBUSA INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND AN ELECTRONIC STEERING CONTROL FAULT CODE WAS FOUND. TECHNICIAN STATES IN REPAIR ORDER "STEERING RACK SHORTED" AND "PERFORMED SDS AND FOUND NO COMMUNICATION WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING CONTROL UNIT." MBUSA REFUSED TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY, STATING MBUSA "PERFORMED VERY THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED WITHOUT DEFECT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT." PRIOR MODEL YEARS OF THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE WERE RECALLED FOR DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS AND WATER INGRESS INTO THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING CONTROL UNIT (SEE: NHTSA SAFETY RECALL REPORT: 17V-241).

NHTSA ODI 11110871

WHILE PARKING CAR IN A PARKING SPOT IN PRIVATE OFFICE PARKING, THE CAR ACCELERATED ITSELF (WHILE PRESSING THE BRAKE TO STOP IT) AND RAN INTO FRONT WALL. THIS SIMILAR PROBLEM HAS SHOWN EARLIER WHERE CAR ACCELERATED ITSELF WITHOUT CAUSING ANY ACCIDENT. APPARENTLY PROBLEM EXIST WHERE CAR SOMETIME ACCELERATE ITSELF. LAST TIME ACCELERATION CAUSE CRASH INTO FRONT WALL WITH SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE CAR. NOW CAR IS AT BODY SHOP FOR REPAIR. CAR WAS HEADING STRAIGHT INTO GLASS WINDOW BUT DRIVER TURNED THE WHEEL TO RIGHT TO SAVE GLASS WINDOW AND DIRECTED TOWARD THE PILLAR. AS THIS CAN BE SEEN IN THE PICTURE. THIS IS THE REASON FOR THE CRASH TO BE AT AN ANGLE, THIS WAS DONE TO AVOID CRASHING INTO BUILDING WINDOWS AND INJURING INHABITANT OF THE BUILDING.

NHTSA ODI 11093754