What 122 owners told NHTSA about the 2020 Mercedes-benz GLE

When operated with driver assist and stop and go assist, the car, often slams the brakes for no reason in the middle of the highway. I have reported this problem multiple times to the dealership and the dealership has kept the car in for investigation multiple times sometimes for more than two weeks. They were able to replicate the problem, but they had absolutely no solution. It’s been a few years now and it keeps happening. This is a liability issue us cars behind me are at risk to collide.

NHTSA ODI 11650987

The adaptive cruise on the Mercedes has a habit of harsh braking during stop and go traffic. It's not a natural braking manev8, instead it's jarring and I feel like it could cause a rear end with how jarring it is. Many other users are experiencing the same.

NHTSA ODI 11543347

While driving on the interstate in the right lane with adaptive cruise set at 70mph the cameras will occasionally read the off ramp/exit speed limit signs and brake hard to decelerate to the posted off ramp speed limit. This creates an opportunity for a rear end collision. Additionally, the adaptive cruise will “see” vegetation or guard rails on the opposite side of the road, while in a turn, and brake as if to avoid a collision when no hazard exists. Many instances of the two anomalies.

NHTSA ODI 11509485

My 2020 GLE350 met with an accident on 1/20/2023. My wife was driving this vehicle on the freeway at about 40-50mph and she rear ended a Toyota Camry that was ahead of her. Mt complaint is two fold - The airbags did not deploy - The Active Brake Assist system failed to work The collision is a major one. You can see from the pictures. The body shop, an approved vendor for my insurance Geico, has prepared an estimate for $25,487. My vehicle has been in the body shop since the day of the accident. On 1/27/23, the estimate was prepared. I have to approve it and they will start the work anytime this week. This high repair cost is an indicator of a major collision. In such a major collision, I'd expect - Airbags should have deployed. The Camry's airbag did deploy, so should have ours. My wife suffered a strong whiplash. She has severe neck, shoulder, elbow pain and headaches. She is scheduled to undergo physical therapy. If the airbags deployed, these injuries could have been avoided. - The Active Brake Assist system should have been activated during the rear end collision. It should have detected and avoided the collision. However, it failed to deploy too. Few times when I back up, this safety feature has been very useful. It will identify moving objects like pedestrians, vehicle crossing and automatically apply the brakes and prevent potential collision. However, when we needed it most, it failed to save us. The automatic braking didn't happen. There were no visual or acoustic warnings prior to the collision. One of the main reasons I bought GLE350 was for this safety feature. I am so disappointed by this catastrophic failure and questioning whether I should drive this Mercedes anymore. Because of these safety failures, I really worry about driving this vehicle and bringing to NHTSA's attention. Please investigate this safety failure. Year: 2020 Make: Mercedes Benz Model: GLE350W4 Mileage: 30K miles approximately

NHTSA ODI 11504347

The Brakes Failed - At Mercedes Dealership for Over a Month My Wife could have been killed on the highway going 70MPH with no brakes The car was towed by Mercedes over a month ago and never returned. No one will talk to me. Mercedes will not speak with me. Nor have they contacted the dealer - Letter Enclosed No warning - Just brake failure. Prior to that we got a "Your cameras are not working message" a week prior and the car would warn you another car was there. But there was no car.

NHTSA ODI 11479258

While driving the car in "assist" mode I will get a warning that all assist devices are inoperable. This is not always apparent while driving until I notice the adaptive cruise control and lane assist are not responding. Obviously a safety risk. I have talked to the dealership and they cannot find a problem. I contacted Mercedes headquarters and they responded with a customer service rep that began the conversation that he has no technical knowledge of the car (obviously not a big help). I told them I would complete a report to the NHTSA and he seemed very unconcerned. I have not seen a relationship between the "assist" becoming inoperable and anything else in the car or the driving conditions. All incidents so far (about five) have been on clear days or evenings on the freeway with no precipitation nor water on the road.

NHTSA ODI 11442181

I HAVE HAD THREE INSTANCES I BELIEVE THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM FAILED IN MY NEW CAR. THE FIRST INSTANCE WAS A WRONG WAY DRIVER COMING TOWARDS ME ON A FREEWAY OFFRAMP. I ESTIMATE THAT WE WERE WITHIN ABOUT 30 FEET OF EACH OTHER AND TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH WHEN WE BOTH QUICKLY SWERVED TO AVOID A COLLISION. NO WARNING AND NO AUTOMATIC BRAKING OCCURRED. THE NEXT TWO INSTANCES BOTH INVOLVED DRIVING AT NIGHT ON SURFACE STREETS IN WHICH I LAST MINUTE BRAKED TO AVOID HITTING STOPPED CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I WOULD APPROXIMATE MY RATE OF SPEED AT 30 MPH. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY BRAKE IN BOTH CASES AND AVOIDED THE COLLISIONS. IN BOTH CASES THE RED TRIANGLE FLASHED AND AN ALARM WENT OFF BUT THE CAR DID NOT BRAKE OR MAKE ANY EVASIVE MANEUVERS TO AVOID A COLLISION. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF CORPORATE MERCEDES BUT THEY REFERRED ME TO THE DEALERSHIP WITHOUT FURTHER COMMENT. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND NO ERRORS IN THE CAR. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE DEEPER; AN ERROR IN SOFTWARE PROGRAM. THUS THE CAR HAD NO ERRORS AS IT WAS FOLLOWING A FAULTY ALGORITHM. THIS SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO SAVE LIVES AND PROPERTY IF I FAIL TO TAKE QUICK ACTION AS A DRIVER. I BELIEVE THE SYSTEM FAILED!

NHTSA ODI 11399152

I WAS TRAVELLING ON HIGHWAY WITH ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL ON. WHEN NEAR THE EXIT, I PRESS THE OFF BUTTON FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL. TO MY SURPRISE, THE CAR DIDN'T SLOW DOWN, AND INSTEAD MAINTAIN THE ENGINE POWER TO KEEP THE CAR IN SET SPEED. I TRIED THE OTHER SETTINGS (OFF, CANCEL, SPEED DOWN) OPTION BUT NOTHING IS RESPONSIVE. SINCE I AM ON THE OFF RAMP ALREADY, I HAVE TO STEP ON THE BRAKE (THIS DOES FINALLY STOP THE CRUISE CONTROL) TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR. AFTER I COME TO A STOP AT THE STOP LIGHT, I NOTICE THAT THE AR VIEW CAMERA HAS A CONDENSATION IN THE CENTER OF THE CAMERA LENS (SEE FIRST PICTURE WITH 11/10 DATE). AT THE SAME TIME, MULTIPLE WARNING MESSAGE APPEAR ON DASH, INCLUDING "ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE", "ACTIVE LANE KEEP ASSIST INOPERATIVE", AND A FEW OTHERS. THE CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR REMAIN ON AND ACTIVE ON THE DASH (BUT SYSTEM ISN'T WORKING) UNTIL I GOT TO A SAFE LOCATION TO RESTART THE CAR. ALL ERROR MESSAGE WAS CLEARED AFTERWARD. A FEW DAYS LATER (11/16), I HAD THE CAR AT THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. I MENTIONED THE ISSUE BUT THEY SAID THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND CAMERA LENS WAS CLEARED AT THAT TIME. AFTER I GOT HOME, I NOTICE THERE ARE CONDENSATION AGAIN ON THE CAMERA LENS (SEE SECTION PICTURE WITH 11/16 DATE).

NHTSA ODI 11376864