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

Water pool in passenger side of vehicle all into carpet and glovebox area

NHTSA ODI 11746844

To Whom It May Concern: I am submitting this complaint regarding my 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 and respectfully requesting review of a serious infotainment and electronic system failure that occurred at approximately 49,000 miles. Prior to the failure of the MBUX infotainment system, the vehicle began exhibiting abnormal electrical behavior. On multiple occasions, the right headlight remained illuminated even after the vehicle had been completely turned off and locked. The only temporary way to resolve this was to restart the vehicle and shut it down again. Shortly afterward, the vehicle displayed warnings indicating that the 12V battery was very low and required charging. Soon after these electrical issues appeared, the MBUX infotainment system became stuck on the Mercedes-Benz startup logo screen and has remained nonfunctional since. Although the backup camera still partially functions, the infotainment system itself will not boot properly or operate normally. The authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership documented the following diagnostic fault codes: • B14D913 – Internal hard disk malfunction/open circuit • B14F900 – Internal hard disk full According to the dealership service report, guided tests, MOST ring reset procedures, and hard resets of the control unit were all performed without resolving the issue. The dealership ultimately recommended complete replacement of the MBUX head unit at a very significant cost. This situation is especially concerning because the vehicle has relatively low mileage, has been properly maintained, and recently underwent Service B and 12V battery replacement through an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership immediately after the battery warning appeared. A major infotainment head unit/internal storage failure at this mileage is not something we reasonably expected from a luxury vehicle. While researching this issue further, I discovered numerous online reports from other Mercedes-Benz owners — particularly owners of 2020–2023 GLE models —

NHTSA ODI 11739765

We were traveling to our son’s college graduation, driving on a rural interstate and suddenly all of the vehicle’s warning lights lit on the dash and the car started losing, and then completely lost power. The car was no longer operational. We were stranded on the roadside of a remote but busy 2-lane interstate for 2 hours until a tow truck could arrive and take the car to the closest car repair shop which was 45 minutes away. This was an incredibly dangerous situation and we were fortunate to be alongside the shoulder, although we were still close to the tractor trailers and cars on the interstate. (Because we were stranded in such a remote place, we had no other options to get to our son’s graduation. We were unable to attend because of this.) The rural repair shop the car was initially towed to could not determine the problem. A few days later we found a 2nd tow truck that agreed to bring the vehicle several hundreds of miles back to our home city. This car is a 2020 model, and has around 55,000 miles. It has been meticulously maintained by a certified Mercedes mechanic. There were no issues with the car and no indication that there might be a problem. Our mechanic has thoroughly inspected the vehicle and said that the engine has completely seized and the only option is to replace it. We have no idea why this happened. If requested, the vehicle is available for inspection.

NHTSA ODI 11739738

I am submitting a safety complaint regarding my 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 due to what appears to be a significant air conditioning refrigerant leak. The vehicle rapidly loses refrigerant shortly after being recharged. When the system is operating, a loud seeping/hissing sound can be heard from the HVAC system area, followed by complete loss of cold air within a very short period of time. This issue appears to indicate a major refrigerant system failure and raises concerns about potential defects in the evaporator, condenser, hoses, or related AC components. The leak rate is excessive and ongoing. I am concerned this may be a broader manufacturing defect impacting other Mercedes GLE vehicles. The vehicle has been properly maintained, and the failure occurred under normal operating conditions. Given the frequency of similar complaints online involving Mercedes HVAC refrigerant leaks and evaporator failures, I believe this issue warrants investigation for a potential recall or manufacturer accountability. The failure impacts driver and passenger comfort and visibility in humid or high-temperature conditions due to inability to properly defog windows. I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate this issue for potential safety and defect trends affecting the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE platform.

NHTSA ODI 11738600

My vehicle was in for a normal service to have the spark plugs replaced. However I was told that the engine wiring harness had become brittle (apparently a common and reoccurring problem with my vehicle) and would likely cause misfiring after changing spark plugs. This did indeed happen and if I didn’t elect to have the harness replaced, it would have put myself and my son in danger. It was a very costly repair (over $4000) for something that the vehicle manufacturer is at fault for.

NHTSA ODI 11732609

Engine compartment heat causes wiring harness insulation to melt and Electrical shorting while driving. Engine has lack of power and acceleration due to heat damage to the engine harness. Check Engine light came on. This is a potential fire risk and should be address by MBUSA. This is a know issue with this model. Car has only 36,000 miles

NHTSA ODI 11716779

After starting my vehicle and placing it into drive, a warning message appeared on the dashboard stating, “Vehicle warning Do not continue to drive,” indicating that the vehicle would be unable to move forward or in reverse. Immediately following the warning, the vehicle lost all ability to move in either direction while other vehicles were approaching, creating a hazardous situation placing my safety at risk. I was required to keep my foot on the brake and ultimately place the vehicle in the park position. The vehicle was subsequently towed to the dealership. Following diagnostic testing, the dealership confirmed a transmission solenoid valve fault in the control unit and recommended replacement of the transmission valve body and park pawl solenoid, along with a transmission service. The condition was confirmed by the dealership, and there were no warning messages, indicator lights, or symptoms prior to the sudden failure.

NHTSA ODI 11707704

My 2020 GLE 350 first displayed a problem with left indicator on front left hand head lamp. I took an appointment with my Mercedes dealer for repair. Then it started showing all kinds of safety problems on the screen -like blind spot monitoring, collision warning etc not working. I parked it in my garage, shut off the engine, locked it and in a couple minutes, it started a blower like sound. I called Mercedes service center and described the problem. They sent a tow truck. While waiting for tow truck, the blower would automatically start every 3 to 4 minutes in a standing, switched off car which can be very dangerous. After diagnostics the authorized service center found the root cause to be a worn out seal which let condensation in the lamp assembly and the water entered in the electrical module. I have taken up the issue with Mercedes corporate. While they are investigating, I wanted to file this complaint so that if there are similar complaints in this model, it may be a manufacturing defect that needs a recall to fix the bad sealing

NHTSA ODI 11707529

The air conditioning in my 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV has failed due to a refrigerant (freon) leak, leaving the system unable to cool and properly defrost the windshield. This is not an isolated issue—many other GLE owners have reported the same failure on forums and blogs, suggesting a widespread defect. NHTSA has already issued Recall No. 23V177000 (March 2023) for improperly installed A/C drain hoses in 2020–2021 GLE/GLS models, which created water intrusion, electrical shorts, fire risk, and failures of critical systems (eCall, unlocking, limp mode). In addition, a Mercedes-Benz Technical Bulletin dated August 5, 2024 (NHTSA MC-11000597-0001) specifically identifies evaporator refrigerant leaks as a frequent cause of A/C failure. Safety Concerns Loss of cabin cooling in hot weather poses risk of driver fatigue or heat-related illness. Defogging/defrosting may fail in humid conditions, creating visibility hazards. Prior related A/C defects have been tied to short circuits and electrical risks. Consumer Impact This defect has created significant hardship. The A/C failure occurred far earlier than expected for a premium vehicle, leaving me with high out-of-pocket repair estimates. The lack of cooling makes the car unsafe and uncomfortable to drive in hot weather, and the inability to properly defog/defrost windows compromises visibility. I purchased a Mercedes-Benz with the expectation of reliability and safety, and this known defect has undermined that trust. Requested Action Mercedes-Benz should cover the repair costs for affected vehicles, and NHTSA should investigate whether an expanded recall is necessary to include A/C evaporator refrigerant leaks as part of the broader HVAC system defect.

NHTSA ODI 11696116

Wire harness need to be replaces car is under 100k miles and the same issue has been recalled cla250 gla models with the same engine. Current model GLE is not under recall but has the same issue with the electrical issue “oil pump vavle connector fault” which cause engine light .

NHTSA ODI 11695606

The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE350. The contact stated that the vehicle started to display failures with the air conditioning system blowing hot air. The vehicle was taken for inspection at a local dealer, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was experiencing electrical failures due to water entering the footwells, with the check engine warning light remaining illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the air conditioning was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 44,000.

NHTSA ODI 11685763

48V battery issue cause the car not able to drive.

NHTSA ODI 11650369

There had been multiple incidents where the battery dies. We had issues where the vehicle would not start. We do not get any warning error message before this happens. We make sure all doors are closed and all lights are off. We’ve had to tow the vehicle multiple times when the battery fails. This has left us stranded on multiple occasions. In addition we have taken it for service at the Mercedes dealership and they state that there is nothing wrong with the battery or the vehicle. They have suggested to replace the battery in 2022. At the moment the vehicle does not turn on and we have to find other transportation options to get around.

NHTSA ODI 11630388

Water intrusion. It rained, water leaked into driver seat floor. The water then made it to the electrical parts underneath the driver seat. This seems identical to the recall I am seeing online with the number: 23V-177

NHTSA ODI 11628758

The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE450. The contact stated while reversing, the rearview camera was inoperable. The message "Active parking Assist and Parktronic inoperative - See Operator's Manual" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where an unknown software update was performed; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that an unknown wiring harness had experienced an electrical short due to water entry underneath the floorboard. The dealer informed the contact that the parts were not available for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that parts were not available. The failure mileage was 26,994.

NHTSA ODI 11607283

Watch this report: [XXX] There was less than 1/2 a pound of refridgerant in my vehicle. The dealership - Mercedes Benz of Boerne inspected it. They extracted the refridgerant from the vehicle and hooked up leak system and monitor the gas to see if there is a leak and picked up in the center vent and the hose that goes to the vehicle's AC evaporator. There is a leak from the evaporator. This is a recurring problem that has popped up due to a recall in 2019: "The issue stems from air-conditioner drain hoses that may have been incorrectly installed, causing water to drain into the passenger compartment. Water intrusion into the footwells may cause corrosion or short circuits to electrical components, increasing the risk of fire. Furthermore, the emergency call feature may be disabled and the doors may not unlock, increasing the risk of injury. And as a final consequence, the engine may not start or may enter a limp-home mode, increasing the risk of a crash. To fix this potentially long-reaching issue, dealers will inspect and reinstall the drain hoses, as necessary, for free. Owner notification letters will be sent May 16, but those with further questions can contact Mercedes at 800-367-6372, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s vehicle-safety hotline at 888-327-4236, or visit its website to check their vehicle identification number and learn more." INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11603189

The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE350. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air conditioner failed to operate. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the A/C evaporator and A/C receiver drier needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the issue was a known failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.

NHTSA ODI 11587883

There were two incidents that had similar symptoms: one before the dealership said they fixed and one afterwards. The issue is that while driving I would get three warning, all at the same time: coolant too hot, 48v battery malfunction, shut the engine off. The first time it happened immediately after I turned on the vehicle and within 5 minutes of leaving a parking lot. The second time it happened after about 3 hours of driving at highway speeds. After the first time it happened dealership said they fixed the issue by upgrading the software (battery software?). Both times it happened on the highway. The first time on the uphill, and vehicle immediately shut off and could not make it up the ramp. The second time in the tunnel on the flat road, could not make it to the exit. Both times created extremely dangerous situation as I had no time to take the exit and vehicle shut off about 30 seconds after warning popped up. The second time in the tunnel was especially dangerous as there was no shoulder and i had to stop in the middle of the right lane as cars were going at 60 mph by me. I was really worried for myself and my family. I have to trust that Mercedes is capable of fixing the issue and providing a reliable vehicle I can depend on and trust for the safety of my family.

NHTSA ODI 11575432

Car has an automated start stop and ruined my starter a lot of ppl have had similar issues

NHTSA ODI 11564520

The Mercedes Connect app started showing a partially charged battery. The Battery voltage is 11.9 to 12.29 in the AM when it should be 12.6V. The iphone charging area is warm to hot to the touch when the car is off all night. The Westminster Mercedes dealership cannot find the problem. I am concerned for afire hazard.

NHTSA ODI 11531401

The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE350. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormal sound of moving water underneath the front seats. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that rainwater had leaked into the body of the vehicle due to a clogged sunroof drainage tube. The contact stated that several electrical components were submerged in the water and had to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 43,000.

NHTSA ODI 11526646

Air Conditioning failure with low free on measurement. Apparently there was an A/C leak that created water damage in the front footwells, causing corrosion and potentially short-circuiting electric components, resulting in a fire hazard. The car was inspected by Mercedes Benz of Tampa and could not explain the source of water in the car, neither can I as the owner. The electronic components are being replaced at cost of the owner and insurance company. However, still concerned about the source of water in the footwells and potential re-occurence. This would put at risk not only my life as the driver but also the life of my toddler who is usually by me in the car. The failure of the A/C was followed by failure of lights, plantronics, central computer system which prompted me to go promptly to the dealership. Please help me investigate why my car is not under recall when it goes through the same symptoms described on expansion of recall numbers 21V-288 and 19V-587

NHTSA ODI 11525883

I was driving and came to a stop sign. When I was getting ready to pull off my entire vehicle automatically went into park and shut off. I was almost rear ended by the vehicle behind me. People were blowing at me. I just restarted the vehicle after a few attempts it started and I drove off. Also my entire dash went black while I was driving. I also felt water on my feet why on the passenger side ( like a light mist).

NHTSA ODI 11515152

Vehicle (72,000 miles) sent an email message that the "starter battery is critical". Drove it to Mercedes Benz Cary (NC). Original battery replaced ($538). Two days later, another "starter battery critical" message arrived. Vehicle wouldn't start. Mercedes Roadside sent a flatbed, jump started the vehicle, loaded it and took it to Mercedes Cary. I was required to authorize two hours of diagnostic works (+/- $450). Evidently, Mercedes Cary performed some software updates. Waiting for final invoice and software details.

NHTSA ODI 11495164

The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V354000 (Back Over Prevention, Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI 11455508