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2021 Mercedes-benz Gle-class
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
82 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 14, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Engine problems dominate (41% of complaints, typically reported near 46k miles).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE Class SUV RWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 17%
No open NHTSA defect investigations on file.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2021 Mercedes-benz Gle-class, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Transmission & drivetrain (8) · Driver assistance (6) · Visibility & wipers (6) · Fuel system (5)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Engine
41%34 complaints · typically near 46k mi · 17 in the last 2 years
“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 ha…”
Electrical system
35%29 complaints · typically near 6k mi · 8 in the last 2 years
“Not sure vehicle was parked and caught on fire from the drivers side completely burning”
Transmission & drivetrain
10%8 complaints · 5 in the last 2 years
“According to the dealer, there are fault codes in the system for Transmission control unit failing. Thats what caused the vehicle to go into "limp" mode... That needs …”
Driver assistance
7%6 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“Currently unavailable camera view restricted” The message went away but I’ve noticed it appearing more often”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2021 Mercedes-benz GLE-CLASS beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2021? See how every Gle-class model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2021 Mercedes-benz Gle-class against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.