What 60 owners told NHTSA about the 2022 Mercedes-benz Gle-class

The panoramic sunroof exploded upwards and outwards while driving under normal conditions. It created an extremely loud and startling sound that left the driver and passenger stunned. We were fortunate there was not an immediate oncoming vehicle as we likely would have struck head on. Shortly after the explosion, tiny shards of glass began to fall into the passenger area. We were also fortunate to be able to get the vehicle safely off the road. The vehicle was brought to the dealership and the manufacturer was called. They are all pretending they have never heard of something like that happening when a quick search reveals this is a known manufacturing defect with a class action lawsuit filed. The named plaintiff is actually a customer from the very dealership we brought the vehicle to for service. There is no chance they are not aware of the problem.

NHTSA ODI 11749417

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ODI 11731569

When I got gas the estimated range indicated 308 Miles. We traveled approximately 134 Miles the estimated range was at 86 Miles it was dropping rapidly but average miles indicated 26.5 MPG. The next day we added fuel again and we were at 382 Miles. Then we drove 70 miles and the fuel indicator was showing that our range only decreased 15 Miles. During the trip the range increased multiple times and between the two days we traveled we did not know how much fuel was left in the car. The first trip it showed that we burned half a tank and the second day it showed we hardly burned any gas. This particular model has Open Recall for fuel pump system issues and display software. We were afraid that we were running out out of gas and would not be able to complete our trip or run out of gas in the middle of the highway.

NHTSA ODI 11710490

Check engine light came on. Called dealership on a Thursday and again on Monday after it stayed on all weekend. Was told to bring in vehicle for diagnostics and to have a ride home. Half way to the dealership the car spuddered and I had to coast to the shoulder of the road. After a few minutes, I restarted the vehicle and drive slowly to the dealership, barely making it it the shop. The service advisor indicated it could be the cylinder head even before running diagnostics because it had happened to numerous other customers. It was a defective cylinder head. The repair bill was over $10,000 but Mercedes offered a $3,500 assistance credit. After doing some research on the internet, this appears to be a widespread issue.

NHTSA ODI 11707431

The contact owns a 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle hesitated and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. After waiting a few minutes, the vehicle was restarted; however, the contact noticed an abnormal sound coming from the engine while driving. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that a cylinder head had cracked. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.

NHTSA ODI 11705385

I was driving down the interstate at normal speed, normal road conditions, clear weather conditions when my panoramic sunroof suddenly exploded with all of the glass coming down on me and inside my vehicle. The sound was similar to a gunshot

NHTSA ODI 11704934

Vehicle has issues maintaining power and attempts to stall in traffic. It also shakes violently at idle. It was diagnosed by the dealership and determined that the cylinder head was damaged and needed to be replaced for $7200.00 since there was no warranty. Vehicle was purchased used and the Issue was noticed 6 months after purchase at 70-80 thousand miles. After researching the issue, this appears to be a known problem with the 4 cylinder Mercedes vehicles, but only specific models were covered under the extended warranty for replacement.

NHTSA ODI 11697813

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ODI 11692261

While driving at 65 mph on Florida’s Turnpike (SR 91) at approximately 5:30 PM EST, the panoramic sliding sunroof panel (Mercedes-Benz part #167-780-20-00) spontaneously shattered without any impact or warning. Conditions were partly cloudy. No vehicles, debris, or construction were nearby. A loud explosive sound occurred overhead, followed by glass shards falling onto the roof and rear spoiler. The roller sunshade was open, and the operable glass section was closed. No glass entered the cabin. Startled by the sound and visible debris, I instinctively braked and swerved, almost losing control. Post-incident inspection showed a large portion of the panel was missing, and scratches and paint damage were visible behind the failure point. The vehicle was brought to a Mercedes-Benz dealership the next morning. Staff immediately acknowledged similar failures and stated they had seen and repaired multiple panoramic sunroof issues across the lineup, especially in hot weather. Although this type of failure is typically covered under the 4-year/50,000-mile warranty, it was denied due to the vehicle’s mileage (58,099). Replacement is estimated at $2,700 and is pending due to part backorder. The incident was independently confirmed by a Mercedes-Benz dealer, an independent repair shop, an auto glass facility, and an insurance representative. The auto glass technician noted that Mercedes-Benz uses thin tempered glass rather than laminated or thicker alternatives, which may increase the risk of spontaneous failure. This failure created significant safety risks including driver distraction, potential for secondary collisions, potential injuries from airborne glass, and road debris hazards. If the operable glass section had been open, glass shards may have entered the cabin, further increasing the risk of injury to myself, other vehicle occupants, or other road users. I request that NHTSA investigate the design and failure rates of this sunroof panel and similar components.

NHTSA ODI 11689304

Check engine warning light came on. Called dealership and they could not do a remote diagnostic so they made plans to pick up the car which was about 2 weeks after the problem was alerted. See attached repair invoice. The problem was a known issue with the cylinder head compression leakage. “Removed cylinder head and disassembled to find excessive play in exhaust valve guides and abnormally worn exhaust value seats. Replaced cylinder head.” This issue impacted engine performance, including vibration and lack of acceleration. See attached letter to Mercedes which we have received no response.

NHTSA ODI 11678733

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ODI 11667728

The contact owns a 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE350. The contact stated that while driving on two occasions at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and lost motive power. The vehicle failed to exceed 10 MPH while driving. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be rebuilt or replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and filed a claim. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.

NHTSA ODI 11658877

I dropped my [XXX] to a class and was driving the car to run an errand, when I experienced a sudden and total brake failure. The first couple of times I hit the brakes, it felt a little too squishy, but I could still stop the car. Within two minutes, by the time I got to the next traffic light, I was unable to stop the car. Luckily I was at low speed and was able to turn into a residential neighborhood immediately and somehow stop the vehicle within a reasonable distance. Fortunately, the street I turned into, had no cars parked nearby. This was a frightening experience and could have ended very badly for my family had we been on the freeway. Please note - My car was serviced by Park Place Mercedes in Dallas only 2 days earlier, I had not even driven it 50 miles after it was serviced, when the brakes failed on me. I had the car towed back to Park Place Mercedes in Dallas, and they told me there was an air pocket that caused this issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11656143

I think the injector have problems with the fuel bumps

NHTSA ODI 11655764

Got a notice of a recall on the Nuna Rava and was told to order a remedy kit right away. I also checked to make sure the harness was locking in place. It was not and the car seat was unsafe to use. I order the remedy kit 2 weeks ago. Was told it was sent out and kept emailing to find out the status. I finally ask to have a supervisor call me as we could not take my [XXX] son in our car anywhere. The supervisor informed me that the remedy kit was not mailed out and that they were back ordered with no ETA in the near term. Now I have a dangerous and defective car seat and the manufacturer will not reimburse me for a new one, send me a new replacement seat, or even provide me with a remedy kit in a timely manner. This is completely unacceptable and I’ve lost complete trust and confidence in this manufacturer’s ability to make a defective dangerous car seat right. The service was awful, stressful, and all together putting my [XXX] life in danger. I’m genuinely hoping that a government agency can be my last chance of hope before I have to go out and spend another $)50 on a new car seat when I just purchased this one 18 months ago. It’s unfair and the way they are treating customers in beyond negligent. Please help! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11652426

I have a 2020 GLE 350 and today, I was turning into a parking on my right. I stopped my car, switched the cameras, so I could see the parking slot on the screen. Just when I took the right turn into the slot, the car accelerated at the same angle and jumped onto the curb. I tried hard to brake, but the brake was not working. I had the presence of mind to press the Park button on the gear lever and then the car stopped. No car damage or no injury, but it was a close call. I called 911 and the Johns Creek police helped me to get the car back in the parking lot,. A police report was not filed

NHTSA ODI 11647751

CYLINDER HEAD. - THE CAR MISFIRES AND WHILE DRIVING THE CAR SLOWS DOWN WITHOUT NOTICE. THE CAR ALSO SHAKES WHILE IN IDOL MODE. YES THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CONFIRMED AT THE DEALERSHIP. NO THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED THAT I AM AWARE OF - BUT IT SHOULD BE BECUASE I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND MERCEDES HAS SAID 2019-2022 MERCEDES HAVE CYLINDER HEAD RECALLS - IT JUST DOESN'T INCLUDE THE 350GLE MODEL WHICH IT SHOULD BECUASE THE FORUM I AM ON SHOWS THAT IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND ALOT OF CONSUMERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME. YES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AND THAT IS WHY I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. MERCEDES SHOULD RECALL ALL VEHICLES THAT HAVE A CYCLINDER HEAD ISSUE NOT JUST THE MODELS THAT HAVE LISTED NOW BECUASE THE ISSUE IS IN MORE THAN JUST THOSE VEHICLES! THE CAR POSES A ISSUE AND A SAFETY ISSUE BECUASE THE CAR CAN STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY CAUSING MAJOR SAFTEY ISSUES! I have photo's I tried to upload but it keeps giving me errors and won't let me upload to this case.

NHTSA ODI 11643905

My wife was driving on [XXX] going ~70mph. Without warning the engine shut down and the vehicle decelerated. A message popped up saying “48 volt malfunction”. A google search indicated the car should not be driven as it could result in a fire. Note the Mercedes dealer in Centerville Ohio completed recall campaign: 2024040002 in May, 2024. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11637585

Nov. 7, 2025 - After returning home around 4pm, I parked the car in my garage, and entered my home. Due to the sound of the fan motor which stays on after you shut off the car, it is possible that the engine was still running when I thought it was off. Please note that my garage is attached to my home. Around 1am I awoke and went into the bedroom on the far side of my home which sits directly above my garage. When I entered this room I heard a noise, like some kind of motor but at the time I had no idea what this was. As I walked through my home, went downstairs and neared the doorway to my garage when I realized the loud noise was coming from my garage. It was not only frightening but extremely concerning and come to find out my Mercedes was running, in fact it had been running since I got home earlier in the afternoon. Please note that one of the most critical things that happened is that upon opening the door to the garage I was exposed to severe carbon monoxide fumes. I discovered the car sitting there, running, for no reason at all, the outside was very hot to the touch and I panicked. I was breathing in fumes that could affect my life! I ran to the kitchen, grabbed a fan, opened the garage doors and immediately went upstairs to see if my daughter was okay. As you know carbon monoxide can kill you and I did not know why in HECK this was happening. - This car is still relatively new with low miles. - This vehicle is also supposed to be equipped with significant safety features and it is difficult to exit the car without alarms sounding and appearing on the dash telling you the car is still on. - Mercedes, however, already made me take this car in twice to address multiple recalls affecting safety! I also had it serviced not less than 3 weeks ago. - Mercedes is completely skirting/ignoring the critical issues with this vehicle and has sent me a FORM letter denying assistance. There could have been 2 fatalities and I have been ill since this happened.

NHTSA ODI 11634673

The contact owns a 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE450. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the roadway, restarted the vehicle, and continued driving. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed; however, the dealer found no cause for the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.

NHTSA ODI 11631298

While driving on the HWY the vehicle started to loose acceleration and make some strange noises. When I tried to give it gas I heard a loud pop and smoke starting coming out of the hood of the car and the exhaust.The car shut off in the middle of the hwy. With the moment left I got the car over 3 lanes to the shoulder. There were two of in the car that were at risk if this failure would have caused an accident. When I heard the car making noise and before the loud pop. I went through the cars on board computer to see if there were any maintenance messages or if the car had low oil or tire issues. All the on board messages were good and nothing indicated there was an issue. Then the pop and car shut down came suddenly. I had the car towed to a Mercedes dealership. The car is 10k over the standard 50k warranty. The Mercedes dealership indicated that a rod went through the engine the car needs a full engine replacement and new front axle. They asked me to provide them with proof of car maintenance which I did. The car was serviced regularly for oil changes and filter changes though with Mercedes parts. The manufacturer is unwilling to look if there is a defect that caused this since it is out warranty and wants the repairs paid out of pocket.

NHTSA ODI 11619864

P275/50R2i bought this car new after 18000 miles my 2 back tires getting flat dealer did not help and it end I paid $950 from my pocket it was bad idea about Mercedes then in 2023 my front tires getting bad too my car was 26000 miles and it end with replacing my front tire and my rear tires because rear tires getting bad again and I paid from my pocket again on discount tire store on Orland Park dealer refuse to help it’s very bad experience if anyone know how I can get help let me know please I paid $2100 dollars from my pocket on new car value $72000 bad tire Bridgestone Allianz arena run flat no warranty and manufacturer refused to help to now I have michelin tire hope nothing happened

NHTSA ODI 11614971

Even when new several times I was unable to start the car through the app or even physically. The self driving failed, but was repaired and about 2 months ago I got a recall notice to immediately take the vehicle , stop driving it until fixed. Feldman Motors in Bloomington MN was who I immediately contacted. The man I spoke to said simply that despite the recall the dealer would not have the parts available for at least 2 months despite the letter from Mercedes stating that they were already available. He refused to schedule an appointment. I have only that vehicle and he also refused a loaner at Mercedes expense. To date I have never been contacted again but today I got another recall notice . I simply do not know what to do except complain. Another dangerous situation happened when the powered tailgate to the SUV opens for no reason and it let to the rear contents falling on the highway. I had to stop at considerable danger to myself but Feldman motors claimed that they won’t do anything unless it happened in front of them. Simply put it happens suddenly, not all the time and I obviously cannot replicate the issue in front

NHTSA ODI 11613281

My 2022 Mercedes GLE450 had water intrusion from the an AC vent hose that was not 'fixed' properly by Mercedes after they issues a recall for ALL 2020 and 2021 GLE450's. It took 9 months, endless gaslighting from Mercedes that I flooded the vehicle myself, a failed state-sponsored arbitration hearing only to find out Mercedes did NOT properly diagnose the vehicle from the start. I had officially 'given up' after almost a year of fighting this was not my fault, only to drive disassembled passenger seat and floor area down to Mercedes... to see the vehicle dripping water right into where nearly $20,000 of electronics were compromised. Mercedes has since fixed the vehicle, under warranty, yet they did NOT tel lme anything until the day the vehicle was fixed that it would be covered under warranty. They keep this away from the local dealer and had a traveling technician work on the vehicle to keep it entirely under wraps. I genuinely hope Mercedes is held accountable for taking full advantage of their customers while admitting (at least locally) that the 'fix' for the previously recalled vehicles is inadequate. Water intrusion, causing shorting of electronics and potential fire is a MASSIVE safety concern and they need to not only be held responsible yet held responsible for the pain and suffering caused by gaslighting customers and KNOWINGLY committing insurance fraud by forcing their customers to file insurance claims after not properly addressing the recall.

NHTSA ODI 11610169

The contact owns a 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle started swaying from left to right. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that while her husband was driving, the vehicle was swaying from side to side. The contact stated that the tires were previously replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was test driven and the contact was informed that the vehicle seemed to be top-heavy. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.

NHTSA ODI 11608678