What breaks most · 2016 to 2017 model years
Mercedes-Benz GLE350 problems by year
Owners have filed 111 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Mercedes-Benz GLE350 across model years 2016 to 2017. Two years stand out: 2017 for electrical system complaints and 2016 for steering complaints.
- Years to check closely: 2017, 2016
- Complaints on file
- 1112016 to 2017, all trims
- Worst year
- 201761 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 104 fires · 5 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 42kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 16Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 4 | 9 | Unknown or other (9) | |
| 61 | 6 | 7 | Unknown or other (15) |
What fails on the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE350
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown or other | 25% |
15 | 3 | — |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 20% |
12 | 1 | Shop electrical system parts for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE350 |
| Exterior lightingHeadlights, tail lights and bulbs | 13% |
8 | 0 | Shop exterior lighting parts for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE350 |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 11% |
7 | 2 | Shop speed control and throttle parts for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE350 |
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 10% |
6 | 0 | Shop all steering parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Fuel systemFuel pumps and injectors | 10% |
6 | 0 | Shop fuel system parts for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE350 |
| Communication | 7% |
4 | 0 | — |
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 7% |
4 | 1 | Shop engine parts for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE350 |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
-
5 time i have taken my car to dealership for same problem it give me a sign (pre-safe inoperative) and dealership is unable to fix it and i worried because its a safety issue and sign come anytime when i am driving on highway and streets that makes me very uncomfortable drive it to home or work
-
02/2022 I have a 2016 GLE 350 with 31,000 miles. Safety issue: steering column sensor has failed thus blind spot assist does not work. Also turn signals periodically do not work. Functionality usually restores if car shut-off & re-started. Then fails again later at varying intervals.
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 6, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Mercedes-Benz GLE350 years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2017, 2016 carry the most filings on the Mercedes-Benz GLE350. The 2017 alone has 61 complaints, led by unknown or other.
What is the most common Mercedes-Benz GLE350 problem?
On the 2017 model year, the most-reported component is unknown or other with 15 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Mercedes-Benz GLE350 problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Mercedes-Benz GLE350 complaints that include mileage is about 42,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.