2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 problems & reliability
89 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350, alongside 27 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Sep 21, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several components.
1 complaint report injuries (2 injured).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine → | 33 | 37% |
| Electrical System → | 22 | 25% |
| Unknown / Other | 12 | 13% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 6 | 7% |
| Power Train | 6 | 7% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 5 | 6% |
| Lane Departure | 5 | 6% |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 6% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 6% |
| Air Bags | 3 | 3% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
All 25 reported components →Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Mileage when problems occurred
Among the 21 complaints that included a usable odometer reading, the median reported incident mileage was 30,000 miles (middle 50% between 6,615 and 50,000 miles).
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“I keep getting coolant level low. I add coolant fluid into the tank and the warning message comes up again. I see no leaks under my vehicle so not sure if there’s a leak inside the tank itself or air leak somewhere but I’ve gotten that warning message about 10 or more times. Also as im driving the blind spot sensor…”
Engine · filed Jul 29, 2026
“The a/c unit failed and is available for inspection upon request. Being in an over-heated car can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion and/or heat stroke. I was nauseous and dizzy while driving, putting myself and my passengers at risk. Upon taking my car to a independent service dealer, it was revealed that their is a…”
Unknown / Other · filed Jul 6, 2026
“The engine in my 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 experienced catastrophic internal failure while driving. No warning lights or check engine indicators came on. Prior to failure, the vehicle began making a loud metallic knocking/rattling sound during acceleration, similar to “rocks shaking in a box.” Shortly afterward, the…”
Engine · filed May 28, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
402 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350. The 10 most recent:
Complaint During part of the steering movement, it feels heavier or more difficult to steer in the same spot every time. OR Rattling, humming, dry sliding/gravel noise from the electric steering system when steering…
LI46.35-P-067339 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 28, 2026
Complaint Noise from front end thought to be from steering gear. Cause During diagnostics of a front end noise, workshop is under the impression the noise is coming from the steering gear. Remedy If the root cause of…
LI46.00-P-079786 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 28, 2026
Complaint Tailgate opens unintentionally. Cause Accidental or unnoticed activation of the button to open the tailgate on the vehicle key. EXAMPLE: when stored in trouser pocket, handbag etc. Remedy As of the 6th…
LI72.20-P-075746 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 24, 2026
Complaint Traffic sign symbol for "Traffic Sign Assist" is blinking in instrument cluster without obvious cause usually with one of the following scenarios: • Flashing without a speed limit ("‑ ‑"). • Flashing when…
LI54.71-P-079104 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 22, 2026
Dear Mercedes-Benz Owner: In our continuing efforts to ensure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the satisfaction of our customers, Mercedes-Benz USA is extending the warranty coverage for…
CL - Tank Leak Detection · Warranty Program/Extension · issued Aug 15, 2026
Complaint 1. General Diagnostic Tips 2. One or More PARK Sensor Activations 3. Red Ring Around Vehicle 4. "Active Parking and Parking Assist Inoperative" on Instrument Cluster 5. Cameras 6. Other Park Topics. Cause…
LI54.65-P-080132 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 12, 2026
Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. Cause Under analysis. Remedy To narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • If the noise continues to occur even with the door trim…
LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 6, 2026
Complaint This document is intended as a pre-case diagnostic reference for transmission related concerns. It will also ensure that if a case is necessary, all supporting documentation is available. This should not be…
LI27.00-P-075630 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 5, 2026
Complaint Mercedes-Benz USA is currently experiencing limited availability of transmission fluid specification ATF 236.17 due to a global supply constraint. 236.17 ATF 1L and 5L (PNs: A002989060312 and A002989060313)…
LI27.00-P-080840 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 4, 2026
This NCU replaces the prior NCU issued on May 15, 2025, and contains additional MY 2023 and MY 2024 vehicles which are highlighted below. In our continuing efforts to ensure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz…
EW - DMTL · Warranty Program/Extension · issued Jul 31, 2026
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 has 27 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Among complaints with usable mileage, the median reported incident mileage was 30,000 miles. This does not predict when a particular vehicle will develop a problem.