2020 Mercedes GLE Beware!!!




I always look forward to the creative ways you bash the brand. Few of which make sense, but sometimes good for a chuckle.




I made the comment to the service advisor the other day dropping mine off.........again. “I guess after 9 Mercedes I was bound to get a $hi11y one.”
i escaped barely with my life, car was shaking, no power, unbelievable experience
had car towed to dealership, took 4 days to fix: no idea why
showed codes:p030085, and code p030485
invoice was very vague on what they did: actually, just appears, visual inspection, can’t duplicate, bla, bla
hope it’s last time
UPDATE…….misfire happened again, and vehicle has been in garage for a week, supposedly, talking with Mercedes, opened a Mercedes ticket, trying to get input from Mercedes expert…..very scary, very dangerous to lose power when you need it…….I’m at a loss of what to do: I don’t want to take on trip, when I get it back: Lemon Laws are very vague, I can’t believe this is an isolated problem….I’ll keep you all informed
Last edited by Mercedesmixedfa; May 3, 2021 at 12:02 PM. Reason: Another episode




I have had one visit back to the dealer for A service after 12 months ownership!
The Best of Mercedes & AMG




Usually they are seriously built. These new cars come out of the factory with a long laundry list of nasty pre-existing issues from the get go.
When you contact a case officer at MB-USA they'll swear "you are the first one", "They are investigating it", "Dealers are independent"... giant waste of time for nothing!
The killer problem you are experiencing is called LIMP MODE. It's a staple of MB cars triggered when the engine/tranny computers literally quit responding.
The MB vehicles have been disfonctioning the exact same way for almost a decade. When you show up at the dealer's desk and hear "they could not replicate"... it's a practical joke on you!
Before you get yourself in an accident get this fixed. Buy a good scanner to troubleshoot with usual sources... or if you're a Florida lawyer, then message me directly about the problem/solution.
I am a seasoned systems engineer open for consulting. It's taken me over 7 years to address this design flaw found across the MB product lines.
Ultimately MBenz GMBH can benefit by saving serious capitals.
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Apr 29, 2021 at 03:29 AM. Reason: money talks &




For what it’s worth, the CR June 2021 Magazine rates the GLE 450 last among SUV’s $55-75,000. Surprisingly the BMW X5 is first. Predicted reliability is worst rating, fit & finish is best rating. A few % points might separate top & bottom and as always CR is just a source of info-not necessarily accurate. For example 0-60 of 6 seconds is not even close.
I’m not sure what Usability is and no Tech ratings so IMO not really a very good source.
I cut off the bottom left but it is the last vehicle listed and it’s the GLE 450.
Last edited by Ron.s; May 8, 2021 at 09:09 AM.
For what it’s worth, the CR June 2021 Magazine rates the GLE 450 last among SUV’s $55-75,000. Surprisingly the BMW X5 is first. Predicted reliability is worst rating, fit & finish is best rating. A few % points might separate top & bottom and as always CR is just a source of info-not necessarily accurate. For example 0-60 of 6 seconds is not even close.
I cut off the bottom left but it is the last vehicle listed and it’s the GLE 450.




For what it’s worth, the CR June 2021 Magazine rates the GLE 450 last among SUV’s $55-75,000. Surprisingly the BMW X5 is first. Predicted reliability is worst rating, fit & finish is best rating. A few % points might separate top & bottom and as always CR is just a source of info-not necessarily accurate. For example 0-60 of 6 seconds is not even close.
I’m not sure what Usability is and no Tech ratings so IMO not really a very good source.
I cut off the bottom left but it is the last vehicle listed and it’s the GLE 450.




The MBUX system is built in Germany, and they have had issues on the 2021 models due to COVID and the semiconductor chip issue. It doesn't make it acceptable, but it happens. I'm guessing the MBUX supplier used the chips they could get and pushed them out the door to make a quota. MB is paying the price, and will have to fix it.
The fuel filler door is another item that can be fixed, and was...but yes that was a quality issue that should have been caught and corrected before it was delivered to you. On the two side trim pieces, the one on the right looks normal (they do flex slightly), the one of the left is abnormal...make the dealer fix it.
As for the misaligned tailgate, make the dealer fix it. Yes, that is poor fit and finish, regardless of the price point.
That said, get these issues fixed and put it behind you. Once corrected, try and enjoy the vehicle, there are things to like about it.
Last edited by TexAg91; May 9, 2021 at 10:41 AM.




I just got my first JD Power survey in decades. It's online but the link doesn't work. Now in an email exchange to get access. Confidence dwindling, but they sent a $dollar.
I am waiting to see if the survey asked the same insipid questions they did when I got earlier ones. They were, is essence, "was the car what you expected?" so if you spent a lot you expect more etc. $35,000 buyers "expect less" and therefore the "initial satisfaction" is higher. We'll see if it's the same (that is if JD Power can get their "best or nothing site" to work....).
Edit: Well, the JD Power survey was even more inane than I remembered. Most of the questions were about the color of the paint, did I like the color of the paint; did I have cruise control, did I like the Cruise; what color interior, what material - did it like the leather; did I have an upgraded radio and did I like it; did I have touchscreen – liked; was the NAV good; what kind of phone; did I prefer Google nav to onboard; were the windows easy or hard to operate; could I see out F&R; what is my internet provider – like or not; do the doors close easily; wind noise; favorite thing about the car (A-J and had to check “other” to enter “handling”).
And THIS is what people rely on for info?
There are some independent online services, one of which I used to use, that are much better at actual repair type and frequencies plus actual mpg.
Last edited by mikapen; May 9, 2021 at 01:16 AM. Reason: add the "edit!"




