So I ordered a custom built 2020 Mercedes GLE 450 4Matic for my wife which is a brand new model which came out this spring. It has the latest and greatest technology with 2 huge video screens, semi-autonomous driving, and all kinds of high tech stuff. But BEWARE of Quality!!!!

After 3 weeks of ownership and 2,000 miles while driving on a busy street, the Check Engine Light comes on suddenly, and the Vehicle goes into limp mode with no warning! Now it will only go 5 to 10 mph on a very busy street. I need to move over to the curb to pull over, but cars are wizzing by! I finally pull over to the curb and block the far right lane and shut off the vehicle and shut it back on to reset the computer. The car now accelerates normally but the Check Engine Light stays on! I take it in for service the next morning and it takes them over ONE WEEK (actually 2 weeks and 170 miles of their driving) to diagnose and fix the problem.

This vehicle is not assembled in Stuttgart, Germany but is assembled in Alabama. After multiple tries they diagnose that on assembly, 3 or more pin connector wire connections were NOT MADE to the accelerator pedal!!! How does that even happen! Where is the Quality Control? Why did the Check Engine Light not come on right away?

If this had put me in limp mode on a busy Interstate which I drive very frequently with 70mph speed limit, then it would not have been precarious, it would have been LIFE THREATENING!!! This makes me disappointed and a bit angry! Having owned Mercedes for 32 consecutive years, I will hesitate the next time, and will definitely avoid Mercedes not assembled in Germany.

 

When did you place your order?

 

As soon as I could, which I believe was February. Delivered in early May.

 

Orders opened at the Beginning of November last year. I can understand your frustration; mine has been in the shop for 12 days now with what seems to be a minor issue with paint on a ground. All manufacturers have issues; by anecdotal evidence it does not appear that this vehicle is especially troublesome, but it's too early to be definitive. The fact it's made in the US is not particularly relevant, IMO. All Mercedes SUVs have been made here since 1997, as well as BMW's. In an article titled "2019 Most Dependable Luxury SUVs" by JD Power, the GLE scores quite well (2016 model):

 

Customer Engineering....

Get them out early and find those problems so they can fix the car and the line next year

 

This is why first year models aren't for me. Bump that.

 

According to the following link, Mercedes produces no vehicles in Stuttgart - only engines and powertrains.

https://facts.daimler.com/fileadmin/...s_PDF_VIEW.pdf

As another poster pointed out previously, MB has been producing their SUV's in Tuscaloosa for over 20 years, so not sure why this is relevant to the issue of quality.

This is only our second MB since 2014 and we also got a flashing check engine light in the first week of ownership (< 500 miles) and had to have it flat-bedded to the dealer, only to have it diagnosed as a "random misfire" for which they cleared the code and returned it to us the same day. One "hiccup" involving a totally brand new vehicle, loaded with technology, is not cause for me to scream the sky is falling and throw in the towel on MB ownership, regardless of where assembled. How the dealership handles an issue and how it ultimately is resolved, is more important to me than the fact that the issue occurred in the first place (barring any future recurrences and/or other issues).

The debacle with late deliveries and lack of communication is a totally different issue and I can fully understand why this would turn people away from considering MB in the future, considering their apparent disregard for keeping customers informed of what's happening with their vehicles. Fortunately, we were among the lucky ones who ordered and received our 450 within the promised 3 month time-frame.

 

Hmm, I toured a plant in in Stuttgart in March, 2014 and watched S-Classes being produced. Looks like they've moved that to Sindelfingen. BTW, the Mercedes museum in Stuttgart is fabulous.

 

Orderd my loaded Gle 450 in december 2018 and just got a message from the dealer that it will be deliverd on the 23rd of January 2020. Is that serious?

 

Where you locate ? I am on the same boat.

 

My guy at Rallye Motors Mercedes said,
He probably had an early car that was never finished. You are getting a fresh car, not a re-order!
I placed my order for the GLE450 in July and my car is far into production.

 

In Sweden.

 

Hope you are right. Can’t imagine paying full price for a eaerly build that has been stored on an airfield i Germany during summer, fall and vinter

 

Hope it does. I ordered mine in May @ Helms Bros and now they are telling me October delivery... production has been pushed back to September 27th.

 

Have owned several MB's over the years, many makes and models. This story concerns my 2020 GLE 350 with only 11,000 miles. Always satisfied UNTIL TODAY. Driving from Las Vegas to San Diego on the 5 lane, heavily trafficked Interstate 15, while climbing a hill the car suddenly loses power. From 75mph to 59 to 37 to 19 all in a matter of 10 seconds. My life flashed before my eyes as 18 wheelers bore down on my rear while I prayed the car would make it until the shoulder I could see ahead. Fortunately the good Lord was on my side today and I made it to the shoulder, turned flashers on, and turned the car off to see if it 'reset itself'. Seemed ok but traumatized I pulled off at next exit and fortunately there was a MB dealer 6 miles away. They we kind and responsive, immediately checked out the car, checking codes, and told me without additional diagnostics, they couldn't tell what happened, that it appeared to be a 'fluke' and that I shouldn't be overly concerned. Easy for them to say, they didn't almost lose their life. Any comments or suggestions much appreciated.

 

I would go to my dealer and have it checked out again. If they don’t have a decent answer, I’d call MB corporate.

 

I have a 2020 Audi S6 that did this and flashed on the screen there was no driver detected. I'm a small person but that was ridiculous. On the highway in the left lane going 70 and suddenly nothing, not a good feeling for sure. Hope you get it sorted out.

 

Wish I’d read before making an expensive mistake.

seems a lot of people are realising the quality of these are scheiss and the market is flooded with them.

 

If you look back at all the threads on the V167, the level of issues on the year one models are far greater than typical first year production gremlins. Some very serious issues that reflect little to no QC at the factory level. Many buybacks and lemons.

 

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones or the silent majority of happy owners, I've had my 450 for just over a month and she has been awesome, I'm thrilled with this car. I had an ML350 before and it was great and an SLK55 before that and it was great. I would imagine as these cars get more sophisticated with all this cool technology, there will be hiccups and weird failures like the one you described. From what I've read, many other luxury brands experience similar electronic gremlins, its just a part of owning such a technology filled vehicle.

 

You aren't on your own.

 

mine was fine for the first 4 months. Then problem after problem after problem. It’s not even that it’s had problems. All cars have problems. The inexcusable aspect is the abysmal support to the dealer in troubleshooting issues. Parts on backorder, zero communication, zero apology and even with the car in the dealer for weeks at a time, still an expectation that the payments are made. Suffice to say, I won’t be buying another and more than happy to advise others on the ownership experience.

 

Unfortunately, it seems the quality of M-B (and I'm sure other) dealers varies quite a bit. I've had two excellent dealers in the Portland area. It makes dealing with issues much less unpleasant. That being said, after and early software issue, by car has been pretty faultless for the last 15 months.

 

Agreed, the dealer can certainly make or break the ownership experience. Luckily, my dealer has been outstanding so I've stayed with the brand.

 

No issues with the 450, I do have several issues with my Porsche though and that costs almost double