Adam Grant

I have a brand new GLE 350 but the transmission seems to be pretty crappy. I'm wondering if its only me or does anyone else experience the same issues? The transmission is very jerky, when coming to a stop and the car automatically shifting to 2nd gear, the car kinda lunges forward while downshifts. It's hard to explain but the transmission shifting just seems like its not very smooth at all. I'm wondering If anyone else is experiencing this? The car only has about 200 miles on it so maybe the gears need to break in a bit but I still don't think it will help

DaveD9

I think most of us have and continue to experience this. Mine is a 450. It has been discussed here before.

bad habit

I am experiencing the same on my 450 and while I have gotten used to it and it has smoothed down a bit I still find it way too jerky.
Shifting from 3rd into 2nd is exactly the way you describe it and is as if the car is trying to swallow a huge bite, if that makes sense
The upshifts are smooth as butter though

Adam Grant

Wow I'm glad I'm not the only one experiencing this. I thought I was crazy. Looks like its normal then considering others having the same issue

GregW / Oregon

Mine (450) seems very smooth and have not experienced anything like that.

fabbrisd1

And my GLE450 is as smooth as silk.. one of the big benefits of the ECO Boost drive train.. the GLE350's I have driven have not been "jerky" - in Sport mode they are Sporty, and as Sporty downshifts will ******...

Ron.s

My 450 is great as was a 350 Loaner I drove!

CDante

I didn't notice any jerky tranmission on a 300d I test drove nor on the 450 I now own.
Probably worth taking it to the dealer to get it checked out.

DaveD9

This was discussed a few months ago. It is an abrupt downshift when coming to a stop. It happens to me VERY infrequently. Not enough time in my life to find the old post....

Igor Tikhonov

Transmission program needs to be updated. I have multiple issues with it on my gle 450. It works like a piece of ****

Igor Tikhonov

I think they are testing different versions of program versions on us. Because some owners of gle 450 do not have issues, but some have problems with transmission. I can not explain it other way

Igor Tikhonov

The problem is in exhaust pressure sensor. After I changed it to new one, I have solved the same problem in my gle 450

Adam Grant

How did that fix a downshift issue with the transmission?

guitarplayer

Mine has always been great.

ursinebuilder

I have a 2020 GLE 350 I got in May 2019, From day 1 I have had transmission problems. The car frequently will stick in D1 and redline, usually when starting out from a stop. Sometimes it will stick in D3. My dealership installed Kahu vehicle info system in the car, so I had text messages Kahu sent to me indicating the vehicle is exceeding safe RPMs. It has been to three different MB dealerships in NY and FL. Since they cannot experience this problem when they drive my car, they say it doesn't exist. Everyone really is trying to help, and computer resets etc. But when I get the car back, notes say I am likely accidentally hitting paddle shifters. REALLY?!!!! Repeated calls to MBUSA and all I have received is a case number with engineering dept. This is my 6th ML/GLE since 2008. When I ordered this car last winter, I had reservations about a 4 cylinder and wanted the 450, but they assured me this would have as much or more power than the 2018 I was turning in. My family has a long history of many cars with MB. This will be the last one. I will be getting a Cayenne or X5 as soon as I can figure out how to get rid of this ****box with minimal financial loss.

Roni07

This brand and price range Unacceptable. If nothing is done about it, looking else where (L)

tiri

I or my passenger have accidentally pressed the M button on the center console. It's pretty disconcerting when you stay in a fixed gear.

Roni07

Was this, what was causing the issue, originally?
Is the vehicle operating normal now ?

tiri

I only mentioned what my accidental/inadvertant experience was.
Perhaps this is what also happened to Ursinebuilder without knowing it, and had him going on a rant.

hussainsadeq

I have the EXACT same problem with my 2020 GLE 450 4MATIC. I handed my car to my local dealership four days back, and I have just received it yesterday. The said there is no problem with the transmission nor the "exhaust sensor". They have even contacted the headquarter in Germany regarding the issue, but they said they have not received any reports with this regard. They only advised my local dealership to "reprogram the transmission computer" again. I can totally report that the "reprogramming" did not solve the issue, and I'm still having these jerks/kicks/jumps during automatic downshifting (esp. at 2nd gear).

If you or any other owner found a solution, please let us know!

Thanks.

bad habit

I think that "we reprogrammed it" is a standard thing they always say. I have the same observation stated with my transmission, but it is not severe enough to annoy me. Waiting on the next major update and will see how it goes, if not resolved might drop her off.

ursinebuilder

they also told me no one else had this problem. I don't want to be accused of a "rant" again, but my GLE has also been back for exhaust sensor, defective gas cap, non functioning AC vents and hatch opening. They also said case filed in Germany. I think that's just a BS answer. They don't care.

Roni07

My 2016 GLE350 4Matic has those problems , as recall at the very beginning. Rough shifting, jerky and when I floor it, from a stop and let go quickly as if I am stopping , it would choke. I brought it back to my dealer and they did a few updates and recalls. Runs good now. I totally forgot about it, until I saw your comments. If you see something don’t assume that it will “go away” of “fix itself”. Demand a solution form the dealer. I think many of the Herman brands MB BMW VW (except Audi) at having Quality Controller issues in their North America factories. Vehicles where very good back in Germany, when everything was made and hilt there but it’s a runaway train now. Audi back in the 80 90s had some serious drive terrain issues with their vehicle but it took them a decades to finally fix the issues and their vehicles at top rated now. The Japanese did a much better executionwith QC in their North American factories

NJGolfer

I do have this issue for my GLE 450. I feel the kick when downshift 4-3-2.

Lovestodrive

I have had major problems with my 2020 GLE 350, similar to yours. Shifting up or down through the lower 3 or 4 gears was so abrupt that anyone who rode in the car as a passenger asked me what was wrong. Gear ratios seemed wrong for the comfort setting with the engine winding up like a toy car before shifting. Also slack in the transmission so that it didn’t engage immediately when accelerating. What is more frustrating is that the problem is intermittent and some mornings the vehicle is okay. In comparison, every GLC loaner car has driven perfectly. Previous E350, E320, GLS 450 have shifted perfectly. The salesman initially told me the transmission was a smart, self adapting design and might take 2-3000 miles to “learn”. Needless to say after 3000 miles the “smart” transmission was no better.

The first time I brought it in for a look, the technician changed the transmission fluid, updated software and told me the GLE 350 “drives like every other one”. After the 3rd or 4th time contacting the sales rep and/or bringing it in, a great technician drove with me to narrow down the problem. He initially though the transmission cover was bad. However when draining the transmission fluid he found metal shaving. The entire transmission and the torque converter were replaced under warranty resulting in a $30,000 charge to Mercedes. The problems are better but there is clearly a design problem or software fix needed that Mercedes will not own up to. I have never driven a car where worrying about what the transmission will or will not do on any give day dominates the driving experience. I am hoping that a software fix miraculously appears or will be doomed to trade in the car for something other that a Mercedes and take a big loss.