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I've had my 2020 GLE 450 for about three months and it has 2000 km (1243 miles) on it. In the last few weeks, I've been getting "Malfunction Drive at Max. 80 km/h" pop-up alerts whenever I drive over rough pavement. At first it took large bumps in the road to trigger the message, but now it's happening even on mildly broken pavement.
This happens in any driving mode (Comfort, Sport, etc). When the error appears, I can't notice any difference in the way the car handles, and the error clears when I restart the car.
I'll take it to the dealer, but I'm wondering if anyone here has experienced this issue or can shed some light on it?
I've had my 2020 GLE 450 for about three months and it has 2000 km (1243 miles) on it. In the last few weeks, I've been getting "Malfunction Drive at Max. 80 km/h" pop-up alerts whenever I drive over rough pavement. At first it took large bumps in the road to trigger the message, but now it's happening even on mildly broken pavement.
This happens in any driving mode (Comfort, Sport, etc). When the error appears, I can't notice any difference in the way the car handles, and the error clears when I restart the car.
I'll take it to the dealer, but I'm wondering if anyone here has experienced this issue or can shed some light on it?
I had the same warning which ended up being a "blown strut" according to MB. Can't really tell without pulling the codes though. Have the dealership take a look and see what it's all about.
I wonder if it's a faulty sensor because nothing seems to change in terms of ride quality. Regardless, looks like I have to take it in. Thank you for the response.
I wonder if it's a faulty sensor because nothing seems to change in terms of ride quality. Regardless, looks like I have to take it in. Thank you for the response.
I didn't notice a difference in ride quality at all. The only thing I noticed was a barely perceptible difference in sound when going over bumps in the corner of car where the strut was blown.
UPDATE: I brought it back to the dealer and their diagnosis is that it's a faulty strut. They don't have a replacement part in stock and it'll take about two weeks for the part to arrive from Germany. At least they gave me a loaner in the meantime.
UPDATE: I brought it back to the dealer and their diagnosis is that it's a faulty strut. They don't have a replacement part in stock and it'll take about two weeks for the part to arrive from Germany. At least they gave me a loaner in the meantime.
Curious to know which strut they diagnosed as being faulty.
The dealer ordered a replacement strut from Mercedes in Germany which took weeks to arrive (apparently they received the wrong part and so it had to be reordered, causing a big delay). They replaced the front-left strut last week but it didn't clear the error! They're in communication with techs in Germany to figure out what to do next.
Here's how the failure progressed:
October: Acquired the GLE 450, everything works perfectly
December: Yellow "malfunction" notices start to appear on the main instrument display when going over big bumps. Restarting the car clears the error.
January: Notices become more frequent and when the pavement is broken, not just on big bumps
February: Notices come up even when driving over mild irregularities in the road
Late February: Notice is now RED with a "STOP" message (no longer a warning to keep the speed under 80 km/h). Restarting the car does not clear this error.
My daily route in the winter involved driving over bumpy snow and ice patches and occasionally through large muddy puddles on a warm day when the snow was melting.
Reflecting more on it, I realize that that suspension did become less forgiving and rougher when the notices appeared. Is that a sign that the Airmatic suspension disengaged?
I'm starting to wonder if driving through the puddles, which kicked up a lot of muddy spray, progressively covered an Airmatic sensor for the front left of the vehicle. Maybe the problem is with that and not the strut.
Last edited by rockliffe; 03-25-2020 at 06:10 PM.
Reason: typo
It's been nearly two months since I brought the car in to have the suspension problem taken care of. Now they're telling me that it's the suspension controller board that's faulty and it needs to be replaced. But guess what? That particular part is on backorder until sometime in May!
It's been nearly two months since I brought the car in to have the suspension problem taken care of. Now they're telling me that it's the suspension controller board that's faulty and it needs to be replaced. But guess what? That particular part is on backorder until sometime in May!
Yep - it can't be driven. Well it can, but the display has a red "Stop" pop-up that can't be dismissed and the airmatic suspension feels like it's off (it probably is), making for an unpleasant ride. The dealer at least gave me a loaner, but it's a base A220 - not quite the same lol.
Any updates ? After I replaced the active ride control sway bar on the 53, time to time when I start up the car I get the malfunction message. But goes away after re-start.
I wonder if you didn't have the Off-road setting engaged. It's supposed to have a max speed, maybe 80kph? Then it's supposed to lower to highway height. Maybe the system decided to present a display, instead of, or in addition to, the lowering.
I have a 2021 GLE 53 and yesterday the "suspension failure, limit speed to 50 mph" message appeared with loss of a cushioned ride. The SUV clunked over every road imperfection. I have not bottomed the car out or even hit any significant potholes during the 2700 miles it has traveled to date. It is at the dealer now. Will advise the forum as soon as the problem is elucidated.
I routinely get that message, I restart the car and it goes away. I'm so tired of going to the dealer, been there way too many times. I just live with it.....
Just curious, did OP try to get compensation or replacement per Lemon Law? I’ve been waiting several weeks for replacement AC part from Germany and am damn tired of paying monthly lease on GLE 580 while driving a cheap GLB loaner!
I have a 2021 GLE 53 and yesterday the "suspension failure, limit speed to 50 mph" message appeared with loss of a cushioned ride. The SUV clunked over every road imperfection. I have not bottomed the car out or even hit any significant potholes during the 2700 miles it has traveled to date. It is at the dealer now. Will advise the forum as soon as the problem is elucidated.
My GLE450 is currently at Mercedes with exactly the same issue. Malfunction message came and went whenever it felt like it. After checking all the wiring, Mercedes said it is an issue with front Left bit. They would not give the car back as apparent If may not be safe enough. They do not have the part in the UK and it is not in stock in Germany wither so who knows how long it will take to get one now.
worth mentioning that same issue was investigated just few months after vehicle was first registered in 2020, so this must be a pretty well known issue to Merc. Shame given how much they charge for the vehicle in the first place.
Think I'll keep driving my 2011 ML 350 for a while til they figure this out. I was looking at the new one for a trade in. but I smell a recall issue coming whether it the sensor., strut, or the computer.
It has been two weeks and Mercedes are still waiting for delivery date. No news at all, but I was told
that another 450 has been taken in with exactly same issue.
I think you are right, they will soon be recalling them all, probably once they get enough parts made lol
the part is suspension control unit.
It's been nearly two months since I brought the car in to have the suspension problem taken care of. Now they're telling me that it's the suspension controller board that's faulty and it needs to be replaced. But guess what? That particular part is on backorder until sometime in May!
Hello , i have the same problem with suspension, Did the new suspension controller solve this problem?
The new suspension control panel solved things (thank god for the warranty). It has taken them about four weeks, nobody has told me anything, I just had a notification on MercedesMe app that my car is being driven around, rang them up and they told me that car is being tested after fitting the new part.
Apparently it is quite a common thing with air suspension.
However, four weeks down the line the same malfunction message came up, now it is a rear shock absorber, which is on back order too. Also the front camera failed, that is on order.
Overall the vehicle is amazing, but having three major failures within three months is worrying to say the least.
Not to defend Mercedes but these components come from outsourcing. I hope the suppliers are getting back charged for the failures including labor. It’s getting to be a little late in the Pandemic but it could still be COVID related. With all of the ongoing shortages it may be difficult to change Suppliers.
02-06-2020, 06:42 PM
