GLE Class (V167) Produced 2020 to present

Poor Down Shifting

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Old 11-12-2021, 11:56 PM
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Originally Posted by randsny
Great feedback folks. Did anyone take their GLE into the service department to address this and if so, what did they find?
Took mine in and the dealer is “unable to duplicate customers concern at this time. Vehicle is operating as designed at this time with no defect noticed”. In their defense I honestly don’t know how to get the the ‘thud’ to occur consistently. It is very random when the ‘thud’ occurs. I notice it more when I am in heavy traffic in 4th gear at around 15mph and then when accelerating and the car shifts down to 3rd the ‘thud’ occurs. If I could get the car to do this consistently then maybe they can address the issue - but I just don’t know how…
Old 11-13-2021, 01:30 AM
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Originally Posted by bluejaywag
Took mine in and the dealer is “unable to duplicate customers concern at this time. Vehicle is operating as designed at this time with no defect noticed”. In their defense I honestly don’t know how to get the the ‘thud’ to occur consistently. It is very random when the ‘thud’ occurs. I notice it more when I am in heavy traffic in 4th gear at around 15mph and then when accelerating and the car shifts down to 3rd the ‘thud’ occurs. If I could get the car to do this consistently then maybe they can address the issue - but I just don’t know how…
If you figure out how to duplicate your symptoms reliably, then drive around near the dealership and find a suitable Street to show the service department.
I think that last part is important - finding a street near the dealership so they are able to replicate your problem all by themselves.
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Old 11-15-2021, 11:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Antony17
I went to my service advisor and told him about the issue. They reset the computer and it was a lot better. But he said the computer will take some time to learn you way of driving again.
Dealer said the same thing to me, I asked, "How will the computer know that I don't like to downshift from 3 to 2 at 1700 RPM?". Blank stare, then, "your car is ready".
Old 11-15-2021, 02:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Sieveboy
Dealer said the same thing to me, I asked, "How will the computer know that I don't like to downshift from 3 to 2 at 1700 RPM?". Blank stare, then, "your car is ready".
It's called machine learning, well established technology in many fields.
Old 11-15-2021, 02:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Aggie57
It's called machine learning, well established technology in many fields.
Then why am I not experiencing any changes because every neuron in my body is sending out signals that I loathe the current 4-3 and 3-2 downshift points?
Old 11-15-2021, 04:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Sieveboy
Then why am I not experiencing any changes because every neuron in my body is sending out signals that I loathe the current 4-3 and 3-2 downshift points?
Maybe try downshifting manually at the revs you'd rather. Do that consistently and see what it does.
Old 11-15-2021, 11:15 PM
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Solved poor down shifting

Originally Posted by Sieveboy
Dealer said the same thing to me, I asked, "How will the computer know that I don't like to downshift from 3 to 2 at 1700 RPM?". Blank stare, then, "your car is ready".

Hi everyone

I know everyone has this issue for a year back in July and I got super annoyed like everyone else. But during my oil change back in July, I told my service advisor the my issue and it was still there the first week of getting it back but now the horrible down shift has been long gone after the first week of driving it and the computer module relearning the driving pattern.

Please see below for the service record that happened in July

I had wind noise issue that was fixed on my car also. But you can ignore the top part.
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Old 11-16-2021, 08:28 AM
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I had this done to my GLE450 and within a few weeks I have the same problem. Poor down shifts. 4-3 and 3-2. The frustrating part is, while this happens quit often, it is not all the time. So, when you bring it in for service, it seems to work better, and soon as the service tech leaves the car, the problem pops up again. I suspect this has to do with regenerative braking, since sometimes the transmission downshifts simply fine. It is really frustrating, I keep looking for a way to reproduce the problem, so far no luck. It seems to me Mercedes should abandon regenerative braking at speeds below 20 mph and that might smooth things out.
Old 11-16-2021, 10:36 AM
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V167
Originally Posted by randsny
I had this done to my GLE450 and within a few weeks I have the same problem. Poor down shifts. 4-3 and 3-2. The frustrating part is, while this happens quit often, it is not all the time. So, when you bring it in for service, it seems to work better, and soon as the service tech leaves the car, the problem pops up again. I suspect this has to do with regenerative braking, since sometimes the transmission downshifts simply fine. It is really frustrating, I keep looking for a way to reproduce the problem, so far no luck. It seems to me Mercedes should abandon regenerative braking at speeds below 20 mph and that might smooth things out.

I have a GLE450 also and I don’t seems to have that issue after they reset the module and update the software.
Old 04-18-2022, 12:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Antony17
Hi everyone

I know everyone has this issue for a year back in July and I got super annoyed like everyone else. But during my oil change back in July, I told my service advisor the my issue and it was still there the first week of getting it back but now the horrible down shift has been long gone after the first week of driving it and the computer module relearning the driving pattern.

Please see below for the service record that happened in July

I had wind noise issue that was fixed on my car also. But you can ignore the top part.
I have a GLE 450 and have the same issue. 4-3, 3-2 buck the most, and not every single time so the technician did not experience it (he says). Appreciate the post, will give that a try.
Old 04-18-2022, 05:36 PM
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Originally Posted by randsny
I had this done to my GLE450 and within a few weeks I have the same problem. Poor down shifts. 4-3 and 3-2. The frustrating part is, while this happens quit often, it is not all the time. So, when you bring it in for service, it seems to work better, and soon as the service tech leaves the car, the problem pops up again. I suspect this has to do with regenerative braking, since sometimes the transmission downshifts simply fine. It is really frustrating, I keep looking for a way to reproduce the problem, so far no luck. It seems to me Mercedes should abandon regenerative braking at speeds below 20 mph and that might smooth things out.
It's not the regenerative braking, because I had the same transmission issue on my 2018 E43. Most of the 9-speed Mercedes gearboxes seem susceptible to the issue.
Old 04-19-2022, 04:03 PM
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I have had the rough downshifting since day one of buying my car. Took it to dealer. "Could not duplicate". Unhelpful.
Anyone have any success in having theirs fixed?
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Old 04-20-2022, 11:16 AM
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I am still having rough shifting problems; however I have found using ECO mode helps a lot.
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Old 11-12-2022, 09:33 AM
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Thumbs up Poor down Shifting Fixed !!!

Well after a year of poor down shifting, my GLE450 has now been fixed. The Local dealership (Morries Mercedes of St. Paul) replaced the EQboost motor/starter assembly and the car shifts smoothly. During the troubleshooting process they started with a complete wipe of the software and a fresh install, which did not fix the problem. Next was a replacement of the valve body in the transmission, which did not work either. Finally, they replaced the EQBoost motor/starter assembly and that fixed the issue. The SUV has been shifting smoothly ever since.
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Old 11-12-2022, 09:41 AM
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Originally Posted by randsny
Well after a year of poor down shifting, my GLE450 has now been fixed. The Local dealership (Morries Mercedes of St. Paul) replaced the EQboost motor/starter assembly and the car shifts smoothly. During the troubleshooting process they started with a complete wipe of the software and a fresh install, which did not fix the problem. Next was a replacement of the valve body in the transmission, which did not work either. Finally, they replaced the EQBoost motor/starter assembly and that fixed the issue. The SUV has been shifting smoothly ever since.
Great news that a solution has been found! It is probably a relief. Further evidence that the 48V EQ-boost system is a total failure from MB on 167.
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Old 11-12-2022, 04:41 PM
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Originally Posted by chassis
Further evidence that the 48V EQ-boost system is a total failure from MB on 167.
How does this imply a total failure from MB?
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Old 11-12-2022, 04:49 PM
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Can you share your work order? I would like to show my advisor the work done that fixed this.

Originally Posted by randsny
Well after a year of poor down shifting, my GLE450 has now been fixed. The Local dealership (Morries Mercedes of St. Paul) replaced the EQboost motor/starter assembly and the car shifts smoothly. During the troubleshooting process they started with a complete wipe of the software and a fresh install, which did not fix the problem. Next was a replacement of the valve body in the transmission, which did not work either. Finally, they replaced the EQBoost motor/starter assembly and that fixed the issue. The SUV has been shifting smoothly ever since.
Old 11-12-2022, 05:27 PM
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Originally Posted by chassis
Great news that a solution has been found! It is probably a relief. Further evidence that the 48V EQ-boost system is a total failure from MB on 167.
This is the first reference I've seen of the EQ boost being related to shifting problems.

As usual, I'm wondering what further evidence you have, in this case a total failure of EQBoost system. Is it a better EQBoost application on other models?
Help us fill in the blanks.

If it's real, I want to do some of my own research. Thanks.

Last edited by mikapen; 11-12-2022 at 06:02 PM.
Old 11-12-2022, 05:35 PM
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'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former- 10&14 ML BlueTecs, 20 GLE450 E-ABC, 15 Cayenne D, 17 Macan
I had a conversation with my service manager, and the tech who worked on my car. I asked about the sometimes hard shifting into 1st, at my 20,000 mi service. (I don't actually have this problem, except immediately after some aggressive driving, but thought I'd get some feedback for the Forum.)

Apparently they have another customer with a severe problem, and they've been working on it with the factory.
They said the factory was aware of the problem on some AMG Speedshift transmissions, and working on a software fix.
At first it sounded like a brush off but when we got more specific, it sounds like something's in the works and near release.
It was an AMG specific conversation, FWIW.

Last edited by mikapen; 11-12-2022 at 05:39 PM.
Old 11-12-2022, 05:45 PM
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Originally Posted by MBguy013
How does this imply a total failure from MB?
That’s our guy…1 out of 100-200,000 built is a total failure. At 2 God forbid!
Old 11-12-2022, 06:09 PM
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'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former- 10&14 ML BlueTecs, 20 GLE450 E-ABC, 15 Cayenne D, 17 Macan
Now that I think about it, there's a possibility that the handoff from recharge-for-braking, to the normal brakes-and-downshift, might be clumsy.

As I watch my charge meter, it abruptly goes from full recharge to nil. I wonder if the changeover could be softened. I'll mention it to my tech, since we have a conversation going, and he's working on the problem for another customer.


About the only time I have the problem is after I've been racing around for a while and and start proceeding in a normal fashion. It takes a while for the car to "learn" that I'm not racing anymore.

Maybe it takes longer for the Fight Or Flight response to recede than we'd like. 🤔
I know if I mash the accelerator hard, thr car wants to be racy for several minutes.
Old 11-12-2022, 11:36 PM
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How do you know it’s only 1 out of 100-200,000? Have any real data to back that up?
Originally Posted by Ron.s
That’s our guy…1 out of 100-200,000 built is a total failure. At 2 God forbid!
Old 11-13-2022, 12:06 AM
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Originally Posted by Frenetic
How do you know it’s only 1 out of 100-200,000? Have any real data to back that up?
My response was intended to be humorous but…
This is the first ISG failure reported on this Forum in 4 years…show me another failure! There may be more than the one reported here but I’m just using the same information he had. You can look at serial numbers to get an idea of vehicles produced or read the annual sales numbers by model. I’m not the one on this Forum bashing the car without facts. Jumping on every issue with sweeping conclusions isn’t helpful…I’m sure you understand.
Old 11-13-2022, 02:02 AM
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If this is the cause of everyone’s rough and clunky transmission, then it’s obviously not the first one. It’s the first one that has been diagnosed.
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Old 11-13-2022, 06:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Frenetic
If this is the cause of everyone’s rough and clunky transmission, then it’s obviously not the first one. It’s the first one that has been diagnosed.
Nice try, but there is no known correlation reported here. Just to be clear, there is no “everyone” with rough downshifts. Rough downshifts seem to be rare and reported on the GLE350 that doesn’t have an ISG. The Porsche Forum and Audi Forum have similar (infrequent) reports of rough downshifting and no ISG.
Since you are new here you probably missed other solutions reported…like an exhaust sensor and a transmission valve. Resetting “Learn Mode” works occasionally. Many of us have never experienced rough shifting on the V167.


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