In need of a software engineer. Or a priest.
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Super Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 533
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From: Pennsylvania
2021 GLE450
In need of a software engineer. Or a priest.
I continue to be baffled by the electronic gremlins in my GLE. I've had a number bizarre false perimeter alarms and one particularly troubling situation where my car abruptly braked to a stop and screamed at me while in the process of parallel parking. The stop (while in reverse) was so violent I thought I actually hit something and had to get out to confirm I did not. The rate of these incidents has been increasing. Yesterday while attempting to back out of a perpendicular parking spot, the car continually braked and screamed in the same manner. Four times I removed my foot from the brake only to be immediately stopped and alerted to, well, nothing. There was nothing there ... nothing behind me and no movement in any direction. The parking lot was nearly empty and the camera showed no obstructions. The parking space was clearly painted and the spots on either side were vacant. No potholes, no rubbish, and the car was just washed so the sensors are clean. So what is my car "seeing"? Or is it possessed? And do other people have this problem?
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Joined: Dec 2020
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From: Southern California
2020 GLE350
It is scary when it happens like you say......"so violent".
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SUV
You don't need an engineer. You need to take it to the dealership. But it's hard because it's probably intermittent and they won't be able to reproduce your issue. It sounds like RCTA or pre collision kicked in. I remember similar behavior on my X5. When I backed out of the garage it sensed the side walls and braked like you described. I turned that feature for rear off. I know how you feel. It almost felt like you bumped into a wall. Maybe worth trying to turn some of these features off to see if the issue goes away. Good luck!
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Super Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 533
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From: Pennsylvania
2021 GLE450
You don't need an engineer. You need to take it to the dealership. But it's hard because it's probably intermittent and they won't be able to reproduce your issue. It sounds like RCTA or pre collision kicked in. I remember similar behavior on my X5. When I backed out of the garage it sensed the side walls and braked like you described. I turned that feature for rear off. I know how you feel. It almost felt like you bumped into a wall. Maybe worth trying to turn some of these features off to see if the issue goes away. Good luck!
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From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
I had similar problems with my 2020 450, and more. Locked brakes are like hitting a wall!
Although I got rid of it without finding a solution, I suspect it might have been outgassing on both the glass from the supplier, and the camera.
Both of those were covered by individual TSBs, requiring alcohol cleaning and / or baking the camera.
After I got a replacement windshield for my 53, the camera wouldn't calibrate, so they applied a TSB.
You might ask them to check the calibration. I and @Ron.s posted the TSBs last year. I'll see if I can find them.
Although I got rid of it without finding a solution, I suspect it might have been outgassing on both the glass from the supplier, and the camera.
Both of those were covered by individual TSBs, requiring alcohol cleaning and / or baking the camera.
After I got a replacement windshield for my 53, the camera wouldn't calibrate, so they applied a TSB.
You might ask them to check the calibration. I and @Ron.s posted the TSBs last year. I'll see if I can find them.
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GLE 580
Maybe have your phone ready to record a video when it starts to show the dealer. When it brakes a 2nd time, get it on video, toss it in park and walk out and show your surroundings in the video. It might bolster your case.
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Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2013
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From: Pennsylvania
2021 GLE450
I had similar problems with my 2020 450, and more. Locked brakes are like hitting a wall!
Although I got rid of it without finding a solution, I suspect it might have been outgassing on both the glass from the supplier, and the camera.
Both of those were covered by individual TSBs, requiring alcohol cleaning and / or baking the camera.
After I got a replacement windshield for my 53, the camera wouldn't calibrate, so they applied a TSB.
You might ask them to check the calibration. I and @Ron.s posted the TSBs last year. I'll see if I can find them.
Although I got rid of it without finding a solution, I suspect it might have been outgassing on both the glass from the supplier, and the camera.
Both of those were covered by individual TSBs, requiring alcohol cleaning and / or baking the camera.
After I got a replacement windshield for my 53, the camera wouldn't calibrate, so they applied a TSB.
You might ask them to check the calibration. I and @Ron.s posted the TSBs last year. I'll see if I can find them.
I can turn it off completely, but that defeats the purpose of having it. I'll try changing it to "late" reaction, but I don't know that it can make a difference since there's nothing actually there.
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From: Costco
2025 AMG GT63, 2023 S500, 2022 GLE53
My sympathies, HotRod. This sounds similar to the issue that was plaguing my car where it would try and forcefully steer me back into my lane while under a blinker on a five lane freeway without a car behind me for hundreds of yards. Someone recently left a message on my profile complaining about the same thing but I haven’t heard from him since.
The dealer likely won’t even look for it unless you force them to drive around for hours trying to replicate the issue. Just watch the car in your app and it won’t even move while it’s at the dealership. Good luck, I hope you lucky and it does get fixed. I absolutely hate wasting my time going to the dealer on issues that I shouldn’t have to be dealing with let alone them not even attempting to fix it other than plugging in their laptop and giving it a clean bill of health when there is obviously something wrong with it.
The dealer likely won’t even look for it unless you force them to drive around for hours trying to replicate the issue. Just watch the car in your app and it won’t even move while it’s at the dealership. Good luck, I hope you lucky and it does get fixed. I absolutely hate wasting my time going to the dealer on issues that I shouldn’t have to be dealing with let alone them not even attempting to fix it other than plugging in their laptop and giving it a clean bill of health when there is obviously something wrong with it.
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2023 MB GLE 63S SUV
I believe you were getting some type of camera error message, correct? I don't get that. I'm just getting the collision alert in conjunction with auto-braking.
I can turn it off completely, but that defeats the purpose of having it. I'll try changing it to "late" reaction, but I don't know that it can make a difference since there's nothing actually there.
That's pretty much what I've concluded I'll have to do since it doesn't seem to be a common and obvious issue here. It'll definitely have to be video because the errors just flash - no time for a still pic. Most of the 360-degree errors happen when I'm moving, so it's unlikely I'll ever get video of one of those incidents unless I happen to have a passenger at the ready.
I can turn it off completely, but that defeats the purpose of having it. I'll try changing it to "late" reaction, but I don't know that it can make a difference since there's nothing actually there.
That's pretty much what I've concluded I'll have to do since it doesn't seem to be a common and obvious issue here. It'll definitely have to be video because the errors just flash - no time for a still pic. Most of the 360-degree errors happen when I'm moving, so it's unlikely I'll ever get video of one of those incidents unless I happen to have a passenger at the ready.
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Super Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 533
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From: Pennsylvania
2021 GLE450
I wanted to order a 2023 SUV but I checked with dealers and only the coupe was being built. You can't find a vehicle without all this AI crap. I wanted a car without it.....driven all my life without it. I will disable mine if i can. Please let me know how the "late" adjustment works out. Good luck.
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W213
Same thing happens to me at least once a week at random places..
Initially I thought i was reversing too fast, slowed down during parking but still happens. Have learnt to live with it.
Stranger thing is that it doesnt happned when i was driving the W205.
Initially I thought i was reversing too fast, slowed down during parking but still happens. Have learnt to live with it.
Stranger thing is that it doesnt happned when i was driving the W205.
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SUV
I wanted to order a 2023 SUV but I checked with dealers and only the coupe was being built. You can't find a vehicle without all this AI crap. I wanted a car without it.....driven all my life without it. I will disable mine if i can. Please let me know how the "late" adjustment works out. Good luck.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 791
Likes: 412
From: Fredericksburg, VA
2020 Mercedes GLE350 4Matic; 2023 Tesla Model Y
I continue to be baffled by the electronic gremlins in my GLE. I've had a number bizarre false perimeter alarms and one particularly troubling situation where my car abruptly braked to a stop and screamed at me while in the process of parallel parking. The stop (while in reverse) was so violent I thought I actually hit something and had to get out to confirm I did not. The rate of these incidents has been increasing. Yesterday while attempting to back out of a perpendicular parking spot, the car continually braked and screamed in the same manner. Four times I removed my foot from the brake only to be immediately stopped and alerted to, well, nothing. There was nothing there ... nothing behind me and no movement in any direction. The parking lot was nearly empty and the camera showed no obstructions. The parking space was clearly painted and the spots on either side were vacant. No potholes, no rubbish, and the car was just washed so the sensors are clean. So what is my car "seeing"? Or is it possessed? And do other people have this problem?
If correct, that narrows the issue down to the sensors used for backing up. I believe there are redundant radar and ultrasonic sensors in play. One of them is either out of calibration, or it is faulty and is giving false readings and needs to be replaced. You need to get the issue documented ASAP. The dealer is going to have to either ID the faulty sensor, or replace them all. Mercedes can decide. Have them give you a loaner car and don’t give it back until they figure it out. Let them know giving it back with a can not duplicate and no action is unacceptable.
My two cents.
Last edited by TexAg91; Apr 8, 2023 at 08:27 AM.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 533
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From: Pennsylvania
2021 GLE450
Well the exact source of the problem isn't obvious to the Service Advisor either. He did mention that the occasional full 360-degree alerts I'm also seeing are suggestive of a failing radar sensor, which may or may not be related to the auto-braking problem. The car goes in for exorcism/diagnosis and the window trim recall the first week of April (when a loaner is next available). Fingers crossed.
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Super Member
Joined: Feb 2013
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From: Pennsylvania
2021 GLE450
UPDATE: Diagnostic testing was inconclusive (no codes), although one front radar sensor appears to have been damaged by a stone strike - potentially leading to some or all of the false warnings I've been getting. A new sensor has been ordered and will be replaced at my expense. The dealer was also able to determine the driver side mirror was the source of the whistling I've started hearing. The mirror assembly will be replaced under warranty. The 48v battery Service Campaign was completed along with two open recalls, and the MBUX software was updated to correct the faulty nav system (detailed in another thread). Assuming the replacement sensor corrects the bizarre behavior, I think we're making genuine progress. If only the harsh downshifting could be completely corrected ...
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From: Central Indiana
2021 GLC 300 4Matic
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 533
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From: Pennsylvania
2021 GLE450
I did, but nothing improved. The dealer did a software update last year that helped a lot. I still have the issue at times, but it's neither as severe or as frequent as it was.
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From: Costco
2025 AMG GT63, 2023 S500, 2022 GLE53
I’ve had two cars back-to-back with the same transmission. I think that’s enough experience to qualify me to say that transmission is pure garbage designed by idiots.
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From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
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From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
Glad we know the culprits....
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2020
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From: Fredericksburg, VA
2020 Mercedes GLE350 4Matic; 2023 Tesla Model Y
UPDATE: Diagnostic testing was inconclusive (no codes), although one front radar sensor appears to have been damaged by a stone strike - potentially leading to some or all of the false warnings I've been getting. A new sensor has been ordered and will be replaced at my expense. The dealer was also able to determine the driver side mirror was the source of the whistling I've started hearing. The mirror assembly will be replaced under warranty. The 48v battery Service Campaign was completed along with two open recalls, and the MBUX software was updated to correct the faulty nav system (detailed in another thread). Assuming the replacement sensor corrects the bizarre behavior, I think we're making genuine progress. If only the harsh downshifting could be completely corrected ...
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 533
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From: Pennsylvania
2021 GLE450
Transmission worse than ever. Absolutely miserable to drive in any stop-and-go situation now. Remote start wouldn't work Saturday because the MercedesMe app indicated a window was down (it wasn't), then it mysteriously worked on Sunday. And I noticed today the passenger side BLIS is completely non-functional. Dealer has added the items to my list, but I've been warned they likely won't get to everything in the time allotted for my next service appointment. Maybe it wouldn't be so frustrating if the dealer isn't constantly scheduling at least 4 weeks out and/or offered pick-up and drop-off.
I can't believe expected reliability was a factor in choosing this over a Defender. In the past I frequently criticized people for buying reliability first - arguing that driving something dynamically superior is worth an extra trip to the service department now and then. My disastrous BMW experience had me rethinking that logic to a degree. I had hoped my MB experience would be better - something more like the way our stellar GLC has treated us. But my GLE has had more problems in less than 10k miles than our 50k-mile GLC, 80k-mile Touareg and 90k-mile Q5 combined, and it's not even close.
I can't believe expected reliability was a factor in choosing this over a Defender. In the past I frequently criticized people for buying reliability first - arguing that driving something dynamically superior is worth an extra trip to the service department now and then. My disastrous BMW experience had me rethinking that logic to a degree. I had hoped my MB experience would be better - something more like the way our stellar GLC has treated us. But my GLE has had more problems in less than 10k miles than our 50k-mile GLC, 80k-mile Touareg and 90k-mile Q5 combined, and it's not even close.
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GLE 580
