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Picked up My 2024 GLE 450w on 9-23-2023. Now have 328 miles on the vehicle. Noticed last week some indents for lack of a better word on the seats of the driver and passenger seats. Was at MB dealer today to check on part to order (tray for cargo). Mentioned to parts guy about this and he said they have ordered several seat covers for this issue. I am conserned this is under the cover causing this so quickly. Anyone else have this issue? Can't believe this for the upper end price paid for this vehicle!
This is an all too common issue with poor stitching, assembly from the company providing the seats. My 2021 was far worse, a 2024 GLE 63 S had an area on the drivers seat with a 1 1/2” indentation. The seats are delivered in protective film so it may be difficult to see the flaws but they should never be shipped with flaws. I’ve seen other brands with flaws but Mercedes seems to be the leader.
This appears to be the culprit supplier with a location near the Mercedes Vance Alabama plant. Fauricia: With 111,000 employees in 33 countries, Faurecia is a top ten global automotive supplier and inspires mobility through its four Business Groups: Seating, Interiors, Clean Mobility, and Electronics.
167 seats have been problematic since launch. Looks like MB hasn’t solved this issue. Or a host of others. What a tailspin this company finds itself in, and especially the Vance crew.
It is leather. I am bummed about this. I hope they take care of it. Still waiting approval.
Keep us posted!!
Here's a better picture of my question about the bottom of the seat cushion outlined in blue. It looks to be a textured material. Maybe this is done to prevent squeaking against the black plastic section??
Yes, fabric is used on nearly all cars to avoid squeaking and abrasion between moving seat parts and stationary plastic parts. Cost is also saved (fewer square cms of leather) which car companies are attracted to like bugs to a zapper.
Keep us posted!!
Here's a better picture of my question about the bottom of the seat cushion outlined in blue. It looks to be a textured material. Maybe this is done to prevent squeaking against the black plastic section??
It is leather. I am bummed about this. I hope they take care of it. Still waiting approval.
Looks like MB Tex. We use to have a 450 with the MB Tex and it started cracking the second year on the driver seat from folding where we get in and out.. Dealer replaced it. Never really looked as good as the original and had some "slop". Not sure it matters but then we traded it and got the 63S with the "exclusive nappa" and the stitching started coming out of the passenger front and passenger rear seat bottoms which were rarely sat in. Dealer replaced those as well under warranty. Replacements look great without any "slop" in it that replacement.
Looks like MB Tex. We use to have a 450 with the MB Tex and it started cracking the second year on the driver seat from folding where we get in and out.. Dealer replaced it. Never really looked as good as the original and had some "slop". Not sure it matters but then we traded it and got the 63S with the "exclusive nappa" and the stitching started coming out of the passenger front and passenger rear seat bottoms which were rarely sat in. Dealer replaced those as well under warranty. Replacements look great without any "slop" in it that replacement.
Thanks for reply - since this is the leather hoping for good results. Have 3 other MB also leather and even my 2013 ML seats are still looking unworn.- fingers crossed.
Update: - 2024 450W Went to dealer today and saw my Service Writer. He had two people come to look at the vehicle the Service Manager and the Assistant Service Manager. The SM told me they would order the seat covers and also the cushions. He mentioned that he also wanted to check the rods (whatever that is). My vehicle had 348 total miles (11 on it when I picked it up). He said the passenger side looks worse than the driver side. They ordered the parts. While there I was talking to their "expert" about something I was trying to do with MBUX and couldn't figure it out with the Augmented Video Navigation. The Service Writer found me and said they were going to have to push out my repair date because the items show on back order. Then he had made a call and the answer is that don't have these parts yet for the 2024 because the model year is so new. ETA??? who knows. I had this vehicle loaded with just about everything except AirMatic - as they kept taking it off the build.
I also looked very closely at the rear seat from the back and took a few pics - don't know if this is typical or if there are problems there also. Any advise on the rear? TIA
After seeing your pictures, I just had a look at my brand new GLE63S that I've only had for a few days ..... Same crappy upholstery, looks like it was done in an elementary school sewing class. My front seats appear OK but I have the same workmanship on the corners of the rear seats.
Sorry to hear about your issues. If not for more pronounced defects around the pillows, I wouldn't notice the other imperfections.
Originally Posted by MzLynn
I had this vehicle loaded with just about everything except AirMatic - as they kept taking it off the build.
Do you have your build history by any chance? When did you learn that AirMatic was taken off your build? Was it before your build went "red" (locked/frozen) or after?
[QUOTE=chrislk55;8864418]After seeing your pictures, I just had a look at my brand new GLE63S that I've only had for a few days ..... Same crappy upholstery, looks like it was done in an elementary school sewing class. My front seats appear OK but I have the same workmanship on the corners of the rear seats.
Chris…
Sorry to see that this isn’t just OP’s seats that are messed up. Mercedes refused to fix my 2021 GLE 53 seats (3-4 major flaws, several minor) but they offered me $1,000. I was pi$$ed and refused the money…got rid of the car a year later just hated the flaws and that the red seats came in orange. I should have accepted the cash.
So much for the higher end AMG line getting better quality. I noticed a big flaw, passenger seat, in a showroom GLE 63S. I didn’t think to look at the rear seats. Will replacement parts ever be available for some of these even if approved and on back order? Maybe if warranty! My Dealer ordered new seats for my 2021 but they never came…after 6 months or so Mercedes said they were not available through a parts department order…or something like that.
I’ve decided that I won’t accept my pending GLE 63 order if the seats are flawed…maybe I should just cancel. I looked at at least 6 BEV & A/C ‘class seats and they looked good.
After seeing your pictures, I just had a look at my brand new GLE63S that I've only had for a few days ..... Same crappy upholstery, looks like it was done in an elementary school sewing class. My front seats appear OK but I have the same workmanship on the corners of the rear seats.
Chris…
Sorry to see that this isn’t just OP’s seats that are messed up. Mercedes refused to fix my 2021 GLE 53 seats (3-4 major flaws, several minor) but they offered me $1,000. I was pi$$ed and refused the money…got rid of the car a year later just hated the flaws and that the red seats came in orange. I should have accepted the cash.
So much for the higher end AMG line getting better quality. I noticed a big flaw, passenger seat, in a showroom GLE 63S. I didn’t think to look at the rear seats. Will replacement parts ever be available for some of these even if approved and on back order? Maybe if warranty! My Dealer ordered new seats for my 2021 but they never came…after 6 months or so Mercedes said they were not available through a parts department order…or something like that.
I’ve decided that I won’t accept my pending GLE 63 order if the seats are flawed…maybe I should just cancel. I looked at at least 6 BEV & A/C ‘class seats and they looked good.
Hey Ron, after reading this post I thoroughly inspected all my seats and the fronts look good, no real issues there so that should give you some confidence that your car will be ok in the front. I also have the red/black interior and the red is red, I remember seeing your post with the orange seats, it seems they have fixed that. Now the back is a different story, I never really noticed it until I saw the pics in this thread and low and behold, mine looked just as bad. I will definitely be bringing it to my dealer's attention, I doubt they will replace the entire back seat area but at least I may get some compensation for the lousy fit and finish. If I purchased a low end vehicle these things are expected but certainly not in this level vehicle....
Hey Ron, after reading this post I thoroughly inspected all my seats and the fronts look good, no real issues there so that should give you some confidence that your car will be ok in the front. I also have the red/black interior and the red is red, I remember seeing your post with the orange seats, it seems they have fixed that. Now the back is a different story, I never really noticed it until I saw the pics in this thread and low and behold, mine looked just as bad. I will definitely be bringing it to my dealer's attention, I doubt they will replace the entire back seat area but at least I may get some compensation for the lousy fit and finish. If I purchased a low end vehicle these things are expected but certainly not in this level vehicle....
Thanks Chris…I just called my SA and told him that I will not accept my car if the seats aren’t right. Now that the ZF strike is settled it might still build in November.
Your Edition 55 should be showcase perfect…very limited build & SE car usually gets extra QC.. I had (wrongly) assumed that 3 years later Mercedes would figure out the seat thing. My 2020 GLE 450 had zero flaws anywhere-front or back so it can be done.
Sorry to hear about your issues. If not for more pronounced defects around the pillows, I wouldn't notice the other imperfections.
Do you have your build history by any chance? When did you learn that AirMatic was taken off your build? Was it before your build went "red" (locked/frozen) or after?
Have all my builds. Before it went red the Airmatic was removed. The last which I barely caught was the wood steering wheel which was on the last build. MB put the piano lacquer wavy line trim (which I didn't want. Too busy looking for me) I barely got that changed to Walnut and standard wheel. I tried the to put Airmatic back on and kept kicking it out. Went red the next morning. Another dealer who I bought another MB from very recently asked him. Was told their customer had to wait 1 year to get Airmatic on a GLE. The build also kept kicking out dash cam. When you have augmented navigation you can activate the dash cam thru the MB site for $200 one time charge as it uses the same camera. Hope that helps
On a side note, I just got an email yesterday that my GLE53 build is complete. I confirmed with my salesman that it was built as configured, no missing items/deletions. It will arrive in a few weeks. After seeing all of this, it will have quite the inspection and I must say my expectation level has lowered
More issues on the back seats. I took about 16 pictures of areas of the back seat. I won't bore you with all of them; however some really stand out. On the lower front area where the calf of your leg is there is a bad area of almost a pleats/puckers. Between the seats folding down and sides of arm rest puckers on side, where seat belts are on the top. Was also surprised where the rods go in for the headrests are cut for the opening and not finished off like the front seats headrest are. (like having a button hole on a jacket that has raw edges). Will see how the dealer handles this. Raw edge there rods from back seat headrest Bad areas around top arts of rear seats Rear seat front edge going down to black carpet area. Rear headrest edges not finished. They are finished on the front seats but not on the back ones.
10-18-2023, 07:16 PM
