So my 24 GLE450 has been at the dealership for 12 days now. They are trying to figure out why the downshift from 5 to 4 and 4 to 3 are so harsh. When this car downshifts it's like you slam on the brakes for a moment then let off.

I'm really disappointed in M-B. Wanted a new Benz my entire life. Retire, buy one, and it's a piece of crap to drive.

And the dealer experience has been absolutely the worst I've ever experienced. NO communication what so ever. They act like 'how dare you suggest we build a crappy car'

UPDATE: After 14 days in the shop we got the car back. Was told the issue was factory trying to update the transmission software. also told some part was changed (don't know what yet as the paperwork wasn't ready when we picked up the car.), the fluid and filter were changed also. So far it drives and shifts just fine... we'll see how it goes.

 

This is the exact same issue my 450 has and mine is a 2020. Biggest complaint overall about this particular model. You will see others here with the same issue. Mine downshifts hard between 3 and 2. I've given up on trying to find a solution as this car will be with me for another 2 years max so not worth it at this point and none of my new cars have traditional transmissions so... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

This seems to be a common problem. My previous GLE did it and was fixed by replacing the transmission valve body. My new 2024 doesn't have the hard shifting problem. Maybe Mercedes should give up on the transmission business and buy their transmissions from ZF like BMW.

 

I understand you're upset with the issue you're having and I agree it's frustrating to have an issue with the transmission. You may get better luck with the dealership be being calm, persistent and polite. The dealership didn't build the car and MB didn't design the car to behave this way. Issues happen, that's what warranty is for. I hope they'll fix it for you soon and you'll keep enjoying the car.

 

Perhaps ask for a conference with the technician and the service manager directly, so you can better describe the symptoms and answer questions.

Describing symptoms can be difficult, especially with the service writer trying to put it into the service order succinctly.

 

Sorry to hear. It's the unfortunate truth. The downshifts you describe are, sadly, normal for MB transmissions.

MB transmissions are, in a word, bad.

 

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I had a similar issue last year. Dealer performed "Adtaptions if trans module" and it has been fine since. I know others stated they did this with no success, but worked great for me.

 

Thank goodness the person attempting to spell "adaptations" wasn't the one working on your car. You'd probably still have the problem.

Back on topic, I had my transmission reset two or three times, and if anything it made things worse. But as I've reported elsewhere, the downshifting has improved of late. It's still not what I would describe as normal, but I now swear a lot less than I used to. Now if the many other gremlins would self-correct, maybe I wouldn't find myself swearing at all.

 

This is the #1 problem with my 2021 450. It has been to MB countless times with multiple attempts at repair with zero success. My rough shift by far is from 3 to 2.

 

It only works if misspelled -

 

Crazy spell checks might be what to expect as AI takes over our world.....

 

Keep in mind, if it's at the dealer for 30 days or more for a critical component, this includes the transmission, you may be able to lemon law the car. I did this for my last AMG GLE 53 for the air conditioning of all things, and it's a surprisingly easy process in California. 30 days in the shop is the key. I didn't need a lawyer and just started the process with Mercedes directly. The dealer is mostly out of the transaction.

 

Thanks for sharing, I brought it up several time while doing the annual service and following a drive the tech determined that "it works as designed".

 

The 3 to 2 downshift is notoriously bad. My 2022 GLE53 would audibly and loudly clunk and jerk on that downshift. It would also jerk on the 4 to 3 downshift and would occasionally act really weird on upshifts, where it would seemingly get stuck between gears like when you press the clutch on a manual while pressing the gas.

Thankfully, my S500 only jerks on the 3 to 2 downshift, no loud clunk. I can live with this but frankly I shouldn’t have too.

This is the worst automatic transmission I’ve ever driven and for Mercedes to not recognize that and get rid of it says a lot about MB’s judgement and decision-making process. They need to kick that 9 speed to the trash heap and put in a ZF.

 

That's terrible. Perhaps it's time to change dealerships. I made several trips to original dealership for issues with dashcam, AR, and Nav system. They could never find anything wrong. I even went for a ride with the foreman and was able to duplicate the issue. His response was "these systems are not perfect, and are constantly being updated". He wanted me to come in every month to see if there was an update available. I changed dalerships, and they fixed EVERYTHING on the first visit, and it has been that way ever since.

I wish you well, and hope you get the downshifting resolved.

 

Thank you, appreciate you. At this point I am on the path of changing cars so dealing with this has fallen off my to'do list

 

Please post your dealer repair receipt, so we can see their notes and any parts replaced.

I have the same harsh downshifts in my GLS450. Dealer has tried twice to remedy. First was "perform adaptations," following time was "perform software update," but no improvement.

I'm sorry to hear that you're in the same boat...

THANKS

 

Do you feel so far that they were able to solve the issue?

 

ZF is not better, had the same in my previous SQ5

but in my GLC 400d it was much better, it seems the production place is crucial

 

That’s odd. The only time I’ve ever heard of a 8 ZF not shifting smooth was in the old V6 Grand Cherokees. I’ve had it in 2 X5’s, 2 Q7’s, V8 GC, 4xe GC, and a RRS. They were all beyond flawless. The transmission in my new 53 is the worst I've ever experienced.

Aside from all the clunking, I didn’t love how it froze shifting 1-2 under WOT today. That was a new experience for me.

 

You're being kind when you say "odd". It's flat wrong. The ZF8 is the best modern longitudinal transmission on the market. Period.

I have experienced that upshifting freeze, too. It's like it's waiting for me to shift manually. Mine is typically in Sport mode when it does it, but I can't say it's only happened in Sport mode.

 

Well dang that sucks. Reassuring that it’s not just a problem with mine, though. Definitely never had such poor behavior with a ZF. Overall I do like the vehicle better than my 23 X5 but it definitely has a weakness here.

 

This "ZF transmission" fan club is getting old. Every time somebody complains about ZF, some person will jump in, brush it off and keep repeating how great the ZF is. Now, I do own WK2 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the ZF transmission. It's ok, I can't see much difference (if any) between it and the one on my GLE.

I also drove like 4 or 5 2023 X5s for more than a month total, again, nothing spectacular about that transmission. From my point of view, both are boring transmissions that just work.

 

And there it is ... they work. You don't notice them, because they do what they're supposed to do.

How many threads are there on this forum about problems with the MB 9-speed? Answer: a lot. There aren't just a couple owners making noise, it comes up time and time again. You are fortunate if you happen to have one that behaves the way it's supposed to. The 9-speed in our GLC was like that. It still got confused and clunked from time-to-time, but you didn't have to worry about it jerking you to a stop at every intersection.

For the record, Jeep manufactures their own 8-speed under license from ZF. If Jeep owners are to be believed, they are not of the same quality.