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2020 GLE350 shows black screen and system inoperative message sometimes when backing
I bought a 2020 CPO Gle 350 earlier this year.
At least once a month, I get this issue that whenever I start the car and put it in reverse, the main screen goes black and shows the message system inoperative. It stays on for few hrs . Restarting the car does not help it. It goes away after a day.
Initially the dealer said a software update would fix it but now they say it will require us to replace the controller unit and that is not under the ELW warranty I bought. Has anyone else had the same issue? Any advice?
I would question the claim that it is not covered under the ELW. In the US, the ELW covers the Command/MCS system. Since your car appears to be set for KM, I guess you are not in the US.
I received that exact screenshot Thursday for the first time, backing out of the garage heading to work. The only thing that was effected was the camera system. I restarted the vehicle and still had issue. Went to work. When I started the vehicle to go to lunch camera system worked fine. No issues since. I did take a picture of the screen to show my service advisor at next service.
This happened to my 2023 one time, it corrected itself the next time I drove the car. I had the dealer look at it and was told this is a known issue that MB is hoping to correct in a future software update.
I is a known problem in Europe, lots of MB drivers are afected and not only the GLE Models.
It seems that MB has already a Software version to get this solved, I will get it next week installed in my GLE.
I was complaining about this errors for months and all cameras and some cables were replaced on my car, but few days later the black screens were here again.
I had never read this thread until early this morning. Thought to myself, "well that stinks." An hour later I hopped into my 2020 GLC 63S, put it in reverse and this error pops up for the first time, ever! This string cursed me!
The good news is when I drove out to lunch a few minutes ago it was gone. Oh......K.
I had never read this thread until early this morning. Thought to myself, "well that stinks." An hour later I hopped into my 2020 GLC 63S, put it in reverse and this error pops up for the first time, ever! This string cursed me!
The good news is when I drove out to lunch a few minutes ago it was gone. Oh......K.
If that is the case, it could be a bad OTA update to the control module that handles the cameras.
Problem is, if it is not common or if MB doesn't acknowledge it, then they might never issue a fixed version of an OTA update. Maybe there are also certain conditions/parameters that specifically causes run-time error in the system but it is hard to know.
For other models, there has been recalls to the backup cameras but that was older models like W205 and W213.
For those that had the "System Inoperative" error and had a software update performed by the dealer, is there a Work Instruction, or something referred to in the service report, that the rest of us can point to when speaking to our dealers?
I've had this happen a couple times in the past month, although I don't remember it happening at all in the first 4 years of ownership.
Was having the same intermittent "System Inoperative" issue where all cameras stopped working, and asked the dealer to look into it during my A service. Apparently resolved (at least for my issue) with a coding of the Park control unit, in case it helps others:
After the first round of "no backup camera," I got "seat and steering wheel stuck in exit position."
Restarts wouldn't help, but they both resolved after a few hours each.
I was suspecting a download taking place, immobilizing certain functions.
I got the same error on a new E450 2023, had it for less than one month, total mileage 1,300Km.
R, no camera at all.
+ "Active Parking Assist Currently Unavailable. See Operator's Manual", "System Inoperative".
I tried system reset from the system menu. Camera came back up a bit then gone again. I happens randomly, instant restarting won't help. It happens frequently. Better or worse, engine service light came up soon.
I will contact the dealer. Will update afterwards.
I hate if customer has to keep a record of software upgrade history.
Last edited by legendbb; Oct 26, 2024 at 05:08 PM.
I got the same error on a new E450 2023, had it for less than one month, total mileage 1,300Km.
R, no camera at all.
+ "Active Parking Assist Currently Unavailable. See Operator's Manual", "System Inoperative".
I tried system reset from the system menu. Camera came back up a bit then gone again. I happens randomly, instant restarting won't help. It happens frequently. Better or worse, engine service light came up soon.
I will contact the dealer. Will update afterwards.
I hate if customer has to keep a record of software upgrade history.
Just reset MBUX. On my GLE, I hold STAR 🌟 and TEL buttons until screen goes blank. It reboots relatively quick, maybe 10-12 seconds. Backup cameras reboot faster than that though (maybe 4-5 seconds). I get this message after carwashes, don't know why but the reboot fixes it every time.
Just to update, Mercedes dealership confirmed software issue, and provided free update.
I am surprised the factory load software fails on the customer's hands. I guess it is related to the reduction of workforce in Germany.
Cameras are back to normal now. But I noticed fan under the hood runs for a couple of minutes after stopped, that I didn't notice before the software change. I will start a separate thread for this.
Just stumbled onto this forum as I have been having the same issue. From Canada. 2023 GLE450. My dealership e-mailed me today identifying it as a software issue affecting a large number of cars, but there is currently no fix. I am interested to know why only some customers are getting offered a fix and not all; perhaps it is a region issue and they are slowly rolling out patches?
Last edited by Furcifer; Jan 13, 2025 at 04:09 PM.
Just stumbled onto this forum as I have been having the same issue. From Canada. 2023 GLE450. My dealership e-mailed me today identifying it as a software issue affecting a large number of cars, but there is currently no fix. I am interested to know why only some customers are getting offered a fix and not all; perhaps it is a region issue and they are slowly rolling out patches?
Reset it in the meantime with the procedure mentioned above.
It happened again a few weeks ago so I took it to the dealer so they could troubleshoot. Didn’t find anything but said they have heard of it. Service manager states an OTA is scheduled in 2-3 weeks that may help it.
As a side note, the times this has happened to me the car has been wet (as a previous poster mentioned). I wonder if water is leaking into the rear badge camera causing some kind of fault.
It happened again a few weeks ago so I took it to the dealer so they could troubleshoot. Didn’t find anything but said they have heard of it. Service manager states an OTA is scheduled in 2-3 weeks that may help it.
As a side note, the times this has happened to me the car has been wet (as a previous poster mentioned). I wonder if water is leaking into the rear badge camera causing some kind of fault.
not impossible but more likely still a bad software update though. If your dealership is willing to cooperate see if they can reload the software from scratch in case it was a bad install but not a broken software version.
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