I have been debating the new V167 and there are a few things that I have been stumbling on. The first was storage space but that has been debunked (the AI’s have been telling me there is less space in the V167 vs my W166 which is not true). The next is that reliability of the V167 is not great. When I got my W163 I was told there was all sorts of issues, and yet we had few issues and resolutions to those that did occur. So not I have the question of the V167 reliability. Is it really that bad or have most of the issues been ironed out (this is later in the model cycle after all)?

 

Let me call in the expert also someone that owned both, @mikapen

 

Remember, far more people get on websites to complain about car problems than get on websites to state that their vehicle has been trouble free. Some become obsessed with trying to ruin the ownership experience for others because they had a "lemon".


I owned both versions. A 2018 GLE 550e (W166) and currently have a 2024 GLE 450 (V167). Both have been (were) reliable. The GLE 550e had a hard shifting problem fixed under warranty with a new transmission valve body. The GLE 450 hard shifting was fixed by the standstill adaptaion procedure. I found the ride with the GLE 550e to be much harder than my current 450 (with air suspension). The newer GLE 450 appears to be more solidly built and the displays are superior. My GLE 550e had less storage space due to the battery installation than my GLE 450.

I don't have any of the issues with my 2024 GLE 450 such as rear camera going in and out, Side mirror noise, AC problems. etc. I like the air suspension and love the HUD.

I would avoid the GLE 350 with the 4 banger engine due to a history of catastrophic engine failure.

 

All "reliability" websites (CR, JD Power) base their statistics on cars older than three years.
IMO they are not well researched and equally weight "glove box door hard to close" with catastrophic engine failures. In CR's case they also downgrade MB because they don't like the cup-holders (yes it's a major factor for them) and color palette. Hyundai was the most-recalled brand in the early '20's but CR ranked it #1 or 2 in reliability. (percentage-wise - Ford had the highest recall numbers)
Ignore both of their "initial satisfaction reports" because they are essentially asking "was the car what you expected?" The Power report is designed for manufacturers as feedback for them to develop features that are desired by their customers. IDK why it's released to the public, since the data isn't really applicable.
I peruse those reports and add them as "other inputs."

Having said that, my 164 ML Diesel tranny had a valve body problem (debris, replaced at 1,500 miles), The display also overheated at high elevations (above 9,500'), so when I was driving the legendary off-road passes around Ouray, I had to let the display cool in 15 minute increments to have it function without warnings plastered everywhere.
My 166 ML Diesel had a DEF valve fail at 75,000 miles - warranted.
Other than those problems I found the cars reliable, although I didn't like the suspension on the 166, compared to the 164.

My 2020 GLE450 was a disaster - returned it in the first 30 days. Loved the car and high level of options ($89k sticker) but didn't trust it. (Let me count the ways!) A COVID Car at its worst. (I bought it CPO with 8,000 miles - the dealer didn't show the Carfax until later (Dammit) and I think it may have been a press car because of it's high trim level and BOY WAS IT FAST like "Rode Hard and Put Up Wet."

My 2021 AMG53 at 50,000 miles - aside from rough shifting that appeared after an over-the-air download and was fixed by a Stand Still adaptation - the car has been trouble free. I abuse it at the track, on some challenging off-road trails and towing. (My rear camera behaves. Strange that the new ones are plagued by such a simple thing.)

All in all, I rank my 167 among the most reliable and satisfactory cars I've owned. I particularly like the stiffness of the new chassis. It allows the suspension to work from a stable platform with fewer compromises.

Well, other than my '63 Land Cruiser Pickup (750,000 miles)(of which I put on 710,000 miles).

 

Your experience may vary, but our 2020 GLE450 was one of the first (4/19 completion, so 6 1/2 years now), and aside from a software issue in the first months, and a 12V battery replaced under warranty at 4 years, it's been perfect. I believe the 450s have been a little better than the 350s.

 

Personally, I wouldn't be overly worried about reliability in buying one of these. I mean, its not a Lexus...but they are largely fine.

 

There is no way of knowing. I would not touch an MB 4-banger with any length pole. The inline 6-cylinder has wiring harness disintegration issues. The V8 580 is the only V167 I would consider.

 

References, please. I've heard of a case or two of bad spark plug wires like a year ago, but nothing I know of as prevalent.

 

Hes FOS lol. I can point you to posts in the S Class forums where he says he would never choose the same V8 lol

 

Been driving a 2024 GLE 450 petrol for a year, ca 10k miles. The engine is decent and has ample punch for 0-62mph thanks to mild hybrid system. There is significantly more rear legroom compared to competition (X5 and Q7) and the 3rd row is usable for children. Also, the car is super quiet inside with the sound dampening add-on from factory and sound system is better than competition, very good car for city driving, superb air suspension. Still even after all that, if you like driving/cornering fast and/or highways above 75 mph, I suggest to get an BMW X7 (40i or the V8 M60i) or a Cayenne S.

P.S. No warranty issues so far except for the transmission jerking when doing a kick-down but that got settled in service where they performed a full transmission reset + complete transmission oil change which helped.

 

What is a kick down? I just closed on a deal for a CPO GLE450, but haven't even driven the car. I drove another 450 at the same dealership a few weeks ago, but they didn't have any vehicles that matched my criteria at the time, so when this one popped up, I jumped on it. Thinking about asking my sales person to look into it before I pick it up this Saturday.

 

On highway speed, to overtake a car, when you depress the gas pedal til the end the transmission kicks down a few gears (hence the "kick-down) to start accelerating. It seems to be a common error among V167 that transmission may start jerking the car very hard. I got it resolved under warranty. No other problems so far.

 

Kick down is that notch at the end of the pedal when you floor it, and it'll make a small click and instantly shift the car down a couple of gears.

 

I've spent a decent amount of time in a V167 and compared to the W166 the interior space is a bit bigger with a larger trunk and larger backseat, ALTHOUGH the rear seats don't recline at all in the V167. The quality control of Mercedes parts is nothing compared to what it used to be when the W166 was in production. Does that mean stuff will be unreliable? No. But it does mean you won't get as much life out of many parts and they will be more brittle. The V167 if you get a 450 and up are all solid powertrains and the transmissions are a hit and miss, as all Mercedes transmissions are. Some shift smooth, some are a little rough at times. I haven't really heard of any electrical issues on this platform. Overall the V167 does have a slightly more supple and soft ride compared to the W166 which rides like a truck, which I honestly prefer for what I use the car for. The V167 won't leave you stranded anywhere, but it will probably have to go into the dealer every so often to get cheap plastic bits fixed or get some niche issue done as Mercedes can't keep up quality control. The interiors of the W166 platform could be abused and still hold up, not so much for the V167 but still these cars have only been out for 6 years so we haven't seen any 150k+ examples yet I'm guessing. This is just my overall opinion, the V167 is a good car, although if you are looking for longevity just go with the X5, I wouldn't keep a new Benz out of warranty these days as they can't handle abuse anymore unless you want to maintain it like a god.

 

Owned a GLE450 for 14 months. Only problem was jerky transmission downshift; dealer did reprogram 6 months ago which so far has fixed it. And I guess I've gotten used to the rear camera opening -- most of the time I don't even notice it.

I wish it had a compass. (I know there's one on the nav display, but I leave my display on radio.) The power/charge gauge (where the temp, gauge used to be) is useless.

 

LOL. My 350 is doing just fine. just finished my extended B service and all was good.

 

I wonder why the 4 cylinder (350) gets so much negative attention? Isn't the M254 engine in the 350 the same as the M256 in the 450, basically, with two less cylinders? Both mild hybrids. How can the M254 be so much worse than the M256? I think of them like BMW B48 and B58. Same inline engine, two extra cylinders is only difference.

 

Thanks everyone. I was wondering why I didn't have any email notifications of replies. Thought I would log in and check, only to realize I didn't have notifications turned on. Ug.

Lots of great information and insights.Having had the W166 for almost 11 years it is the reliability that I have felt was good although we have had our share of interesting problems. Things like the EGR failure that thankfully happened right when the whole Bluetec settlement came in so covered under warranty. What I wish I would have known earlier was the use of Diesel additive here in Canada since the ultra low sulphur is woefully lacking of Cetane and Lubricity. I have a Command display that is starting to have dead cells across a few strips but otherwise a solid vehicle.

I do have the AirMatic which I felt was a must at the time because of a comparison drive I did against my older Acura MDX and the standard suspension ML. The MDX was far superior to the ML with non-AirMatic, but was not as good as the ML with AirMatic. Now I have come to enjoy the flexibility and comfort of the AirMatic and have it as a must have.

Naturally, one has to consider what I consider the only other real competition, the X5. I don't like the looks inside and out of the X5 as much as I do the GLE, but there is a lot of good press around it and their 50e hybrid is quite impressive (not sure I am willing to bet on the current battery tech though as I think solid state is just a couple years off). The 40i performs very well and is well regarded for reliability (though they do have their own gremlins with screens). I test drove a unit with the air suspension and actually felt that it road nicer. The difference though could be as simple as tire inflation. Another interesting consideration is the real world fuel economies of the 40i which a friend got this last summer and has been shocked by how good it is. It is closer to, and even better in the city, to what we get from the diesel. To be fair, it was easy to shock him because he was coming from a Ford F150.

On the GLE350 front, no disrespect to those that have them, I just won't be buying one for my own. The 4 cylinder I am sure is a good motor but I just don't see it being up to the demands. The GLE is a heavy truck, and if you tow (and I do from time to time) then the load is not going to do well for the 4 banger. It just doesn't speak to me and that might also be a deep rooted thing as I have never been a fan of the 4 cylinder in the C-Class which I think MB completely messed up (I suspect that will change).

Thanks everyone for your insights.

 

If you think the ride on X5 with air suspension is good, then try it with the DHP package. Makes the car drive like a 5 series in the corners and there is almost no roll at all.

 

I drove it in 2024 -- nice engine, good pickup, but the I6 is quieter and smoother, so I went with it.

 

The pre-2024 Mercedes GLE350 4-cylinder engine was not based on the newer M256 engine block; instead, it used the M264 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, which is derived from the older M270/M274 family and not directly related to the M256 inline-six modular design. Hopefully 2024-and-newer owners of the 4 cyl will be pleased. My 2022 GLE53 M256 has 51k miles and is trouble-free.

 

The facelift GLE 350 got the M254? With the mild-hybrid?

 

Correct - here in the U.S. Mercedes transitioned the GLE350's 4-cylinder engine from the older, non-hybrid 2.0L turbocharged unit to the newer 4-cylinder engine with the Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) mild hybrid system as part of a mid-cycle refresh for the 2024 model year. The pre-refresh 2020–2023 GLE350 models used a 255-hp 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder without hybrid ISG support. IIRC, other models like the SL (?) got the M254 before the GLE did.

 

Gotcha

 

I own a 2024 GLE 450e with 27,000km. It has the hated 350 engine and the feared plug in hybrid electric system.

Flawless. Not a single visit to the dealership outside the annual service.

I hope that continues. That said I might consider an extended warrenty at the end of the factory warrenty if I keep the vehicle.