Notices
GLE Class (V167) Produced 2020 to present

Massage Seat Bottom

Old Dec 19, 2025 | 02:26 PM
  #1  
sundin67's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Dec 2025
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
GLE 450
Massage Seat Bottom

I have leather seats with the massage option. Recently, I’ve noticed discomfort while driving—specifically, it feels like the mechanism that pushes up from the bottom of the seat during the massage isn’t fully retracting when the massage feature is turned off.

The car is a 2024 model with 29,000 miles, and this issue has become noticeable over the last 5,000 miles. Has anyone else experienced this or dealt with a similar problem?
Reply
Old Dec 19, 2025 | 02:42 PM
  #2  
mikapen's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
15 Year Member
Shutterbug
Community Influencer
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,987
Likes: 2,184
From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
Those are little inflatable pillows.
Here's a link to a destructive seat test. Starts at about 3.0 minutes.

Did you happen to change the massage program, so the bottom pillows are more noticeable?
Try changing the program to see if it makes a difference for you.
Reply
Old Dec 19, 2025 | 06:34 PM
  #3  
sundin67's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Dec 2025
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
GLE 450
Thanks for sending that video. It is helpful! I assume the GLE has similar guts to the S-Class seats. Based on the video and the pictures below, I wonder if the issue is that the air pillows pushed out the seat cooling fan. Either way, the dealership could not find a problem! frustrating.....


Reply
Old Dec 22, 2025 | 06:33 AM
  #4  
Kris03's Avatar
Newbie
 
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
2020 GLE350
The fan is mounted to the very bottom of the seat while the bladders are underneath the leather seat cover so I don’t believe the fan got disturbed. The being said what I’ve seen on Fords, which I imagine isn’t much different, is the pressure release valve for the bladders malfunctions and causes the bladders to stay inflated which requires replacement of the module. If that is a picture of your seat I truly can’t understand how they can say they can’t find a problem.
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2025 | 07:25 PM
  #5  
Rasull12's Avatar
Newbie
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Oct 2024
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
GLE 450
I had the same issue. They replaced the cooling fan and the leather seat cover.
Reply
Old Dec 31, 2025 | 02:40 PM
  #6  
sundin67's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Dec 2025
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
GLE 450
This is the response I received from the dealer, "They found nothing wrong and there is no massage or lumbar in seat bottom"
The car does have massage seats - not just kenitic. Really frustrating.
Reply
Old Dec 31, 2025 | 07:53 PM
  #7  
mikapen's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
15 Year Member
Shutterbug
Community Influencer
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,987
Likes: 2,184
From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
Originally Posted by sundin67
This is the response I received from the dealer, "They found nothing wrong and there is no massage or lumbar in seat bottom"
The car does have massage seats - not just kenitic. Really frustrating.
I thought kinetic and massage were a package. If You have one, then You have both.
What year is your 450?
Reply
Old Dec 31, 2025 | 08:13 PM
  #8  
sundin67's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Dec 2025
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
GLE 450
Originally Posted by mikapen
I thought kinetic and massage were a package. If You have one, then You have both.
What year is your 450?
I have both kentic and massage. It is a 2024
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 1, 2026 | 03:48 PM
  #9  
mikapen's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
15 Year Member
Shutterbug
Community Influencer
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,987
Likes: 2,184
From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
Originally Posted by sundin67
I have both kentic and massage. It is a 2024
That's what I thought/ assumed.
How come the dealer get away with saying the seat bottom doesn't have massage then?
Reply
Old Jan 2, 2026 | 11:01 AM
  #10  
sundin67's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Dec 2025
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
GLE 450
Originally Posted by mikapen
That's what I thought/ assumed.
How come the dealer get away with saying the seat bottom doesn't have massage then?
I requested a phone call this morning. When they called, they told me they sent the pictures to MB, and they said the bubble is typical for real leather. Not the best service.
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:
You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:02 AM.

story-0
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-1
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-4
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-6
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

Slideshow: From bulletproof sedans to surprisingly tough SUVs, these Mercedes models proved that the three-pointed star can go the distance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-08 09:55:49


VIEW MORE