2026 GLE 350 rear camera knocking noise when driving
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 67
Likes: 5
From: San Antonio TX
2010 E350
2026 GLE 350 rear camera knocking noise when driving
Guys,
Just got the wife a new GLE 350 and she noticed immediately a knocking noise at times in the back of the car when she slows down and we discovered that it’s the rear cameras deploying at various times. This is obviously the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard and obviously a clear example of how things can go badly wrong when you let the engineers run wild, but can anything be done about this??? Thanks for your help.
Mike
Just got the wife a new GLE 350 and she noticed immediately a knocking noise at times in the back of the car when she slows down and we discovered that it’s the rear cameras deploying at various times. This is obviously the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard and obviously a clear example of how things can go badly wrong when you let the engineers run wild, but can anything be done about this??? Thanks for your help.
Mike
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2025
Posts: 30
Likes: 14
From: Chicago, IL
GLE 450 Coupe
Seems to a concern with other owners too. Check this thread below:
Rear camera pops out at every stop - MBWorld.org Forums
Rear camera pops out at every stop - MBWorld.org Forums
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 67
Likes: 5
From: San Antonio TX
2010 E350
Yes I’ve read online the same thing many others are also complaining and MB says it’s the camera “calibrating”. Just so annoying how they could possibly have thought that this constant clunking noise is acceptable. Read online also that you can insulate the area with foam to help with the noise but the wife says if they can’t make it significantly better she’s not keeping the car and I can’t say I blame her it’s really annoying. She might have to go back to an X5 like she’s previously had. Crazy to have to deal with this on a car costing 80k. They need to release a software update that this camera only deploys when in reverse that would be tolerable but this is ridiculous.
Mike
Mike
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Joined: Dec 2019
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Likes: 6,342
Yes I’ve read online the same thing many others are also complaining and MB says it’s the camera “calibrating”. Just so annoying how they could possibly have thought that this constant clunking noise is acceptable. Read online also that you can insulate the area with foam to help with the noise but the wife says if they can’t make it significantly better she’s not keeping the car and I can’t say I blame her it’s really annoying. She might have to go back to an X5 like she’s previously had. Crazy to have to deal with this on a car costing 80k. They need to release a software update that this camera only deploys when in reverse that would be tolerable but this is ridiculous.
Mike
Mike
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 11
From: Atlanta
w164, v167
Mike10E350 - as noted be sure to check out the link in #2 response above by cb804. It is a long post with a lot of repetition. I recommend jumping ahead to my post #213 in that thread where the sound proofing technique that I used with good success is described. Posts #220 and 223 confirm that others have also had good success with the sound proofing. Also, post #225 describes a potentially new technique that I have no personal experience with.
As noted, it's a shame that one has to spend ones own time and money to do this, but IMO it is effective and certainly less of a hassle/expense than selling/swapping the car. The sound proofing was a real game changer for me.
Good luck.
As noted, it's a shame that one has to spend ones own time and money to do this, but IMO it is effective and certainly less of a hassle/expense than selling/swapping the car. The sound proofing was a real game changer for me.
Good luck.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,432
Likes: 300
From: Illinois
2021 c300 Cab. Arrived 7/28/21 . 24 GLE 450e.
Mike10E350 - as noted be sure to check out the link in #2 response above by cb804. It is a long post with a lot of repetition. I recommend jumping ahead to my post #213 in that thread where the sound proofing technique that I used with good success is described. Posts #220 and 223 confirm that others have also had good success with the sound proofing. Also, post #225 describes a potentially new technique that I have no personal experience with.
As noted, it's a shame that one has to spend ones own time and money to do this, but IMO it is effective and certainly less of a hassle/expense than selling/swapping the car. The sound proofing was a real game changer for me.
Good luck.
As noted, it's a shame that one has to spend ones own time and money to do this, but IMO it is effective and certainly less of a hassle/expense than selling/swapping the car. The sound proofing was a real game changer for me.
Good luck.
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Newbie
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 11
From: Atlanta
w164, v167
Elvisfan0108 - totally agree that the soundproofing is a "band-aid" type of fix. Depending on how/where one is driving, the camera is still opening and closing many times per trip. All those activations would seem to lead to an earlier motor failure than if the camera only opened/closed when the car is put in reverse or a camera image is requested while parking. Time will tell how robust the mechanism/motor is - fingers crossed!
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 67
Likes: 5
From: San Antonio TX
2010 E350
Mike10E350 - as noted be sure to check out the link in #2 response above by cb804. It is a long post with a lot of repetition. I recommend jumping ahead to my post #213 in that thread where the sound proofing technique that I used with good success is described. Posts #220 and 223 confirm that others have also had good success with the sound proofing. Also, post #225 describes a potentially new technique that I have no personal experience with.
As noted, it's a shame that one has to spend ones own time and money to do this, but IMO it is effective and certainly less of a hassle/expense than selling/swapping the car. The sound proofing was a real game changer for me.
Good luck.
As noted, it's a shame that one has to spend ones own time and money to do this, but IMO it is effective and certainly less of a hassle/expense than selling/swapping the car. The sound proofing was a real game changer for me.
Good luck.
orrow to discuss.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,432
Likes: 300
From: Illinois
2021 c300 Cab. Arrived 7/28/21 . 24 GLE 450e.
Well on a brand new car I’m definitely not going to be spending my time and money to fix this. The dealer needs to fix this or the car will be going back. My wife only drives around town with zero highway driving so this thing is constantly clunking around back there. No way we are taking this for the next 6-7 years. Im calling the dealer to
orrow to discuss.
orrow to discuss.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 67
Likes: 5
From: San Antonio TX
2010 E350
I’m not saying they’re gonna take it back. I’m saying I’m not keeping it. I will trade it in and will take whatever loss I have to to get something that doesn’t have this idiotic camera, either another MB or like I said go back to the X5. Without a doubt tho this is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard of on a car. For the last couple of decades back-up cameras have been permanently mounted on the back of cars, and if done right they’re often tough to even find if you’re looking for it. For whatever reason they thought that even a barely noticeable camera was not acceptable, they had to create this door mechanism to make the camera completely invisible when not in use. No doubt this feature added a couple thousand to the price of the car. Just crazy.
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
My guess as to why they put the camera behind a door, was to keep the lens clean.
It doesn't take long for an exposed camera on the rear of a car to become ineffective because it's a primary target for splattered mud.
Mine is a 21 and doesn't do that.
As an aside, one of the features of the car wash mode, besides folding mirrors and raising the car, is to open the rear camera so it gets cleaned.
It doesn't take long for an exposed camera on the rear of a car to become ineffective because it's a primary target for splattered mud.
Mine is a 21 and doesn't do that.
As an aside, one of the features of the car wash mode, besides folding mirrors and raising the car, is to open the rear camera so it gets cleaned.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 39
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2014 C300 Sport / 2022 GLE 450
I read through this post and hadn't experienced the issue you all are, but I currently have a 2026 GLE 450 Coupe as a loaner while my 22 GLE 450 SUV is in for service and have been noticing the camera flip out at ever stop. Super annoying!
