AI Damage2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE: common problems
Owners of the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 25% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 25% of all complaints
- 3 Equipment 25% of all complaints
- 4 Exterior lighting 25% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 25% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Engine: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Equipment: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 1 complaints (25% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3 L · petrol · turbo · 6 cyl
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 5.5 L · petrol · turbo · 8 cyl
- 2.1 L · diesel · turbo · 4 cyl
- 3 L · diesel · turbo · 6 cyl
- 3 L · plug-in hybrid · turbo · 6 cyl
- automatic, 7-speed
- automatic, 9-speed
Drive: 4WD, RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 4 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
On saturday jan 4 this water entry through trunk caused my mercedes benz to stall while driving. Fortunately I was on a safe roadway with ample space between other drives and an accident did not occur. After towing it home I had the car diagnosed by my local mercedes benz specialist.
While driving various speeds, the headlights were very dim and it was difficult for the contact to see the road while driving. The vehicle was taken to mercedes-benz of hagerstown (1955 dual hwy, hagerstown, [ZIP], [phone]) to be diagnosed, but no failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired.
2016 mercedes benz gle. Consumer writes in regards to engine shutting off while driving. The consumer stated the control module was replaced.
Defective jack - the car was stationary on the shoulder of an interstate in order to fix a flat tire. The jack prong was inserted as designed into the hole under the car and the car was raised to remove the tire. Upon raising, the prong deformed and resulted in the collapse of the car.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 15,524 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
On average one model year of the GLE has 2 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 4, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine, equipment. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (25%), headlights and tail lights (25%), won't start (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2016 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.