AI Damage2017 Mercedes-Benz Gle300d reliability: common problems
Owners of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz Gle300d filed 2 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and seat belts. The maker issued 44 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 2
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 44
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 50% of all complaints
- 2 Seat belts 50% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (50% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
- Seat belts: 1 complaints (50% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 2 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Exterior lighting | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Visibility | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Backover prevention | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Electronic stability control | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Fuel system | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Seats | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 0 | 0 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
While driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle decelerated and lost power without warning. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and restarted after approximately 50 seconds. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered to tow the vehicle to the dealer at a discounted rate.
Both seat belts in the front row retracted quickly and severely as if there was an accident. The car was moving at about 35 miles per hour on a 2 lane road with no cars or hazards around the car.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 17,838 of 32,257 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 45% least complained about).
On average one model year of the Gle300d has 5 complaints (2 years in the data). This year has 2, below average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors
Cause Under analysis. Remedy To narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • If the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and…
- Complaint Repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60MPH. NOTE
Although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is distinctly different if it happens at all times or only while braking. Cause Although the cause of the vibration…
- Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end)
The noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. Note: Sound file in attachment Cause If the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboard collar nut (by 1 turn), the…
- Complaint There are several types of complaint about noises or poor windshield wiper wiping performance
A: Wiper blades squeaking, chattering, shuddering B: The windshield is not wiped completely (streaking) C: During the downward movement water is pulled back onto the windshield from the A-pillar (Figure 1) D: After…
- Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged
Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. It does not lead to any technical impairment of the headlamp. If a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in…
- Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the…
Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The clunk is heard once when changing from forward to reverse (and vice versa). Note: Sound file in…
- Complaint Headlamps leaking or fogged Cause The fogging of the headlamp is a natural phenomenon which can…
Complaint Headlamps leaking or fogged Cause The fogging of the headlamp is a natural phenomenon which can occur under certain climatic conditions. In contrast to a leaky headlamp, physical fogging does not result in a…
- Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon,…
Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. It does not lead to any technical impairment of the…
- Complaint During a phone call, the called party has difficulty understanding/cannot understand the driver,…
Complaint During a phone call, the called party has difficulty understanding/cannot understand the driver, or interference/background noises are audible to the called party during a call. It becomes increasingly…
- Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the…
Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. Note: Sound file in…
- Complaint Windows of the front doors poorly adjusted/sluggish Cause The settings of the front windows may…
Complaint Windows of the front doors poorly adjusted/sluggish Cause The settings of the front windows may be set incorrectly Remedy Adjustment of the windows or window guides as specified in AR72.10-P-1960GQS . A video…
- Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the…
Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The clunk is heard once when changing from forward to reverse (and vice versa). Cause If the…
NHTSA lists 44 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Mercedes-Benz Gle300d?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, seat belts. Total complaints: 2. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: loss of power / limp mode (50%), seat belts (50%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz Gle300d?
NHTSA lists 44 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 2017 Mercedes-Benz Gle300d 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 2017 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.