AI Damage2016 Mercedes-Benz Gle350d reliability: common problems
Owners of the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Gle350d filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and fuel/propulsion system. The maker issued 83 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 6
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 83
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 50% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel/propulsion system 33% of all complaints
- 3 Backover prevention 17% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 17% of all complaints
- 5 Forward collision avoidance 17% of all complaints
- Engine: 3 complaints (50% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 2 complaints (33% of all).
- Backover prevention: 1 complaints (17% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (17% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Forward collision avoidance: 1 complaints (17% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 6 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Backover prevention | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 0 | 0 | 22 |
| Electrical system | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| Exterior lighting | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Visibility | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Fuel system | 0 | 0 | 2 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
1/18/2022 Mileage 39,246 Ignition Coil #4 6/16/2022 Mileage 40,915 Ignition Coil #2 3/16/2023 Mileage 43,866 Ignition Coil #6 and #2 4/23/2023 Mileage 44,275 Ignition Coil #1 1/15/2025 Mileage 51,560 Ignition Coil #4 Mercedes Benz advises immediate shutdown and service to prevent total engine failure.
My 2016 mb gle 350 with 57750 miles stalled in the drive thru lane at starbucks. I was able to restart the engine. Parked for approximately 15 minutes. Noted the check engine light on. Re-started the engine and began to drive home. Vechicle stalled in traffic and could not be restarted. Towed to mb dealer.
Our 2016 gle350 with 67k miles stalled at 5:45 p.m. On a two lane road with high traffic volume. There was no indication before stalling except a rapid loss of power and downshifting. It was dusk and the vehicle stalled partially in lane as there was no room with water drainage ditch.
Whenever the vehicle is started every time, the message "collision prevention assist plus inoperative. Check the manual" is appearing. There are no known damages and it appeared when the vehicle is started after parking(in stationary). No known causes for damage of the sensor.
Master cylinder leaked brake fluid causing brake pedal to be soft and hit the floor.
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 12,234 of 32,257 model years in the NHTSA data (top 38% most complained about).
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Backover prevention. Rear camera and parking sensors after a rear impact.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
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 Customer complaints relating to automatic transmission 725.0 (NAG3 Classic /9G‑TRONIC automatic…
Complaint Customer complaints relating to automatic transmission 725.0 (NAG3 Classic /9G‑TRONIC automatic transmission) and 725.1 (NAG3 facelift/9G‑TRONIC automatic transmission facelift) For faster, more effective 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…
- Complaint Only vehicles with a variable transfer case are affected
This can be identified through control unit N45 or N15/7 in the quick test. When accelerating with light load, vibrations or jolting sensation may come from the drivetrain. It may be mistaken for a harsh shift. Cause…
- Complaint Customer complaints relating to automatic transmission 725.0 (NAG3 Classic / 9G‑TRONIC automatic…
Complaint Customer complaints relating to automatic transmission 725.0 (NAG3 Classic / 9G‑TRONIC automatic transmission) and 725.1 (NAG3 facelift/9G‑TRONIC automatic transmission facelift) For faster, more effective…
- Complaint During part of the steering movement, it feels heavier or more difficult to steer in the same…
Complaint During part of the steering movement, it feels heavier or more difficult to steer in the same spot every time. OR Rattling, humming, dry sliding/gravel noise from the electric steering system when steering…
- Complaint A popup is seen on the HU with the message "data connection temporarily not available"
Potentially affected functionalities in NTG4.5, NTG5 1.Weather 2.Local Search 3.IP Radio 4.Send2Car 5.Speech Detection Service 6.Navigation 7.iHeartRadio 8.Traffic Cams Cause MB Apps is sundowned for all vehicles with…
- Complaint This document is intended as a pre-case diagnostic reference for transmission related concerns
It will also ensure that if a case is necessary, all supporting documentation is available. This should not be used on its own as justification for creating a TIPS case. Cause The root cause will vary depending on the…
- Complaint Mercedes-Benz USA is currently experiencing limited availability of transmission fluid…
Complaint Mercedes-Benz USA is currently experiencing limited availability of transmission fluid specification ATF 236.17 due to a global supply constraint. 236.17 ATF 1L and 5L (PNs: A002989060312 and A002989060313)…
- 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 Creaking noise, in irregular sequence when driving slowly in combination with slight steering…
Complaint Creaking noise, in irregular sequence when driving slowly in combination with slight steering movements and/or Creaking/crackling noises from the area of the wheel bearing on the front axle when cornering/…
- Complaint After successful commissioning of the HERMES control unit (N112/9) with XENTRY Diagnosis DVD…
Complaint After successful commissioning of the HERMES control unit (N112/9) with XENTRY Diagnosis DVD 03/2026, the message "SOS - service not activated" appears on the instrument cluster. In addition, the following…
NHTSA lists 83 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Gle350d?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, fuel/propulsion system, backover prevention. Total complaints: 6. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (33%), stalls while driving (33%), engine failure or replacement (17%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Gle350d?
NHTSA lists 83 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 Gle350d 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.