2020 Mercedes Benz Gle 350: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2020 Mercedes Benz Gle 350
On the 2020 Mercedes Benz Gle 350, the failure owners report most often is lane keep or steering assist fault, with 16 reports on file. Across every failure mode on this year, half the dated reports were filed before 15,000 miles. Overall it scores 85 out of 100, severe risk for a 2020.
Severe risk for a 2020 — 6th riskiest of the 235 2020 vehicles we can rate. 132 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What breaks on the 2020 Mercedes Benz Gle 350
Owners have reported 38 named failure modes on the 2020 Mercedes Benz Gle 350, and the three most-reported carry 33% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Lane keep or steering assist fault leads with 16 reports and about 3.8 per 1,000 vehicles.
Other engine problem follows with 16 reports, median 5,000 miles. 1 of those report mention a fire.
Other electrical problem follows with 11 reports, median 10,000 miles. 1 of those report mention a fire.
By system, the reports fall mostly into adas (34), engine (29) and electrical (11).
The mileage the reports cluster at
31 of the reports on the 2020 Mercedes Benz Gle 350 came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 15,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 84% by 50,000 miles and 97% by 100,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed.
The busiest stretch is between 0 and 10,000 miles, which alone holds 39% of the dated reports.
74% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, which is early enough that a fair number of these cars were still under a factory warranty when the owner complained.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 38. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
Severity, and what it costs
Across the named modes, 7 mention a crash, 3 a fire and 2 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.11, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: lane keep or steering assist fault at $200–$1,600, other engine problem at $300–$4,000, other electrical problem at $250–$2,000 and cruise control failure at $200–$1,400. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
29% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lane keep or steering assist fault | adas | 16 | 3 | — | 30k | — | 3.8 | $200–$1,600 | High |
| Other engine problem | engine | 16 | 3 | — | 5k | — | 3.8 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 11 | 4 | — | 11k | — | 2.6 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 8 | 2 | — | 49k | — | 1.9 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 8 | 4 | — | 14k | — | 1.9 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 5 | 1 | — | 100k | — | 1.2 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 5 | 2 | — | 2k | — | 1.2 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 1.2 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.7 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Liftgate, tailgate or trunk failure | body | 3 | 3 | — | 22k | — | 0.7 | $250–$1,500 | Moderate |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.7 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure | engine | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.5 | $1,200–$4,500 | Critical |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 2 | 1 | — | 50k | — | 0.5 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Infotainment screen failure | infotainment | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.5 | $400–$2,600 | Low |
| Premature brake pad or rotor wear | brakes | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.5 | $300–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Rust or structural corrosion | body | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.5 | $500–$6,000 | High |
| Sunroof failure or glass breakage | body | 2 | 2 | — | 43k | — | 0.5 | $700–$4,500 | High |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 2 | 1 | — | 250 | — | 0.5 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.5 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 2 | 1 | — | 19k | — | 0.5 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.5 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Excessive oil consumption | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $900–$6,500 | High |
| Engine knock or bearing noise | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $2,500–$9,000 | High |
| Piston, ring or cylinder wall damage | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $3,000–$9,500 | Critical |
| Lifter, cam or cylinder-deactivation failure | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $1,800–$7,000 | High |
| Overheating | cooling | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| Torque converter failure | transmission | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $1,100–$3,200 | High |
| CV axle or driveshaft failure | drivetrain | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $450–$2,200 | High |
| Fuel leak or fuel odor | fuel | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Backup camera failure | infotainment | 1 | 1 | — | 900 | — | 0.2 | $250–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Instrument cluster or gauge failure | infotainment | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $350–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 600 | — | 0.2 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $200–$900 | High |
| Strut, shock or spring failure | suspension | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $500–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Air suspension failure | suspension | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $900–$4,500 | High |
| Software fault or failed update | software | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $0–$600 | Moderate |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 1 | 1 | — | 250 | — | 0.2 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 12 | 1 | — | 7k | — | 2.8 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2020 Mercedes Benz Gle 350 draws about 31 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 96th percentile of complaint rates among 2020 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 4,236 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2020 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
Recalls on the 2020 model year
NHTSA has issued 27 recall campaigns covering the 2020 Mercedes Benz Gle 350, affecting an estimated 31,835 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system, structure:body, electrical system:software and back over prevention:display function. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
61,450 vehicles 2023-03-17- Defect
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020-2021 GLE350, GLE450, GLS450, GLS580, 2021 AMG GLE53, AMG GLE63, Maybach GLS600, AMG GLS63, and 2020 GLE580 vehicles. The air conditioner drain hoses may have been incorrectly installed, causing water to drain into the passenger compartment.
- Consequence
- Water intrusion into the foot wells may cause corrosion and/or short circuits to electrical components, increasing the risk of fire. In addition, the emergency call (eCall) feature may be disabled and the doors may not unlock, increasing the risk of injury. Also, the engine may not start or may enter a limp-home mode, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and reinstall the air conditioner drain hoses, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of recall numbers 21V-288 and 19V-587. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023030014 and 15.
STRUCTURE:BODY
161,000 vehicles 2022-09-12- Defect
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020-2022 GLE350, GLE450, GLS450, 2021-2022 AMG GLE53, 2020-2021 GLE580, GLS580, and 2021 GLE400e, AMG GLS63, AMG GLE63 S, and Maybach GLS600 vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the rear door window trim bars may detach.
- Consequence
- Detached trim bars may cause a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and secure the rear window trim bars, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 1, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022090010.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
242,722 vehicles 2022-05-20- Defect
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2022 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, AMG GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL-Class, GLC-Class, CLS-Class, GLB-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. An error in the communication module's SIM card software can cause a mobile network connection failure, disabling the emergency call (eCall) system.
- Consequence
- A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting the emergency services call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- The communication module software will be updated through an Over-the-Air (OTA) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2022. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on July 8, 2022, May 17, 2024, July 29, 2024, and September 27, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers are for this recall is 2022060005 and 2023110006.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
126,443 vehicles 2022-04-08- Defect
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2021 CLA-Class, GLE/GLS-Class, A-Class, C-Class, E-Class, E-Class Coupe/Convertible, GLA/GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and CLS-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The rearview camera may not display the rearview image due to a software error. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Consequence
- An inoperable rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 15, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022060007.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
6 vehicles 2022-02-18- Defect
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020 GLE 350 vehicles. The wiring harness connected to the prefuse box in the engine compartment might not be properly secured, which could deactivate fused components, such as power steering assist, headlights, and wipers.
- Consequence
- Driving with inoperable power steering assist, headlights, or wipers can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the prefuse box, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 8, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
SEATS
27 vehicles 2021-10-18- Defect
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020 GLS450, GLS580, GLE350, GLE450, AMG C63, and 2021 AMG GLE53 vehicles. The seats may have been assembled incorrectly.
- Consequence
- Incorrectly assembled seats may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and repair the seats, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 8, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021110010.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
1,467 vehicles 2021-07-02- Defect
- Mercedes-Benz LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2020 C300, 2019-2020 A220, AMG C43, AMG C63, 2020 GLE580, GLB250, 2020-2021 GLE450, GLE350, 2021 AMG GLE63, and AMG GLE53 vehicles. The LED headlights may have been incorrectly adjusted during a vehicle repair. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Consequence
- Incorrectly adjusted headlights may reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the LED headlights, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed August 13, 2021. A second notice will be sent once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed January 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
343,191 vehicles 2021-05-14- Defect
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 CLA-Class, GLE/GLS-Class, A-Class, E-Class, E-Class Coupe and Convertible, GLA/GLB-Class, GLC-Class, CLS-Class, and AMG GT-Class 4-door Coupe vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The MBUX multimedia system software may cause the display to remain black, or reboot after startup. This could result in the rearview camera image not displaying properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number…
- Consequence
- A backup camera that displays a blank image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- The multimedia system software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning June 28, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6373. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021050012.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
6,331 vehicles 2021-04-23- Defect
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 AMG GLE 53, 2020 GLE350, GLE450, GLE580, GLS450, and GLS580 vehicles. The air conditioner drain hoses may have been incorrectly installed, causing water to drain into the passenger compartment.
- Consequence
- Water intrusion into the driver and passenger side foot wells may cause corrosion and/or short circuits to electrical components, increasing the risk of fire. In addition, the emergency call (eCall) feature may be disabled and the doors may not unlock, increasing the risk of injury. Also, the engine may not start or may enter a limp-home mode, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and correct the air conditioner drain hoses, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021040024.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC):CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
41,838 vehicles 2021-02-12- Defect
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020-2021 GLE450, GLE350, and 2020 GLS450, GLE580, GLS580 vehicles. During certain evasive driving maneuvers, the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) software may apply torque to one of the front wheels, pulling the vehicle to one side. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
- Consequence
- If the vehicle unexpectedly pulls to one side during an evasive maneuver, it can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the ESP software, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021030004.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
1,292,258 vehicles 2021-02-05- Defect
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 - 2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to the Part 573 report for specific vehicle model details. The software design of the communication module may fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (eCall) in the event of a crash.
- Consequence
- Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.
- Remedy
- MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020025.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS
8,199 vehicles 2021-02-05- Defect
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020 GLE350 and GLE450 vehicles. The lighting control unit may malfunction and cause the left exterior reverse light to remain illuminated after the transmission is shifted into a different gear. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Consequence
- If the reverse light remains illuminated in a gear other than reverse, it may cause confusion about the driver's intention to other motorists, and increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the lighting control unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 10, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022050004.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2020 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Better and worse years of the same car
Severe risk for a 2020 — 6th riskiest of the 235 2020 vehicles we can rate. Because the ranking is against the same model year only, age cancels out of it.
Across the 5 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2023 comes out best at 78 and 2020 worst at 85, with 2020 itself at 85.
If the model year is negotiable, 2023 and 2018 score lower than 2020 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2018–2023 generation specifically, 2023 is the strongest year at 78 and 2020 the weakest at 85.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2018-2023 generation, 2023 Mercedes Benz Gle 350 scores best at 78 and 2020 Mercedes Benz Gle 350 worst at 85.
Where these figures stop being useful
132 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 132 reports, 31 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 23% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Mercedes Benz Gle 350?
The most-reported failures are lane keep or steering assist fault (16 reports, median 30,000 miles), other engine problem (16 reports, median 5,000 miles) and other electrical problem (11 reports, median 10,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
Is the 2020 Mercedes Benz Gle 350 reliable?
It scores 85 out of 100 on our risk index, which is severe — 6th riskiest of the 235 2020 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2020 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Mercedes Benz Gle 350 is best?
Within the 2018–2023 generation, 2023 scores best at 78 out of 100 and 2020 worst at 85. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed