Is the Audi Q8 more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz GLE?

No, the GLE has a slight edge, though both hold a good reliability standing. The GLE draws far fewer owner complaints for the number sold. The Q8 has fewer recalls, and its main risk is an alternator failure that cuts power and steering assist while driving.

Which has more recalls, the Q8 or the GLE?

The GLE has more. Federal recall records show 98 across its 8 model years, compared with 43 for the Q8 across its 8 model years. More recalls do not always mean worse cars, but they add dealer visits and, at times, waits for parts.

What is the most common Audi Q8 problem?

Electrical trouble leads, with 54 complaints. The alternator fails without warning, warnings light up, and the car loses power. Turn signals, stability control and steering assist can drop out at highway speed. Most cars are towed, and some owners wait months for a replacement alternator.

What goes wrong with the Mercedes-Benz GLE engine?

Cylinder head failure dominates engine complaints. It starts with a check engine light, misfires, shaking or limp mode. Many cases come near or just past 50,000 miles, after warranty ends, with quoted repairs of $7,000 to $13,500. New spark plugs and coils do not fix it.

Which model has more crash-linked complaints?

The GLE does. It has crash-linked reports in electrical, power train, vehicle speed control and service brakes, including phantom braking and brake failure. The Q8 has crash-linked reports only in steering, where 2 complaints involve a loss of steering assist after an electrical shutdown.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Audi Q8 vs Mercedes-Benz GLE: Reliability Compared

Audi Q8

Good

More Reliable

Mercedes-Benz GLE

Good

Reliability favors the Mercedes-Benz GLE over the Audi Q8, but only slightly. Owners file far fewer complaints per car sold on the GLE. Recalls run the other way, with 98 across its model years against 43 for the Q8, and its engine failures are expensive.

How Do the Audi Q8 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Generations Compare?

Still in its first generation, the Q8 began with the 2019 model year. Cars from 2019 to 2023 are the original design, and a facelift arrived for 2024. That gives you a full run of used examples, plus newer facelift cars with little history. The GLE has changed more. Its third generation ran from 2012 to 2019, so a 2019 GLE is the last of that design. The fourth generation began with 2020 and ran through 2023, and a facelift followed for 2024. A 2020 GLE is the first year of a redesign, and it ranks among the weakest.

Verdict

The Mercedes-Benz GLE is more reliable than the Audi Q8, scoring 67/100 vs 64/100.

A slight edge goes to the GLE, and both models hold a good reliability standing, so the gap is small. The GLE draws a much lower complaint rate for the number of cars sold. That is offset by more than twice the recalls and by cylinder head failures with quoted repairs of $7,000 to $13,500. The Q8's weak spot is a sudden alternator failure that cuts power, steering assist and warning systems while driving. Neither car is a clear safe pick. The right choice depends on which failure you can better live with.

Key Differences

1Audi Q8 has 55 fewer total recalls
2Mercedes-Benz GLE has 20.8 fewer complaints per 10k sold
3Mercedes-Benz GLE scores 3 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

1Audi Q8

—

2Mercedes-Benz GLE

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Audi Q8 vs Mercedes-Benz GLE: Which Is More Reliable?

Audi Q8 vs Mercedes-Benz GLE at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Audi Q8	Mercedes-Benz GLE
Reliability Score	64/100	67/100
Years Tracked	8	8
Total Recalls	43	98
Complaints per 10k Sold	21.4	0.6
Year Wins	2	5

What Are the Common Problems With the Audi Q8 and Mercedes-Benz GLE?

One chain of events defines the Q8's trouble. The alternator fails, an electrical warning appears, and the car loses power and steering assist, often at highway speed. Water pump leaks and a back-ordered alternator add to it. The GLE's trouble is spread wider: water in the footwells, cylinder head failure near 50,000 miles, harsh shifting and stalling, and adaptive cruise that brakes hard for no reason. The GLE has crash-linked reports in electrical, power train, speed control and brakes. The Q8 has crash-linked reports only in steering, which the GLE list does not show.

Audi Q8 vs Mercedes-Benz GLE common problem areas comparison
Component	Audi Q8	Mercedes-Benz GLE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	6.4Average	0.1Very Low
POWER TRAIN	5.1Average	0.1Very Low
ENGINE	1.8Low	0.1Very Low
STEERING	1.8Low	—None
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	1.1Low	0.1Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	1.1Low	—None
SERVICE BRAKES	0.6Very Low	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	0.2Very Low	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.2Very Low	—None
SEAT BELTS	0.2Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	—None
STRUCTURE	—None	—None
TIRES	—None	—None
VISIBILITY	—None	—None
AIR BAGS	—None	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	—None
SUSPENSION	—None	—None
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—None	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Audi Q8 vs Mercedes-Benz GLE Reliability Compare by Year?

Audi Q8 vs Mercedes-Benz GLE year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Audi Q8	Mercedes-Benz GLE	Edge
2026	70/1000R / 0C	65/1001R / 3C	Audi Q8
2024	64/1008R / 16C	70/1008R / 59C	Mercedes-Benz GLE
2023	67/1003R / 2C	70/1005R / 29C	Mercedes-Benz GLE
2022	65/1007R / 5C	68/10011R / 58C	Mercedes-Benz GLE
2021	60/10014R / 28C	65/10022R / 76C	Mercedes-Benz GLE
2020	63/1004R / 25C	61/10036R / 112C	Audi Q8
2019	53/1005R / 103C	70/1006R / 22C	Mercedes-Benz GLE

Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Audi Q8 scored 67/100 and the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE scored 70/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Audi Q8 vs the Mercedes-Benz GLE?

Pick the GLE if you want the slightly better overall record and can accept a smaller risk of a very large bill. Target the 2024 or 2019 model years, which are its strongest. Avoid 2020, its weakest year. Skip 2026, which has had little time to collect complaints and still ranks among its weakest. Ask for proof that any cylinder head work was done, and test the cruise control and braking in traffic. Pick the Q8 if you want to avoid the GLE's cylinder head and phantom braking reports and you will check the charging system before buying. Its 2019 and 2021 model years are the weakest, so lean toward the years in between or the facelifted 2024 onward. Newer 2025 and 2026 cars look strong mostly because they are new. Budget for a water pump and confirm no open alternator or fuel system campaign repair is waiting on parts. Avoid a car with unresolved electrical warnings.

Audi Q8 vs Mercedes-Benz GLE: Common Questions

Is the Audi Q8 more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz GLE?: No, the GLE has a slight edge, though both hold a good reliability standing. The GLE draws far fewer owner complaints for the number sold. The Q8 has fewer recalls, and its main risk is an alternator failure that cuts power and steering assist while driving.
Which has more recalls, the Q8 or the GLE?: The GLE has more. Federal recall records show 98 across its 8 model years, compared with 43 for the Q8 across its 8 model years. More recalls do not always mean worse cars, but they add dealer visits and, at times, waits for parts.
What is the most common Audi Q8 problem?: Electrical trouble leads, with 54 complaints. The alternator fails without warning, warnings light up, and the car loses power. Turn signals, stability control and steering assist can drop out at highway speed. Most cars are towed, and some owners wait months for a replacement alternator.
What goes wrong with the Mercedes-Benz GLE engine?: Cylinder head failure dominates engine complaints. It starts with a check engine light, misfires, shaking or limp mode. Many cases come near or just past 50,000 miles, after warranty ends, with quoted repairs of $7,000 to $13,500. New spark plugs and coils do not fix it.
Which model has more crash-linked complaints?: The GLE does. It has crash-linked reports in electrical, power train, vehicle speed control and service brakes, including phantom braking and brake failure. The Q8 has crash-linked reports only in steering, where 2 complaints involve a loss of steering assist after an electrical shutdown.

More Audi Q8 comparisons

Audi Q8 vs BMW X5 reliability Audi Q8 vs Land Rover Range Rover Sport reliability Audi Q8 vs BMW X6 reliability Audi Q8 vs Porsche Cayenne reliability Audi Q8 reliability by year Audi Q8 years to avoid

More Mercedes-Benz GLE comparisons

Mercedes-Benz GLE vs Cadillac XT5 reliability Mercedes-Benz GLE vs Genesis GV80 reliability Mercedes-Benz GLE vs Acura ZDX reliability Mercedes-Benz GLE vs Land Rover Range Rover Sport reliability Mercedes-Benz GLE reliability by year Mercedes-Benz GLE years to avoid

Decided between Audi Q8 and Mercedes-Benz GLE? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the Audi Q8 and Mercedes-Benz GLE

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

See incorrect data? Report an issue