Is the Chevrolet Equinox-EV more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz GLE?

Yes, but only slightly. Both stand as good. The Equinox-EV has far fewer recalls and no reports of engine failure. Its weak spots are windshield glare, phantom braking, and electrical warnings. It also has only three model years of history, so its record is still short.

Which has more recalls, the Equinox-EV or the GLE?

The GLE has far more. Federal recall records show 98 across eight model years for the GLE, against 7 across three model years for the Equinox-EV. The GLE has had more years on the road, but the gap is large enough to matter when you shop.

What is the most common problem with the Equinox-EV?

Visibility. Owners say sunlight reflects the slatted pattern of the shiny black dashboard onto the windshield. The glare is constant on bright days and can hide pedestrians and crossing traffic. Many owners say it affects all trims and ask GM for a fix.

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. Dealers find leaking valve seats or a failed head. Many cases come near 50,000 miles, after the warranty ends, and quoted repairs run from $7,000 to $13,500.

Do either of these SUVs have crash-linked brake complaints?

Yes, both do. Each has 3 crash-linked reports in service brakes. The Equinox-EV reports describe brakes engaging on their own and a pedal that did not respond at a charger. GLE reports describe brake failure and phantom braking. The GLE also has crash-linked reports in three other areas.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Chevrolet Equinox EV vs Mercedes-Benz GLE: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Chevrolet Equinox EV

Good

Mercedes-Benz GLE

Good

Slight edge to the Chevrolet Equinox-EV on reliability. It has 7 recalls to the Mercedes-Benz GLE's 98. GLE reports include costly cylinder head failures, while Equinox-EV complaints center on dashboard glare and braking faults.

How Do the Chevrolet Equinox EV and Mercedes-Benz GLE Generations Compare?

Three model years of history is all the Equinox-EV has. It is in its first generation, which began with the 2024 model year, and the 2025 model year introduced a facelift. Few complaints on any year mostly reflects limited time on the road. The GLE has the longer record. The 2018 and 2019 models belong to the third generation (W166). The fourth generation (W167) covered 2020 through 2023, and a facelift arrived for 2024. That makes 2019 the last of the older design, 2020 the first of the redesign, and 2024 the first facelifted year.

Verdict

The Chevrolet Equinox EV is more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz GLE, scoring 69/100 vs 67/100.

Reliability favors the Chevrolet Equinox-EV, but only by a slight margin. Both models stand as good. Severity and recalls decide it. The GLE has 98 federal recalls across eight model years, plus cylinder head failures that owners say land near 50,000 miles with quotes up to $13,500. The Equinox-EV has 7 recalls, and its biggest complaint group is windshield glare. Its braking and electrical faults are real, though, and it has only three model years of history behind it.

Key Differences

1Chevrolet Equinox EV has 91 fewer total recalls
2Mercedes-Benz GLE has 29.1 fewer complaints per 10k sold
3Chevrolet Equinox EV scores 2 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

2Chevrolet Equinox EV

—

1Mercedes-Benz GLE

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Chevrolet Equinox EV vs Mercedes-Benz GLE: Which Is More Reliable?

Chevrolet Equinox EV vs Mercedes-Benz GLE at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Chevrolet Equinox EV	Mercedes-Benz GLE
Reliability Score	69/100	67/100
Years Tracked	3	8
Total Recalls	7	98
Complaints per 10k Sold	29.7	0.6
Year Wins	1	1

What Are the Common Problems With the Chevrolet Equinox EV and Mercedes-Benz GLE?

Visibility is the Equinox-EV's biggest complaint. A slatted dashboard reflects onto the windshield and hides pedestrians and traffic. Its serious reports involve automatic emergency braking that slams on with nothing nearby, and brakes that engage while reversing. The GLE's problems are mechanical and costly: water in the footwells with shorted wiring, cylinder head failure, harsh shifting and stalling, and adaptive cruise that misreads speed signs. Both have crash-linked brake complaints. The GLE also has crash-linked reports in electrical, power train, and speed control. The Equinox-EV has them only in service brakes.

Chevrolet Equinox EV vs Mercedes-Benz GLE common problem areas comparison
Component	Chevrolet Equinox EV	Mercedes-Benz GLE
VISIBILITY/WIPER	14.5Above Avg	—None
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	3.9Average	0.1Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	2.9Low	—None
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	2.2Low	0.1Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	2.3Low	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	0.9Very Low	—None
STEERING	0.7Very Low	—None
STRUCTURE	0.5Very Low	—None
POWER TRAIN	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	0.3Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.2Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY	0.2Very Low	—None
ENGINE	—None	0.1Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	—None
TIRES	—None	—None
AIR BAGS	—None	—None
SUSPENSION	—None	—None
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—None	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	—None
SEAT BELTS	—None	—None

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

How Does Chevrolet Equinox EV vs Mercedes-Benz GLE Reliability Compare by Year?

Chevrolet Equinox EV vs Mercedes-Benz GLE year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Chevrolet Equinox EV	Mercedes-Benz GLE	Edge
2026	76/1000R / 0C	65/1001R / 3C	Chevrolet Equinox EV
2024	67/1001R / 105C	70/1008R / 59C	Mercedes-Benz GLE

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV 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 Chevrolet Equinox EV vs the Mercedes-Benz GLE?

Pick the Equinox-EV if you want the lower-risk choice and can live with the dashboard glare. Sit in one on a sunny day before you buy, since owners say it affects all trims. Ask the dealer whether it has an EV technician, because owners reported trouble getting service. Complaints are still accumulating on all three years, so the 2026 model has simply had less time to collect them. Treat it as unproven, not as the safest pick. Pick the GLE if you want a luxury SUV and will budget for repairs. Target 2019 or 2024, the strongest years. Avoid 2020 and 2026, the weakest. On any GLE, get proof of cylinder head and valve seat condition, ask about past water leaks in the footwells, and check the recall history. Watch for harsh shifting and any 48V battery warnings on the test drive. If a repair bill of $7,000 or more would hurt, the GLE is the riskier buy.

Chevrolet Equinox EV vs Mercedes-Benz GLE: Common Questions

Is the Chevrolet Equinox-EV more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz GLE?: Yes, but only slightly. Both stand as good. The Equinox-EV has far fewer recalls and no reports of engine failure. Its weak spots are windshield glare, phantom braking, and electrical warnings. It also has only three model years of history, so its record is still short.
Which has more recalls, the Equinox-EV or the GLE?: The GLE has far more. Federal recall records show 98 across eight model years for the GLE, against 7 across three model years for the Equinox-EV. The GLE has had more years on the road, but the gap is large enough to matter when you shop.
What is the most common problem with the Equinox-EV?: Visibility. Owners say sunlight reflects the slatted pattern of the shiny black dashboard onto the windshield. The glare is constant on bright days and can hide pedestrians and crossing traffic. Many owners say it affects all trims and ask GM for a fix.
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. Dealers find leaking valve seats or a failed head. Many cases come near 50,000 miles, after the warranty ends, and quoted repairs run from $7,000 to $13,500.
Do either of these SUVs have crash-linked brake complaints?: Yes, both do. Each has 3 crash-linked reports in service brakes. The Equinox-EV reports describe brakes engaging on their own and a pedal that did not respond at a charger. GLE reports describe brake failure and phantom braking. The GLE also has crash-linked reports in three other areas.

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

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How we score the Chevrolet Equinox EV 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.

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