Is the Chrysler Pacifica more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz GLE?

No. The GLE has a slight edge. Owners filed 0.6 complaints per 10,000 sold against 27 for the Pacifica. Both are in good standing, so the lead is small. The Pacifica's complaints include fires, stalls, and power steering loss, and the GLE's include cylinder head failures and phantom braking.

Which has more recalls, the Pacifica or the GLE?

The GLE has more. Federal recall records show 98 recalls across 8 GLE model years, against 67 across 9 Pacifica model years. Recall counts show how often a maker issued fixes. They do not show how many owners ran into trouble, so weigh them alongside complaints.

Which costs less to repair, the Pacifica or the GLE?

No direct comparison is possible, because repair-cost data exists only for the Pacifica. Independent repair-cost data puts it at $647 a year with 0.4 unscheduled shop visits. For the GLE, owners quote $7,000 to $13,500 for cylinder head repairs.

What is the biggest engine problem on each model?

Cylinder head failure leads on both. On the Pacifica's 3.6L V6, head gasket and head failures bring coolant loss, misfires, and sudden power loss, mostly from about 55,000 to 74,121 miles. On the GLE, failures bring a check engine light and shaking, often near or just past 50,000 miles.

Which model years should I avoid?

For the Pacifica, avoid 2018 and 2021, the weakest years. For the GLE, avoid 2020. The newest years, such as the Pacifica 2025 and 2026, have had less time to collect complaints, so do not treat them as proven. The GLE 2019 is a sounder pick than newer cars with thin records.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Chrysler Pacifica vs Mercedes-Benz GLE: Reliability Compared

Chrysler Pacifica

Good

More Reliable

Mercedes-Benz GLE

Good

The Mercedes-Benz GLE has a slight reliability edge over the Chrysler Pacifica. Owners filed far fewer complaints per vehicle sold. Both sit in good standing, and the GLE has more recalls. The Pacifica's fires, stalls, and steering loss keep the gap narrow.

How Do the Chrysler Pacifica and Mercedes-Benz GLE Generations Compare?

Most GLEs you will see fall into two generations, and the split matters. The third generation (W166) ran from 2012 to 2019 and received a facelift in 2016, so the 2018 and 2019 models are late-cycle examples. The fourth generation (W167) began in 2020 and ran through 2023. That first year, 2020, ranks among the weakest. A facelift followed in 2024, and the 2024 model is one of the strongest years, though newer cars have had less time to collect complaints. The 2019 is the late third-generation year to look at first.

Verdict

The Mercedes-Benz GLE is more reliable than the Chrysler Pacifica, scoring 67/100 vs 65/100.

Reliability gives a slight edge to the Mercedes-Benz GLE. Owners filed far fewer complaints per vehicle sold, 0.6 per 10,000 against 27 for the Pacifica, and the Pacifica's filings include fires, stalls, and sudden loss of steering assist. The GLE carries more recalls across its model years, 98 against 67, and its cylinder head failures near 50,000 miles can cost $7,000 to $13,500. Each model sits in good standing, so the gap is small. The GLE wins on complaint volume, not on a clean record.

Key Differences

1Chrysler Pacifica has 31 fewer total recalls
2Mercedes-Benz GLE has 26.4 fewer complaints per 10k sold
3Mercedes-Benz GLE scores 2 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

1Chrysler Pacifica

—

2Mercedes-Benz GLE

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Chrysler Pacifica vs Mercedes-Benz GLE: Which Is More Reliable?

Chrysler Pacifica vs Mercedes-Benz GLE at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Chrysler Pacifica	Mercedes-Benz GLE
Reliability Score	65/100	67/100
Years Tracked	9	8
Total Recalls	67	98
Complaints per 10k Sold	27	0.6
Year Wins	2 (1 tied)	5 (1 tied)

What Are the Common Problems With the Chrysler Pacifica and Mercedes-Benz GLE?

Cylinder head trouble shows up on each model, but the Pacifica's problems spread wider. Its 3.6L V6 loses coolant with no visible leak, then misfires or loses power on the highway. Add fires, stalls, power steering that cuts out, and unintended movement when shifting. Steering carries 13 crash-linked complaints, and the GLE has no steering area among its main problems. The GLE's trouble is water in the footwells, shorted wiring, 48V battery faults, harsh shifting, and a failed head near 50,000 miles. Its own crash-linked area is vehicle speed control, where adaptive cruise brakes hard for no reason.

Chrysler Pacifica vs Mercedes-Benz GLE common problem areas comparison
Component	Chrysler Pacifica	Mercedes-Benz GLE
POWER TRAIN	6.5Average	0.1Very Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	6.4Average	0.1Very Low
ENGINE	3.5Average	0.1Very Low
STEERING	2.5Low	—None
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	2Low	0.1Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.9Very Low	—None
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.6Very Low	—None
AIR BAGS	0.5Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.5Very Low	—None
SEATS	0.4Very Low	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	0.3Very Low	—None
STRUCTURE	0.3Very Low	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.2Very Low	—None
SUSPENSION	0.1Very Low	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.1Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	—None
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	—None
TIRES	—None	—None
VISIBILITY	—None	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	—None
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—None	—None
SEAT BELTS	—None	—None

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

How Does Chrysler Pacifica vs Mercedes-Benz GLE Reliability Compare by Year?

Chrysler Pacifica vs Mercedes-Benz GLE year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Chrysler Pacifica	Mercedes-Benz GLE	Edge
2026	82/1000R / 2C	65/1001R / 3C	Chrysler Pacifica
2024	70/1007R / 52C	70/1008R / 59C	Tie
2023	65/1008R / 148C	70/1005R / 29C	Mercedes-Benz GLE
2022	62/1006R / 284C	68/10011R / 58C	Mercedes-Benz GLE
2021	57/1006R / 355C	65/10022R / 76C	Mercedes-Benz GLE
2020	64/1005R / 201C	61/10036R / 112C	Chrysler Pacifica
2019	60/1009R / 352C	70/1006R / 22C	Mercedes-Benz GLE
2018	51/10018R / 980C	69/1009R / 51C	Mercedes-Benz GLE

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica scored 70/100 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 Chrysler Pacifica vs the Mercedes-Benz GLE?

Pick the Pacifica if you need a family van and want the lower complaint risk and a known running cost of $647 a year, with 0.4 unscheduled shop visits. Avoid 2018 and 2021, the weakest years. The 2025 and 2026 models rank well, but they have had little time to collect complaints, so do not read that as proof. Before buying any year, ask about head gasket history and have the steering and electrical systems checked. Pick the GLE if you want an SUV and can accept a large bill if something goes wrong. Target the 2019, one of its strongest years, and avoid 2020. The 2024 also ranks well but is recent. Before you buy, ask whether the cylinder head has been inspected, since failures cluster near 50,000 miles, after the warranty ends. Check the footwells for water and test the adaptive cruise and the stop-and-go driver assist.

Chrysler Pacifica vs Mercedes-Benz GLE: Common Questions

Is the Chrysler Pacifica more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz GLE?: No. The GLE has a slight edge. Owners filed 0.6 complaints per 10,000 sold against 27 for the Pacifica. Both are in good standing, so the lead is small. The Pacifica's complaints include fires, stalls, and power steering loss, and the GLE's include cylinder head failures and phantom braking.
Which has more recalls, the Pacifica or the GLE?: The GLE has more. Federal recall records show 98 recalls across 8 GLE model years, against 67 across 9 Pacifica model years. Recall counts show how often a maker issued fixes. They do not show how many owners ran into trouble, so weigh them alongside complaints.
Which costs less to repair, the Pacifica or the GLE?: No direct comparison is possible, because repair-cost data exists only for the Pacifica. Independent repair-cost data puts it at $647 a year with 0.4 unscheduled shop visits. For the GLE, owners quote $7,000 to $13,500 for cylinder head repairs.
What is the biggest engine problem on each model?: Cylinder head failure leads on both. On the Pacifica's 3.6L V6, head gasket and head failures bring coolant loss, misfires, and sudden power loss, mostly from about 55,000 to 74,121 miles. On the GLE, failures bring a check engine light and shaking, often near or just past 50,000 miles.
Which model years should I avoid?: For the Pacifica, avoid 2018 and 2021, the weakest years. For the GLE, avoid 2020. The newest years, such as the Pacifica 2025 and 2026, have had less time to collect complaints, so do not treat them as proven. The GLE 2019 is a sounder pick than newer cars with thin records.

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How we score the Chrysler Pacifica 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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