Is the Lexus NX more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz GLE?

Yes, by a large margin. The NX has fewer recalls, and its main complaints are fuel pump stalls and electrical faults. The GLE adds cylinder head failures, harsh transmission behavior, and phantom braking. Those GLE problems tend to be more serious and more expensive to fix.

Which has more recalls, the NX or the GLE?

The GLE has more. Federal recall records show 98 recalls across eight GLE model years, against 47 across nine NX model years. The GLE is the one with the heavier recall history, even though its owner complaint rate per vehicle sold is lower.

What is the biggest known engine problem on the GLE?

Cylinder head failure. Owners report a check engine light, misfires, shaking, and limp mode, and dealers find leaking valve seats or a failed head. Many cases land near or just past 50,000 miles. Quoted repairs run from $7,000 to $13,500, and new spark plugs and coils do not stop it.

Does the Lexus NX have any serious problems?

Yes. Fuel pump failure can cut engine power and stall the car with no warning, sometimes at highway speed, and some owners saw it return after replacement. Brake complaints include four crash-linked reports, and one electrical report ended in an engine fire. These are less common than the GLE's engine and transmission issues.

Which model years should I avoid on each car?

For the NX, avoid 2022 and 2025, its weakest years. For the GLE, avoid 2020 and 2026. A 2021 NX and a 2019 GLE rank among their models' strongest years. Newer cars such as the 2026 NX or 2024 GLE have had less time to collect complaints, so check them closely.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Lexus NX vs Mercedes-Benz GLE: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Lexus NX

Good

Mercedes-Benz GLE

Good

Reliability favors the Lexus NX over the Mercedes-Benz GLE by a large margin. The GLE has 98 recalls to the NX's 47. It also brings cylinder head, transmission, and phantom braking complaints that the NX profile does not show, and those repairs can run into five figures.

How Do the Lexus NX and Mercedes-Benz GLE Generations Compare?

Most used NX shoppers will look at the first generation (AZ10), which covered US model years 2015 to 2021 and was facelifted in 2018. That makes 2018 to 2021 the updated version of the older design, and 2021 is one of the strongest years. The second generation (AZ20) began with US model year 2022, one of the weakest NX years. On the GLE side, the third generation (W166) ran from 2012 to 2019, with a facelift in 2016. The fourth generation (W167) started in 2020, the GLE's weakest year, and a facelift arrived for 2024. A 2019 GLE is the last of the older design, while 2024 and newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.

Verdict

The Lexus NX is more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz GLE, scoring 79/100 vs 67/100.

Reliability clearly favors the Lexus NX, and the gap is large. The GLE has 98 recalls across eight model years, against 47 for the NX across nine. Its complaints also describe heavier failures: cylinder heads that fail near 50,000 miles with quoted repairs of $7,000 to $13,500, transmissions that shift harshly or stall, and brakes that slam on without cause. The NX has real faults, mainly fuel pump stalls and electrical glitches, but the data shows no repair bills of that size for it.

Key Differences

1Lexus NX has 51 fewer total recalls
2Lexus NX scores 12 points higher in reliability
3Mercedes-Benz GLE has 5.7 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

2Lexus NX

—

1Mercedes-Benz GLE

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Lexus NX vs Mercedes-Benz GLE: Which Is More Reliable?

Lexus NX vs Mercedes-Benz GLE at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Lexus NX	Mercedes-Benz GLE
Reliability Score	79/100	67/100
Years Tracked	9	8
Total Recalls	47	98
Complaints per 10k Sold	6.3	0.6
Year Wins	8	0

What Are the Common Problems With the Lexus NX and Mercedes-Benz GLE?

Stalling and electrical faults define the NX. A failed fuel pump can cut power with no warning, sometimes at highway speed, and one owner saw it return after a replacement. One electrical report ended in an engine fire. GLE trouble is broader: water in the footwells, cylinder head failure, harsh shifts and stalls, and adaptive cruise that brakes hard after misreading signs. Crash-linked reports in power train and vehicle speed control appear for the GLE only. Each model has crash-linked brake complaints, four for the NX and three for the GLE.

Lexus NX vs Mercedes-Benz GLE common problem areas comparison
Component	Lexus NX	Mercedes-Benz GLE
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.5Very Low	0.1Very Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.4Very Low	0.1Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.4Very Low	—None
FUEL SYSTEM	0.2Very Low	—None
SERVICE BRAKES	0.2Very Low	—None
STRUCTURE	0.2Very Low	—None
POWER TRAIN	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	0.1Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY	0.1Very Low	—None
ENGINE	—None	0.1Very Low
WHEELS	—None	—None
TIRES	—None	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	—None
AIR BAGS	—None	—None
STEERING	—None	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	—None
SUSPENSION	—None	—None
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—None	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	—None
SEAT BELTS	—None	—None

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

How Does Lexus NX vs Mercedes-Benz GLE Reliability Compare by Year?

Lexus NX vs Mercedes-Benz GLE year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Lexus NX	Mercedes-Benz GLE	Edge
2026	88/1000R / 0C	65/1001R / 3C	Lexus NX
2024	77/10014R / 129C	70/1008R / 59C	Lexus NX
2023	77/10010R / 27C	70/1005R / 29C	Lexus NX
2022	75/10013R / 19C	68/10011R / 58C	Lexus NX
2021	82/1000R / 30C	65/10022R / 76C	Lexus NX
2020	82/1000R / 26C	61/10036R / 112C	Lexus NX
2019	77/1002R / 41C	70/1006R / 22C	Lexus NX
2018	79/1001R / 36C	69/1009R / 51C	Lexus NX

Best years to cross-shop: The 2021 Lexus NX scored 82/100 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 Lexus NX vs the Mercedes-Benz GLE?

Choose the NX if you want fewer big-ticket surprises. Target 2021, one of its strongest years, or another 2018 to 2021 car. Avoid 2022 and 2025, its weakest years. Do not treat 2026 as the safe pick either, since a new year has had little time to collect complaints. Ask whether the fuel pump was ever replaced, and listen for recurring cracking from the wheel and brake area on the test drive. Choose the GLE only if you need midsize space and can accept the engine and transmission risk. Target 2019, one of its strongest years, and ask for service records. Have a mechanic check for water in the footwells and for cylinder head or valve body problems, which owners report near 50,000 miles or sooner. Avoid 2020, its weakest year, and 2026. Treat 2024 with caution: it ranks well, but it is recent and has had less time to collect complaints.

Lexus NX vs Mercedes-Benz GLE: Common Questions

Is the Lexus NX more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz GLE?: Yes, by a large margin. The NX has fewer recalls, and its main complaints are fuel pump stalls and electrical faults. The GLE adds cylinder head failures, harsh transmission behavior, and phantom braking. Those GLE problems tend to be more serious and more expensive to fix.
Which has more recalls, the NX or the GLE?: The GLE has more. Federal recall records show 98 recalls across eight GLE model years, against 47 across nine NX model years. The GLE is the one with the heavier recall history, even though its owner complaint rate per vehicle sold is lower.
What is the biggest known engine problem on the GLE?: Cylinder head failure. Owners report a check engine light, misfires, shaking, and limp mode, and dealers find leaking valve seats or a failed head. Many cases land near or just past 50,000 miles. Quoted repairs run from $7,000 to $13,500, and new spark plugs and coils do not stop it.
Does the Lexus NX have any serious problems?: Yes. Fuel pump failure can cut engine power and stall the car with no warning, sometimes at highway speed, and some owners saw it return after replacement. Brake complaints include four crash-linked reports, and one electrical report ended in an engine fire. These are less common than the GLE's engine and transmission issues.
Which model years should I avoid on each car?: For the NX, avoid 2022 and 2025, its weakest years. For the GLE, avoid 2020 and 2026. A 2021 NX and a 2019 GLE rank among their models' strongest years. Newer cars such as the 2026 NX or 2024 GLE have had less time to collect complaints, so check them closely.

More Lexus NX comparisons

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More Mercedes-Benz GLE comparisons

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How we score the Lexus NX 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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