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

Yes, by a large margin. The TX has 7 recalls across three model years and 50 owner complaints. The GLE has 98 recalls across eight model years and 410 complaints. The TX has had less time on the road, but its problems are also less varied and less severe.

Which has more recalls, the TX or the GLE?

The GLE has far more. Federal recall records show 98 recalls across its eight model years, against 7 for the TX across three. The GLE covers more years, so the totals are not like for like, but the gap is still wide.

What is the biggest problem with the Lexus TX?

Air bags. Of 50 complaints, 17 involve air bags, mostly curtain air bag recall repairs held up by unavailable parts. Owners describe cars parked for months. Two reports are crash-linked, and one describes front air bags not deploying in a side impact.

What goes wrong with the Mercedes-Benz GLE engine?

Cylinder head failure leads the engine complaints. It starts with a check engine light, misfires, or limp mode, and dealers find leaking valve seats or a failed head. Many cases land near 50,000 miles, with quoted repairs from $7,000 to $13,500.

Does the GLE have phantom braking problems?

Yes. Owners report adaptive cruise misreading speed limit signs, then braking hard on the highway. Others describe sudden braking in stop-and-go traffic. Some dealers can reproduce it but have no fix. The speed control and brake complaints include several crash-linked reports.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Lexus TX vs Mercedes-Benz GLE: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Lexus TX

Excellent

Mercedes-Benz GLE

Good

On reliability, the Lexus TX comes out well ahead of the Mercedes-Benz GLE. The deciding fact is the GLE's pattern of serious engine, transmission, and braking faults, with crash-linked reports in four areas, against the TX's narrower list of problems and far fewer recalls.

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

Only a short stretch of history exists for the TX. It is a first-generation model, and the data covers model years 2024 through 2026, so any used example is early in its cycle and its record is still forming. The GLE data covers three stages. The third generation (W166) ran through 2019, with a facelift in 2016, so 2018 and 2019 are its final years. The fourth generation (W167) began in 2020 and ran through 2023, and a facelift arrived for 2024. The 2020 model year, the first of the fourth generation, ranks among the weakest.

Verdict

The Lexus TX is more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz GLE, scoring 81/100 vs 67/100.

Reliability favors the Lexus by a wide margin. Federal recall records show 7 recalls across its three model years, against 98 across eight for the Mercedes-Benz. Owners also file far fewer complaints per car sold. The GLE's problems are heavier: cylinder head failure, harsh shifting, and phantom braking. The TX record is young, so more reports may still arrive. Its biggest open issue is a curtain air bag recall repair stalled by missing parts.

Key Differences

1Lexus TX has 91 fewer total recalls
2Lexus TX scores 14 points higher in reliability
3Lexus TX has 0.5 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

3Lexus TX

—

0Mercedes-Benz GLE

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

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

Lexus TX vs Mercedes-Benz GLE at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Lexus TX	Mercedes-Benz GLE
Reliability Score	81/100	67/100
Years Tracked	3	8
Total Recalls	7	98
Complaints per 10k Sold	0.1	0.6
Year Wins	2	0

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

Air bags dominate the TX file, mostly a curtain air bag recall repair stuck waiting on parts. One crash report describes the driver and passenger air bags failing to deploy in a side impact. Smaller TX complaints include a power liftgate that closes on people and a shift knob that unscrews. The GLE spreads across more systems: water in the footwells, cylinder head failure with quoted repairs of $7,000 to $13,500, harsh shifts, and adaptive cruise braking hard for no reason. GLE crash-linked reports cover electrical, power train, speed control, and brakes. The TX has them only in air bags and electrical.

Lexus TX vs Mercedes-Benz GLE common problem areas comparison
Component	Lexus TX	Mercedes-Benz GLE
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	—None	0.1Very Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	—None	0.1Very Low
POWER TRAIN	—None	0.1Very Low
ENGINE	—None	0.1Very Low
AIR BAGS	—None	—None
SEATS	—None	—None
STRUCTURE	—None	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	—None
SERVICE BRAKES	—None	—None
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	—None
TIRES	—None	—None
VISIBILITY	—None	—None
STEERING	—None	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	—None
SUSPENSION	—None	—None
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—None	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—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 TX vs Mercedes-Benz GLE Reliability Compare by Year?

Lexus TX vs Mercedes-Benz GLE year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Lexus TX	Mercedes-Benz GLE	Edge
2026	81/1001R / 0C	65/1001R / 3C	Lexus TX
2024	82/1003R / 35C	70/1008R / 59C	Lexus TX

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Lexus TX 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 TX vs the Mercedes-Benz GLE?

Pick the TX if you want a three-row SUV with the fewest known headaches. Every TX is recent, so its thin complaint file partly reflects limited time on the road, and the year data is mixed: 2025 shows up among the weaker years, and 2026 appears on both the strong and weak lists. Confirm the curtain air bag recall repair is done, because owners report cars parked for months waiting on parts. Also test the power liftgate and the shift knob. Pick the GLE only if you prefer its feel and can accept more risk. Target 2019, one of its strongest years, or 2024. Avoid 2020 and 2026, which rank among its weakest. Many cylinder head failures landed near 50,000 miles, just after the warranty ended, so get a pre-purchase inspection and ask about remaining coverage. Check the footwells for water and test the adaptive cruise on a highway drive.

Lexus TX vs Mercedes-Benz GLE: Common Questions

Is the Lexus TX more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz GLE?: Yes, by a large margin. The TX has 7 recalls across three model years and 50 owner complaints. The GLE has 98 recalls across eight model years and 410 complaints. The TX has had less time on the road, but its problems are also less varied and less severe.
Which has more recalls, the TX or the GLE?: The GLE has far more. Federal recall records show 98 recalls across its eight model years, against 7 for the TX across three. The GLE covers more years, so the totals are not like for like, but the gap is still wide.
What is the biggest problem with the Lexus TX?: Air bags. Of 50 complaints, 17 involve air bags, mostly curtain air bag recall repairs held up by unavailable parts. Owners describe cars parked for months. Two reports are crash-linked, and one describes front air bags not deploying in a side impact.
What goes wrong with the Mercedes-Benz GLE engine?: Cylinder head failure leads the engine complaints. It starts with a check engine light, misfires, or limp mode, and dealers find leaking valve seats or a failed head. Many cases land near 50,000 miles, with quoted repairs from $7,000 to $13,500.
Does the GLE have phantom braking problems?: Yes. Owners report adaptive cruise misreading speed limit signs, then braking hard on the highway. Others describe sudden braking in stop-and-go traffic. Some dealers can reproduce it but have no fix. The speed control and brake complaints include several crash-linked reports.

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More Mercedes-Benz GLE comparisons

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How we score the Lexus TX 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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