Last updated: 2026-10-10
2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE Reliability Report
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE has good reliability, but owners report the transmission dropping into neutral on its own.
Recalls
5
Complaints
29
Complaint Rate
0.8per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
$908
Annual Fuel Cost
$3,150–$3,300
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
Final fourth-generation year with fewer complaints and recalls than 2022 and 2024, but transmission neutral drops and unfinished recall repairs deserve a check.
Top Issues to Watch
- POWER TRAIN (7)
- STRUCTURE (4)
- FUEL SYSTEM (3)
Generation & Refresh (US)
2023 is the last model year of the Fourth generation (W167).
- Final-year models are typically the most refined version of a generation.
- 4th generation GLE (US).
What this means for buyers
Final-year models are usually the most polished version of a generation, but resale value may dip as buyers anticipate the next redesign.
2020: Fourth generation (W167) Launch
Generation start — new platform.
2023: This Model Year
2023 is the last model year of the Fourth generation (W167).
2024: Mid-Cycle Refresh
Updated features and styling tweaks.
Should You Buy the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE?
Good is the standing here, and it is a sound used pick. This year runs close to the average for 2023 SUVs and ranks among the stronger of the eight GLE years we score. It is the last year of the fourth generation, and it earned 5 of 5 stars in federal crash testing. Owners filed fewer complaints than for 2022 or 2024.
The most serious complaint is the transmission dropping into neutral by itself while cruising, slowing, or sitting at a stoplight, even with the display showing drive. Dealers often find no error codes. Fuel system filings include engine shutoffs and a fuel pump delivery module leak found at about 28,000 miles. Some electrical failures cut all power after 48V and 12V battery warnings and need a flatbed tow. Five recalls cover power train, electrical, structure, and two for the fuel system.
Run the VIN for open recalls and ask for proof that the fuel and structural repairs were done. Some owners could not get structural parts. Ask whether any transmission or battery warnings were ever diagnosed.
Compared to the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE, which scored the same. See also the 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Acceptable reliability score
- +Below-average complaint rate for SUV
- +5-star NHTSA crash rating
Cons
- −Moderate recall count
- −POWER TRAIN: Transmission drops into neutral on its own (7 complaints)
- −UNKNOWN OR OTHER: Replacement windshields are hard to get (6 complaints)
Compare 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE With
Common Problem Categories
Safety
LOW RISK- 5 manufacturer recalls issued
Other
HIGH RISK- POWER TRAIN (7)
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER (6)
Recall Overview
5
recalls on record
A moderate 5 recalls are on file for the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE. Each one points to a specific safety or compliance issue identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA — check the list below before buying.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
0.8
per 10,000 soldSegment avg: 11.3
Safety Incidents
3
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 5/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE Recall Details
5 recalls have been issued for the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.
POWER TRAIN
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020-2023 GLE 450 and GLS 450 vehicles. The transmission may not fully downshift in certain conditions, causing the engine to stall.
Consequence
An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the transmission control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023-2024 GLE 350, 2020-2024 GLE 450, 2020-2023 GLS 580, GLE 580, 2019-2023 GLS 450, 2021-2023 Maybach GLS 600, AMG GLS 63, 2021-2024 AMG GLE 53, AMG GLE 53 Coupe, and AMG GLE 63 S vehicles. A 48-Volt ground connection under the passenger seat may not be secured properly, resulting in the ground connection overheating.
Consequence
An overheated ground connection can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and tighten the 48-Volt ground connection as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 3, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024040002.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2024 GLE, GLS, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL, GLC, CLS, AMG GT, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle details. The fuel pump may shutdown, causing a loss of drive power.
Consequence
A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 28, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on February 23, 2024, April 19, 2024, June 28, 2024, August 9, 2024, October 1, 2024, and December 2, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 23V-445.
Buying a used 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE? Check its history first
Power train problems lead owner complaints about the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE, and 5 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 16.9%
Safety Technologies
Mercedes-Benz GLERepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
2.5Maintenance rating: 2.5 out of 5Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.
Est. Annual Maintenance
$908
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE Example Repair Prices
National average price ranges for common repairs. These are not model-year-specific failure predictions.
| Repair | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Drive Axle Assembly Leak Inspection | $76 – $112 |
| Air Conditioning Refrigerant Line Replacement | $1,277 – $1,538 |
| Drive Axle Assembly Drain & Refill | $68 – $89 |
| Air Conditioning Receiver Drier Assembly Replacement | $425 – $536 |
| Wheel Bearing Replacement | $531 – $730 |
| Body Control System Diagnosis & Testing | $61 – $90 |
| Wheel Replacement | $2,560 – $2,596 |
| Fuel Evaporative Canister Replacement | $578 – $635 |
| Heater Core Replacement | $1,509 – $2,043 |
| Trans Oil Pan Gasket Replacement | $581 – $808 |
Estimates based on national average repair costs. Actual costs may vary by location and shop.
MPG & Annual Running Costs
Gas
21–22 MPG
Running cost: $4,050–$4,200/yr
Fuel + repair
20 city / 24–25 hwy MPG
Hybrid
18–22 MPG
Running cost: $4,050–$4,750/yr
Fuel + repair
16–20 city / 21–25 hwy MPG
Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2023 EPA label cycle.
Gas trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GLE350 2.0L 4-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic 9-spd | 20 | 25 | 22 | $3,150 |
| GLE350 4matic 2.0L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic 9-spd | 20 | 24 | 21 | $3,300 |
Hybrid trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GLE450 4matic 3.0L 6-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic 9-spd | 20 | 25 | 22 | $3,150 |
| GLE580 4matic 4.0L 8-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic 9-spd | 16 | 21 | 18 | $3,850 |
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE.
Coast to a stop and pull away several times; watch for the transmission slipping into neutral or delaying engagement.
Ask for service records showing stalling or neutral-shift complaints, and confirm the repair actually fixed them.
Check the dash for 48V or 12V battery warnings and ask whether the car was ever towed for power loss.
Run the VIN for open recalls and confirm the dealer has parts on hand to complete each one.
Smell for fuel around the car and listen for clicking or loud revving at cold start.
Use adaptive cruise on an open highway and watch for hard braking with no car ahead.
Inspect the windshield and roof glass for chips or cracks, since replacement windshields have faced long backlogs.
Run the AC on high for several minutes and sniff the vents for a foul odor.
2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE Common Problems by Component
29 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
POWER TRAIN
7 complaintsSafety-relatedThe transmission drops into neutral on its own. It happens while cruising, while slowing down, or at a stoplight, even with the display still showing drive. Drivers have to pull over and shift again or restart the car to get moving. Other reports describe the engine revving for several seconds before the transmission engages, and stalling at various speeds around 20,000 miles that persisted after a dealer repair. In one crash report, the car accelerated out of control in reverse and hit a tree. Dealers often find no error codes.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
6 complaintsReplacement windshields are hard to get. Owners with cracked windshields report waiting about 4 months because of a nationwide backlog, and no aftermarket version exists. Other reports describe a closed sunroof shattering while driving and showering the front seats with glass. Some cars get a foul odor from the AC vents on a low-mileage car, which a dealer fixed with a paid service. Another complaint is a key fob so sensitive that it opens the doors, windows, and liftgate from a pants pocket. One filing is a payment dispute with a seller, not a vehicle fault.
STRUCTURE
4 complaintsMost of these filings are about a parts shortage, not a failure. Half come from owners who received a structural recall notice but cannot get the repair done because parts are unavailable, and dealer appointments keep getting rescheduled. Those owners report no failure on their own cars. The remaining reports describe the rear hatch opening by itself while the car sits unattended, which leaves it unsecured and risks hitting a garage door. One owner reports that the roof panel between the windshield and the panoramic roof shattered.
FUEL SYSTEM (3 complaints)
FUEL SYSTEM
3 complaintsThe engine shuts off without warning while driving, and dealers have diagnosed fuel contamination. One owner smelled fuel strongly enough in a closed garage that the fire department came to air it out. A dealer traced that leak to the fuel pump delivery module at about 28,000 miles. Other reports describe loud revving at startup and clicking from the engine bay that returns at 45 mph or higher. Owners say they received a fuel system recall notice. Some report the problem came back after the repair, and others say parts were unavailable.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (3 complaints)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3 complaintsThe car loses all power right after warnings about the 48V and 12V batteries. Drivers get stranded on the road and need a flatbed tow, sometimes before 4,000 miles. Other reports describe low 12V charge warnings that appear daily, even while driving, telling the driver to pull over. Remote services shut off and starting may be restricted. The instrument cluster can also go black for hours, taking out the speedometer, fuel gauge, blind spot monitoring, and front parking sensors. Some dealers say they cannot find a fault.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (2 complaints)
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2 complaintsWith cruise control set at 55 to 70 mph, the car brakes hard when nothing is ahead. It can drop to 15 or 20 mph, and following drivers have had to slam on their brakes. The car also brakes in the middle of automatic lane changes, especially on curving interstates. Lane keeping can push the car hard toward an exit lane the driver did not choose, and one owner nearly hit the median. Dealers who inspected these cars have not found the cause.
SERVICE BRAKES (2 complaints)
SERVICE BRAKES
2 complaintsSafety-relatedAutomatic emergency braking fails in both directions. In a crash report, the system gave no alert and applied no brakes before the car rear-ended another vehicle at a red light. In another case, it braked hard and locked the seat belt during a slow left turn at 15 to 20 mph with nothing in the way. That car had about 6,000 miles. Neither report describes a completed repair. One car was still waiting for a dealer diagnosis.
VISIBILITY/WIPER (1 complaints)
VISIBILITY/WIPER
1 complaintWhile driving on the freeway, in a construction zone, at night, in the rain, the windshield wipers of my vehicle stopped working and froze in the upright (vertical) position. Because it was raining, and night time, I pulled to the side of the road and engaged the hazard lights. I attempted to restart the vehicle several times, as well as to turn the wipers on and off several times, to no avail. The dealership the car was taken to was able to confirm that the wipers did not, in fact, work. There was no warning that the wipers would stop working, no lamps came on, and no symptoms indicated that the wipers would fail. The vehicle has since been repaired and, therefore, not available for inspection.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (1 complaints)
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
1 complaintSafety-relatedOn December 3, 2022, my new 2023 AMG GLE53, with less than 300 miles on the odometer, completely failed to issue a Forward Collision Warning and to activate the Automatic Emergency Braking when approaching at approximately 25 mph a city intersection, causing an accident with a vehicle that was stopped at the traffic light. That misbehavior was very unexpected from a vehicle that is supposed to be equipped with very advanced modern technologies for the safety of passengers and other road users. We were lucky that there was no injury, but that accident caused a lot of damages to both vehicles, exceeding several thousands of dollars, in addition to my disappointment of not seeing any of the advanced safety elements of the vehicle to operate as advertised. I would strongly recommend an investigation initiated by NHTSA, as the issue may not be isolated, and other users may be at risk. Thank you
Best & Worst Mercedes-Benz GLE Years
Best Mercedes-Benz GLE Years to Buy
Based on reliability index score2024
2023
(Current Model)
2019
Mercedes-Benz GLE Years to Avoid
Mercedes-Benz GLE Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 69/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 70/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 61/100 | Good |
| 2021 | 65/100 | Good |
| 2022 | 68/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 70/100 | Good |
| 2024 | 70/100 | Good |
| 2026 | 65/100 | Good |
Mercedes-Benz GLE Reliability Compared to Other Years
2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE Common Questions
10 questions from 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE owners.
Parasitic voltage draw slk350 2007
Bought new amg h6 voltage drops to 12 in one c week More than a week
Speedometer not working
no movement ABS and ASR lights on Started today
Cam Magnet Leak
2008 Mercedes SL550. The right passenger side Cam magnet is leaking. What is the recommended repair for this? Acceleration More than a year
C300 Turn signal flashes 3 times then goes out dash says check left turn signal
Every time I start the car, the lights are fine and no messages in dash. As soon as I use the left turn signal, it flashes 3 times then goes out. Dash says check left turn signal. The same thing applies to one of the two front parking lights on each headlight unit (left and right) and and the left side indicator. I can drive all day with no problem but as soon as the automatic headlights come on the parking lights and side maker come on briefly then go out and I get messages for each on dash. Replaced both headlight/turn signal units and the exact same issue persists. Turn it off and it starts all over. Maybe unrelated but when I use rear defroster radio gets static; also volume knob in center dash is inconsistant but the volume buttons on the steering wheel work fine. More than a year
Exhaust sounds like a helicopter noise
Exhaust sounds like a helicopter noise
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE?
Does the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE have transmission problems?
Has the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE been recalled?
Is the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE better than the 2022 or 2024?
Don’t buy a 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE does best on how many systems draw complaints (84/100) and worst on repair costs (50/100). 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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