2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 4MATIC

I am filing a formal safety complaint regarding my 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350, which has experienced multiple incidents of sudden, unintended automatic braking while driving, despite no vehicles, pedestrians, or obstacles being present ahead. During one particularly dangerous incident, I was traveling on the expressway when the vehicle unexpectedly applied its brakes aggressively and came to a sudden stop without any braking action initiated by me. This created an extremely dangerous situation and placed me and other motorists at risk of a serious collision. This was not an isolated incident. The vehicle has unexpectedly applied its brakes on multiple occasions under circumstances where braking was not necessary. The vehicle is currently at Mercedes-Benz of Hoffman Estates, where the dealership performed a software update during the October 2026 service visit to address the unexpected braking concern. However, I have not received sufficient documentation explaining the cause of the malfunction or how the dealership verified that the issue has been permanently corrected. During this same service visit, the dealership also identified significant front brake pad wear, measuring approximately 2–3 mm, at 32,042 miles. I have requested clarification regarding whether the repeated unintended braking could have contributed to the brake wear. The dealership maintains that the braking components are operating correctly and that the brake replacement is normal maintenance. I am concerned that the vehicle's automatic braking system may present an ongoing safety risk. I am requesting that NHTSA review these incidents and determine whether further investigation into a potential vehicle safety defect is warranted.

NHTSA ID

11772548

Incident

May 21, 2026

I own a 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE purchased new (delivered Nov 3, 2024). The vehicle has a recurring transmission/powertrain problem: (1) when I suddenly press the accelerator down hard , including fully, there is a delay of about 1–2 seconds before the vehicle accelerates, followed by a sudden surge; (2) harsh, jerking downshifts, for example 5th to 4th gear below 40 mph, and jerking when slowing from 40 to 20 mph or accelerating from 50 to 70 mph. SAFETY CONCERN: On multiple occasions on the highway, when I tried to merge into an adjacent lane and pressed the accelerator harder, the vehicle did not respond for approximately 2 seconds and then suddenly accelerated. A vehicle behind me nearly collided with mine. I cannot reasonably predict when the vehicle will start accelerating or how strongly, which makes merging and passing unsafe. The same delay of about 2 seconds also occurs when I accelerate at full throttle. In an emergency, where I need to accelerate immediately to avoid a hazard, this delay could prevent me from escaping the danger. I have taken the vehicle to the authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer four times for this problem: 9/9/2025 (9,583 miles), 8/5/2026 (18,568 miles), 8/6/2026 (18,579 miles) and 9/11/2026 (19,704 miles). On 8/6–8/7/2026 the dealer verified a harsh 5-4 downshift and performed transmission adaptations, and attributed the acceleration delay to slow downshifting in Comfort mode. On 9/11/2026 I reported that both problems were still present; the dealer could not duplicate the harsh downshift and deemed the lag normal. The problem has not been fixed.

NHTSA ID

11768626

Incident

Aug 6, 2025

The vehicle was delivered to the dealer on July 13, 2026 at 33,360 miles with an illuminated check engine light. The dealer diagnosed intake camshaft timing faults and found pieces of the central valve screen in the engine oil filter. The camshaft bearing housing was replaced and the repair declared complete on July 15, but the check engine light returned the next day. On August 19 the dealer removed the cylinder head and found an internal oil passage that was restricted and clogged, which they stated may have caused insufficient oil flow and contributed to the camshaft timing failure. On August 24, Mercedes-Benz Engineering directed replacement of the complete engine. No replacement engine is available in the United States; one must be shipped from Germany, with a tentative arrival of October 19, 2026. The vehicle has been out of service since July 13, 2026 and is expected to remain out of service about four months. The engine is an M264 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder. Similar cylinder head and camshaft failures have been reported by other owners of this engine at comparable mileage.

NHTSA ID

11761182

Incident

Jul 13, 2026

The vehicle was delivered to the dealer on XXX at 33,360 miles with an illuminated check engine light. The dealer diagnosed intake camshaft timing faults and found pieces of the central valve screen in the engine oil filter. The camshaft bearing housing was replaced and the repair was declared complete on XXX but the check engine light returned the next day. After extended diagnosis involving Mercedes-Benz Engineering and a Field Service Engineer, the dealer removed the cylinder head on XXX and found an internal oil passage that was restricted and clogged. The dealer stated this may have caused insufficient oil flow and contributed to the camshaft timing failure. On XXX, Mercedes-Benz Engineering directed replacement of the complete engine. The dealer advised that no replacement engine is available in the [XXX] and one must be shipped from [XXX], with a tentative arrival of XXX. The vehicle has been out of service since XXX and is expected to remain out of service for approximately four months. The engine is an M264 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder. Similar cylinder head and camshaft failures have been reported by other owners of this engine at comparable mileage. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11761181

Incident

Jul 13, 2026

I get a message saying "Active Parking Assist and PARKTRONIC Inoperative See Operator's Manual" every time I start the car. Then when going through a car wash, PARKTRONIC cannot be switched off any more as part of the "Car Wash Mode" (that also folds the rearview mirrors and shuts the windows). So the car beeps all the way through the car wash. Then I get random alerts that there is a collision risk when I am parked, or driving at slow speed. It looks like there is a malfunction of one or more parking sensor. It is not too dangerous, just annoying, except when you are driving the car and getting surprising alerts for no reason. The make some jump every time and distracts me from looking at the road. This car has 35,000 miles on it.

NHTSA ID

11759746

Incident

Aug 7, 2026

My 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 unexpectedly braked on its own on two separate occasions while I was driving at a low speed, approximately 5 to 10 mph. There was no warning chime, no “BRAKE!” message, and no other warning immediately before the vehicle suddenly braked. One of the incidents occurred while driving through a drive-thru. The sudden braking was strong enough to jolt a properly restrained rear-seat passenger forward and caused discomfort around the waist area. I also received a dashboard warning stating “Active Parking Assist and PARKTRONIC Inoperative.” The vehicle was taken to an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership, where it was inspected, scanned, test-driven, and a software update was performed. The dealership was unable to reproduce the unexpected braking and did not identify a confirmed cause for the braking incidents. The vehicle remains available for inspection upon request. I am concerned that this may be an intermittent safety-related malfunction involving the driver assistance, parking assistance, sensor, or braking systems because the vehicle applied the brakes unexpectedly without warning.

NHTSA ID

11758340

Incident

Jul 30, 2026

Catastrophic failure of the rear lower control arm. Complete fracture through its inboard mounting eye with no warning while my wife was driving the vehicle. The rear - passenger side corner dropped causing the vehicle to spin abruptly.

NHTSA ID

11752631

Incident

Jul 23, 2026

Windshield Wiper Collision & Breakage Issue Vehicle: 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE350 While driving in heavy rain with the windshield wipers activated, the left and right wiper arms move at inconsistent speeds due to uneven friction on the windshield. The two wiper blades repeatedly crash into each other during every sweep cycle. Constant hard impact from the colliding wipers eventually snapped one of the wiper assemblies. This creates a severe safety hazard: broken wipers cannot clear rainwater from the windshield, leading to drastically reduced forward visibility while driving. This is not isolated damage from misuse, accident, or aftermarket wiper parts. Factory OEM wiper linkage, motor limit calibration and weak wiper arm springs are the root cause. Multiple other GLE owners have reported identical wiper collision problems on vehicle forums and dealer service records, confirming this is a widespread manufacturing/software calibration defect of the GLE platform. No collision or rough handling occurred prior to the failure; the issue started gradually with loud clattering noise during rain, then progressed to permanent breakage of the wiper arm.

NHTSA ID

11748194

Incident

Mar 1, 2026

Dear Dealer Partners, The part numbers listed in the chart below should no longer be installed, and any existing stock must be returned to your facing PDC. The deadline for all dealer returns is Thursday, November 19th, 2026. After November 19th, we will no longer accept returns of these parts. Return these parts via ZSR Special Return, using item category SCM Authorized Part Return. Please include a copy of this NCU as your authorization to return these parts. This procedure will not affect your return allowance. All returned parts will be replaced in accordance with the chart provided below.

Complaint Check engine light illuminated, or previously on One of the below Exhaust Flap fault codes stored in PTCU N127: P13C273 P13C278 P140473 Cause Various Remedy 1. Thaw exhaust system if ice is present. 2. Update software of N127 PTCU. 3. Check the exhaust flap for free movement. 4. Replace exhaust flap actuator. (P13C273 and P13C278‑ Right side flap, P140473‑ Left side flap). Ensure anti‑rattle spring is installed in correct position. 5. Clear fault codes and check exhaust flap for free movement via actuation. If fault code reoccurs: ‑Replace muffler with exhaust flap actuator. Note: For vehicles with two exhaust flap actuators, the left and right actuator have different part numbers. Installing two of the same side part number will cause fault codes due to missing LIN messages.

Complaint Oil seeping from turbocharger oil return line at connection to engine block. Low oil level warning. Oil observed under vehicle. Cause Return line under tension due to turbo rotation. Remedy Inspect turbocharger housing for rotation (refer to attachment). If rotation is confirmed, the turbocharger and oil return line must be replaced.‑Resealing or replacing only the oil return line is not sufficient and will not resolve the symptom.‑Clean noise insulation on right side of engine if necessary. Replace insulation if cleaning is not sufficient.‑Observe foot notes regarding additional parts in XENTRY parts information when ordering turbocharger.

Complaint Customer concern of Air Conditioning not cooling. *NOTE ‑ Use of tracer DYE for leak checks is not approved. Only approved leak check procedures as per WIS are approved. Cause Possible refrigerant leak. Remedy Perform the following measures : *Important* ‑ Photo documentation requirement is no longer in effect as of 10/1/2025. Remedy 1: Replace Evaporator (Only applies to vehicles produced PRIOR to April 15, 2022 and has NOT had the evaporator replaced previously) 1. Ensure that the rest of the AC system has been thoroughly checked for leaks with forming gas as per WIS before condemning the evaporator. 2. If no other leaks are found, replace the evaporator 3. *Important* ‑ when you get the new evaporator, check the expansion valve bracket to see if there are any bends (see attachment "Bent Bracket"). a. If bent, remove the expansion valve and bracket and check for damage to the flange (see attachment "Flange Damage"). i. If damage is found, order another evaporator and claim the part under parts warranty. The warranty claim MUST include a photo of the damage found. ii. If no damage is found, flip the bracket and torque to 7Nm. Check the evaporator for proper sealing before fully installing. b. If no bends are found, the evaporator should be installed in the vehicle. Note ‑ *If the evaporator housing has been opened or the evaporator or housing has been tampered with, the claim will be debited. Remedy 2: (Applies to all vehicles produced on or AFTER April 15, 2022 up to August 1, 2025) 1. Ensure that the entire AC system has been thoroughly checked for leaks with forming gas as per WIS . 2. If no leaks were found AND the system came in with no cooling/low charge, OR the evaporator is suspected of leaking: 3. Replace ONLY the expansion valve bracket, seals, and bolts as supplied in kit A 167 832 47 00, in accordance with the procedure outlined in WIS document AR83.30‑P‑5520ME. 4. IF THE PRODUCTION DATE IS BETWEEN JUNE 1, 2023 AND JULY 1, 2024, REPLACE THE DRYER AS WELL. (NOT THE CONDENSER) 5. After, charge the system and perform a few drive cycles. 6. Recheck the vehicle for leaks. 7. If no leaks are found, the vehicle can be released. 8. If a minor leak is detected that is less than 50ppm, then perform the following steps: • If a leak is detected, fill the system with forming gas • Close all doors and windows for 10 minutes. • Vehicle off with no blower activation. • Open the driver's door and measure ppm detection as soon as the door is open and the sniffer goes into the vehicle. • If no leaks are measured, fill the system and release. • If you still feel the evaporator is needed/leaks are still detected, a TIPS case is required for replacement. Provide all documentation listed in Remedy 3. Remedy 3: (Only applies to vehicles produced AFTER August 1, 2025) Ensure that the entire AC system has been thoroughly checked for leaks with forming gas as per WIS . If no leaks are found or the expansion valve has been found to be leaking, remove the expansion valve and check the bracket. If the bracket is bent, replace the expansion valve bracket, seals, and bolts as supplied in kit A 167 832 47 00. In the warranty submission, include photos of both sides of the bracket and a side profile so it can be seen that the bracket is bent. If the bracket is NOT bent or leaks from other locations are found, then open a TIPS case with the following: 1. Initial Quick Test 2. Create a short video of the actual pressures via AC machine, showing the engine running, and hold a copy of the VIN/RO in view as well. 3. OBS recording of XENTRY AC actual values of compressor request to be on and current value. (Instructions in Attachments) 4. Video recording of the leak being found via sniffer at the R/F AC drain after removing the under dash panel if the evaporator is suspected. (see attached videos) 5. If the evaporator is found to be leaking via sniffer, another video needs to be uploaded (or a continuation if only making the video after checks

Issue A software update will be performed that provides enhancements to the robustness and system stability of the communication module. The update is free of charge and runs in the background, which takes about 8 minutes to install. During this time, the vehicle can be driven without any restrictions, and the new software will be active with the next ignition cycle. Remedy MBUSA will conduct an OTA service campaign. Remote software updates are automatically downloaded and installed in the customer’s vehicle free of charge and do not require a dealer visit.

Complaint Slight creaking noises when steering. Cause Noises may come from one or more sleeves of the horn contact plate. Remedy Remove the horn contact plate and check the sleeves for noise; see attached video. If necessary, apply lubricant to the sleeves.