2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 Electrical Problems

The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE350. The contact stated that while reversing, the back over prevention camera screen was black and there was no image displayed, causing a visibility hazard for the driver. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who indicated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V354000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 29,000.

NHTSA ID

11694682

Incident

Oct 14, 2025

Mileage

29,000 mi

Not sure vehicle was parked and caught on fire from the drivers side completely burning

NHTSA ID

11691671

Incident

Oct 3, 2025

While driving at about 55mph on road with one lane going each way, the car engine shut off, all instrument displays went off. There was no check engine light, warning or noise. I was almost rear ended by a car behind me. The car behind me swerved barely missing me, but almost hit oncoming traffic. Once car was on side of road it would not start. I tried to jump car battery with NOCO jump starter and it did not work. Instrument display did not come on, car transmission stuck in Drive. After testing battery with digital voltmeter it showed 12.6V, but car would still not come on nor would instrument display. Car had to get towed to dealer where it's currently at being diagnosed. This was very dangerous and could have been fatal.

NHTSA ID

11672109

Incident

Jul 7, 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE350. The contact initially stated that the air conditioner failed to function as needed and the vehicle was taken to dealer and was repaired. The contact stated that recently while driving 70 MPH, there was a burning odor coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that when the vehicle was restarted, the burning odor was coming from the floor. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with contaminated filters. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

NHTSA ID

11636498

Incident

Jan 7, 2025

Mileage

78,301 mi

On Thursday, [XXX], I called Mercedes Benz of Naperville at 7:23 AM, 12:34 PM and missed the call 3:03 PM. I reported Sandy in service on Thursday morning. That I smelt a burning plastic smell on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30PM. While picking up my grandchildren from their schools. I came home and parked my car. Later on, Wednesday night My Daughter drove my car and then told me. My car smelt of plastic burning. I call Mercedes Benz Thursday morning. I told them to send me a tow truck. My call needs to be towed into their service department. I ask to speak with Kevin. My service agent of Mercedes Benz service department. Sandy told me he was with a customer. I spoke to Sandy three times. I then went and checked my car for any. Displays on my car dashboard. There were no displays, and I started the car and let it run. I did not smell any burning plastic. On Sunday [XXX]. I drop my car to family dollars and return back home. I did not smell any burning plastic. At 3:04PM Stacy Wright and myself were driving on the way to a meeting in Naperville, Il. At 3:14 PM my car started smelling like burning plastic. At 3: 16 PM heavy black smoke was coming through the vent. I immediately turned left on [XXX] in front of White Castle and stopped the car. At this time the front engine of the car was on fire and the car was full of thick black smoke. I told my passengers on the passenger side to get out of the car and run. It’s on fire. I ran towards White Castle leaving my driver's door opened. I turned around to take a picture of my car on fire burning severely at 3:18 PM. Fire was coming from the front hood of the car. At 3:20PM. The car was engulfed in flames and burning the entire car. The Blue Island Police and Fire Department got to the scene of the fire at 3:18PM. To put the fire out. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11585973

Incident

Apr 28, 2024

The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE350. The contact stated that the infotainment screen had gone blank and had failed to operate as needed. Due to the failure, the back-up camera failed to operate while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was informed that an unknown liquid had spilled on the electrical unit connected to the infotainment screen. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and denied the contact’s claim to have the vehicle serviced under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.

NHTSA ID

11555516

Incident

Jun 1, 2023

Mileage

35,000 mi

I reported multiple times to Mercedes USA that the vehicle was experiencing electrical issues as I was periodically loosing power and/or control over the vehicle. The vehicle was returned twice to the dealership but the problem always came back pretty much immediately. On the day of the accident, I was driving the vehicle on a straight road. The road was a little bit humid as it has been raining few minutes/hours before but it wasn't raining at the time I was driving. I was maintaining a speed of 55mph (speed limit on this portion of the road). The vehicle started to suddenly move by itself on the right side. A minute later, the vehicle moved a second time on the right without any apparent reason. The third time, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and made a sharp turn to the right. The turn to the right was so sharp that the vehicle made a 180 degrees turn and was projected on the side of the road. The vehicle stopped in a ditch and engine stopped. I wasn't braking or turning the wheel when the vehicle started to act-up. I didn't feel any movement in the steering wheel and I couldn't control the brake or direction. I restarted the engine and the brakes and directions were back up again. I contacted Mercedes who wants to inspect the vehicle but didn't set a date yet. Sheriff arrived on the spot less than a minute after the crash (was driving back home after his shift). He confirmed no collision with another vehicle, no marks of tires on the road, no standing water on the road or any other reason for the crash. No ticket was given to me by the sheriff.

NHTSA ID

11534284

Incident

Jun 15, 2023

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The digital dashboard (MBUX) screen that driver is dependent on, all of a sudden go blank with no access to heaters, no display, with no GPS and no dash heater. This screen is controlled by a control unit which is right under the passenger seat and is very sensitive even to few water droplets. Yes, the component is available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? With such a control unit that is sensitive to few water droplets, if a passenger sitting in the second row has wet shoes or shoes with snow or drops some water, can short circuit the unit and can result in blanking out the digital screen. On a cold day or during night on a highway, the digital dashboard screens all of a sudden go blank and the dash can get foggy, resulting in driving distraction and low visibility for driver. Heaters can be turned on manually but result in burning smell in the car. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the dealer has inspected the problem and have also confirmed other customers also had similar issues. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle has been inspected by the Mercedes Benz dealer service department (where I leased ) and they have confirmed that few water droplets have short circuited the control unit which resulted in blanking out the screen. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No messages or warning lamps or signs have been displayed prior to the failure. But we smelled something burning in the car before this happened. This appeared on Jan 9th evening 5 PM on our way from Pittsburgh to Columbus on the highway.

NHTSA ID

11449194

Incident

Jan 9, 2022

WE BOUGHT OUR VEHICLE -2021 MERCEDES-BENZ GLE 350 - ON JANUARY 12TH AND THREE DAYS LATER WE NOTICED THAT HALF OF THE MBUX DUAL SCREEN WAS BLACK AND INOPERABLE. THE CAR WAS IN SERVICE 10 DAYS. TODAY, 02,1, 2021 THE CAR STOP, THE ENGINE AND LIGHTS, CONTROL, ON HIGHWAY!!!??? I CALL POLICE TO PROTECT ME. MERCEDES DEAD. NO HAZARD LIGHTS. I STAY IN DANGEROUS TRAFFIC ONE HOUR FOR MERCEDES ROAD ASSISTANCE. I CALL FROM MY CEL PHONE, NO ENERGY IN THE CAR?! AFTER ONE HOUR THE LIGHTS OF CAR START??!!! THIS WAS AT 6:45 AM (NIGHT). AFTER 7 MINUTES, THE CAR STOP TOTALLY, BUT WITH THE LIGHTS FLASHING. FINALLY, THE ROAD ASSISTANCE FROM MERCEDES ARRIVE. NOW THE CAR IS IN SERVICE, BUT NEVER DRIVE THIS CAR. I WAS IN A VERY BIG DANGEROUS WIT MY LIFE.

NHTSA ID

11391145

Incident

Feb 1, 2021

Mileage

1,000 mi