2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE350D

Multiple engine ignition coils have failed on this low mileage vehicle. History of failures are as followed. 1/18/2022 Mileage 39,246 Ignition Coil #4 6/16/2022 Mileage 40,915 Ignition Coil #2 3/16/2023 Mileage 43,866 Ignition Coil #6 and #2 4/23/2023 Mileage 44,275 Ignition Coil #1 1/15/2025 Mileage 51,560 Ignition Coil #4 Mercedes Benz advises immediate shutdown and service to prevent total engine failure.

NHTSA ID

11636782

Incident

Jan 18, 2022

MY 2016 MB GLE 350 WITH 57750 MILES STALLED IN THE DRIVE THRU LANE AT STARBUCKS. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES. NOTED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. RE-STARTED THE ENGINE AND BEGAN TO DRIVE HOME. VECHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. TOWED TO MB DEALER. THIS WAS THEIR ASSESSMENT: VERIFIED COMPLIANT. CONNECTED SDS AND RAN SHORT TEST. FOUND FAULT CODES FOR FUEL PUMP TO HAVE OPEN CIRCUIT & SHORT CIRCUIT. CHECKED POWER AT CONNECTOR TO FUEL PUMP TO FUEL PUMP CONTROL UNIT. NO PWM SIGNAL FOUND COMING FROM FUEL PUMP CONTROL UNIT. CHECKED FUEL PUMP CONTROL UNIT. FOUND FUEL PUMP CONTROL UNIT WET DUE TO WATER LEAKING INTO BACK OF VECH. PERFORMED WATER LEAK TEST. FOUND WATER SLOWLY LEAKING INSIDE OF REAR HATCH AT BOTTOM OF MIDDLE SECTION OF REAR HATCH. TO START RECOMMEND REPLACING REAR HATCH SEAL, RECHECKING TO SEE IF WATER LEAK HAS BEEN STOPPED THEN REPLACING FAULTY FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE (IF LEAK HAS BEEN CORRECTED INSIDE OF VECH AND WET ITEMS WILL NEED TO BE AIR DRIED) 4.50 HOURS LABOR. COST $1106.90 TOTAL. PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE 5 OTHER SIMILIAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE FOR THE EXACT SCENARIO. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE EXITING A SHOPPING MALL ON A BUSY SATURDAY WHEN THE TRAFFIC WAS SLOW AND DESPITE THE LARGE NUMBERS OF VECHICLE SURROUNDING US WE WERE NOT INJURIED. I WOULD HATE TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED SHOULD THIS HAVE OCCURRED AT A HIGHER SPEED OR IF WE HAD CROSSED THE INTERSECTION. MAY HAVE BEEN DEADLY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION THOROUGHLY AS THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING OF ANY WATER OR MOISTURE ENTERING THE VECHICLE IN ANY FASHION. DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SUCH A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM WOULD BE EXPOSED TO WATER OR MOISTURE SUCH THAT IT WOULD BECOME INCAPACITATED ABRUPTLY. PLEASE FOLLOW UP ON THIS CONCERN SO THAT OTHERS MAY NOT BE INJURIED.

NHTSA ID

11404284

Incident

Mar 22, 2021

Mileage

57,750 mi

OUR 2016 GLE350 WITH 67K MILES STALLED AT 5:45 P.M. ON A TWO LANE ROAD WITH HIGH TRAFFIC VOLUME. THERE WAS NO INDICATION BEFORE STALLING EXCEPT A RAPID LOSS OF POWER AND DOWNSHIFTING. IT WAS DUSK AND THE VEHICLE STALLED PARTIALLY IN LANE AS THERE WAS NO ROOM WITH WATER DRAINAGE DITCH. DEALER IDENTIFIED A SEAL IN THE LIFT GATE BEING DEFECTIVE ALLOWING WATER TO ACCUMULATE IN THE SPARE TIRE STORAGE AREA IN PROXIMITY TO THE FUEL PUMP. FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONED RESULTING IN VEHICLE STALLING. DEALER SHARED MERCEDES WOULD NOT ADDRESS NOR COVER THE $1600 COST TO REPAIR. WHAT VEHICLE ACCUMULATES ENOUGH WATER TO FILL A SPARE TIRE AREA AND IT OVERFLOWS SHORT OUT A NEARBY FUEL PUMP MODULE AND SOAKING THE INSULATION OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS GARAGED AND SERVICED AS DETERMINED BY THE ON BOARD COMPUTER. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE IN THAT IF WE HAD BEEN ON A FREEWAY THERE IS NO WARING AND THE VEHICLE LOOSES POWER QUICKLY LEAVING NO ROOM TO MOVE OUT OF HARMS WAY.

NHTSA ID

11399214

Incident

Feb 27, 2021

Mileage

67,000 mi

WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS STARTED EVERY TIME, THE MESSAGE "COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS INOPERATIVE. CHECK THE MANUAL" IS APPEARING. THERE ARE NO KNOWN DAMAGES AND IT APPEARED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED AFTER PARKING(IN STATIONARY). NO KNOWN CAUSES FOR DAMAGE OF THE SENSOR. DEALER IS ASKING FOR CHECKING THE ISSUE $157 AND MOSTLY SAYS IT IS A SOFTWARE GLITCH. WHY AS A CUSTOMER I SHOULD PAY FOR THE MANUFACTURING DEFECT?

NHTSA ID

11387667

Incident

Dec 30, 2020

Mileage

5 mi

MASTER CYLINDER LEAKED BRAKE FLUID CAUSING BRAKE PEDAL TO BE SOFT AND HIT THE FLOOR.

NHTSA ID

11352671

Incident

Aug 29, 2020

Mileage

40,000 mi

WHITE SMOKE DURING STARTUP

NHTSA ID

11318956

Incident

Mar 10, 2020

Complaint During part of the steering movement, it feels heavier or more difficult to steer in the same spot every time. OR Rattling, humming, dry sliding/gravel noise from the electric steering system when steering (see attachment). Complaint does not impact the ability to safely steer or control the vehicle. Cause Ball screw drive (KGT) of electric steering damaged by: 1. External force due to: ‑ Hitting the curb/posts with the front wheels. ‑ Driving over obstacles (e.g. pothole/ threshold/ speed bump/ gully) at an inappropriate speed. 2. Corrosion/ water ingress through a damaged boot (see attachment). ‑ Cracks (1) ‑ High pressure cleaner (2) ‑ Animal bite (3) See various examples listed in the attachments for examples of outside influence. Remedy Remove boot clamps closest to steering gear housing on both left and right (as seen in "Steering Rack Boot Clamp Location"). Pull back boot and inspect for rust, broken end stops, water, or any other anomalies. Replace electric steering. Note: Steering gears replaced due to outside influence or damage must not be claimed under warranty!

Complaint A popup is seen on the HU with the message "data connection temporarily not available". Potentially affected functionalities in NTG4.5, NTG5 1.Weather 2.Local Search 3.IP Radio 4.Send2Car 5.Speech Detection Service 6.Navigation 7.iHeartRadio 8.Traffic Cams Cause MB Apps is sundowned for all vehicles with NTG4.5 and NTG5 Head Unit Variant. Remedy No support available for NTG4.5 and NTG5 Head Unit Variants for MB App related topics. Note: Please do not create TIPS. Please do not replace any components. HU/Hermes SW update / SCN coding will not fix the issue.

Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. Cause Under analysis. Remedy To narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • If the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary, create a TIPS case with an informative video as an attachment. Information: Please refer to this document in the warranty claim and, after completing diagnosis, select the damage code corresponding to the component part that caused the problem. • If the noise stops when the door trim is removed, please proceed in accordance with LI72.10-P-067691. Information: In this case, do not use a damage code for the speakers in the warranty claim!

Complaint This document is intended as a pre-case diagnostic reference for transmission related concerns. It will also ensure that if a case is necessary, all supporting documentation is available. This should not be used on its own as justification for creating a TIPS case. Cause The root cause will vary depending on the complaint. The goal of this document is to provide diagnostic checks and procedures that may help resolve customer complaints without opening a TIPS case. Remedy Before opening a transmission-related TIPS case, the following steps must be performed to ensure all relevant data has been collected and possible remedies (when applicable) have been performed. Please Note: At minimum, the documents below must be collected before proceeding to ensure the data in its original state when the vehicle arrived is captured. - Initial Quick Test w/ Freeze frame data - VGS Control Unit Log - Initial EEPROM data (.txt format) - IPR Result (if applicable. See LI27.00-P-073124 - Transmission diagnosis using the Intelligent Predictive Repair (IPR) tool) - Transmission Heath Page If the vehicle has previously been repaired for the same concern, note the date, mileage, and TIPS case or RO number, along with a brief description of the prior work performed. IPR Guidance: The IPR recommended repair should be completed prior to following any steps in this LI and prior to case creation. IPR repairs do not require additional warranty approvals or a TIPS case to validate/confirm the results. To ensure efficient case handling, please avoid opening TIPS cases for this reason. For further information regarding IPR please see the following documents: LI27.00-P-073124 - Transmission diagnosis using the Intelligent Predictive Repair (IPR) tool Oil Pan Condition Evaluation: In some situations, IPR will advise checking the oil pan condition and determining a repair based on the evaluation. Example photos in Xentry can be found in two ways: • Use the blue hyperlink in the IPR result, and it will take you to the Condition check of transmission oil • Navigate to Xentry Bluebook > Help for control unit > Condition check of transmission oil If a different repair that what is recommended by IPR is performed, attaching photo documentation of the complaint vehicle oil pan and the IPR example to the claim is required. Reproducing the Concern: Proper evaluation of transmission concerns generally requires the condition to be reproducible. It is recommended to compare the vehicle to a similar model, if available, to help determine whether the shift behavior is characteristic of the drivetrain or uncharacteristic for the vehicle. If the concern cannot be duplicated: • A test drive with the customer may assist in understanding and reproducing the complaint. • The vehicle shift quality should be compared to a known-good vehicle with identical drivetrain and model year. • Check Shift Quality History (VGS Control Unit > Adaptations > Shift Quality History) Shift Quality History will show the last 5 noticeable harsh shifts and some of the parameters in which it occurred. You can use this to attempt recreation of the operating conditions and increase likelihood of reproducing the complaint. Complaint A: Shift Quality Note: Certain AMG variants may exhibit more firm and noticeable shift behavior as a normal characteristic. Refer to LI27.60‑P‑075147 for additional information. 1. Perform Valve flushing procedure 2. Perform 5 Torque Converter adaptions in a row - Allow the vehicle to warm up naturally, DO NOT power brake as it will increase the temperature in the torque converter. - After the 5th adaptation, collect a screen shot showing all 5 on one page 3. Perform a standstill adaption - collect a screen shot Recheck vehicle operation. If the concern has not improved, driving adaptations should be performed to target specific gear shifts.

Complaint Mercedes-Benz USA is currently experiencing limited availability of transmission fluid specification ATF 236.17 due to a global supply constraint. 236.17 ATF 1L and 5L (PNs: A002989060312 and A002989060313) bottles are out of stock or in limited supply at Zep. This LI has been created with the following intention: - Provide dealers with additional workshop-focused guidance regarding the current ATF 236.17 supply constraint and the planned introduction of ATF 236.18. - Supplement existing communications and address common workshop questions related to maintenance, repairs, and fluid applicability. - Provide technical clarification and practical workshop guidance during the temporary supply constraint period. Dealers should continue to reference the latest News Channel Updates (NCUs) for the most current information regarding availability, ordering processes, supply status, and other related updates. Cause Damage to the Shell production facility has resulted in 236.17 oil supply being reduced to 50% of normal output until the end of 2026. Remedy Please first check Latest NCU updates for latest detailed information. Please continue placing orders through Paragon as normal. Supply is expected to remain reduced and allocation measures are currently in place. We ask for your patience through this restricted supply period. Most orders will be filled in the order in which they were received, as supply is replenished. Those dealers with zero inventory, and pending orders, will receive priority. We expect supply to be stabilized in September 2026. Approved Fluids: Only use transmission fluid from the approved list found on the Mercedes-Benz Operating Fluids website. Non-approved fluid will result in mechanical damage to the transmission and must be avoided. https://operatingfluids.mercedes-benz.com/sheet/236.17 Approved fluids can be claimed as follows if there is no Mercedes-Benz part number: Part # ATFSUB1L - TRANSMISSION FLUID 1 LITER ATFSUB5L - TRANSMISSION FLUID 5 LITER Dealerships with Zero Inventory AND Grounded Vehicles: If a vehicle is currently grounded for repair at your dealer due to no 236.17 inventory, we may be able to expedite your order. Please open a StarSupport ticket including the following information: (Parts Related Inquiry>National Accounts>Zep) • LI document number • Short explanation of repair needed for grounded vehicle • Current days down of RO Maintenance and Service Interval Guidance Published maintenance intervals remain unchanged. Vehicles should continue to be maintained in accordance with the applicable maintenance schedule. This LI does not revise or extend any published maintenance interval requirements. If all required parts and materials are not available prior to scheduling or beginning a transmission service, dealers should consider postponing routine preventative transmission maintenance until the necessary parts become available. For vehicles that have not yet reached the applicable maintenance interval and do not exhibit transmission-related concerns, there is no need to recommend preventative transmission services prior to the scheduled maintenance interval. When evaluating whether routine transmission maintenance can be deferred until parts become available, dealers should consider: • Overall vehicle condition • Vehicle usage and operating conditions • Presence of transmission-related symptoms or customer complaints • Customer expectations and vehicle operating requirements • Availability of required parts and materials Introduction of New Fluid Specification 236.18 Mercedes-Benz is currently preparing the introduction of ATF 236.18 as an additional approved transmission fluid solution for applicable NAG3 transmissions. At the time of publication of this LI, ATF 236.18 is not yet available for dealer ordering or workshop use in the U.S. market. See attachment for further details.

Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. Note: Sound file in attachment Cause If the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboard collar nut (by 1 turn), the problem is due to cracking of the microweld between the wheel bearing inner race and the joint housing of the side shaft. Note: The collar nut must always be replaced after being loosened. See also LI33.20-P-078406 Remedy Coat contact surface of side shaft with wheel bearing with Molykote paint. To do this, proceed as follows: 1. Remove side shafts 2. Clean contact surface A (see image file in attachment "Outer joint housing before") before coating with Molykote, using "spirit" (free of dust and grease) 3. Coat contact surface A (see image file in attachment "Outer joint housing after") with Molykote and leave to dry for "one hour" in removed condition 4. Reinstall side shafts Note: Before using the antifriction coating (Molykote), stir it or shake it thoroughly for (at least 1 minute).