CarRecallWatchThe 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 has 32 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA.
The most-reported problem area is Electrical System (14 reports).
2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 recalls
Loose Ground Wire Can Overheat and Cause Fire
A 48-volt ground connection under the passenger seat may not be secured properly, so the connection can overheat over time.
Transmission May Not Downshift, Causing Engine Stall
Certain 2020-2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 and GLS 450 vehicles may have a transmission that does not fully downshift under some conditions.
Water Can Leak Into the Cabin, Risking Fire and Lost Safety Functions
Air conditioner drain hoses on these vehicles may have been installed incorrectly, allowing water to drain into the passenger compartment instead of outside the vehicle.
Rear Window Trim Bars May Detach, Creating Crash Risk
Due to a manufacturing error, the rear door window trim bars on certain vehicles may detach.
Emergency call system may fail to connect in a crash
A software error in the communication module's SIM card can cause a mobile network connection failure.
Loose Ground Bolt Can Overheat Wiring, Causing Fire Risk
A ground cable bolt for the 48V ground connection under the front passenger seat may not be secured properly.
Rearview camera may show no image, raising crash risk
The rearview camera may fail to display the rear view because of a software error.
Fuel leak could cause engine fire
Particles may have been trapped between the fuel rail and the fuel injectors during manufacturing, which can cause fuel to leak from the fuel system.
Seats May Not Properly Restrain Occupants in a Crash
Certain 2020 and 2021 Mercedes-Benz vehicles may have had their seats assembled incorrectly.
Misaligned LED headlights may reduce nighttime visibility
Some vehicles may have had their LED headlights incorrectly adjusted during a repair.
Rearview camera may show a blank screen, raising crash risk
The multimedia system software in these vehicles can cause the infotainment display to stay black or reboot after startup.
Water Leak Can Cause Fire, Lost Power, or Locked Doors
A/C drain hoses may have been installed incorrectly, allowing water to drain into the passenger compartment and collect in the driver and passenger foot wells.
Stability Software May Pull Vehicle to One Side, Raising Crash Risk
The electronic stability control software can apply torque to one front wheel during certain evasive driving maneuvers, which may pull the vehicle unexpectedly to one side.
Emergency call system may be disabled, delaying crash help
Some 2017 to 2021 Mercedes-Benz vehicles may have had their communication module inadvertently deactivated during a service visit.
Left Reverse Light May Stay On in Other Gears
The lighting control unit in certain 2020 GLE 350 and GLE 450 vehicles may malfunction, causing the left exterior reverse light to stay lit after the transmission is shifted out of reverse.
Loose dashboard could impair passenger airbag in a crash
The dashboard surface on certain vehicles may not be properly secured to its base material.
Crash Alert May Send Responders to Wrong Location
Certain 2016-2017 Mercedes-Benz vehicles have a software problem in the communication module that runs the automatic crash notification (eCall) system.
Middle Rear Seat Belt Buckle Can Slip Out of Reach
The middle rear seat belt buckle can be pushed down into the gap below the seat cushion while the belt is being fastened.
Improper ground wire may disable steering, wipers or headlight
A poorly installed electrical ground connection for the illuminated front grille star may affect other components that share the same ground.
Windshield May Detach, Weakening Passenger Airbag
A windshield on this vehicle may not have been bonded to the body correctly.
Worn Shocks Can Cause Loss of Control and Crash Risk
Some 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450, GLS 450, and GLS 580 4MATIC vehicles may have front strut and rear shock absorber pistons with faulty seals.
Seat Wiring Can Pinch, Disabling Side Air Bags
A wiring harness under the electrically adjustable second-row seat may get pinched when the seat is moved, which can damage the wires.
Rear Crossmember May Crack and Detach, Raising Crash Risk
Some 2020 SUVs may have insufficiently welded seams on the rear crossmember, a structural part of the vehicle frame.
Dashboard switches may not light up in the dark
Certain Mercedes-Benz vehicles from model years 2020 and 2021 may have an instrument cluster software issue.
Third-Row Headrests May Not Protect Occupants in a Crash
Certain 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 SUVs have third-row headrests that may have been built with insufficient padding, and a securing rod that may fail to hold the headrest in place.
Rear Door Window Trim May Detach, Creating Road Hazard
The rear door window trim on certain vehicles may detach.
Missing third-row headrest instructions raise crash injury risk
Some 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 4MATIC and GLE 450 4MATIC vehicles were built with owner's manuals that do not explain how to adjust the head restraints of the third-row seats.
AC Drain Hose Can Leak Water Into Footwells, Risking Fire
Some 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE and GLS models may have had their air conditioner drain hoses installed incorrectly.
Fuel leak at filler pipe can cause fire risk
The connection between the fuel filler pipe and the fuel tank may have been improperly welded during manufacturing.
Software Error Can Disable Automatic Emergency Braking
A software error in the radar sensor control unit may impair the Active Brake Assist system.
Passenger Air Bag May Deploy Late or Not Fully in Heat
Certain 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 and GLE 450 SUVs may have a passenger-side frontal air bag that deploys late or does not fully deploy when the cabin is very hot and a crash occurs.
Water Leak Can Damage Electrical Systems
A welding error during production may have left a small hole in the floor of certain 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 and GLE 450 4Matic vehicles.
Most common 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 problems
Problem areas named in the 26 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 14 |
| Engine | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Back Over Prevention | 2 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 |
| Lane Departure | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
What owners report
My vehicle was in for a normal service to have the spark plugs replaced. However I was told that the engine wiring harness had become brittle (apparently a common and reoccurring problem with my vehicle) and would likely cause misfiring after changing spark plugs. This did indeed happen and if I didnât elect to have the harness replaced, it would have put myself and my son in danger. It was a very costly repair (over $4000) for something that the vehicle manufacturer is at fault for.
Engine compartment heat causes wiring harness insulation to melt and Electrical shorting while driving. Engine has lack of power and acceleration due to heat damage to the engine harness. Check Engine light came on. This is a potential fire risk and should be address by MBUSA. This is a know issue with this model. Car has only 36,000 miles
The air conditioning in my 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV has failed due to a refrigerant (freon) leak, leaving the system unable to cool and properly defrost the windshield. This is not an isolated issueâmany other GLE owners have reported the same failure on forums and blogs, suggesting a widespread defect. NHTSA has already issued Recall No. 23V177000 (March 2023) for improperly installed A/C drain hoses in 2020â2021 GLE/GLS models, which created water intrusion, electrical shorts, fire risk, and failures of critical systems (eCall, unlocking, limp mode). In addition, a Mercedes-Benz Technical Bulletin dated August 5, 2024 (NHTSA MC-11000597-0001) specifically identifies evaporator refri
Both left and right headlamp/turn signal/marker light assemblies and control modules have been replaced. One under warranty in 2023, the second in 2025. Infotainment system displays error messages Messages may increase as assembly/control module becomes increasingly dysfunctional.
The rear shock absorbers have failed on my vehicle. The vehicle makes sounds when going over bumps in the road. There is an active recall on other GLE 2020 450 models but not my specific VIN. The vehicle has less then 30,000 miles on it before the shock absorbers went out.
2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 questions
Does the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 32 safety recalls for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450: Loose Ground Wire Can Overheat and Cause Fire; Transmission May Not Downshift, Causing Engine Stall; Water Can Leak Into the Cabin, Risking Fire and Lost Safety Functions; Rear Window Trim Bars May Detach, Creating Crash Risk; Emergency call system may fail to connect in a crash. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450?
Based on 26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Electrical System (14), Engine (9), Vehicle Speed Control (7).
How do I check if a recall on my 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.