2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE350 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other GLE350 years
- Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 9 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE350. That ranks 3rd out of 11 GLE350 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is fuel/propulsion system (10 complaints, 19%), typically at around 5,002 miles. Complaints mention 4 crashes, 4 fires, 3 injuries. There are 9 safety recalls covering this model year.
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- 53owner complaints
- 9safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 4complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE350 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion System | 10 | 19% | 5,002 | — | — |
| Steering | 10 | 19% | 39,944 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 9 | 17% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 7 | 13% | 54,826 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 | 11% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 9% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 8% | 72,500 | — | — |
| Engine | 4 | 8% | 21,502 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 8% | 118,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 4 | 8% | 26,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 8% | 118,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 6% | 11,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 3 | 6% | 59,831 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 2 | 4% | 99,652 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 4% | 59,831 | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 4% | 52,750 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE350 recalls (9)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump:control/drive module; fuel system, diesel:delivery:fuel pump:control/drive module
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2012-2014 ML550, 2012-2015 ML350, AMG ML63, 2015 ML250, ML400, 2016 GLE450, GLE300, 2016-2018 GLE350, GLE550, 2016-2019 GLE400, 2017-2019 AMG GLE43, and 2016-2020 AMG GLE63 vehicles. Water might accumulate in the spare tire wheel well and damage the fuel pump control unit, which could cause an engine stall while driving.
Risk: An engine stall while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a water drain plug, inspect for water intrusion, and replace the fuel pump control unit as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 15, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010002 and 2023010003.
Communication
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf
Risk: An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.
Suspension:front
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2012-2014 ML350 Bluetec 4Matic and ML550 4Matic, 2012-2015 ML63 AMG 4Matic and ML350 4Matic, 2013-2016 GL350 Bluetec 4Matic, GL550 4Matic and GL63 AMG 4Matic, 2017 GLS350d 4Matic, GLS450 4Matic, GLS550 4Matic and GLS63 AMG 4Matic, 2015 ML400 4Matic, 2016 GLE400 4Matic, GLE350 4Matic, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLE63S AMG 4Matic, GLE450 4Matic Coupe and GLE63S AMG 4Matic Coupe, 2015-2016 GL450 4Matic and 2013-2014 GL450 4Matic vehicles equipped with the Active Curve System (ACS). In certain driving conditions, if the oil level in the ACS reservoir is below the minimum level, the oil may foam and leak out of the vent holes in the reservoir cap.
Risk: The leaking oil in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will correct the oil level as necessary and replace the reservoir sealing cap to prevent oil foam from leaking out, free of charge. The recall began August 30, 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018070015.
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module; visibility:windshield
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 GLE300d 4Matic, GLE400 4Matic, GLE350 4Matic, GLE63 AMG, GLE63 AMG Coupe, GLE63S AMG and GLE63S AMG Coupe, and 2017 GLS450 4Matic, GLE550 4Matic, and GLE63 AMG 4Matic vehicles. These vehicles may have excess bulkhead insulation extending into the lower windshield area, possibly affecting the windshield bonding and the full protective function of the passenger's frontal air bag in the event of a crash.
Risk: If the passenger's frontal air bag does not function as designed in the event of a crash, the front seat passenger has an increased risk of injury.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will remove any excess bulkhead insulation and rework the windshield bonding, as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner letters will be mailed in December 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy is available in late January 2018. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018020002. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.
Steering:electric power assist system
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 GLE300d 4Matic, E400 4Matic Coupe, GL63 AMG, GLE350, GLE350 4Matic, GLE350d 4Matic, GLE400 4Matic, GLE43 AMG Coupe 4Matic, GLE550e 4Matic, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLE63S AMG 4Matic and GLE63S AMG Coupe 4Matic vehicles, 2017 E300 4Matic and GLS63 AMG 4Matic vehicles, and 2016-2017 GL350 4Matic BlueTec, GL450 4Matic, and GL550 4Matic vehicles. The affected vehicles have an electric power steering connector that may be insufficiently sealed, allowing water to enter the control unit.
Risk: If water enters the power steering control unit, the power steering assist may be deactivated, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and inspect the electric power steering rack, replacing the rack as necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed June 30, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module; visibility:windshield
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 GLE350 4Matic and GLS 450 4Matic vehicles. The windshield bonding may be insufficient and, as a result, the windshield may separate from the vehicle in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and number 212, "Windshield Mounting."
Risk: If the windshield detaches in the event of a crash, the passenger frontal air bag may not be supported properly after it deploys, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the windshield, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Suspension:front:control arm:upper arm
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 GLE350 4Matic, GLE350, GLE350 4Matic Bluetec, GL450 4Matic, and GLE450 Coupe 4Matic vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that connects the upper control arm and the axle stub may not have been properly tightened.
Risk: The loose bolt may cause improper wheel tracking, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tightness of the bolt connecting the upper control arm and the axle stub on the affected vehicles, replacing the upper control arm if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification; air bags:frontal
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 GL350 4Matic Bluetec, GL550 4Matic, GLE350 4Matic, GLE43 AMG Coupe, GLE450 4Matic, 2016 GLE300d 4Matic, GLE350, GLE350d 4Matic, GLE400 4Matic, GLE550e 4Matic, GLE63 AMG, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLE63S AMG 4Matic Coupe, and 2017 GLS63 AMG vehicles manufactured April 23, 2014, to May 10, 2016. The front passenger seat Occupant Classification System (OCS) calibration may be incorrect, and as a result, the system can incorrectly classify the occupant as a child seat, deactivating the front passenger air bag.
Risk: If the front passenger air bag does not deploy as necessary in the event of a crash, the front passenger has an increased risk of injury.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Exterior lighting:headlights
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 GLE 300d 4MATIC, GLE 350, GLE 350 4MATIC, and GLE 400 4MATIC vehicles manufactured October 14, 2015, to November 23, 2015. The low beam headlights on the affected vehicles may not be properly adjusted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."
Risk: If the low-beam headlights are out of adjustment, the driver's visibility may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the headlight adjustment, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in November 2016. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
On 8/28/2026, my Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 (W166, M276 engine) experienced a sudden, catastrophic engine stall while driving in active traffic. There was no Check Engine Light (CEL), dashboard warning, or mechanical hesitation prior to the failure. The vehicle instantly lost all propulsion, power…
On 8/28/2026, my Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 (W166, M276 engine) experienced a sudden, catastrophic engine stall while driving in active traffic. There was no Check Engine Light (CEL), dashboard warning, or mechanical hesitation prior to the failure. The vehicle instantly lost all propulsion, power…
While driving my 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350, the vehicle suddenly shut off and lost propulsion without warning. There was no check-engine light or other warning before the failure. The engine would crank afterward but would not restart, leaving the vehicle disabled. The vehicle has an open NHTSA…
At 72,000 miles the rear differential failed. Repair required else car could abruptly stop rolling, become uncontrollable and cause a serious wreck. The part is over $5,000
The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE350. The contact stated that while opening the door, a cracked fuel injector was spraying gasoline. When the door handle was pulled, an aftermarket module ignited the fuel, causing an explosion and heavy smoke from the engine compartment. The contact stated…
Other Mercedes-Benz GLE350 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 GLE350 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 GLE350 | 1 | 1 |
| 2024 GLE350 | 7 | 3 |
| 2023 GLE350 | 15 | 3 |
| 2022 GLE350 | 35 | 7 |
| 2021 GLE350 | 48 | 14 |
| 2020 GLE350 | 90 | 27 |
| 2019 GLE350 | 1 | 2 |
| 2018 GLE350 | 40 | 7 |
| 2017 GLE350 | 62 | 7 |
| 2016 | 53 | 9 |
See all Mercedes-Benz GLE350 problems by year, every Mercedes-Benz model, or the Mercedes-Benz VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE350?
Owners most often report fuel/propulsion system, steering, unknown or other problems. The top one, fuel/propulsion system, accounts for 10 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE350?
Yes, 9 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE350 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other GLE350 model years, the 2016 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.