Mercedes-Benz GLE350 Electrical Problems

Electrical complaints by model year

Which parts fail

• Instrument panel › Speedometer/odometer
  1

Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  1152%
• 25k–50k
  419%
• 50k–75k
  210%
• 75k–100k
  419%
• 100k–150k
  00%
• 150k+
  00%

What owners report

On [redacted], at about 3:30 PM, my wife was driving our 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 (under 10,000 miles) home with our [redacted] son in the front passenger seat. Smoke began coming from the seat belt area and from under the front passenger seat, and the vehicle caught fire while being driven. The fire started under the passenger seat where my son was sitting; he got out in time and was not injured, but he could have been seriously burned. We called [redacted] and the fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle is a total loss. Mercedes-Benz USA opened case #[redacted]; after almost two months the case remains 'under review' with no findings, and the assigned case manager has not returned calls. We also continue to be billed about $1,149/month on the lease for a vehicle that burned and cannot be driven. …

On [redacted], at about 3:30 PM, my wife was driving our 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 (under 10,000 miles) home with our [redacted] son in the front passenger seat. Smoke began coming from the seat belt area and from under the front passenger seat, and the vehicle caught fire while being driven. The fire started under the passenger seat where my son was sitting; he got out in time and was not injured, but he could have been seriously burned. We called [redacted] and the fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle is a total loss. Mercedes-Benz USA opened case #[redacted]; after almost two months the case remains 'under review' with no findings, and the assigned case manager has not returned calls. We also continue to be billed about $1,149/month on the lease for a vehicle that burned and cannot be driven. …

The contact owns a 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE350 4Matic. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35-40 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle jerked and lost motive power. The contact pulled over to the side of the road until the vehicle stopped. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the accelerator pedal wiring harness and loosened pin segments were replaced; however, the failure recurred three days later. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where unknown repairs were performed; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, but was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was filed, and the manufacturer partially covered the second repair. …

I was told by the investigators that the fire was caused by an electrical component under the passenger seat that Mercedes is well aware of. My life was placed in danger because of the Inhalation of forever chemicals and lung damaging smoke and super heated air. Problem confirmed by dozens of owners who experienced and documented the very some accounts, some who have reported contacting the NHTSA years prior to my experience but nothing was done to save lives or prevent losses. The American Freedom insurance investigator told me in writing what caused the fire. Nothing gave any indication that my life was in danger not a light, an alarm nor the monthly Connect service I paid for every month. Nothing gave me an indication that something like this was going to happen.

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 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.

The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE350. The contact stated that the vehicle started to display failures with the air conditioning system blowing hot air. The vehicle was taken for inspection at a local dealer, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was experiencing electrical failures due to water entering the footwells, with the check engine warning light remaining illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the air conditioning was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 44,000.

The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE350. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormal sound of moving water underneath the front seats. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that rainwater had leaked into the body of the vehicle due to a clogged sunroof drainage tube. The contact stated that several electrical components were submerged in the water and had to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 43,000.

Related recalls (5)