2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE43 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
10 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
16,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data updated: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 10 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 20.0% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 10.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
Electrical System: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly: 2; Air Bags: 1; Power Train: 1; Steering: 1; Structure:Body: 1; Suspension: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 6 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 |
2019: 1; 2020: 2; 2023: 1; 2024: 3; 2025: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11575932 · 2024-03-07 (March 7, 2024)
Basic driving morning of 7/26/23, no recent vehicle issues, suddenly the car dash lights lit up, steering became stiff, car coasted to a stop, fire erupted inside the engine bay and spread to most of the car. The vehicle was taken by the insurance company. Vehicle was stock. No engine or electrical modifications. Well maintained.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11575932 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11682413 · 2025-08-22 (August 22, 2025)
Safety issue with regarding the TCU (Telematics Control Unit). Active recall does not include my VIN# /Make & Model. NHTSA campaign number 22V365. My car has Constant SOS Inoperative Message after battery failure in 2021-2022.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11682413 at NHTSA ↗
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
10 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure:Body | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 11562286The vehicle accelerated on its own after a stop in front of the garage after stopping. It was so fast that it ramped into the building and destroyed it until a pillar put it to a stop. | 110.0%ODI 11611840I was driving on the interstate (on I95) and heard a loud pop/bang ! I didn’t know what it was because my AMG exhaust pops and bangs but this was extremely LOUD, I pulled over immediately to the side of the road thinking maybe I blew my engine and upon inspection I noticed my roof panel was broken and it flew off of my car, this is EXTREMELY dangerous had someone been behind me it could have definitely caused a crash. There are multiple reportings of this happening with other Mercedes GLE such as the vehicle I own, I was told my specific vin is… | 731.8%ODI 11541220Body panel above windshield that is attached with adhesive had an adhesive failure and broke in half while driving. My insurance company concluded that it was not impact related, and that it was caused by an adhesive failure. This is a known issue, but no recalls were issued for the 2019 GLE model. Documentation available upon request. |
| Unknown Or Other | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 233.3%ODI 11562286The vehicle accelerated on its own after a stop in front of the garage after stopping. It was so fast that it ramped into the building and destroyed it until a pillar put it to a stop. | 220.0%ODI 11575932Basic driving morning of 7/26/23, no recent vehicle issues, suddenly the car dash lights lit up, steering became stiff, car coasted to a stop, fire erupted inside the engine bay and spread to most of the car. The vehicle was taken by the insurance company. Vehicle was stock. No engine or electrical modifications. Well maintained. | 418.2%ODI 11473667I purchased a vehicle on July 9, 2022 and was led to believe that there were no issues with the car since it had gone through a litany of inspections and was a certified pre owned vehicle of Mercedes Benz. I have tried to list car on platform and receive this error message on 7/10/22 We’ve turned up an open safety recall you’ll need to address before you can finish listing on Turo. These issues are fixed free of charge by your vehicle’s manufacturer. Active safety recalls: • Recall - Safety Title/ Topic: SIM Card Communication Module MY: 201… |
| Power Train | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 110.0%ODI 11531313Car will slip from drive to neutral while driving and when stopped. Need to shut car off numerous times to get it back into drive. Very dangerous when this happens on the highway | 418.2%ODI 11535463 · 16,000 miThe contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE. The contact stated while driving at 30 MPH when the contact struck a pothole the contact felt the vehicle jumps and moves side to side without any warning. The vehicle was taken dealer for diagnosis but no failure was found. On another occasion, while driving 30 MPH and the failure reoccurred causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle and drive into a ditch causing major damages to the vehicle. The air bags deploy. A police report was filed. The contact suffered injuries to the right shoulder … |
| Electrical System | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 11753286 · 140,000 miThe contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE43. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the radio screen went blank. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that there was no recall on the VIN associated with the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000. | 220.0%ODI 11675018 · 49,000 miThe contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE43. The contact stated that the sunroof failed to open, and there was a fracture causing water to leak into the cabin of the vehicle from the upper-right side. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer determined that the motor and tracks for the sunroof had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer stated that the entire unit needed to be replaced due to previous parts no longer being compatible with the new improved parts. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was … | 14.5%ODI 11498566The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE43. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V365000 (Electrical System, Communication) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair, and that the dealer failed to perform the software update. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 313.6%ODI 11549616I purchased a Certified Pre Owned Mercedes 2019 GLE 43 AMG from West Covina Mercedes-Benz Dealership in 2020 with 8,252 miles on it. This year I started to hear a noise upon accerlating which later lead to a rough acceleration. It feels like my car is struggling to get going. I took it to get diagnoised by three different mechanics and they have all mentioned that; Directory Control Valve & harness need to be replaced. I took it to the Mercedez Benz West Covina to have the service completed and I asked if it falls under any warranty as I was 34… |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 110.0%ODI 11355025 · 13,000 miI WRITE YOU TO REPORT A SERIOUS MERCEDES BENZ SAFETY HAZARD. THE GLE 43 WITH PIRELLI PZERO TIRES RESPONDS ADVERSELY (WITHOUT REASONABLE CONTROL) IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. IN EVEN MILDLY SNOWY CONDITIONS, THE TIRES PLANE ON THE SNOW AND ACT MORE AS SKIS THAN TIRES. IN 2018, AFTER LEASING MY GLE 43 I EXPERIENCED LOSS OF CONTROL, SLIDING SIDEWAYS, WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 5-10 MPH IN A PARKING LOT. FOLLOWING THAT EXPERIENCE I PURCHASED SNOW TIRES AND THE CAR HANDLED MUCH MORE FAVORABLY. IN 2018 WHEN I LEASED THE CAR, I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERS… | 29.1%ODI 11549616I purchased a Certified Pre Owned Mercedes 2019 GLE 43 AMG from West Covina Mercedes-Benz Dealership in 2020 with 8,252 miles on it. This year I started to hear a noise upon accerlating which later lead to a rough acceleration. It feels like my car is struggling to get going. I took it to get diagnoised by three different mechanics and they have all mentioned that; Directory Control Valve & harness need to be replaced. I took it to the Mercedez Benz West Covina to have the service completed and I asked if it falls under any warranty as I was 34… |
| Steering | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 110.0%ODI 11584258My car randomly swerves in a zigzag motion unexpectedly, nearly causing several accidents. I am scared to drive my car. I have not been able to detect any triggers, as it will do this randomly, regardless of a smooth road, street conditions, weather, speed, freeway, neighborhoods, etc. No warning lamps have come on. Tires are in excellent condition. I have not found any information online, and everything seems to be in perfect working order, tough it is absolutely not. | 14.5%ODI 11594994intermittent inability to shift gears which progressively gets worse wirh complete failure at some point. Inability to shift from reverse to drive has left me in many unsafe situation including failure in the middle of the road. Both manufacturer car dealership and independent mechanic verified the shift column control module needs to be replaced; however, part is not currently available from Meredeces-Bez and there is no ETA. The shift column control module is tied to the air bag system and therefore could potentially also fail. Both car deale… |
| Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 220.0%ODI 11181513 · 12,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 MERCEDES-BENZ GLE43 AMG. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMALLY LOUD BOOM SOUND AND THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS NOT STRUCK BY ANY DEBRIS OR FOREIGN OBJECT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS GLASS IN HER HAIR, ON HER FACE, AND ON THE CHILDREN SEATED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE MINOR INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF HOUSTON NORTH (17510 NORTH FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77090, [phone removed]). THE CONTACT WAS I… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | Too few reports for a range | 49,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 11675018 · 49,000 miThe contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE43. The contact stated that the sunroof failed to open, and there was a fracture causing water to leak into the cabin of the vehicle from the upper-right side. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer determined that the motor and tracks for the sunroof had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer stated that the entire unit needed to be replaced due to previous parts no longer being compatible with the new improved parts. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was … |
| Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly | Too few reports for a range | 30,500 mi | 2 (sparse) | ODI 11181513 · 12,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 MERCEDES-BENZ GLE43 AMG. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMALLY LOUD BOOM SOUND AND THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS NOT STRUCK BY ANY DEBRIS OR FOREIGN OBJECT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS GLASS IN HER HAIR, ON HER FACE, AND ON THE CHILDREN SEATED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE MINOR INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF HOUSTON NORTH (17510 NORTH FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77090, [phone removed]). THE CONTACT WAS I… ODI 11675018 · 49,000 miThe contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE43. The contact stated that the sunroof failed to open, and there was a fracture causing water to leak into the cabin of the vehicle from the upper-right side. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer determined that the motor and tracks for the sunroof had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer stated that the entire unit needed to be replaced due to previous parts no longer being compatible with the new improved parts. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was … |
| Suspension | Too few reports for a range | 20,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 11361276 · 20,000 mi1. WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN BETWEEN 65-70 MPH AND HITTING A PUDDLE, THE REAR END SWAYS VERY STRONGLY AND EXCESSIVELY, IT SCARED ME TO DEATH. 2. WHEN DRIVING ON A DRY ROAD OVER SEWAGE CAP, THE REAR END SLIDES LEFT AND RIGHT TO A DEGREE OF NOTICIBLE AND DISCOMFORT. 3. STINKY SOUR/MOLD SMELL FROM AC UNIT |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 1 | None | ODI 11675018 · 49,000 miThe contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE43. The contact stated that the sunroof failed to open, and there was a fracture causing water to leak into the cabin of the vehicle from the upper-right side. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer determined that the motor and tracks for the sunroof had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer stated that the entire unit needed to be replaced due to previous parts no longer being compatible with the new improved parts. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was … |
| 2025-08 | 2 | None | ODI 11680517My wife was hit pretty bad and was transported to hartford hospital and none of the airbag was deployed. I need help to sue Mercedes Benz. I thank god my daughter not in the car and my wife is alive. Attach are the photos and the east hartford can testify that none of the airbag save or protect my wife. I am disappointed at Mercedes and I have another Mercedes at home which am even scared to drive ODI 11682413Safety issue with regarding the TCU (Telematics Control Unit). Active recall does not include my VIN# /Make & Model. NHTSA campaign number 22V365. My car has Constant SOS Inoperative Message after battery failure in 2021-2022. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2018: 3 complaints · 2019: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 22 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Electrical System | Unknown Or Other | Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly | Air Bags | Power Train | Steering | Structure:Body | Suspension |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | — | 1ODI 11682413Safety issue with regarding the TCU (Telematics Control Unit). Active recall does not include my VIN# /Make & Model. NHTSA campaign number 22V365. My car has Constant SOS Inoperative Message after battery failure in 2021-2022. | 1ODI 11675018 · 49,000 miThe contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE43. The contact stated that the sunroof failed to open, and there was a fracture causing water to leak into the cabin of the vehicle from the upper-right side. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer determined that the motor and tracks for the sunroof had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer stated that the entire unit needed to be replaced due to previous parts no longer being compatible with the new improved parts. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was … | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1ODI 11682413Safety issue with regarding the TCU (Telematics Control Unit). Active recall does not include my VIN# /Make & Model. NHTSA campaign number 22V365. My car has Constant SOS Inoperative Message after battery failure in 2021-2022. | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly | 1ODI 11675018 · 49,000 miThe contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE43. The contact stated that the sunroof failed to open, and there was a fracture causing water to leak into the cabin of the vehicle from the upper-right side. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer determined that the motor and tracks for the sunroof had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer stated that the entire unit needed to be replaced due to previous parts no longer being compatible with the new improved parts. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was … | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Structure:Body | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.