2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE550E: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
1,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 100.0% |
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 | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
Electrical System: 1; Structure:Body: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 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: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 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 (1). 0 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 |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 |
2018: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11060882 · 2018-01-06 (January 6, 2018)
THIS GLE 550$ 2016 LESS THAN 18 MONTHS WITH 5800 MILES. ELECTRICAL CHARGE OUTLET DOOR IS POSING SAFETY PROBLEMS. IT IS LOCATED HORIZONTALLY IN THE REAR BUMPER. THE SOLENOID VALVE EITHER UNLOCKS ITSELF DURING DRIVE, OR CANNOT BE CLOSED. DURING RUNNING THE DOOR OF THE OUTLET IS OPEN. THE CARS BEHIND ME HONK AND ATTEMPT TO OVERTAKE ME AND SLOW DOWN IN THE NEXT LANE TO WARN ME THAT MY GASOLINE DOOR IS OPEN (THEY DO NOT KNOW IT IS ELECTRICAL). I GET WORRIED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY AND MINE IN THE HGHWAY . WATER AND SNOW SEEPS INTO THE SOLENOID VALVE MAK…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11060882 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V903000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification | Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 2016-12-15 (December 15, 2016)
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V241000 · Steering:Electric Power Assist System
Reported: 2017-04-11 (April 11, 2017)
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.
Consequence: If water enters the power steering control unit, the power steering assist may be deactivated, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V828000 · Equipment:Other:Labels | Tires:Markings
Reported: 2017-12-18 (December 18, 2017)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Mercedes GLE 550e 4MATIC vehicles. The tire pressure label on the B-pillar lists incorrect seating capacity and front and rear tire dimension information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FVMSS) number 101, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence: Applying incorrectly sized tires to the vehicle will affect the speedometer reading, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tire pressure label, replacing it, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in January 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V787000 · Communication
Reported: 2019-11-01 (November 1, 2019)
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
Consequence: An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗22V955000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump:Control/Drive Module | Fuel System, Diesel:Delivery:Fuel Pump:Control/Drive Module
Reported: 2022-12-23 (December 23, 2022)
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.
Consequence: An engine stall while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
1 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1100.0%ODI 11060882 · 1,500 miTHIS GLE 550$ 2016 LESS THAN 18 MONTHS WITH 5800 MILES. ELECTRICAL CHARGE OUTLET DOOR IS POSING SAFETY PROBLEMS. IT IS LOCATED HORIZONTALLY IN THE REAR BUMPER. THE SOLENOID VALVE EITHER UNLOCKS ITSELF DURING DRIVE, OR CANNOT BE CLOSED. DURING RUNNING THE DOOR OF THE OUTLET IS OPEN. THE CARS BEHIND ME HONK AND ATTEMPT TO OVERTAKE ME AND SLOW DOWN IN THE NEXT LANE TO WARN ME THAT MY GASOLINE DOOR IS OPEN (THEY DO NOT KNOW IT IS ELECTRICAL). I GET WORRIED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY AND MINE IN THE HGHWAY . WATER AND SNOW SEEPS INTO THE SOLENOID VALVE MAK… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 11577481I have a recall pending on my vehicle but i couldn’t get service from authorized dealer here in Las Vegas. The dealer declined to service on my vehicle because I don’t have a title for car. I purchased a car from CarMax and have a finance with Santander USA. Please help I want to have this recall fix because it could be dangerous on the road. |
| Power Train | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 11501056 · 80,000 miThe contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE550E. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, an unknown message was displayed. The contact pulled over, and the vehicle was towed to his residence. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and it was confirmed that no failure was found. The vehicle was then taken to Mercedes-Benz of Anaheim (5395 E La Palma Ave, Anaheim, CA 92807) where it was diagnosed with a transmission fluid leak. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to House of Imports (6862 Auto Center Dr, Buen… |
| Structure:Body | 1100.0%ODI 11060882 · 1,500 miTHIS GLE 550$ 2016 LESS THAN 18 MONTHS WITH 5800 MILES. ELECTRICAL CHARGE OUTLET DOOR IS POSING SAFETY PROBLEMS. IT IS LOCATED HORIZONTALLY IN THE REAR BUMPER. THE SOLENOID VALVE EITHER UNLOCKS ITSELF DURING DRIVE, OR CANNOT BE CLOSED. DURING RUNNING THE DOOR OF THE OUTLET IS OPEN. THE CARS BEHIND ME HONK AND ATTEMPT TO OVERTAKE ME AND SLOW DOWN IN THE NEXT LANE TO WARN ME THAT MY GASOLINE DOOR IS OPEN (THEY DO NOT KNOW IT IS ELECTRICAL). I GET WORRIED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY AND MINE IN THE HGHWAY . WATER AND SNOW SEEPS INTO THE SOLENOID VALVE MAK… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Unknown Or Other | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 11501049With my foot on the brake,the car suddenly revved up and accelerated into my garage taking the garage door and the store belongings inside.i have video and pictures of the tire marks when I stepped harder on the brake to stop the acceleration.The transmission on the car had works done by two Mercedes Benz dealers and service personnel indicated the manufacturer has stopped making this hybrid model due to multiple problems. This car while driving on the freeway at 70 mi per hour suddenly flased a dashboard warning that say "start engine or the… |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 11501056 · 80,000 miThe contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE550E. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, an unknown message was displayed. The contact pulled over, and the vehicle was towed to his residence. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and it was confirmed that no failure was found. The vehicle was then taken to Mercedes-Benz of Anaheim (5395 E La Palma Ave, Anaheim, CA 92807) where it was diagnosed with a transmission fluid leak. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to House of Imports (6862 Auto Center Dr, Buen… |
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 | 1,500 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 11060882 · 1,500 miTHIS GLE 550$ 2016 LESS THAN 18 MONTHS WITH 5800 MILES. ELECTRICAL CHARGE OUTLET DOOR IS POSING SAFETY PROBLEMS. IT IS LOCATED HORIZONTALLY IN THE REAR BUMPER. THE SOLENOID VALVE EITHER UNLOCKS ITSELF DURING DRIVE, OR CANNOT BE CLOSED. DURING RUNNING THE DOOR OF THE OUTLET IS OPEN. THE CARS BEHIND ME HONK AND ATTEMPT TO OVERTAKE ME AND SLOW DOWN IN THE NEXT LANE TO WARN ME THAT MY GASOLINE DOOR IS OPEN (THEY DO NOT KNOW IT IS ELECTRICAL). I GET WORRIED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY AND MINE IN THE HGHWAY . WATER AND SNOW SEEPS INTO THE SOLENOID VALVE MAK… |
| Structure:Body | Too few reports for a range | 1,500 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 11060882 · 1,500 miTHIS GLE 550$ 2016 LESS THAN 18 MONTHS WITH 5800 MILES. ELECTRICAL CHARGE OUTLET DOOR IS POSING SAFETY PROBLEMS. IT IS LOCATED HORIZONTALLY IN THE REAR BUMPER. THE SOLENOID VALVE EITHER UNLOCKS ITSELF DURING DRIVE, OR CANNOT BE CLOSED. DURING RUNNING THE DOOR OF THE OUTLET IS OPEN. THE CARS BEHIND ME HONK AND ATTEMPT TO OVERTAKE ME AND SLOW DOWN IN THE NEXT LANE TO WARN ME THAT MY GASOLINE DOOR IS OPEN (THEY DO NOT KNOW IT IS ELECTRICAL). I GET WORRIED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY AND MINE IN THE HGHWAY . WATER AND SNOW SEEPS INTO THE SOLENOID VALVE MAK… |
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 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 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.
2016: 1 complaints · 2017: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 3 | 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 | Structure:Body |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | — | 1ODI 11060882 · 1,500 miTHIS GLE 550$ 2016 LESS THAN 18 MONTHS WITH 5800 MILES. ELECTRICAL CHARGE OUTLET DOOR IS POSING SAFETY PROBLEMS. IT IS LOCATED HORIZONTALLY IN THE REAR BUMPER. THE SOLENOID VALVE EITHER UNLOCKS ITSELF DURING DRIVE, OR CANNOT BE CLOSED. DURING RUNNING THE DOOR OF THE OUTLET IS OPEN. THE CARS BEHIND ME HONK AND ATTEMPT TO OVERTAKE ME AND SLOW DOWN IN THE NEXT LANE TO WARN ME THAT MY GASOLINE DOOR IS OPEN (THEY DO NOT KNOW IT IS ELECTRICAL). I GET WORRIED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY AND MINE IN THE HGHWAY . WATER AND SNOW SEEPS INTO THE SOLENOID VALVE MAK… |
| Structure:Body | 1ODI 11060882 · 1,500 miTHIS GLE 550$ 2016 LESS THAN 18 MONTHS WITH 5800 MILES. ELECTRICAL CHARGE OUTLET DOOR IS POSING SAFETY PROBLEMS. IT IS LOCATED HORIZONTALLY IN THE REAR BUMPER. THE SOLENOID VALVE EITHER UNLOCKS ITSELF DURING DRIVE, OR CANNOT BE CLOSED. DURING RUNNING THE DOOR OF THE OUTLET IS OPEN. THE CARS BEHIND ME HONK AND ATTEMPT TO OVERTAKE ME AND SLOW DOWN IN THE NEXT LANE TO WARN ME THAT MY GASOLINE DOOR IS OPEN (THEY DO NOT KNOW IT IS ELECTRICAL). I GET WORRIED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY AND MINE IN THE HGHWAY . WATER AND SNOW SEEPS INTO THE SOLENOID VALVE MAK… | — |
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.