Skip to content
Mercedes-Benz GLE 350Model year report

2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 Problems

Compared with other Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 years

Typical for this model

46/100 0.9× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with a typical complaint level and no open NHTSA investigation: 2018

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
48filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
49,122miles, 14 complaints with mileage
Recalls
14campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
22 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl RWD · 19 city / 26 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 48 consumer complaints for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350. The part named most often is engine, with 22 complaints (46% of the total), followed by electrical system (9) and other or unknown (9). 14 of the complaints include a mileage, and 57% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 49,122 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 6 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 14 recall campaigns and 383 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine complaints overlap with 20 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 4 recall campaigns and 184 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 5 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 46 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Back-over prevention (rear camera) (1), Engine cooling (1), Exterior lighting (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Suspension (1), Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Engine: “We bought our vehicle -2021 Mercedes-Benz gle 350 - on january 12th and three days later we noticed that half of the mbux dual screen was black and inoperable. The car was in service 10 days. Today, 02,1, 2021 the car stop, the engine and lights, control, on highway!!!??? I call police to protect me. Mercedes dead. No hazard lights. I stay in dangerous traffic one hour for mercedes road assistance. I call from my cel phone, no energy in the car?! After one hour the lights of car start??!!! This was at 6:45 am (night). After 7 minutes, the car stop totally, but with the lights flashing. …”

NHTSA complaint #11391145, filed 2021-02, 1,000 miles

Electrical system: “While driving at about 55mph on road with one lane going each way, the car engine shut off, all instrument displays went off. There was no check engine light, warning or noise. I was almost rear ended by a car behind me. The car behind me swerved barely missing me, but almost hit oncoming traffic. Once car was on side of road it would not start. I tried to jump car battery with NOCO jump starter and it did not work. Instrument display did not come on, car transmission stuck in Drive. …”

NHTSA complaint #11672109, filed 2025-07

Other or unknown: “My 2021 Mercedes Benz GLE 350 got AC Conditioning Leak problem (blow hot air) , which could lead to a short circuit and even risk a fire. I checked with NHTSA recall history with this model, and found out 2020 and 2021 models had recall last year with AC issue, but my Vehicle was not included in 2023 recall (NHTSA campaign number: 23V-177). I believe manufacturer was aware of this model AC issue from manufacturing defect, but inappropriately set the range of recall. Please investigate this issue.”

NHTSA complaint #11613368, filed 2024-09

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “The windshield wiper fluid will not pump out onto the front or back window, causing poor visibility. The pump is working, but the design of the strainer on the bottom of the pump causes a restriction and causes goo to build up and block the flow of the windshield wiper fluid. Mercedes refuses to cover this under warranty, even though the failure is caused by their bad design. I am unable to use the wiper fluid, and my visibility while driving is impaired. This is a safety issue. …”

NHTSA complaint #11629889, filed 2024-12

Mileage when problems were reported

57% of the 14 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 10,000 and 69,100 miles.

21%0–107%10–2529%25–5029%50–757%75–1007%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (14 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 49,122 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

20212022202320242025192026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
GLE350 RWD2.0L 4-cyl9-speed automatic192622$3,750

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 14 recalls for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 383 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 383 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz GLE 350

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2024712,0003—24—Too new
2023158,0003522—Too new
2022358,800752253 · TypicalRising
20214849,12214—2246 · TypicalRising
20209122,00027—2283 · MoreRising
20184020,0047—2038 · TypicalStable
20176220,1777—2056 · TypicalRising
20165359,8319—2037 · TypicalRising

All Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 have?

NHTSA recorded 48 consumer complaints for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 is reported most often?

Engine is named most often, in 22 complaints (46% of the total), followed by electrical system with 9.

Has the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 14 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 get?

The EPA rates the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 (GLE350, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 19 city and 26 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,750 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 reported?

Among the 14 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 49,122 miles and the middle half falls between 10,000 and 69,100 miles; 57% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.