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2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
28%
14 of 50 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 28% of relevant complaints.

Better than 74% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 6 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 25%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 14 of 50 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (28%). For comparison, the 2017 scores 22% and the 2019 scores 23%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
14
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
56
this model year
Fires reported
1
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
0
8 crashes · 6 injuries

Complaints by component

POWER TRAIN10 · 18%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9 · 16%
SERVICE BRAKES8 · 14%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER7 · 13%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL6 · 11%
FUEL SYSTEM6 · 11%

The years either side

2010
no data
2011
no data
2012
no data
2013
no data
2014
no data
2015
no data
2016
49%
48 of 107
2017
22%
14 of 75
2018
28%
14 of 56
2019
23%
7 of 34
2020
46%
53 of 123
2021
53%
44 of 84
2022
43%
26 of 63
2023
29%
9 of 31

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2018 compares with other Mercedes-Benz GLE years

Of the 8 Mercedes-Benz GLE years with enough complaints to score, the 2018 is the 3rd-best on engine and transmission share (28%). The worst is the 2021 (53%), the best the 2017 (22%). By volume, the 2018 drew 56 complaints (14 drivetrain), against 75 for the 2017 and 34 for the 2019.

Mercedes-Benz GLE years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE

  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

ENGINE11/06/2025
While driving, the vehicle’s serpentine/fan belt snapped. The loose belt struck and pulled out a sensor plug. Immediately the engine shut down and was later found to be seized. The vehicle had no prior warnings or known issues and was maintained according to manufacturer recommendations. There were no other warning sig…

One of 14 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Checking one particular 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE

Does the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 14 of 50 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (28%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

What is the most common problem with the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE is power train: 10 of 56 complaints (18%) name it, followed by electrical system (9) and service brakes (8). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.

Is the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE reliable?

On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 28% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 74% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 8 Mercedes-Benz GLE years we score, it ranks 3rd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE.

Which Mercedes-Benz GLE years are better?

Among the Mercedes-Benz GLE years we track, the 2017 (22%) and the 2019 (23%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2018 (28%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/mercedes-benz-gle

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.