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2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
53% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 70% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 44 of 84 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (53%), and the largest group is filed under engine (34). For comparison, the 2020 scores 46% and the 2022 scores 43%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. 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.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2021 compares with other Mercedes-Benz GLE years
Of the 8 Mercedes-Benz GLE years with enough complaints to score, the 2021 is the worst on engine and transmission share (53%). The best is the 2017 (22%). By volume, the 2021 drew 84 complaints (44 drivetrain), against 123 for the 2020 and 63 for the 2022.
Mercedes-Benz GLE years to avoid and best years →
2016 GLE problems · 2017 GLE problems · 2018 GLE problems · 2019 GLE problems · 2020 GLE problems · 2021 · 2022 GLE problems · 2023 GLE problems
The rest of the picture on the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- 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
One of 44 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 2021 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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Does the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 44 of 84 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (53%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE is engine: 34 of 84 complaints (40%) name it, followed by electrical system (29) and power train (9). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 53% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 70% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 8 Mercedes-Benz GLE years we score, it ranks worst. 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 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE.
Which Mercedes-Benz GLE years are better?
Among the Mercedes-Benz GLE years we track, the 2017 (22%), the 2019 (23%) and the 2018 (28%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (53%). 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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Check a VINExperimental 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.