2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 has 27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.4x the segment average of 20. The most common issue is electrical problems (33% of all complaints), specifically: the 48v battery after driving new vehicle only 230 miles goes dead. the auto will not start and cannot be jump started. result is being stranded roadside. required a tow. mercedes says dead battery (brand new) needs to be replaced. battery went dead on december 10. dealer tells me no batteries are a. There are 13 recalls issued for this model year.
27
Total Complaints
13
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.4x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
ELECTRICAL
9 complaints- • THE 48V BATTERY AFTER DRIVING NEW VEHICLE ONLY 230 MILES GOES DEAD. THE AUTO WILL NOT START AND CANNOT BE JUMP STARTED. RESULT IS BEING STRANDED ROADSIDE. REQUIRED A TOW. MERCEDES SAYS DEAD BATTERY (BRAND NEW) NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. BATTERY WENT DEAD ON DECEMBER 10. DEALER TELLS ME NO BATTERIES ARE A
- • THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THE 48V BATTERY FAILING ON MULTIPLE MERCEDES MODELS USING THE 6 CYLINDER WITH ISG ENGINE. MERCEDES SHOULD DO A RECALL TO REPLACE ALL 48V BATTERIES AS THIS PROBLEM MAKES THE CARS UNRELIABLE AND UNSAFE TO USE AS SOMETIMES THIS 48V BATTERY SYSTEM FAILS WHILE DRIVING.
- • The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE450. The contact stated while driving at various speeds the vehicle loss motive power. The 48V battery malfunction and coolant hot turn-off vehicle message were displayed on the instrument panel. The battery indicator warning light was illuminated. The vehicl
“THE 48V BATTERY AFTER DRIVING NEW VEHICLE ONLY 230 MILES GOES DEAD. THE AUTO WILL NOT START AND CANNOT BE JUMP STARTED. RESULT IS BEING STRANDED ROADSIDE. REQUIRED A TOW. MERCEDES SAYS DEAD BATTERY (BRAND NEW) NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. BATTERY WENT DEAD ON DECEMBER 10. DEALER TELLS ME NO BATTERIES ARE A”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Recalls (13)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2023 C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS, SL, GT, GLC, GLE, GLS, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle details. The fuel pump may shutdown, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 14, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2023070012.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Recommended Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 Service Intervals
Service A / Service B alternating schedule. Requires MB-approved oil (229.5 spec typically).
"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.
Mercedes-Benz New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
EQ EV battery warranty is 10 years/155,000 miles
These are the terms for a new Mercedes-Benz. If you're buying a used 2021 GLE 450, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Mercedes-Benz dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 27 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ELECTRICAL: THE 48V BATTERY AFTER DRIVING NEW VEHICLE ONLY 230 MILES GOES DEAD. THE AUTO WILL NOT START AND CANNOT BE JUMP STARTED. RESULT IS BEING STRANDED ROADSIDE. REQUIRED A TOW. MERCEDES SAYS DEAD BATTERY (BRAND NEW) NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. BATTERY WENT DEAD ON DECEMBER 10. DEALER TELLS ME NO BATTERIES ARE A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE450. The contact stated while driving at various speeds the vehicle loss motive power. The 48V battery malfunction and coolant hot turn-off vehicle message were displayed on the instrument panel. The battery indicator warning light was illuminated. The vehicl
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: On two separate occasions recently, the vehicle suddenly lost all power without warning and stopped. Luckily, these incidents did not occur while driving in high speed traffic, and the car restarted once shut off. When it lost power, all warning lights came on at once. After the first incident, deal
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: On two separate occasions recently, the vehicle suddenly lost all power without warning and stopped. Luckily, these incidents did not occur while driving in high speed traffic, and the car restarted once shut off. When it lost power, all warning lights came on at once. After the first incident, deal
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 13 recalls have been completed — free at any Mercedes-Benz dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 — Year Comparison
How does 2021 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 27
- Recalls
- 13
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 0
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 20
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450