2016 Mercedes-Benz Gle350 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
63/100
#4 most-complained of 9 Gle350 years
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz Gle350 has a Complaint Index of 63 and ranks 4th worst of 9 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Fuel System complaints lead at 30% of the 53 total complaints, backed by 9 recalls including a fuel pump control unit fix.
- Complaints
- 53
- Recalls
- 9
- Crashes / fires
- 4 / 4
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 19.5
- 18 city / 22.5 hwy
Top 2016 Mercedes-Benz Gle350 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Fuel System16 (30%)
- Engine11 (21%)
- Electrical System10 (19%)
- Other10 (19%)
- Steering10 (19%)
- Brakes5 (9%)
- Airbags4 (8%)
- Transmission & Powertrain4 (8%)
- Lane Departure2 (4%)
- Structure & Body2 (4%)
What owners report
- Fuel injectors leak and can ignite, sometimes causing under-hood fires or explosions while the vehicle is parked.
- The transmission display flashes between park, reverse, neutral and drive while the vehicle unexpectedly lurches forward at low speed.
- Brakes fail to slow or stop the vehicle during low-speed maneuvers, requiring the driver to shift into park to stop.
- Front airbags fail to deploy during a head-on collision, resulting in driver and passenger injuries.
- Owners report the electric power steering rack can deactivate and switch from automatic to manual assist without warning.
- An under-hood fire started while driving, spreading quickly enough that occupants had little time to exit.
2016 Mercedes-Benz Gle350 recalls
9 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 22V955000Dec 23, 2022Fuel System348,183 vehicles
Fuel system, diesel:delivery:fuel pump:control/drive module
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.
Risk: 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 19V787000Nov 1, 2019Other24,226 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Communication
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
Risk: 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 18V272000Apr 27, 2018Suspension, Wheels & Tires9,725 vehicles
Suspension:front
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2012-2014 ML350 Bluetec 4Matic and ML550 4Matic, 2012-2015 ML63 AMG 4Matic and ML350 4Matic, 2013-2016 GL350 Bluetec 4Matic, GL550 4Matic and GL63 AMG 4Matic, 2017 GLS350d 4Matic, GLS450 4Matic, GLS550 4Matic and GLS63 AMG 4Matic, 2015 ML400 4Matic, 2016 GLE400 4Matic, GLE350 4Matic, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLE63S AMG 4Matic, GLE450 4Matic Coupe and GLE63S AMG 4Matic Coupe, 2015-2016 GL450 4Matic and 2013-2014 GL450 4Matic vehicles equipped with the Active Curve System (ACS). In certain driving conditions, if the oil level in the ACS reservoir is below the minimum level, the oil may foam and leak out of the vent holes in the reservoir cap.
Risk: The leaking oil in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will correct the oil level as necessary and replace the reservoir sealing cap to prevent oil foam from leaking out, free of charge. The recall began August 30, 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018070015.
2016 Mercedes-Benz Gle350 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 22.5 MPG
- Combined
- 19.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,100
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2016 compared with other Gle350 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Gle350 reliable?
- NHTSA lists 53 complaints and 9 recalls for the 2016 Gle350, giving it a Complaint Index of 63 and a Caution verdict, ranked 4th worst among 9 model years of the Gle350.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Gle350?
- Fuel System issues are the top problem area, making up 30% of complaints (16 of 53), including 3 fires, with a median failure mileage of 59,831 miles.
- Does the 2016 Mercedes-Benz Gle350 have a fuel system recall?
- Yes. Recall 22V955000 covers 2016-2018 GLE350 vehicles for water intrusion affecting the fuel pump control unit; dealers install a drain plug and inspect or replace the unit.
- How does the 2016 Gle350 compare to other years?
- Its Complaint Index of 63 is worse than 2017 (50), 2018 (38), and 2023-2024, but better than 2020 (100), 2021 (88), and 2022 (75), which carry Avoid verdicts.
- What is fuel economy like on the 2016 Gle350?
- The 2016 Gle350 gets 19.5 mpg combined (18 city / 22.5 highway), with an EPA-estimated annual fuel cost of $4,100.