YearToAvoid

2020 Mercedes-Benz Gle350 Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 22 Electrical System complaints for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Gle350, 25% of all complaints filed for that year, with a median failure mileage of 15,000 miles and one reported fire. Five related recalls cover software, headlights, and the lighting control unit.

Electrical System complaints
22
25% of 89
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
15,000 mi
Related recalls
5

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Infotainment and instrument displays go blank, freeze, or show a 'system suspended' message while driving.
  • Vehicle unexpectedly shifts into park or shuts off on its own at low speed or while stopped, sometimes creating a rear-end collision risk.
  • Owners report water intrusion from a clogged sunroof drain or A/C leak reaching electrical components under the seats and dash, raising fire concerns.
  • Battery warning messages appear ('starter battery critical') and the vehicle fails to start, requiring towing.
  • The automatic start-stop feature is linked by some owners to premature starter failure.
  • One complaint describes a foul smell and a fire along with a check engine light and shaking during driving.

When 2020 Mercedes-Benz Gle350 electrical complaints were filed

First complaint May 19, 2020, latest Jun 26, 2026.

2020 Mercedes-Benz Gle350 electrical system complaints: complaints filed per month3May 2020Oct 2021Apr 2023Jan 2024Dec 2024Dec 2025
22 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2020 to Jun 2026; peak May 2026 (3).

Electrical System recalls for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Gle350

  1. NHTSA 22V365000May 20, 2022Electrical System242,722 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Electrical system:software

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2022 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, AMG GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL-Class, GLC-Class, CLS-Class, GLB-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. An error in the communication module's SIM card software can cause a mobile network connection failure, disabling the emergency call (eCall) system.

    Risk: A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting the emergency services call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: The communication module software will be updated through an Over-the-Air (OTA) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2022. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on July 8, 2022, May 17, 2024, July 29, 2024, and September 27, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers are for this recall is 2022060005 and 2023110006.

  2. NHTSA 21V509000Jul 2, 2021Electrical System1,467 vehicles

    Exterior lighting:headlights

    Mercedes-Benz LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2020 C300, 2019-2020 A220, AMG C43, AMG C63, 2020 GLE580, GLB250, 2020-2021 GLE450, GLE350, 2021 AMG GLE63, and AMG GLE53 vehicles. The LED headlights may have been incorrectly adjusted during a vehicle repair. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

    Risk: Incorrectly adjusted headlights may reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the LED headlights, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed August 13, 2021. A second notice will be sent once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed January 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

  3. NHTSA 21V354000May 14, 2021Electrical System343,191 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Electrical system:software

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 CLA-Class, GLE/GLS-Class, A-Class, E-Class, E-Class Coupe and Convertible, GLA/GLB-Class, GLC-Class, CLS-Class, and AMG GT-Class 4-door Coupe vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The MBUX multimedia system software may cause the display to remain black, or reboot after startup. This could result in the rearview camera image not displaying properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    Risk: A backup camera that displays a blank image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

    Remedy: The multimedia system software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning June 28, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6373. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021050012.

  4. NHTSA 21V056000Feb 5, 2021Electrical System8,199 vehicles

    Exterior lighting:back up lights

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020 GLE350 and GLE450 vehicles. The lighting control unit may malfunction and cause the left exterior reverse light to remain illuminated after the transmission is shifted into a different gear. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

    Risk: If the reverse light remains illuminated in a gear other than reverse, it may cause confusion about the driver's intention to other motorists, and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the lighting control unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 10, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022050004.

  5. NHTSA 20V089000Feb 14, 2020Electrical System2,101 vehicles

    Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020 CLA250, CLA250 4MATIC and CLA35 AMG 4MATIC, 2020-2021 GLE350, GLE350 4MATIC, GLE450 4MATIC, GLS450 4MATIC and GLS580 4MATIC and 2021 GLE53 AMG Coupe, GLE63S AMG 4MATIC, GLS63 AMG 4MATIC and Maybach GLS600 4MATIC vehicles. The instrument cluster software may deactivate the illumination of certain interior switches (switch bar, overhead control unit, steering wheel) if the hazard lights are turned on and the ignition switch is in the 'off' position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Control and Displays."

    Risk: If the interior switches are not illuminated, they may be more difficult to find and operate, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020030019.

Electrical System complaints by Gle350 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201610 (19%)
  2. 201721 (34%)
  3. 201810 (25%)
  4. 20190 (0%)
  5. 202022 (25%)
  6. 202110 (21%)
  7. 20224 (11%)
  8. 20232 (13%)
  9. 20242 (29%)

Frequently asked questions

How many electrical complaints does the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Gle350 have?
NHTSA lists 22 Electrical System complaints for the 2020 Gle350, which is 25% of all 89 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Gle350 electrical system?
Yes. NHTSA lists five Electrical System recalls affecting the 2020 Gle350, covering communication module software, LED headlights, multimedia software, the lighting control unit, and instrument cluster software.
At what mileage do electrical problems typically show up on the 2020 Gle350?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 15,000 miles at the time electrical complaints were filed for this model year.
Did the electrical problems cause any crashes or injuries?
NHTSA records show 0 crashes and 0 injuries tied to these electrical complaints, but one complaint reported a fire.
How does 2020 compare to other Gle350 years for electrical complaints?
The 2020 model's 25% share is similar to 2018 (25%) but lower than 2017, which had a 34% share of electrical complaints.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.