Car stalled on the highway then towed to the dealership. Dealership stated the fuel line was flooded with water. The service manager stated that I let the trunk open in the rain, but I did no such thing. There was also no water in the trunk of the car. This seems to be a defect when the vehicle is exposed to normal rainy conditions. There is no way water should be able to get to the fuel line…
2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class engine problems
moderate 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
When does it fail?
Of the 13 engine complaints filed for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Water intrusion into fuel system components is a documented defect affecting multiple 2016 GLE 350 models, causing sudden stalling that can occur without warning at highway speeds or in traffic. Multiple additional engine issues including fuel injector failure, ignition coil failures, and fuel pump control module failure have been reported, with some linked to design vulnerabilities rather than maintenance or driver error.
Water infiltration into fuel delivery systems stands out as the most critical recurring issue. Two owners report engine stalls after water leaks into the rear hatch area and saturates the fuel pump control module, killing the PWM signal needed to run the fuel pump. One owner had the failure occur at 57,750 miles in heavy traffic; another experienced fuel line flooding during normal rain exposure in Dallas. Dealers initially blamed the second owner for leaving the trunk open despite no visible breach. A third owner reported a cracked fuel injector that sprayed gasoline, which ignited when the door was opened, causing an explosion—the dealer dismissed the initial complaint and later blamed aftermarket parts the dealer itself had installed.
Beyond water intrusion, owners report serial ignition coil failures starting at 39,000 miles with five separate failures by 51,500 miles, catalytic converter failure at 90,000 miles, cylinder misfiring in cylinders 1–3 at 118,000 miles, crankcase valve assembly leaks causing whistling, and unrelated transmission shift faults. One owner flagged the eco start/stop feature as a safety concern due to driver confusion between idle-stop and parked states. Control module replacement has been performed for engine shutoff events. Neither recall nor service bulletins addressing these patterns appear in the narratives, though one owner referenced an Emission Service Campaign 2022080005 that did not include their VIN.
Failure modes owners describe
Fuel pump control module failure due to water intrusion
Water leaks into the rear hatch area and accumulates around the fuel pump control module, causing it to fail. When wet, the module loses PWM signal output to the fuel pump, resulting in fuel delivery loss and engine stall.
When: 57,750 miles (complaint #1)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalled in drive-through and traffic; Check engine light illuminated; Engine would not restart after stalling; Water found leaking into rear hatch at bottom of middle section
Codes mentioned: Fuel pump open circuit fault code, Fuel pump short circuit fault code
Repairs/costs cited: Rear hatch seal replacement, fuel pump control module replacement. 4.5 hours labor, $1,106.90 total reported in one case.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None mentioned; owner notes 5 other similar complaints on NHTSA website.
Fuel line water contamination
Water enters fuel system during normal rain exposure, flooding fuel lines without obvious breach or open trunk. Design lacks adequate moisture protection for fuel delivery components.
When: Mileage not stated (complaint #3)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalled on highway; Fuel line flooded with water after rain exposure; No visible cause such as open trunk
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Corporate blamed owner for leaving trunk open during rain; owner denies this. Mercedes refused to classify as product defect.
Fuel injector failure with leakage and ignition risk
Cracked fuel injector sprays gasoline; when door handle is pulled, aftermarket module ignites leaking fuel, causing explosion and engine compartment smoke.
When: 133,000 miles (complaint #2)
Symptoms owners cite: Cracked fuel injector spraying gasoline; Explosion and heavy smoke from engine compartment when door opened; Same failure recurred after initial dealer visit
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer blamed aftermarket parts that the dealer itself had installed. Vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but no action documented. Dealer dismissed initial report and blamed aftermarket installation despite being responsible for it.
Cylinder misfiring (cylinders 1, 2, 3)
Multiple cylinders misfire simultaneously, triggered by overheated console and signaled by illuminated engine and oil warning lights.
When: 118,000 miles (complaint #6)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle failed to accelerate as needed; Console overheated; Engine warning light illuminated; Oil warning light illuminated; Misfiring in cylinders 1, 2, and 3
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle not repaired; manufacturer not contacted.
Catalytic converter failure (passenger side)
Passenger side catalytic converter fails, causing oxygen sensor to run lean and triggering check engine warning. Related to Emission Service Campaign 2022080005, but vehicle VIN was not included in the campaign.
When: 90,000 miles (complaint #4)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shuddered and hesitated during acceleration; Check engine warning light illuminated
Codes mentioned: P0420
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Emission Service Campaign 2022080005 referenced, but VIN not included in campaign. Manufacturer referred contact to NHTSA Hotline.
Crankcase valve assembly leak (intake air system)
Intake air system leak originating from crankcase valve assembly allows unmetered air into engine, causing lean condition and high-pitched whistling noise.
When: 78,000 miles (complaint #5)
Symptoms owners cite: High-pitched whistling noise from engine; Unsafe drivability and safety hazard
Codes mentioned: P0079
Repairs/costs cited: Crankcase valve assembly replaced.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None mentioned; owner requested emission extended warranty reimbursement from manufacturer.
Multiple ignition coil failures
Serial ignition coil failures across different cylinders at low mileage. Five separate coil failure events over approximately 3 years and 12,000 miles, with pattern of recurring failures in same coils.
When: 39,246 to 51,560 miles over 3-year period (complaint #8)
Symptoms owners cite: Multiple ignition coil failures (coils #1, #2, #4, #6)
Repairs/costs cited: Individual coil replacements at each failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mercedes Benz advises immediate shutdown and service to prevent total engine failure.
Engine stall with control module failure
Engine shuts off while driving; control module replacement performed to address failure.
When: Mileage and timing not stated (complaint #11)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shutting off while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Control module replaced.
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Gear Shift issue there are several forums with this issue car goes from park to neutral when trying to shift to drive. then goes straight to drive 3 stuck between drive 3 and drive 5 the very concerning issue is if the car does shift to drive 1 it throws itself into neutral while driving this is an extremely dangerous issue ! mercedes has to know because of the complaints extremely upset that no…
There is a known issue With this vehicle with the shifting(hard shifting) there's a glitch when shifting to drive it automatically shifts to neutral then to drive 3 ! the glitch is that its not transmitting correctly to the transmission . if the car does shift to drive 1 it throws itself into neutral while driving that's dangerous !! there are several forums with this issue and I am very…
Had engine trouble with your 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 68,916 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Mercedes-Benz/GLE-Class.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.