Electronic shifter stays in neutral after turning off the vehicle and taking foot off the brake while parking. This is a serious design flaw and often causes a dangerous rolling condition after parking until the driver is aware the vehicle is not stopped and in park. No audible alerts or safety warnings are trigged if you do not press park. In one case our vehicle rolled across a parking lot…
2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class powertrain problems
severe Owners of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class have filed 4 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
4
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 GLE-Class | 10 |
| 2017 GLE-Class (this page) | 4 |
| 2018 GLE-Class | 10 |
| 2019 GLE-Class | 4 |
| 2020 GLE-Class | 9 |
2crashes
What stands out
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had powertrain trouble with your 2017 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 powertrain problem on the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class?
It's a meaningful issue. 4 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 4 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 42,500 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/2017/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.