When the engine is shut off while the transmission is still in drive, the transmission is automatically shifted into neutral, not park. As a result, the passenger attempting to exit the vehicle could not do so because the vehicle was rolling...very unsafe, especially if children were greeting the vehicle.
2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class powertrain problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
What stands out
Of the 7 model years of Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class we track for powertrain problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 10.
Powertrain accounts for 18% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 8 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: A 2018 GLE-Class powertrain carries substantial transmission and engine oil system risks, with owners reporting recurring gear-shift failures that can leave vehicles immobilized or dangerously uncontrollable, plus early cylinder-head-seal failure causing oil to foul the starter around 60k miles. Repair costs are steep and dealer diagnosis of electrical transmission issues often fails.
Ten owners of 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class vehicles report serious powertrain failures across multiple systems. The most common complaint involves the automatic transmission refusing to shift into Reverse or Neutral when the brake is firmly applied; the car only responds after engine shutdown and restart. This failure is intermittent, difficult for dealers to reproduce, and has occurred multiple times for individual owners, sometimes with increasing frequency. A separate transmission defect causes the car to slip unexpectedly from Drive into Neutral while driving or stopped, requiring repeated restarts to regain drive capability. One owner reported the transmission stuck in Park for three years with no ability to shift. Another reported violent downshifting from 3rd to 2nd gear since purchase, which the owner states Mercedes-Benz acknowledges but has no fix for. One incident involved a transmission-related unintended forward lunge at a traffic light resulting in a collision; the vehicle was repaired but never diagnosed. Additionally, when the engine is shut off in Drive, the transmission shifts to Neutral instead of Park, allowing the vehicle to roll—a safety issue around children. Finally, owners report cylinder head cover seals fail around 60,000 miles, just past warranty, leaking oil onto the starter and preventing engine start. Repair costs reach $1,800, and owners state the replacement seal is higher-quality material than the original.
Same Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class powertrain reports on nearby years: 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Cylinder head cover seal leakage
Seal on cylinder head cover fails and leaks engine oil, allowing oil to soak the starter motor and preventing engine start. Occurs around 60,000–65,000 miles, just after warranty expiration. Owner reports Mercedes service indicates the original seal material is cheap and inferior compared to the replacement seal used after repair, suggesting intentional use of low-durability parts.
When: 60,000–65,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Oil leaking from cylinder head cover; Starter motor soaked in engine oil; Engine will not start
Repairs/costs cited: $1,800 repair; reseal and clean front covers required. Owner notes replacement seal is higher-quality material.
Transmission unable to shift into Reverse or Neutral from Drive
Transmission refuses to shift into Reverse or Neutral while vehicle is stopped and brake pedal is firmly pressed. Issue resolves only after engine shutdown and restart. Occurs intermittently, with some owners reporting three occurrences over two years and others reporting multiple incidents in a single year with increasing frequency. Error message 'Cannot change the gear to Reverse' may appear. Dealers have not reproduced the issue during inspection.
When: Intermittent; reported over 1–3 years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Cannot shift from Drive to Reverse with brake pedal pressed; Cannot shift from Drive to Neutral with brake pedal pressed; Cannot shift from Park to Reverse; Cannot shift from Neutral to Reverse; Error message 'Cannot change the gear to Reverse' appears; Issue resolves after engine restart
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented by owners; dealers unable to reproduce issue.
Unintended forward lunge while braking at traffic light
Vehicle suddenly lurched forward into an intersection while brake pedal was depressed and vehicle was stopped at a traffic light. No warning lights observed. Vehicle struck another vehicle on driver's side door; struck vehicle sustained crushed grill and shattered windows. Incident occurred at 44,500 miles. Vehicle was repaired in body shop but was not diagnosed for root cause; manufacturer was not informed.
When: 44,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden unintended forward lunge while brake pedal depressed; No warning lights illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle repaired in body shop; root cause not diagnosed.
Transmission slips from Drive to Neutral while driving or stopped
Transmission unexpectedly shifts from Drive into Neutral while vehicle is moving on highway or while stopped. Requires multiple engine shutdowns and restarts to return transmission to Drive. Owner reports this is particularly dangerous when it occurs at highway speeds.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission slips from Drive to Neutral while driving; Transmission slips from Drive to Neutral while stopped; Engine restart required multiple times to restore Drive
Repairs/costs cited: No repair information provided by owner.
Transmission stuck in Park, unable to shift
Transmission cannot shift out of Park to any other gear position, immobilizing the vehicle. Issue has persisted since mid-2022 (three years prior to complaint filing).
When: Since mid-2022, persisting for three years
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission locked in Park; Unable to shift to any other gear position; Vehicle cannot move
Repairs/costs cited: No repair information provided by owner.
Violent jerking during downshift from 3rd to 2nd gear
Transmission jolts violently when downshifting from 3rd to 2nd gear in all driving conditions (highway, city). Owner states this issue has persisted since vehicle purchase and is a known issue to Mercedes-Benz with no current solution offered.
When: Since vehicle purchase; ongoing
Symptoms owners cite: Violent jerking during downshift from 3rd to 2nd gear; Occurs in all driving environments (highway, city)
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; owner indicates Mercedes-Benz has no solution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner states Mercedes-Benz is aware of issue but has no current solution.
Engine shift-to-Neutral on shutdown instead of Park
When engine is shut off while transmission is in Drive, transmission automatically shifts into Neutral instead of Park, causing vehicle to roll. Poses a safety hazard for occupants attempting to exit vehicle, particularly dangerous if children are in or near vehicle.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission shifts to Neutral instead of Park when engine shut off in Drive; Vehicle rolls after engine shutdown
Repairs/costs cited: No repair information provided.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Cannot shift gear to Reverse or Neutral, after car is completely stopped by pushing brake pedal and keep firmly pushing the brake pedal. After firmly press the brake pedal, tried to move hear selector to Reverse or Neutral, but did not work. Tried to above step more than five times at the moment of incident, but did not work. If takes off the foot from the pedal, the car Restart the engine, then…
Transmission gear does not shift into R or N or D, from P. How to reproduce: Drive several minutes, then brake/stop, shift into R, pull back 10~20 ft. Gear cannot shift to either R or N or D. Gear can only shift into P. Shutdown the car, restart the engine then able to shift into R or N or D. This has been intermittent but getting more frequent.
Had powertrain trouble with your 2018 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 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 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 10 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 44,500 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/2018/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.