Around once a week, while utilizing the car in comfort mode, the car will appear to kick into neutral when stopped at a traffic light. When it’s time to accelerate, despite indicating it’s in drive, the car will not move as if it’s in neutral. The car must then be shifted into drive again to be able to move.
2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class powertrain problems
severe 8 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
8
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 8 powertrain complaints filed for the 2023 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
Powertrain accounts for 26% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 4 categories tracked.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Engine does while driving; when accelerator pressed there is often a delay of several seconds before the car speed will increase as the engine will rev but the transmission will not engage for several seconds. This is occurring sporadically but with increasing regularity. Dealer cannot find any error codes. Seems like it’s a fuel pump and/or computer chip issue.
The contact owns a 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE450. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled inadvertently. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road on each occasion. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign…
The vehicle, while on (P)ark, will move forward on its own. The vehicle will move either millimiters at a time or up to a quarter inch in a single incident. These incidents are continuous in nature and can be duplicated by simply putting the vehicle in Park after driving it shortly after start. The vehicle has been taken in several times to the dealership, where the Service Director has…
vehicle shifts in to neutral while driving causing loss of control...had to pull over and restart the vehicle to get it back into the drive mode...it has done this twice.....last week the most severe ...very dangerous on a crowded highway
Had powertrain trouble with your 2023 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 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class?
It's a meaningful issue. 8 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 8 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 20,000 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/2023/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.