Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 & GLE 450 Recalled For Safety Concern

Mercedes-Benz USA has issued a recall for certain GLE vehicles produced for the 2021 and 2022 model years. The German automaker’s US division noted that a wiring harness may be incorrectly routed, thus preventing the front airbags from deploying as intended. An estimated 10,655 units are under recall in the United States market.
 

As per documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the company started looking into the results of an internal crash test from October 2021 back in March 2023. The records indicated an isolated case in which a 167-series Mercedes GLE experienced dual-stage airbag deployment instead of the single-stage deployment required by the design specs.
 
A more in-depth review of the available data revealed a prior investigation into the aforementioned case, in which the safety boffins determined that the wiring harness leading to the frontal airbag acceleration sensor was not routed as required. Mercedes then found a record showing that plant employees were retrained on the correct routing of said harness back in March 2022.
 
A rework campaign was initiated at the plant at that time, with employees instructed to check the wiring harness and – if necessary – reroute in accordance with the design specifications. Curiously, no other vehicles with said routing deviation had been identified. Be that as it, Mercedes couldn’t rule out improperly routed harnesses in GLE vehicles produced through March 8, 2022.
 
That’s GLE 350 and GLE 450 sport utility vehicles, with the production start date of the suspect population being July 19, 2021. Other versions of the mid-size model are not affected. Dealers nationwide will be instructed to reroute the harness if anything seems off, while owner notification letters will be mailed before November 26, 2024.
 
Mercedes-Benz AG rolled out the 167-series GLE at the 2018 Paris Motor Show. For North America, production takes place at MBUSI in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Joined at the hip to the GLS full-size utility vehicle, the GLE received a refresh for model year 2024.
 
In stark contrast to the GLS, the GLE does not come in Maybach flavor. Benz- and AMG-branded versions abound, beginning with the 2.0-liter turbo inline-four GLE 350 4MATIC SUV and topping with the 4.0-liter twin-turbo vee-eight GLE 63 S 4MATIC+ SUV. The SUV at the end of their names differentiates the regular GLE from the coupe, which carries higher MSPRs than the SUV.
 
More specifically, the GLE Coupe lineup kicks off at $76,400 with the 450 4MATIC, whereas the GLE SUV in this particular spec is $71,350 before destination charge and options. Both feature mild-hybrid sixers, and the same can be said about the AMG 53.
 
V8s are obviously available as well, with the M176 powering the GLE 580 4MATIC SUV as opposed to the hand-built M177 for the 63 series. While there’s no 580 4MATIC version available for the coupe, prospective customers are presented with the fancier, more powerful 63 series. The M177 belts out 603 ponies at full chatter, while the lesser M176 is rated at 510 in the 580 4MATIC.