A little over a year ago, Mercedes revealed the mid-cycle refresh of the GLE sport utility vehicle. No fewer than four safety recalls have been issued for the 2024 model since then, beginning with a recall for a software error affecting the ESP control unit.
Mercedes further discovered that GLE 350 and GLE 450 vehicles may leak gasoline from the seal between the high-pressure fuel pump and tandem oil pump. As if that wasn't bad enough, certain units have been produced with fuel pumps that may shut down unexpectedly, causing a loss of drive power.
The fourth and latest recall published on the NHTSA's website is for an improperly welded accelerator pedal module, which may result in the bracket detaching or breaking while driving. Dealers have already been instructed to drill through the iffy spot welds to secure the bracket with rivets. At no charge to the customers, of course, which will be notified via first-class mail no later than April 16th, 2024.
466 affected vehicles require said remedy, split between 199 units of the GLE 350, 96 of the GLE 450, 7 of the GLE 53, and 164 of the GLE 53 Coupe. Their production dates range between May 3rd, 2023 and May 17th, 2023. Both the standard GLE utility vehicle and the coupe-styling sibling are manufactured at the Alabama-based MBUSI plant.
Merc's codenames for the GLE and GLE Coupe are V167 and C617, respectively. The accelerator pedal assembly's part number is A1676201002, with Mercedes listing Gestamp Servicios S.A. as the supplier. Back in May 2023, the German automaker from Stuttgart was informed by one of its suppliers that certain spot welts on the accelerator pedal module's bracket may not be up to snuff, yet Mercedes remedied only the modules in its control.
Photo: Mercedes-AMG
Mercedes-Benz AG and Gestamp Servicios S.A. conducted a plethora of tests and analyses between June 2023 and February 2024, eventually determining that a potential safety risk cannot be ruled out. The supplier changed its production procedure on May 18th, 2023. Owners can easily determine if their GLEs are included in this recall by entering the 17-character vehicle identification number on the NHTSA's website.
Closely related to the full-size GLS, the midsizer can be had in six distinct flavors, beginning with the four-pot 350 and six-pot 450. The 450e is a plug-in hybrid with four-cylinder turbo muscle, whereas the 580 means twin-turbocharged V8. Adding to the confusion, the AMG-ified GLE 53 is a straight-six mild hybrid. The range-topping GLE 63 S obviously has eight cylinders to its name. In this application, the M177 engine produces 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet (850 Nm) of twist.
The GLE Coupe, on the other hand, is branded Mercedes-AMG exclusively in this part of the world. The range comprises the 53 and 63 series. Both offer similar 0-60 performance to the regular GLE, namely 4.9 seconds for the 53 and 3.7 seconds for the 63. At press time, the most affordable GLE available for model year 2024 in the United States market is the 350 at $62,650 (sans destination).
At the other end of the spectrum, the GLE 63 S can be yours for $127,700 at the very least. For the more exotic-looking coupe, that would be $129,050.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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