These are issues documented for the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe in general - things to check for, not a diagnosis of any particular car. Whether a specific car has one depends on its age, mileage, service history and how it was used.
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AC Drain Hose Recall Plus Engine/Electrical Gremlin Cluster (W167/C167)
HVAC/Electrical (recall item); Engine Internal & Cooling; Body Electrical/Convenience Systems · severity: The AC drain hose recall is genuinely safety-relevant (real fire/short-circuit risk per the recall's own stated consequence, plus loss of eCall/unlock/start and limp-home mode). Engine findings range Moderate (oil leaks/consumption) to High (diesel tandem pump failure, described as requiring an engine-out procedure and 'extremely expensive'). Electrical/convenience gremlins are generally Low-severity but real, repeated inconvenience/reliability items. · confidence: 60/100 · 2 cited sources
Applies to: M256 3.0L petrol mild-hybrid (GLE450/GLE53) / OM654 2.0L diesel (GLE300d/350d) / OM656 2.9L diesel (GLE400d/450d) - not every engine this model has been sold with
ⓘ Not yet individually classified
Symptoms to watch for
AC drain hose recall: wet carpets or standing water in driver/passenger footwells; windows that fog and are difficult to clear; in advanced cases, eCall/unlock/start faults or engine limp-home mode
M256 petrol engine: oil leaks from the valve cover; moderate oil consumption; 48V mild-hybrid system water pump failures
OM654/OM656 diesel engines: early rocker failures causing camshaft damage (reportedly resolved on later production per the source), tandem (vacuum and oil) pump failures described as requiring an engine-out procedure to repair, and water pump failures with difficult access particularly on six-cylinder variants
Engine performance: shuddering/rough idle before stalling (requiring restart), random stalling while driving
Keyless entry/central locking: random unlocking or failure to respond to the key fob, including reported cases where backup fobs were also ineffective
Powered tailgate: actuator faults preventing opening, failure to close properly, or opening unexpectedly on its own (including while driving or under a low roof, a real damage risk)
Fuel filler door: refusing to open (some owners reporting the vehicle needed towing), or failing to stay closed
What To Check
The AC drain hose issue is only test-drive-apparent if water intrusion is already actively present (wet footwells/fogged windows) - otherwise requires a direct VIN check with Mercedes-Benz South Africa. Engine oil leaks and electrical/convenience faults (keyless entry, tailgate, fuel door) ARE generally detectable through direct functional testing during a proper inspection, though intermittent electrical gremlins by nature may not reproduce on every single test.
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What Does a Service Typically Cost?
Major service
R 5,300
Annual upkeep
R 9,600
Brake job (pads/discs)
R 4,000
Filter kit
R 1,500
Figures come from South African service-cost sources for this model. Actual cost varies by workshop, region and the exact vehicle's condition; get a direct quote before budgeting around this.
This guide summarises documented, sourced findings for the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe generally. It is not an assessment of any specific vehicle - mileage, service history and condition vary by example. A full AutoLytiQs™ report checks a specific listing for sale against this data plus a live South African market valuation, to tell you whether that exact vehicle is a good buy.
