2022 MERCEDES-BENZ GLE-Class

Vehicle has issues maintaining power and attempts to stall in traffic. It also shakes violently at idle. It was diagnosed by the dealership and determined that the cylinder head was damaged and needed to be replaced for $7200.00 since there was no warranty. Vehicle was purchased used and the Issue was noticed 6 months after purchase at 70-80 thousand miles. After researching the issue, this appears to be a known problem with the 4 cylinder Mercedes vehicles, but only specific models were covered under the extended warranty for replacement.

While driving at 65 mph on Florida’s Turnpike (SR 91) at approximately 5:30 PM EST, the panoramic sliding sunroof panel (Mercedes-Benz part #167-780-20-00) spontaneously shattered without any impact or warning. Conditions were partly cloudy. No vehicles, debris, or construction were nearby. A loud explosive sound occurred overhead, followed by glass shards falling onto the roof and rear spoiler. The roller sunshade was open, and the operable glass section was closed. No glass entered the cabin. Startled by the sound and visible debris, I instinctively braked and swerved, almost losing control. Post-incident inspection showed a large portion of the panel was missing, and scratches and paint damage were visible behind the failure point. The vehicle was brought to a Mercedes-Benz dealership the next morning. Staff immediately acknowledged similar failures and stated they had seen and repaired multiple panoramic sunroof issues across the lineup, especially in hot weather. Although this type of failure is typically covered under the 4-year/50,000-mile warranty, it was denied due to the vehicle’s mileage (58,099). Replacement is estimated at $2,700 and is pending due to part backorder. The incident was independently confirmed by a Mercedes-Benz dealer, an independent repair shop, an auto glass facility, and an insurance representative. The auto glass technician noted that Mercedes-Benz uses thin tempered glass rather than laminated or thicker alternatives, which may increase the risk of spontaneous failure. This failure created significant safety risks including driver distraction, potential for secondary collisions, potential injuries from airborne glass, and road debris hazards. If the operable glass section had been open, glass shards may have entered the cabin, further increasing the risk of injury to myself, other vehicle occupants, or other road users. I request that NHTSA investigate the design and failure rates of this sunroof panel and similar components.

I dropped my [XXX] to a class and was driving the car to run an errand, when I experienced a sudden and total brake failure. The first couple of times I hit the brakes, it felt a little too squishy, but I could still stop the car. Within two minutes, by the time I got to the next traffic light, I was unable to stop the car. Luckily I was at low speed and was able to turn into a residential neighborhood immediately and somehow stop the vehicle within a reasonable distance. Fortunately, the street I turned into, had no cars parked nearby. This was a frightening experience and could have ended very badly for my family had we been on the freeway. Please note - My car was serviced by Park Place Mercedes in Dallas only 2 days earlier, I had not even driven it 50 miles after it was serviced, when the brakes failed on me. I had the car towed back to Park Place Mercedes in Dallas, and they told me there was an air pocket that caused this issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)