Mercedes-Benz CLE Complaints

10 consumer complaints on file.

#11764916September 17, 2026
TIRES
The contact owns a 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE450 equipped with Continental Tires, Tire Line: Pro Contact Run Flat SSRMOE, Tire Size: 245/40/R19xl, DOT Number: 16Y0FBK38 PF850. The tires were original equipment. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the front passenger’s side tire had a blowout and tread separation. The vehicle was later towed to the residence of a family member, and a replacement tire of the same make and model was purchased and later mounted to the vehicle. The contact stated that approximately 6,000 miles later, the failure recurred with the replacement tire. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failures, but no assistance was offered.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754765August 4, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
THROTTLE LAG With the 2026 Mercedes CLE 300, throttle lag is driven by a combination of software programming, transmission behavior, and turbocharger dynamics working simultaneously.The following situation is when it usually occurs:Transitioning from a slow roll up a ramp (like the parking ramp at my condo) or pulling away from an intersection or traffic light or stop sign, you can catch the powertrain in its most vulnerable window for lag.:At low speeds, the combination of specific mechanical and software factors makes that hesitation much more pronounced:or a dead stop, the 9-speed transmission is usually sitting in 1st or 2nd gear. When you need a sudden burst of power to climb a ramp or clear an intersection, (or the pedestrian I alluded to in our conversation), the transmission has to evaluate the demand, disengage the current gear, shift down or match revs, and re-engage. That mechanical shuffle takes a second, but it feels like an eternity. (It’s much more than a second because I will have to put the accelerator all the way down to the floor in order to get a response from the car.•:Torque Converter Slip and Creep Logic: Modern automatic transmissions use torque converter slip to keep low-speed crawling smooth and prevent the car from lurching. When you "goose" the throttle from a crawl, the system has to transition from slip-and-creep mode to locked-up acceleration, which dampens the immediate bite of power to the wheels.:Here are the primary causes behind the hesitation: •Drive-by-Wire Throttle Calibration: Modern Mercedes models use an electronic throttle pedal tuned heavily for fuel efficiency, low emissions, and smooth passenger comfort. The computer deliberately dampens initial pedal inputs to prevent aggressive power surges, creating a physical "dead zone" at the top of the pedal travel.This the precise problem I have. Not enough space to write more. This has been refused by MBUSA,Alerted to me by theNCDS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752436July 23, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
SEVERE THROTTLE DELAY & UNPREDICTABLE ACCELERATION When applying pressure to the accelerator pedal at intersections or traffic lights, there is a substantial "dead zone" delay where the vehicle fails to respond or move forward. To prompt movement in normal traffic flow, I am forced to depress the accelerator pedal to the floor. Once the engine computer responds, the vehicle suddenly lunges forward in an abrupt, uncontrolled surge of power. I have to keep my foot ready over the brake “just in case”. This is not something that happens every time so it isn’t entirely predictable but it is safe to say at the very least 1in10 times when the conditions are as mentioned above. 2.Recent Near-Miss Incident: This "delay-then-lunge" defect recently almost resulted in a pedestrian collision at an intersection when the vehicle hesitated during a turn and suddenly lurched forward into the crosswalk. The unpredictable nature of this acceleration profile makes controlled low-speed maneuvering extremely difficult and unsafe. 3.I brought this safety concern to my authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership service department. The service advisor and technicians verified the issue and confirmed that this lag is a widespread, inherent design issue across the CLE 300 line—reproducible in other identical customer models and dealership loaner vehicles. According to the service team, the delay stems from factory programming coordinating the 48V mild-hybrid system, drive-by-wire throttle mapping, and Eco Start/Stop function in default Comfort mode. Because the vehicle automatically reverts to default Comfort mode every time the engine is started, drivers are continuously exposed to this safety risk unless manually overridden on every single drive. The dealership indicated there is currently no official factory software recall or bulletin available to fix the programming. 4. Requested Action:This report has been submitted to my attorney to reduce any liability I might incur in the future.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11744375June 16, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
"The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster [Driver side Display on my 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLE 300 completely blacked out while the vehicle was in operation, ((entirely removing my access to critical vehicle telemetrics, including the speedometer, fuel gauge, milage, oil, and safety warning indicators)). I received no advance warning prior to the display failure. This is a severe safety hazard and a direct violation of FMVSS 101. I observed this defect for the first time today. This issue aligns identically with the defect parameters outlined in NHTSA Recall 26V281000 regarding the infotainment control unit reset loops." My 2025 Mercedes CLE 300 instrument cluster has suffered a total blackout.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737352May 12, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I am filing this safety complaint regarding my 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE 300, VIN [XXX] , license plate [XXX] . My vehicle is currently affected by an active safety recall: NHTSA Recall 26V281 / Mercedes-Benz recall campaign 2025060014. The recall concerns the instrument cluster / infotainment control unit software. According to the recall information, the instrument cluster display may briefly interrupt, reset, remain blank, or otherwise fail to display important driving-related information, which can increase the risk of a crash. I attempted in good faith to resolve this issue through authorized Mercedes-Benz dealerships, including Mercedes-Benz of [XXX] Downtown LA, Mercedes-Benz of Beverly Hills, and Mercedes-Benz / Calstar Motors in Glendale. However, the dealerships refused or failed to accept the vehicle for recall service, failed to provide a repair order, and/or failed to provide a clear written explanation or remedy timeline. This creates a serious safety and consumer problem. I am left with a vehicle that is subject to an active safety recall, but the authorized dealers are not providing a practical repair path. The vehicle’s use, value, and safety are materially affected. I also use the vehicle for car-sharing/business purposes, and an open safety recall prevents or restricts the vehicle from being used for that purpose. I am requesting that NHTSA document this complaint and review Mercedes-Benz USA’s handling of this recall, including the lack of available remedy, the refusal or failure of authorized dealers to accept the vehicle for recall service, and the lack of clear written guidance to the consumer. I am also requesting that Mercedes-Benz USA provide an immediate remedy, written safety instructions, a repair timeline, and appropriate accommodation, replacement, or repurchase review if the recall cannot be corrected within a reasonable time. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11675894July 24, 2025
PARKING BRAKE, BACK OVER PREVENTION, EQUIPMENT
The contact owns a 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE 300. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V688000 (Park Brake, Back Over Prevention, Equipment). The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped in traffic, the vehicle behind him ran into the rear end of the vehicle, causing him to be pushed into the vehicle in front of him. The contact stated that he applied the parking brake, but the vehicle did not stop as intended. There were no injuries and no medical attention needed. All vehicle involved sustained damage. There was no police report taken. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 11,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11653240April 7, 2025
ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE300. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where unknown repairs were performed. The vehicle was repaired, and the contact was informed by the dealer that the vehicle could be picked up; however, the check engine warning light was still illuminated. The dealer kept the vehicle. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with an unknown sensor failure. The contact then went to fuel the vehicle. The next time the contact was able to drive the vehicle, while driving 65 MPH, the accelerator was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond, and the contact was almost in a crash. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and drove 30 MPH to the job. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the dealer diagnosed the vehicle with a contaminated fuel system. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 4,900.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11635508January 12, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The rise in the use of cell phones (texting,etc) while driving has been responsible for thousands of accidents all over the country. They create distractions for drivers but that is the sole responsibility of the driver. The problem with my car is one that is programed by Mercedes and involves the Sirius radio they installed in my car. The radio allows you to identify your favorite channels for easy access. However, the programming they have installed requires the driver to push 2 separate buttons to change a channel rather than a single button. This may seem petty on the surface, however, when you are traveling at 40-60 mph on a highway or busy local street with traffic lights looking for that second button on a touch screen with about 20 buttons, it does divert the driver’s attention for at least 3-4 seconds. No different than texting except that this is what Mercedes has programmed into the car. Very dangerous as I have already experienced. My car is one month old and this problem is a new feature. I know this because I also have another 2024 Mercedes that is 3 months old and is not programmed the same way. It requires only a single touch button to change the channel. Much safer. I am not aware of any other car on the road (ever built) that requires the pushing of 2 buttons to change the channel. I have brought this to the attention of my dealership and Mercedes directly. I was blown off by both as nothing is being planned by Mercedes to correct this. To me it seems to be a simple reprogramming of the radio system to what they had before. The danger should not be underestimated. To answer the questions posed on this site: my car is available for inspection; already explained the safety risk to myself and others; problem has been confirmed by the dealer and Mercedes directly; there are no warning lights for this problem until there is a collision due to driver distraction. Then I am sure all sorts of lights will come on. Problem needs to be corrected.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11606210August 2, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Audio no longer works continuously hearing static and sparking through speakers
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11578040March 18, 2024
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE300. The contact stated after purchasing the vehicle and leaving the dealer, while driving 40 MPH, the Low Tire Pressure warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence and restarted, and the "Inoperative, See Owner Manual", "Blind spot assistance Inoperative", and "Risk of the vehicle rolling away apply a parking brake when parking" messages were displayed. The contact stated that the engine would not start but the electronic features were functioning. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed but no failures were found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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