Head-to-head reliability
Mercedes BENZ GLE Class vs FORD F 150
How the Mercedes BENZ GLE Class and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Mercedes BENZ GLE Class vs FORD F 150: The GLE has 462 complaints over 10 years (46.2/yr) with zero recalls, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints (1,131.1/yr) and 145 recalls. GLE owners report engine stalling and electrical failures; F-150 owners face transmission harshness. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercedes BENZ GLE Class or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercedes BENZ GLE Class
The Mercedes-Benz GLE Class, in ownership terms, is a luxury SUV that demands attention for its complex systems. Over the past decade, owners have filed 462 complaints, averaging about 46 per year, with a notable concentration in the engine and electrical system. Living with a GLE means being alert to potential sudden power loss, battery warnings, and transmission quirks that can affect daily driving confidence.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a popular full-size pickup with a high volume of complaints—11,311 over 10 years, averaging over 1,100 per year—reflecting its widespread use. The dominant issues revolve around the powertrain, particularly the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners report for harsh shifting and occasional loss of power. Electrical glitches also appear, but the sheer number of complaints is partly due to the F-150's massive sales volume.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercedes BENZ GLE Class | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 462 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 31 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 46.2 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 24 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Mercedes BENZ GLE Class
- 01ENGINE107
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM105
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER82
- 04POWER TRAIN48
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL43
Owners report the engine stalling or shutting off without warning, sometimes at highway speeds, leading to near-miss accidents. There are also mentions of cylinder head issues on M264 engines, triggering check engine lights and potential costly repairs.
Frequent low battery warnings, including for the 12V and 48V systems, can occur while driving, prompting the vehicle to advise pulling over. Some owners reference a specific 48V ground connection defect that poses a fire risk, though no recall is listed for this model.
Transmission problems include the vehicle lurching or jolting when in Park with the engine running, and in one case, the car moved forward on its own while in Park. Another owner experienced a sudden acceleration when reversing, indicating potential control issues.
“we own a Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 model 2021. Our vehicles engine has stopped running on two different occasions, resulting in a very scary near miss accident situation. The first time this happened was it 22,000 miles, the engine shut off as a result of a failu…”
“There is a known issue with the Cylinder Heads on specific models of Mercedes vehicles. Symptoms of M264 Cylinder Head Failure If your GLE 350 is experiencing these symptoms, it may be covered under the extension: Check Engine Light (MIL): Often triggered by…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10R80 automatic transmission is a frequent source of complaints, with owners describing hard and delayed shifts, clunking noises, and occasional loss of power or vehicle shutdown. These issues can be alarming and may require transmission service or replacement.
Electrical problems include warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist being unavailable, which appear every time the truck is started. These issues can disable safety features and require dealer diagnostics.
Headlight-related complaints are common, though specific details are not provided in the sample. Given the high number of complaints, owners likely experience issues with headlight performance or durability.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Mercedes BENZ GLE Class
No recalls on record.
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Mercedes BENZ GLE Class or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Mercedes-Benz GLE Class has far fewer complaints per year (46.2) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), indicating a lower frequency of reported issues. However, the GLE's problems often involve critical safety systems like engine stalling and electrical failures, which can be more dangerous. In practice, the F-150's issues are more numerous but often relate to transmission comfort and convenience features, while the GLE's issues are rarer but potentially more severe.
Key differences
- The GLE has a higher proportion of engine and electrical complaints relative to its total, including stalling and battery failures, while the F-150's top issue is transmission harshness.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls over 10 years, indicating more proactive safety campaigns, whereas the GLE has zero recalls on record, which may mean fewer known systemic defects but also less oversight.
- Crash-related complaints are more frequent on the F-150 (328 vs 31), but the GLE has a higher rate of injuries per complaint (24 injuries from 31 crashes) suggesting more severe incidents.
- The GLE's transmission issues include unintended movement in Park, a safety concern, while the F-150's transmission problems are more about drivability and can lead to sudden power loss.
- Check for any history of engine stalling or unexpected shutdowns, and ask for maintenance records related to the engine and fuel system.
- Inspect the battery and charging system, especially the 48V battery if equipped, and look for any warning messages about low battery or charging issues.
- Test drive the F-150 through various speeds and gears to feel for hard shifts or clunks, especially between 4th and 6th gears.
- Check if the truck has any outstanding recalls, particularly those related to the transmission or electrical system, and ensure they have been addressed.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to check for previous accidents, title issues, and service records.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the engine, transmission, and electrical systems.
- For the GLE, ask about any warranty extensions or service bulletins related to engine and battery issues.
- For the F-150, verify that all recalls have been completed by checking the VIN on the NHTSA website.
- Take both vehicles for an extended test drive, including highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic, to evaluate transmission behavior and any warning lights.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Mercedes BENZ GLE Class | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 24 |
| 2025 | 0 | 329 |
| 2024 | 0 | 617 |
| 2023 | 31 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 63 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 83 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 123 | 33 |
| 2019 | 32 | 36 |
| 2018 | 56 | 56 |
| 2017 | 74 | 43 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Mercedes BENZ GLE Class or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercedes BENZ GLE Class vs FORD F 150
- Mercedes BENZ GLE Class total complaints
- 462
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Mercedes BENZ GLE Class total recalls
- 0
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Mercedes BENZ GLE Class avg complaints/year
- 46.2
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Mercedes BENZ GLE Class
- Mercedes BENZ GLE Class top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN