Mercedes Recalls GLC 300, GLE 350, and GLE 450e Due to Potential Engine Oil and Fuel Leaks

These sport utility vehicles all use the M254 engine, a four-cylinder turbo developed for mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid applications. Merc says that the 2.0-liter engines powering a grand total of seven utility vehicles may leak oil and/or fuel due to an imperfect seal between the high-pressure fuel pump and tandem oil pump. Oil and fuel on the roadway is one thing, but oil and fuel getting in contact with hot components might result in a pretty serious fire.

Suspect vehicles were assembled between February 18, 2023 and July 16, 2023 for the 2023 and 2024 model years at the Bremen production facility in Germany and at MBUSI in Alabama. The Mercedes-Benz U.S. International assembly plant started production back in February 1997, with its first-ever vehicle being an ML 320. Then referred to as the M-Class, the ML adopted the GLE moniker in 2015.

Of the seven recalled vehicles, five of them are GLC 300 crossovers. Merc started investigating the aforementioned issue back in October 2023, with said investigation prompted by internal quality reviews at the engine plant. According to the Stuttgart-based automaker, the incorrect screws are slightly longer than the correct screws. To date, Mercedes is aware of two warranty claims related to this condition.

The first was received on June 13, 2023, whereas the second followed suit on June 14, 2023. Fortunately for customers and Merc's legal department, no fires or crashes have been reported. A change in the assembly procedure of the M254 engine was made on July 17, 2023. Dealers have already been instructed to replace the high-pressure fuel pump on affected vehicles, but owners will have to wait until February 19, 2024 to receive their M-B-branded envelopes.

Internally referred to as X254 (or C254 in the coupe's case), the second-generation GLC is joined at the hip to the 206-series C-Class on the Mercedes-Benz MRA2 vehicle architecture. Just like the C-Class, the GLC now comes exclusively with four-cylinder lumps. Available in mild- and plug-in hybrid flavors, the GLC is considered a mid-size crossover in the US despite the C in GLC meaning compact.

The GLC 43 and GLC 63 feature the AMG-specific M139 engine, which – in a similar fashion to the M254 – displaces 1,991 cubic centimeters. The 43's engine develops 421 horsepower, whereas the 63's engine levels up to a staggering 476 horses. The 63 developed a combined 681 horsepower and 752 pound-feet (1,020 Nm) of torque, which enables a 0-100 acceleration time of 3.5 seconds. To 60 miles per hour, that would be 3.3 seconds or thereabouts.

Coming to the US market as a 2025 model, the 63 isn't currently available to order. The GLC 300 is, though, with prices kicking off at $47,100 for the rear-drive 300 and $49,100 for the 300 4MATIC. The mild-hybrid GLE 350 comes with 4MATIC all-wheel drive by default, with prices starting at $62,650.

In a similar fashion to the GLC 300, its 2.0-liter turbo develops 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet (400 Nm) of torque. Not to be confused with the GLE 450 mild-hybrid sixer, the GLE 450e is a plug-in hybrid that sports four cylinders arranged in a line. Its combined output is 381 horsepower and 479 pound-feet (650 Nm), with Merc asking $69,500 sans destination for the base spec. The EPA-estimated electric driving range is 48 miles (77 kilometers) with a full charge of the 23.3-kWh high-voltage battery.