BMW X5 vs Mercedes-Benz GLE
Which used car has the cleaner record?
We line up what owners actually reported to NHTSA — complaints and recall campaigns — for both cars, so you can compare their paper trail before you buy.
| Side by side | X5 | GLE |
|---|---|---|
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Years sampled | 2016, 2020, 2024 | 2016, 2020, 2024 |
| Owner complaints | 305 | 223fewer |
| Recall campaigns | 23 | 0fewer |
| NHTSA investigations | 5 | 0fewer |
| Overall safety (NHTSA, US) | 4/5 | n/a |
| Combined economy (EPA, US) | 15.7 L/100km | 9.8 L/100km |
The quick read
Over the sampled model years, the BMW X5 has 305 complaints and 23 recalls, and the Mercedes-Benz GLE has 223 complaints and 0 recalls. Lower numbers point to fewer reported issues, but always confirm the exact car with a VIN check.
Deeper analysis
Across the NHTSA data reviewed, the BMW X5 accumulated 305 owner complaints and 23 recall campaigns over the 2016, 2020, and 2024 model years, while the Mercedes-Benz GLE recorded 223 complaints and zero recall campaigns over the same years. The GLE shows notably fewer complaints and no recalls in this dataset, whereas the X5 carries a considerably higher recall count. Bear in mind this is US-sourced data and serves only as a rough reliability signal, not a definitive verdict on any individual vehicle you might consider buying in Europe.
NHTSA (US) owner-complaint and recall counts over recent model years. A reliability signal, not a check of any one car. Always run the VIN.