2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53 Air Conditioner Recall (21V288)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC · 6,331 vehicles · Reported April 23, 2021
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC is recalling 6,331 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53 vehicles. The air conditioner drain hoses may have been incorrectly installed, causing water to drain into the passenger compartment. Water intrusion into the driver and passenger side foot wells may cause corrosion and/or short circuits to electrical components, increasing the risk of fire. In addition, the emergency call (eCall) feature may be disabled and the doors may not unlock, increasing the risk of injury. Also, the engine may not start or may enter a limp-home mode, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V288 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V288000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 2021040024 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | April 23, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53 |
| Units affected | 6,331 |
| Component | Equipment > Appliance > Air Conditioner |
| Safety risk | Water intrusion into the driver and passenger side foot wells may cause corrosion and/or short circuits to electrical components, increasing the risk of fire. In addition, the emergency call (eCall) feature may be disabled and the doors may not unlock, increasing the risk of injury. Also, the engine may not start or may enter a limp-home mode, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53 in recall 21V288?
The air conditioner drain hoses may have been incorrectly installed, causing water to drain into the passenger compartment.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 AMG GLE 53, 2020 GLE350, GLE450, GLE580, GLS450, and GLS580 vehicles. The air conditioner drain hoses may have been incorrectly installed, causing water to drain into the passenger compartment.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 AMG GLE53 with recall 21V288?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Water intrusion into the driver and passenger side foot wells may cause corrosion and/or short circuits to electrical components, increasing the risk of fire. In addition, the emergency call (eCall) feature may be disabled and the doors may not unlock, increasing the risk of injury. Also, the engine may not start or may enter a limp-home mode, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Water intrusion into the driver and passenger side foot wells may cause corrosion and/or short circuits to electrical components, increasing the risk of fire. In addition, the emergency call (eCall) feature may be disabled and the doors may not unlock, increasing the risk of injury. Also, the engine may not start or may enter a limp-home mode, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the air conditioner.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V288?
Recall 21V288 covers 6,331 vehicles: 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53.
NHTSA lists 6,331 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Mercedes-Benz | AMG GLE53 |
What is the fix for the AMG GLE53 air conditioner recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect and correct the air conditioner drain hoses, as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect and correct the air conditioner drain hoses, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021040024.
When was recall 21V288 announced?
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC reported recall 21V288 to NHTSA on April 23, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as June 4, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| April 23, 2021 | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V288000. |
| June 4, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 66 months ago. If your AMG GLE53 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my AMG GLE53 is part of recall 21V288?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V288 is open on your AMG GLE53, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 AMG GLE53 vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should AMG GLE53 owners do about recall 21V288?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V288000 applies to your AMG GLE53.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Keep a simple log of any air conditioner symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are AMG GLE53 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 4 of them about the other equipment.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the other equipment have been filed since recall 21V288 was reported (4) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 16 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 4 of them involve the other equipment. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53: 16 complaints in total, 4 about the other equipment
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
An authorized dealer returned a vehicle with loose hardware in a moving mechanical track, posing a risk of mechanical failure or distraction while driving.
2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53 owner, NY, NHTSA complaint 11737556, filed May 13, 2026
2021 MB GLE 53 AMG Coupe. Less than 7500 miles. Car wont start throws a red error saying see the operators manual. This is the second time in 5 months this has happened and is extremely frustrating given MB is fully aware of the issue.
2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53 owner, AZ, NHTSA complaint 11492402, filed November 5, 2022
When vehicle is driven 70 mph and above the drive side of vehicle is making a whilst noise by ear of the driver, that is coming into the car. The gas cap door is not sitting flush with the body of the vehicle.
2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53 owner, VA, NHTSA complaint 11512252, filed March 16, 2023
Can recall 21V288 make my AMG GLE53 a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Recall 21V288000 does not automatically make your AMG GLE53 a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
What matters for a lemon law claim is not the recall label but whether the defect substantially impairs the 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53 and whether the dealer can fix it in a reasonable number of tries.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53 has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your AMG GLE53 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V288
Is the 21V288000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed June 4, 2021.
How do I know if my AMG GLE53 is part of recall 21V288000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V288000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Mercedes-Benz. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.