KNOWN FAULTS · Mercedes-Benz

Known faults for the Mercedes-Benz CLE (C236/A236).

2023–2026 · Petrol / Diesel

Sources are not verified in real time and no entry confirms that your car is affected.

3 known faults with sources

Engines: CLE 200 / 300 / 450 (Petrol)

Applies if: Only the CLE 200 and 300 (M254); the CLE 450 has the M256 six-cylinder.

Camshaft adjusters on the M254 petrol engineTiming system

Engine / equipment: 1.5 and 2.0 four-cylinder M254 petrol with 48 V integrated starter-generator (ISG): C-Class W206, GLC X254, E-Class W214 and CLE
Period mentioned: 2021–2025 (mainly 2021–2022)
Symptoms: Rattling on start-up, the engine warning light and camshaft-timing fault codes; in serious cases, engine damage.
Possible cause described: A German used-car guide flags the M254 camshaft adjusters as something to check up to model year 2025; according to Motor-Talk users, a breaking oil strainer causes the damage, mainly on 2021 and 2022 cars. From 2025 no problems are reported.
Check for the garage: Listen to a cold start; read the engine fault memory; ask for the service history with on-time oil changes and ask the dealer what fix exists for the adjusters.
Cost cited in the source: No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Engines: CLE 220 d (Diesel)

OM654/OM656 AdBlue, DPF and EGRAdBlue / DPF / EGR

Engine / equipment: OM654 2.0 and OM656 3.0 diesel (C, E, S, GLC, GLE, GLS, G-Class from 2016)
Period mentioned: 2016–2026
Symptoms: AdBlue or emissions warnings with a start countdown; particulate filter warning; power loss or rough idle from a dirty EGR.
Possible cause described: These are robust engines; faults concentrate in the emissions system. The AdBlue system (injector, NOx sensors and SCR catalyst) sometimes fails, especially in the cold, and the particulate filter and EGR foul if the car mostly does short trips.
Check for the garage: Read AdBlue and NOx sensor codes with Xentry, check the particulate filter regeneration history and how the car is used (short trips).
Cost cited in the source: AdBlue system: approx. €500–1,200; particulate filter: €1,000–2,000A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Mileage cited in the database: from 100,000 km. This is not a maintenance interval and does not predict a failure.

Engines: CLE 53 AMG (3.0) (Petrol)

Applies if: Same M256 with ISG; the documented cases are from other models with this engine.

48 V system, electric water pump and carbon on the M256 six-cylinderEngine

Engine / equipment: 3.0 inline-six M256 with 48 V ISG (EQ Boost): E 53, CLE 53, AMG GT 4-door 43/53, CLS, GLE and GLS
Period mentioned: 2018 onwards
Symptoms: Mild-hybrid system warnings, loss of EQ Boost and weaker acceleration; turbo overheating if the auxiliary pump fails; at high mileage, carbon on the intake valves.
Possible cause described: According to Jalopnik, ISG and 48 V faults are the most cited; there were campaigns for the electric coolant pump (NHTSA 19V-605, 2019 CLS), a loose 48 V ground with fire risk (24V-207, GLE and GLS) and a 2025 bulletin for 48 V battery software on 2019–2021 CLS, E-Class, GLE, GLS and AMG GT.
Check for the garage: Read the 48 V system fault memory; check campaigns and bulletins by VIN; stick to the oil-change intervals.
Cost cited in the source: No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.