Mercedes-Benz GL450 Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 418 consumer complaints across the 10 model years of the Mercedes-Benz GL450 (2007–2016) that have at least 5 complaints. 2007 has the most, with 115. Across all years, the part named most often is air bags (96 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All GL450 model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 13 | 5,000 | 5 | 78 | — | Not enough data |
| 2015 | 18 | 38,508 | 3 | 85 | — | Falling |
| 2014 | 21 | 56,000 | 3 | 82 | — | Rising |
| 2013 | 37 | 24,000 | 3 | 80 | 50 · Typical | Stable |
| 2012 | 47 | 57,500 | 3 | 52 | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2011 | 55 | 73,000 | 3 | 65 | 50 · Typical | Rising |
| 2010 | 42 | 92,138 | 3 | 57 | 0 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2009 | 15 | 121,000 | 3 | 61 | — | Falling |
| 2008 | 55 | 69,000 | 2 | 62 | 52 · Typical | Stable |
| 2007 | 115 | 80,000 | 2 | 70 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Air bags96 23%
- Suspension60 14%
- Electrical system56 13%
- Seats54 13%
- Brakes51 12%
- Engine38 8.9%
- Transmission and drivetrain36 8.5%
- Steering35 8.2%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2007: “On november 17, 2020, I turned my driver seat heater and suddenly smelled something burning. After several minutes driving I decided to turn of the heater, the burning sensation on my back was intense. Once I parked, I noticed a hole in my seat the size of a quarter! I checked my clothing and noticed it melted the elastic part at the bottom my jacket.”
NHTSA complaint #11375272, filed 2020-11, 96,382 miles2011: “We were stopped at a red stoplight, out of nowhere there was a loud explosion, shook the whole car and sank, the feeling like we were in a sink hole or like a tire blew but the tire was fine. A loyd hissing sound ensued. Thank god, we were at a stop light and not in a speed that could have been deadly.”
NHTSA complaint #11406490, filed 2021-04, 80,000 miles2008: “I have a 2008 GL450 when you make a turn you'll hear a sound and it is so hard to turn the steering wheel. I took it to a mercedes benz mechanic and they flushed and replaced the power steering fluid, the wheel worked for a couple of days and the noise is not as loud but 2 weeks later the steering wheel is hard to turn again and the noise is loud again.”
NHTSA complaint #10984807, filed 2017-05, 80,000 milesOther Mercedes-Benz models
3,963 complaintsMercedes-Benz E350
2,215 complaintsMercedes-Benz E320
1,164 complaintsMercedes-Benz ML350
952 complaintsMercedes-Benz GLK350
901 complaintsMercedes-Benz ML320
740 complaintsMercedes-Benz C250
725 complaintsMercedes-Benz GLC 300
657 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology