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Mercedes-Benz GL450Model year report

2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450 Problems

Compared with other Mercedes-Benz GL450 years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

0/100 0.3× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
47filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
57,500miles, 18 complaints with mileage
Recalls
32 do-not-drive
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
15 mpgcombined, 4.7L 8-cyl 4WD · 13 city / 18 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 47 consumer complaints for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The part named most often is air bags, with 22 complaints (47% of the total), followed by brakes (8) and suspension (7). 18 of the complaints include a mileage, and 39% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 57,500 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns (2 marked do-not-drive) and 52 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the inflator module and 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Brakes complaints overlap with 2 recall campaigns covering the vacuum and 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Compared with the other 4 Mercedes-Benz GL450 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 0 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Tires (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “I received 2 letter from mercedes benz USA regarding the air bag recall. The 1st letter gave me a date in march for replacement. The 2nd letter stated my airbag would be replaced in july 2018. When I called the dealership they stated the replacements have yet to be received and to call mercedes corporate”

NHTSA complaint #11122103, filed 2018-08, 90,000 miles

Brakes: “Takata recall my 2012 gl 450 mercedes benz ABS warning light came on while driving in the city. While driving at about 45 miles per hour the brakes engaged before I could stop my vehicle and pull over. It literally almost sent me through the windshield, a hard grinding sound and an intense stop. Still trying to get out of the way of traffic the vehicle jerked and jerked and the brakes continued to engage. This was very dangerous and could have caused a serious accident. This is very dangerous. If the ABS system is faulty or a bad sensor then it should not engage itself at all. …”

NHTSA complaint #11091111, filed 2018-04, 51,000 miles

Suspension: “While driving the balancing indicator light came on. Then there was a loud bang and the vehicle shook violently. It felt like I was rear ended. Then was vehicle was sitting on the springs. My vehicle has only 83000 miles on it and I have had to replace the front and now rear suspension.”

NHTSA complaint #11062320, filed 2018-01, 83,500 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “On 01/08/14, a female driver of a 2012 gl 450 was stationary, in the garage, with engine running. Before she exited the vehicle to check on her child in the rear of the vehicle, she pressed the park button on the drive select electronically-controlled column shifter. As she exited and walked around to her child, the transmission suddenly shifted into reverse, the vehicle travelled backwards and pinned her between the open driver's door and the garage wall. …”

NHTSA complaint #10824225, filed 2016-02, 18,616 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

39% of the 18 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 42,000 and 83,500 miles.

11%0–106%10–2522%25–5028%50–7522%75–10011%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (18 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 57,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

20152016201715201820192020202220232026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
GL450 4matic 4WD4.7L 8-cyl7-speed automatic131815$5,500

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 52 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 52 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz GL450

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2016135,0005—19—Not enough data
20151838,5083—19—Falling
20142156,0003—16—Rising
20133724,0003—1650 · TypicalStable
20124757,5003—150 · FewerFalling
20115573,0003—1550 · TypicalRising
20104292,1383—140 · FewerStable
200915121,0003—15—Falling
20085569,0002—1552 · TypicalStable
200711580,0002—15Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Mercedes-Benz GL450 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450 have?

NHTSA recorded 47 consumer complaints for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 22 complaints (47% of the total), followed by brakes with 8.

Has the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 of them with a do-not-drive advisory. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450 get?

The EPA rates the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450 (GL450 4matic, 4.7L 8-cyl) at 15 mpg combined, 13 city and 18 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $5,500 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450 reported?

Among the 18 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 57,500 miles and the middle half falls between 42,000 and 83,500 miles; 39% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.