2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450 Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 8about this part
- Share
- 17%of 47 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 95,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the brakes of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450, 17% of the 47 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 95,500 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“I have been issued a stop drive order under recall id# 22v315. I have contacted mercedes benz twice and been ignored twice. First call was around july 5th-2022 and second call was on july 12th. They apparently do not care about your stop drive notice as no one has gotten back to me on this issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11475341, filed 2022-07“I was driving on the highway my break warning light came and when I tried pulling over car would not stop my break pedal went all the way to floor causing me to hit the back of another car and I had to get a tow”
NHTSA complaint #11768795, filed 2026-10“Breaks became unusable due to lost power break fluid caused by corrosion on the lines. Fluid was completely gone and breaks were not effective at all. Dashboard showed RED light with break error. Dealer confirmed that rust build up caused the failure.”
NHTSA complaint #11502596, filed 2023-01“The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated that while merging onto a highway, the vehicle failed to upshift at 32 MPH, without warning. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle and was then able to resume normal driving. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulics) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. …”
NHTSA complaint #11486630, filed 2022-09, 140,000 milesRelated recalls
- 24V298000Apr 26, 2024DO NOT DRIVEMercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML, GL, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model…Covers: Mercedes-Benz GL450 2007–2012, R350 2006–2012, ML350 2006–2011 +10 more
- 22V315000May 9, 2022DO NOT DRIVEMercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML-Class, GL-Class, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific…Covers: Mercedes-Benz GL450 2007–2012, R350 2006–2012, ML350 2006–2011 +10 more
Related service bulletins
- 11038186Sep 22, 2026Complaint Repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60MPH. NOTE: Although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily…
Brakes: other model years
Other parts of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450
22 complaintsSuspension
7 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
5 complaintsSeat belts
3 complaintsElectrical system
2 complaintsElectronic stability control
2 complaintsFuel system
2 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsSteering
1 complaintsTires
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology