2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450 Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 11%of 47 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 49,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450, 11% of the 47 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 49,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
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.
“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“On january 8, 2014, the owner of the 2012 mercedes benz GL450 was inside her vehicle within the garage of her residence, preparing to leave to perform errands. Realizing she need to attend to her young children, she put the vehicle's electronic transmission into park and was exiting the vehicle when the GL450 suddenly began moving rearward in reverse. The reversing vehicle pinned the owner between the open driver's door and the garage wall, impacting the left side of her body with enough force to fracture her pelvis and bend back the hinges of the driver's side door (see attached photograph. …”
NHTSA complaint #10850900, filed 2016-03, 8,608 miles“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 service bulletins
- 11035005Jul 14, 2026Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of…
- 11019018May 21, 2025Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The clunk is heard once when changing from forward to reverse…
- 11013298Jan 16, 2025Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The clunk is heard once when changing from forward to reverse…
- 11013332Jan 15, 2025Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The noise is heard once in each instance when changing…
- 11010818Nov 20, 2024Complaint Transmission control unit Y3/8n4 (fully integrated transmission control unit (VGS)) not listed in quick test and/or no communication possible with VGS. Cause…
- 10135970May 16, 2014Delayed 2-3 Upshift
- 10167546Jul 30, 2013FC 2783 (Friction power of torque converter lockup clutch is too high) or FC 0741 (Actuation of torque converter lockup clutch not possible) stored in transmission control unit…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
Other parts of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450
22 complaintsBrakes
8 complaintsSuspension
7 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