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Mercedes-Benz GLK350Model year report

2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 Problems

Compared with other Mercedes-Benz GLK350 years

Typical for this model

55/100 1.1× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2011, 2012

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
104filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
38,000miles, 39 complaints with mileage
Recalls
5campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
22 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl RWD · 19 city / 26 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

For this model year GLK350, most of what owners describe in the sampled complaints is not a mechanical breakdown but waiting on the passenger-side frontal airbag inflator recall: parts were unavailable at dealers for long stretches, and several owners say they were not contacted or had appointments pushed back. The remaining reports cluster around fuel odor and leaks in the fuel system, sunroof or liftgate problems, and heated seats that burned through the upholstery. Reported failures span very low to high mileage, so checks on recall status matter more than mileage alone.

  1. Air bags

    Passenger-side airbag recall parts unavailable

    • 52 complaints (50%)
    • median 31,000 mi at 5.4 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2019–2020

    Owners describe receiving notice of the passenger-side frontal airbag inflator recall (Takata) but being told by dealers and the manufacturer that the replacement part was not yet available, sometimes for more than a year. Some complain about not being contacted to schedule the remedy, unavailable appointments, or no firm completion date. Many had not experienced any failure and were writing about the delay rather than a symptom. Reports span nearly all mileage ranges, with most filed between 2019 and 2021 during the recall campaigns.

    Recall 19V010000Recall 17V6270001 related service bulletin

    What to check: Ask for the recall completion paperwork for the passenger-side airbag inflator, or have a dealer run the VIN to confirm the remedy was performed rather than just ordered.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Takata recall. Nhtsa recall # 19v010. We live in dallas and are again at the front end of our hot time of the year. It seems hot and or humid weather could cause the takata inflator to be more likely to explode. Mercedes seem to have no idea when this issue will be addressed. Nor do they seem very concerned about the well being of the owners of these vehicles. What can the NHTSA do to have mercedes buy back these vehicles or otherwise help owners to purchase a replacement mercedes?”

    NHTSA complaint #11228920, filed 2019-07, 25,000 miles

    “Takata recall. The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK350. The contact received an interim recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 19v010000 (air bags). The dealer was not contacted because the manufacturer indicated that the part may not become available until may of 2020. A loaner vehicle option was not provided. The manufacturer was contacted. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.”

    NHTSA complaint #11176322, filed 2019-02, 32,000 miles
  2. Fuel system

    Fuel odor and leaks from the fuel tank area

    • 7 complaints (7%)
    • median 72,000 mi at 8.9 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2019–2026

    Owners describe a strong gasoline smell inside or around the vehicle, often after refueling or while parked in a garage. Several reports point to cracks in the plastic cover or cap over the fuel pump under the rear seat, or to a cracked or fractured fuel line near the injectors, with fuel pooling on top of the tank. Dealers identified leaking fuel pumps or tubing and quoted replacement; some vehicles were repaired and others were not. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 100,000 miles, often noticed during or shortly after refueling.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Smell for fuel inside the cabin and in the trunk after a fill-up, and check under the rear seat and around the fuel tank cover for staining or cracks.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “We started to develop a strong smell of gas inside the vehicle. I started to research online to find that many mercedes models have the same problem, a crack develops on a cap that houses the fuel pump under the back seat inside the vehicle. This permits gas fumes to enter the vehicle, let alone actual gasoline to collect above the cap and leaking under the seat inside the vehicle. Some people try to just patch it with epoxy and attempt to replace parts. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11394886, filed 2021-02, 70,000 miles

    “The Fuel pump tank closing cover (P/N 204-470-04-38) cracked and caused fuel to pool on it. This happens when the tank is above 3/4 full resulting in strong fuel fumes when the car is parked inside. It is likely when parked in a garage to be an explosion hazard due to the fumes. Looking on the user forums and internet this is not an uncommon issue and should be addressed as this design is used on most Mercedes fuel tanks in the 2000's.”

    NHTSA complaint #11439542, filed 2021-11

Buying note. Check recall status by VIN before anything else, since the airbag inflator remedy and the steering-coupling campaign are the items most often outstanding on this model year. On a test drive, fill the tank and smell for fuel, cycle the sunroof, and test both seat heaters and the power liftgate.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 104 consumer complaints for the 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK350. 39 of the complaints include a mileage, and 54% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 38,000 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 4 an injury, 1 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 62 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 5 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 55 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (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: Suspension (3), Transmission and drivetrain (3), Wheels (3), Seat belts (2), Vehicle speed control (2), Tires (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “This vehicle is currently under a formal recall by mercedes (NHTSA id# 19v010 - pnd tak phase 4). This complaint involves the lack of timeliness in resolving & correcting the issue. The recall letter states that deployment of the passenger-side airbag can cause ... Serious injury or death. Because of this warning, we are unable to accept passengers and are forced to limit driving the car without risking harm (or death) to ourselves or others. …”

NHTSA complaint #11282324, filed 2019-11, 52,000 miles

Fuel system: “My vehicle started smelling like gas. Took it in for inspection. Mechanic found a leak in the fuel assembly, resulting in gasoline pooling inside the vehicle under the back seat and leaking out through the bottom of the vehicle. I went online and noticed a recall was issued for 2011 and 2012 models. Ongoing issues with fuel modules leaking although no visible cracks were present. I contacted Mercedes to have them review if this would be covered under their recall and they declined saying they did not want to cover this under their recall. …”

NHTSA complaint #11511839, filed 2023-03

Brakes: “We were driving on the interstate in the middle of denver with cruise control on when the brakes engaged. We were almost at a complete stop when my husband was able to get the car to accelerate again and we luckily were not rear ended.”

NHTSA complaint #10884345, filed 2016-07, 38,000 miles

Other or unknown: “Rolling, because of gear shift lever, you have to push button to get it into park automatic, jeep just had a recalled for the same thing. My mecerde roll on me several time. It easy to forget to push button if you don't it stay in neutral”

NHTSA complaint #10861057, filed 2016-04, 12,500 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

54% of the 39 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 14,000 and 64,000 miles.

18%0–1018%10–2518%25–5028%50–758%75–1008%100–1503%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (39 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 38,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’14’16’1844’20’22’24’26
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 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 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
GLK350 RWD3.5L 6-cyl7-speed automatic192622$3,750
GLK350 RWD3.5L 6-cyl7-speed automatic192521$3,900
GLK350 4matic 4WD3.5L 6-cyl7-speed automatic192521$3,900
GLK350 4matic 4WD3.5L 6-cyl7-speed automatic182521$3,900

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 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 → · 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. 62 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 62 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz GLK350

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
201511433,0004—2247 · TypicalFalling
201410438,0005—2255 · TypicalStable
201313756,0006—2153 · TypicalFalling
201216744,6304—1829 · FewerRising
201113365,7864—1826 · FewerStable
201024171,0005—1885 · MoreFalling
2007542,4860———Not enough data

All Mercedes-Benz GLK350 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK350?

For this model year GLK350, most of what owners describe in the sampled complaints is not a mechanical breakdown but waiting on the passenger-side frontal airbag inflator recall: parts were unavailable at dealers for long stretches, and several owners say they were not contacted or had appointments pushed back. The issues reported most often: Passenger-side airbag recall parts unavailable; Fuel odor and leaks from the fuel tank area.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 have?

NHTSA recorded 104 consumer complaints for the 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 as of Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 62 complaints (60% of the total), followed by fuel system with 8.

Has the 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 get?

The EPA rates the 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 (GLK350, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 19 city and 26 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,750 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 reported?

Among the 39 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 38,000 miles and the middle half falls between 14,000 and 64,000 miles; 54% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 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.