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Mercedes-Benz GLS 450Model year report

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 Problems

Compared with other Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 years

Typical for this model

46/100 0.9× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2019

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
35filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
13,000miles, 14 complaints with mileage
Recalls
8campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
19 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl 4WD · 17 city / 22 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 35 consumer complaints for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450. The part named most often is electrical system, with 8 complaints (23% of the total), followed by engine (8) and other or unknown (7). 14 of the complaints include a mileage, and 86% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 13,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 6 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns and 83 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 25 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 3 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 46 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: Brakes (1), Forward collision avoidance (1), Seat belts (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “After owning the vehicle for more than 2 years, the rear tailgate opened by itself 3 times in 8 days. The first time, the vehicle was parked in our home garage. The second time, we were traveling on a citiy street when the tailgate just popped open on its own. The third time, when exiting a parking garage with a low roof, it opened by itself, striking the low overhang in the garage. This time, the glass was broken and the body damaged. The first incident occurred when the vehicle was parked. The second incident, the vehicle was moving at 35 MPH. …”

NHTSA complaint #11183628, filed 2019-03, 5,900 miles

Engine: “I drove up and down the western united states on highways and city streets. I drove 16 hours a day for about 1 week. I received a check engine light with a warning that there was a small evap leak. After being serviced this warning did not appear again. I believe the thresholds were updated to ignore small evap leaks. Around october 28, 2019, I noticed the floor board of my vehicle overheating. I also detected more exhaust fumes entering the cabin. I believe the catalytic converters are less effective and a blockage is causing more exhaust to leak from the emissions system. …”

NHTSA complaint #11324007, filed 2020-05, 56,000 miles

Other or unknown: “While driving down the turner turnpike (between tulsa and okc, around 70-75mph)the vehicle without warning has swerved left and right on three different occasions. The action felt as if the hand of god was throwing us left and then right. The car has a mind of its own. Then the last time that I drove the car it suddenly yanked me off the road without warning, literally trying to kill us. This last incident occurred when the car had around 1,750 miles on it. The thing is dangerous! I now own a car that I can't put my family in and should not be allowed on the road. …”

NHTSA complaint #10969872, filed 2017-04, 1,750 miles

Exterior lighting: “My 2017 mercedes benz gls 450 has standard halogen lighting from the factory. It has very poor visibility in rainy,fog conditions. Also very poor visibility in urban areas where there is partial street lighting. The low bean headlights are too dim to see infront of vehicle. This is very big SUV and feel it is safety hazard to drive with the standard lighting.”

NHTSA complaint #11079108, filed 2018-03, 13,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

86% of the 14 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 5,900 and 40,000 miles.

36%0–1029%10–2521%25–507%50–750%75–1007%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (14 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 13,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

2017520195202220242026
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 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 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
GLS450 4matic 4WD3.0L 6-cyl9-speed automatic172219$4,350

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

See all 8 recalls for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 → · 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. 83 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 83 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz GLS 450

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20213111,00012—2157 · TypicalRising
2020364,20022—2153 · TypicalRising
20192531,4153—180 · FewerRising
2018148,0003—19—Not enough data
20173513,0008—1946 · TypicalRising

All Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 have?

NHTSA recorded 35 consumer complaints for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 8 complaints (23% of the total), followed by engine with 8.

Has the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 get?

The EPA rates the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 (GLS450 4matic, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 17 city and 22 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 reported?

Among the 14 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 13,000 miles and the middle half falls between 5,900 and 40,000 miles; 86% 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.