2013 Mercedes-Benz GL350

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL350 has 12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (33% of all complaints), specifically: oil leak persistent from oil cooler in diesel bluetec engine spraying oil outside gasket onto fuel lines, oil pan, and onto the ground emitting high level of smoke with tarry burnt toxic noxious charcoal smell fumigating through the cabin and outside with visible blue smoke while driving moderate to. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 6 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

4 complaints

33%

• OIL LEAK PERSISTENT FROM OIL COOLER IN DIESEL BLUETEC ENGINE SPRAYING OIL OUTSIDE GASKET ONTO FUEL LINES, OIL PAN, AND ONTO THE GROUND EMITTING HIGH LEVEL OF SMOKE WITH TARRY BURNT TOXIC NOXIOUS CHARCOAL SMELL FUMIGATING THROUGH THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE WITH VISIBLE BLUE SMOKE WHILE DRIVING MODERATE TO
• MAKES A RATTLING NOISE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER STARTING AND SPUTTERING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING
• MAKES A RATTLING NOISE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER STARTING AND SPUTTERING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. MY CAR HAS 64K AND DAIGNOSED THE CAR AT 2 DEALERSHIPS CONFIRMED THE ENGINE CHAIN STRETCHED

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“OIL LEAK PERSISTENT FROM OIL COOLER IN DIESEL BLUETEC ENGINE SPRAYING OIL OUTSIDE GASKET ONTO FUEL LINES, OIL PAN, AND ONTO THE GROUND EMITTING HIGH LEVEL OF SMOKE WITH TARRY BURNT TOXIC NOXIOUS CHARCOAL SMELL FUMIGATING THROUGH THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE WITH VISIBLE BLUE SMOKE WHILE DRIVING MODERATE TO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

3 complaints

25%

• OIL LEAK PERSISTENT FROM OIL COOLER IN DIESEL BLUETEC ENGINE SPRAYING OIL OUTSIDE GASKET ONTO FUEL LINES, OIL PAN, AND ONTO THE GROUND EMITTING HIGH LEVEL OF SMOKE WITH TARRY BURNT TOXIC NOXIOUS CHARCOAL SMELL FUMIGATING THROUGH THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE WITH VISIBLE BLUE SMOKE WHILE DRIVING MODERATE TO
• MAKES A RATTLING NOISE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER STARTING AND SPUTTERING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. MY CAR HAS 64K AND DAIGNOSED THE CAR AT 2 DEALERSHIPS CONFIRMED THE ENGINE CHAIN STRETCHED
• OIL LEAK PERSISTENT FROM OIL COOLER IN DIESEL BLUETEC ENGINE SPRAYING OIL OUTSIDE GASKET ONTO FUEL LINES, OIL PAN, AND ONTO THE GROUND EMITTING HIGH LEVEL OF SMOKE WITH TARRY BURNT TOXIC NOXIOUS CHARCOAL SMELL FUMIGATING THROUGH THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE WITH VISIBLE BLUE SMOKE WHILE DRIVING MODERATE TO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

2 complaints

17%

• OIL LEAK PERSISTENT FROM OIL COOLER IN DIESEL BLUETEC ENGINE SPRAYING OIL OUTSIDE GASKET ONTO FUEL LINES, OIL PAN, AND ONTO THE GROUND EMITTING HIGH LEVEL OF SMOKE WITH TARRY BURNT TOXIC NOXIOUS CHARCOAL SMELL FUMIGATING THROUGH THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE WITH VISIBLE BLUE SMOKE WHILE DRIVING MODERATE TO
• OIL LEAK PERSISTENT FROM OIL COOLER IN DIESEL BLUETEC ENGINE SPRAYING OIL OUTSIDE GASKET ONTO FUEL LINES, OIL PAN, AND ONTO THE GROUND EMITTING HIGH LEVEL OF SMOKE WITH TARRY BURNT TOXIC NOXIOUS CHARCOAL SMELL FUMIGATING THROUGH THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE WITH VISIBLE BLUE SMOKE WHILE DRIVING MODERATE TO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

1 complaints

• AIRMATIC SUSPENSION SYSTEM DROPS IN THE REAR OF VEHICLE.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“AIRMATIC SUSPENSION SYSTEM DROPS IN THE REAR OF VEHICLE.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

1 complaints

• THERE ARE 13 COMPLAINTS ALREADY LOGGED AT NHTSA ABOUT DIFFERENT MODEL BENZ WITH PANORAMIC ROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODING. LIKELY ALL THOSE UNFORTUNATE DRIVERS, I WAS DRIVING ON A CLEAR SAT MORNING OF OCT 2016 WITH NO TRAFFIC AROUND ME WHEN I SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION LIKE A BULLET FIRED. I GOT SCARE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THERE ARE 13 COMPLAINTS ALREADY LOGGED AT NHTSA ABOUT DIFFERENT MODEL BENZ WITH PANORAMIC ROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODING. LIKELY ALL THOSE UNFORTUNATE DRIVERS, I WAS DRIVING ON A CLEAR SAT MORNING OF OCT 2016 WITH NO TRAFFIC AROUND ME WHEN I SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION LIKE A BULLET FIRED. I GOT SCARE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 12 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: OIL LEAK PERSISTENT FROM OIL COOLER IN DIESEL BLUETEC ENGINE SPRAYING OIL OUTSIDE GASKET ONTO FUEL LINES, OIL PAN, AND ONTO THE GROUND EMITTING HIGH LEVEL OF SMOKE WITH TARRY BURNT TOXIC NOXIOUS CHARCOAL SMELL FUMIGATING THROUGH THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE WITH VISIBLE BLUE SMOKE WHILE DRIVING MODERATE TO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: OIL LEAK PERSISTENT FROM OIL COOLER IN DIESEL BLUETEC ENGINE SPRAYING OIL OUTSIDE GASKET ONTO FUEL LINES, OIL PAN, AND ONTO THE GROUND EMITTING HIGH LEVEL OF SMOKE WITH TARRY BURNT TOXIC NOXIOUS CHARCOAL SMELL FUMIGATING THROUGH THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE WITH VISIBLE BLUE SMOKE WHILE DRIVING MODERATE TO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: OIL LEAK PERSISTENT FROM OIL COOLER IN DIESEL BLUETEC ENGINE SPRAYING OIL OUTSIDE GASKET ONTO FUEL LINES, OIL PAN, AND ONTO THE GROUND EMITTING HIGH LEVEL OF SMOKE WITH TARRY BURNT TOXIC NOXIOUS CHARCOAL SMELL FUMIGATING THROUGH THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE WITH VISIBLE BLUE SMOKE WHILE DRIVING MODERATE TO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: AIRMATIC SUSPENSION SYSTEM DROPS IN THE REAR OF VEHICLE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)