2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450 has 51 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (41% of all complaints), specifically: tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2012 mercedes-benz gl450. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v081000 (air bags) for the driver frontal air bag inflator; however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonab.

3 crash reports 2 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

21 complaints

41%

• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) FOR THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIR BAG INFLATOR; HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONAB
• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REMEDY.
• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR.

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

“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) FOR THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIR BAG INFLATOR; HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONAB”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

7 complaints

14%

• AIRMATIC SUSPENSION LEAK. REQUIRING EXPENSIVE REPAIRE.. ONLY HAS 61000 MILES
• AT 80K MILES THE FRONT AIR SUSPENSION STARTED LEAKING AND I HAD THEM REPLACED AT A COST $2414.42. I WAS ALWAYS WORRIED THAT NEXT WAS THE BACK SUSPENSION AND THIS IS NOW TRUE THAT I HAVE TO DO THE SAME FOR THE REAR AIR SUSPENSION AND I CAN ESTIMATE BASED ON THE LAST REPAIR PRICE THAT PERHAPS WILL B
• WHILE DRIVING THE BALANCING INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. THEN THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. IT FELT LIKE I WAS REAR ENDED. THEN WAS VEHICLE WAS SITTING ON THE SPRINGS. MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 83000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT AND NOW REAR SUSPENSION.

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

“AIRMATIC SUSPENSION LEAK. REQUIRING EXPENSIVE REPAIRE.. ONLY HAS 61000 MILES”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

7 complaints

14%

• "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.
• The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL 450. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to stop the vehicle causing him to crash into the vehicle in front. There were no warning lights illuminated. Both air bags under the steering wheels deployed
• 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.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“"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. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

5 complaints

10%

• 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
• 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 WHE
• UPON ACCELERATION A CLUNKING SOUND COMES FROM WITHIN THE TRANSFER CASE. THIS VEHICLE HAS @ 148,000 MAINLY HIGHWAY MILES ON IT. THIS TRANSFER CASE PROBLEM IS A PREMATURE FAILURE AND IS REMINISCENT OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM MERCEDES HAD @ 12 YEARS AGO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

2 complaints

• WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN THE LEFT LANE OF A DIVIDED HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT NOTICE LOST ENGINE POWER AND POWER STEERING. THE WEATHER CONDITION WAS LIGHT RAIN AND THE ROAD WAS WET. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND RESTART THE ENGINE BUT IT DIED W
• THERE IS A STRONG ODOR OF GAS COMING FROM THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL WHEN PARKED AND WHEN DRIVING. WE HAVEN'T FOUND ANY GAS ON THE FLOOR OF OUR GARAGE BUT DEFINITELY A STRONG GAS SMELL AND FUMES. WE HAVE TRIED TO FILL THE TANK 1/2 WAY BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HELP THE SMELL/FUMES ARE THROUGHOUT OUR

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

“WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN THE LEFT LANE OF A DIVIDED HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT NOTICE LOST ENGINE POWER AND POWER STEERING. THE WEATHER CONDITION WAS LIGHT RAIN AND THE ROAD WAS WET. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND RESTART THE ENGINE BUT IT DIED W”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 51 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) FOR THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIR BAG INFLATOR; HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONAB
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: AIRMATIC SUSPENSION LEAK. REQUIRING EXPENSIVE REPAIRE.. ONLY HAS 61000 MILES
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: "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.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)