2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450 has 51 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (18% of all complaints), specifically: this is to report an event happened more than once before. the car engine syo suddently while traveling on highway at speed and must have the car pull over to the side of highway to restart again!!! *tr. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 1 injury

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

9 complaints

18%

• THIS IS TO REPORT AN EVENT HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE BEFORE. THE CAR ENGINE SYO SUDDENTLY WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT SPEED AND MUST HAVE THE CAR PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF HIGHWAY TO RESTART AGAIN!!! *TR
• CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING. PROBLEM REPORTED TO YOU, BEFORE! THEY SENT ME TO THREE DEALER, ALL THEY DID WAS ROUTINE CHECKS AND DID NOT ADMIT TO PROBLEM. THIS IS EXACTLY LIKE GM KEY PROBLEM. WHY DIDN'T YOU SURVEY THIS ISSUE AND GET A RECALL?!!
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 (NA) MERCEDES BENZ GL450. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THROUGH A PUDDLE, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITIO

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

“THIS IS TO REPORT AN EVENT HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE BEFORE. THE CAR ENGINE SYO SUDDENTLY WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT SPEED AND MUST HAVE THE CAR PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF HIGHWAY TO RESTART AGAIN!!! *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

8 complaints

16%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND THE SIDE MIRRORS BECAME DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE UTILITY ROOM COMPARTMENT UNDER THE FRONT
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 (NA) MERCEDES BENZ GL450. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THROUGH A PUDDLE, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITIO
• DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH, A MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL "BLIND SPOT ASSIST INOPERATIVE," AND THE TURN INDICATORS STOPPED WORKING, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT. HAD TO EXIT THE FREEWAY, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO INDICATE TO OTHER DRIVERS THAT I WAS CHANGING LANES, AS TURN INDICATORS WERE

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND THE SIDE MIRRORS BECAME DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE UTILITY ROOM COMPARTMENT UNDER THE FRONT ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

7 complaints

14%

• THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW- THE HEADRESTS IN THE SECOND ROW ARE NOT ADJUSTABLE. THEY ONLY HAVE TWO POSITIONS: FULLY UP OR FULLY DOWN. IN EITHER OF THESE POSITIONS, MY 11 YEAR OLD CHILD'S HEAD IS IN A CLEARLY UNSAFE POSITION. IN THE DOWN POSITION, HIS BACK IS PUSHED FORWARD AND HIS NECK PUSHE
• THE 2ND ROW HEADRESTS DO NOT FULLY EXTEND/RETRACT UPWARD AND ALSO CANNOT BE REMOVED! WE ARE BEING TOLD BY MBUSA THAT THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE "EASY ENTRY 2ND ROW OPTION" AND THAT THOSE HEADRESTS HAVE LIMITED CAPABILITIES AS FAR AS RAISING/LOWERING/REMOVING. AS A RESULT CHILDREN SITTING IN THE 2ND ROW
• MY CHILD, WHO IS 11, CAN NOT SIT IN THE REAR SEATS OF THIS TRUCK WITHOUT THE SHOULDER HARNESS SLIDING ACROSS HIS NECK, A TERRIBLE SITUATION SHOULD AN ACCIDENT OCCUR. HIS HEAD IS FORCED DOWNWARD BY THE HEAD REST IN EITHER THE UP OR DOWN POSITION. GIVEN THE POSITION OF THE HEAD REST, EVEN A BOOSTER

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

“THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW- THE HEADRESTS IN THE SECOND ROW ARE NOT ADJUSTABLE. THEY ONLY HAVE TWO POSITIONS: FULLY UP OR FULLY DOWN. IN EITHER OF THESE POSITIONS, MY 11 YEAR OLD CHILD'S HEAD IS IN A CLEARLY UNSAFE POSITION. IN THE DOWN POSITION, HIS BACK IS PUSHED FORWARD AND HIS NECK PUSHE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

5 complaints

10%

• BRAKES ROTORS WARPED THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED AGAIN ON JUNE 5 2013 AT 5269 MILES REPLACED AGAIN NOT TOWING ANYTHING. *TR
• 1- BRAKES; VIBRATION AND SEVER SHAKING WHILE BREAKING , SINCE 11/2012 AT 2500 MILES NOW AT 14000 MILES . PADS AND ROTORS HAS BEEN CHANGED 3 TIMES AND PROBLEM IS KEEP COMING BACK / 2- VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING : SINCE 11/2012 VEHICLE VIBRATES AT ALL DRIVING SPEED 35-70 AND VARIES OF THE ROADS.
• FRONT END OF CAR STARTS TO SHAKE AT SPEED OF 60MPH AND VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT WILL NOT STOP. *TR

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

“BRAKES ROTORS WARPED THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED AGAIN ON JUNE 5 2013 AT 5269 MILES REPLACED AGAIN NOT TOWING ANYTHING. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

5 complaints

10%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR SECTION WOULD BOUNCE UP AND DOWN VIOLENTLY DUE TO A FAULTY REAR AIR SUSPENSION. IN ADDITION, AN ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND THE ARM REST WAS EXTREMELY HOT TO
• UPON ACCELERATION AFTER A COMPLETE STOP THERE ARE SEVERAL SECONDS OF HESITATION TO ACCELERATE AND LOUD CLICKING SOUNDS THAT NEIGHBORING CARS CAN HEAR. AFTER DOING ONLINE RESEARCH, THIS ISSUE IS NOT LIMITED TO GL450. OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPRESSED THE SAME CONCERN IN OTHER MODELS: 2008 C300, 2009 C300,
• WHEN ACTIVATION OF THE SUSPENSION LIFT SYSTEM. COMPRESSOR IS COOLING THEN A MALFUNCTION MESSAGE APPEARS ON THE SCREEN. VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY IN THE REAR UP AND DOWN AT LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS AND OVER ANY SMALL BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THIS CONCERNS ME FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHER OWNERS WHOM MAY HAVE THE SA

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR SECTION WOULD BOUNCE UP AND DOWN VIOLENTLY DUE TO A FAULTY REAR AIR SUSPENSION. IN ADDITION, AN ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND THE ARM REST WAS EXTREMELY HOT TO ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~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:

☐
ENGINE: THIS IS TO REPORT AN EVENT HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE BEFORE. THE CAR ENGINE SYO SUDDENTLY WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT SPEED AND MUST HAVE THE CAR PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF HIGHWAY TO RESTART AGAIN!!! *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND THE SIDE MIRRORS BECAME DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE UTILITY ROOM COMPARTMENT UNDER THE FRONT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SEATS/RESTRAINTS: THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW- THE HEADRESTS IN THE SECOND ROW ARE NOT ADJUSTABLE. THEY ONLY HAVE TWO POSITIONS: FULLY UP OR FULLY DOWN. IN EITHER OF THESE POSITIONS, MY 11 YEAR OLD CHILD'S HEAD IS IN A CLEARLY UNSAFE POSITION. IN THE DOWN POSITION, HIS BACK IS PUSHED FORWARD AND HIS NECK PUSHE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: BRAKES ROTORS WARPED THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED AGAIN ON JUNE 5 2013 AT 5269 MILES REPLACED AGAIN NOT TOWING ANYTHING. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)