2015 Mercedes-Benz GL450

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2015 Mercedes-Benz GL450 has 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (29% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2015 mercedes-benz gl450. while driving 40 mph, the vehicle stalled and the pre-safety function limited warning indicator illuminated. the vehicle was pushed over to the side of the road by the contact and passenger. the contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but it failed . ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 1 crash report 1 injury

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

7 complaints

29%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE PRE-SAFETY FUNCTION LIMITED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BY THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT IT FAILED
• PLASTIC COOLANT UNION ON RADIATOR HOSE GOING FROM THE COOLANT EXPANSION TANK TO THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY COOLANT PUMP CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED WHEN I WAS CHANGING THE LH DRIVER SIDE FRONT HEADLIGHT BULB. I WAS LEANING OVER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WITH MY HEAD DOWN TO VIEW THE BACK SIDE OF THE HEADLAMP
• The rubber sealing around the lift gate failed on the vehicle and water seeped inside the vehicle and entire bottom of the vehicle underneath the floor board thereby damaging the electronic components, engine wire harness and headliner thereby rendering the vehicle was beyond repair. This issue led

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE PRE-SAFETY FUNCTION LIMITED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BY THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT IT FAILED ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

3 complaints

13%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADREST PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM PROPERLY INSTALLING A CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HEADREST COULD ONLY BE REMOVED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT W
• TRIED TO INSTALL CHILD SAFETY SEATS IN 2ND ROW SEATS. THE 2ND ROW HEADRESTS PREVENT THE PROPER INSTALLATION OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEATS. THE HEADRESTS CANNOT BE REMOVED, OR MOVED OUT OF THE WAY SO THAT THE CHILD SAFETY SEATS CAN BE INSTALLED PROPERLY. I HAVE REPORTED TO OUR MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER. TH
• SECOND ROW HEAD REST DOES NOT ADJUST TO DIFFERENT POSITIONS MAKING IT UNSAFE FOR CHILDREN.

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADREST PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM PROPERLY INSTALLING A CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HEADREST COULD ONLY BE REMOVED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT W”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

3 complaints

13%

• GL 450 WITH VIN [XXX] EXPERIENCED EXACT PROBLEM DEFINED BY NHTSA RECALL # 18V272 IN MAY 2018 (2 OR 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE FROM MERCEDES-BENZ USA). DEALERSHIP, MERCEDES-BENZ OF MIDLOTHIAN VIRGINIA, PERFORMED REPAIR WORK REQUIRED (BASED URGENT NEED FROM MIL SAYING "DO NOT DRIVE VEHI
• ON 12/30/2017 WE PURCHASED A MERCEDES-BENZ CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 'CPO' VEHICLE FROM MERCEDES BENZ OF NORTH PALM BEACH. WE ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP IN THE AFTERNOON SENT BY MERCEDES BENZ OF WEST PALM BEACH THEIR AFFILIATED DEALERSHIP FOR THE SPECIFIC VEHICLE WE PURCHASED. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THE DEALE
• The airmatic system in this vehicle fails continuously, causing the vehicle to bump up and down while driving. Unsafe to drive

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

“GL 450 WITH VIN [XXX] EXPERIENCED EXACT PROBLEM DEFINED BY NHTSA RECALL # 18V272 IN MAY 2018 (2 OR 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE FROM MERCEDES-BENZ USA). DEALERSHIP, MERCEDES-BENZ OF MIDLOTHIAN VIRGINIA, PERFORMED REPAIR WORK REQUIRED (BASED URGENT NEED FROM MIL SAYING "DO NOT DRIVE VEHI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

3 complaints

13%

• SAME ISSUE AS RECALL CAMPAIGN 2017020016 LAUNCH. THE LATCH SECURING THE THE CENTER CONSOLE DOORS MIGHT NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 201. THE SAME BASIC DESIGN OF THE RECALLED 2017 GLS CLASS SUV CENTER CONSOLE HAS BEEN IN USE IN OTHER GL AND GLS MODELS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
• The fixed portion of the Panorama Sunroof exploded while driving on the highway at 65mph in light traffic and temperatures were in the mid 40's. Glass shards fell on the passengers, including three young children under the age of 5. Repairs are being arranged by customer pay and insurance. Manufac
• My 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 experienced an unexpected vehicle fire on Feb 13th 2026. The vehicle was just parked when I noticed smoke from the engine. The vehicle caught fire within a short period of time, and 911 was called. There was no known external cause for the fire. The incident appeared t

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

“SAME ISSUE AS RECALL CAMPAIGN 2017020016 LAUNCH. THE LATCH SECURING THE THE CENTER CONSOLE DOORS MIGHT NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 201. THE SAME BASIC DESIGN OF THE RECALLED 2017 GLS CLASS SUV CENTER CONSOLE HAS BEEN IN USE IN OTHER GL AND GLS MODELS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

2 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL FORWARD AS IF THE VEHICLE WERE IN DRIVE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER A CURB AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED
• ON 12/30/2017 WE PURCHASED A MERCEDES-BENZ CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 'CPO' VEHICLE FROM MERCEDES BENZ OF NORTH PALM BEACH. WE ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP IN THE AFTERNOON SENT BY MERCEDES BENZ OF WEST PALM BEACH THEIR AFFILIATED DEALERSHIP FOR THE SPECIFIC VEHICLE WE PURCHASED. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THE DEALE

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL FORWARD AS IF THE VEHICLE WERE IN DRIVE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER A CURB AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 24 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE PRE-SAFETY FUNCTION LIMITED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BY THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT IT FAILED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SEATS/RESTRAINTS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADREST PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM PROPERLY INSTALLING A CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HEADREST COULD ONLY BE REMOVED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT W
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: GL 450 WITH VIN [XXX] EXPERIENCED EXACT PROBLEM DEFINED BY NHTSA RECALL # 18V272 IN MAY 2018 (2 OR 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE FROM MERCEDES-BENZ USA). DEALERSHIP, MERCEDES-BENZ OF MIDLOTHIAN VIRGINIA, PERFORMED REPAIR WORK REQUIRED (BASED URGENT NEED FROM MIL SAYING "DO NOT DRIVE VEHI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: SAME ISSUE AS RECALL CAMPAIGN 2017020016 LAUNCH. THE LATCH SECURING THE THE CENTER CONSOLE DOORS MIGHT NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 201. THE SAME BASIC DESIGN OF THE RECALLED 2017 GLS CLASS SUV CENTER CONSOLE HAS BEEN IN USE IN OTHER GL AND GLS MODELS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)