2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 has 280 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (53% of all complaints), specifically: tl*the contact owns a 2010 mercedes benz glk350. upon shifting the vehicle into drive it lunged forward. he applied pressure to the brake pedal but the brakes did not function. the vehicle continued moving forward until it crashed. a police report was filed and the driver suffered minor injuries. th. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 18 crash reports 11 injuries

280

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

149 complaints

53%

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ GLK350. UPON SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE IT LUNGED FORWARD. HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED MOVING FORWARD UNTIL IT CRASHED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. TH
• DRIVING 45 MPH AND WAS STRUCK BY A VEHICLE THAT PULLED INTO TRAFFIC ILLEGALLY. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BACK AND NECK INJURIES RESULTED FROM THE ACCIDENT. MERCEDES DID NOT ALERT CAR OWNERS THAT A "SERVICE BULLETIN" WAS ISSUED NOVEMBER 1, 2010 REGARDING A FLAW IN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. OVER 130 MER
• I RECEIVED THE RECALL INFORMATION (SEE ATTACHED) AND MY VEHICLE LISTED AS ONE OF THE RECALL VEHICLE ON THE LETTER SO I CALLED THE DEALER TO REQUEST FOR AN APPOINTMENT TO INSPECT THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY BUT HE STATED ACCORDING TO HIS RECORD, THIS VEHICLE VIN: [XXX] IS NOT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ GLK350. UPON SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE IT LUNGED FORWARD. HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED MOVING FORWARD UNTIL IT CRASHED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

31 complaints

11%

• FUEL/GAS TANK LEAKING AFTER FILLING UP THE TANK. CAR SMELL OF GAS AND POOL OF GAS OBSERVED ON THE FLOOR OF THE GARAGE. I HAVE TO BACKED UP THE CAR ON THE STREET TO AVOID POSSIBLE FIRE ON MY PROPERTY. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENCE...THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS A WEEK AGO, THE CAR SMELLS OF GAS AND I BROUGH
• FUEL LEAKING/DRIPPING AFTER FILLING UP WITH GAS. THE SMELL OF GAS PROMPTED ME TO LOOK UNDER THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS THEN THAT I SAW A SMALL POOL OF GAS ON THE DRIVEWAY. THE LEAKING STOPPED WHEN THE TANK WAS LESS THAN FULL AND RECURRED WHEN FILLING THE GAS TANK. NO DAMAGE YET, GOING TO THE DEALER
• ON 4/24/16, A TOYOTA REAR ENDED ME AND PUSHED ME INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE DAMAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRABLE UNTIL MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT LOOKED LIKE IT STARTED IN THE INSIDE ABOVE THE GAS TANK AREA, BUT THE MAN WORKING AT THE IMPOUND LOT THE NEXT DAY SAID IT LOOKED ELECTRICAL. EITH

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

“FUEL/GAS TANK LEAKING AFTER FILLING UP THE TANK. CAR SMELL OF GAS AND POOL OF GAS OBSERVED ON THE FLOOR OF THE GARAGE. I HAVE TO BACKED UP THE CAR ON THE STREET TO AVOID POSSIBLE FIRE ON MY PROPERTY. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENCE...THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS A WEEK AGO, THE CAR SMELLS OF GAS AND I BROUGH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

14 complaints

• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ GLK350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE PROGRESSING IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE MORE THAN ONCE, INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO SAFETY CONCERN AND THE VE
• The rear sub frame corrosion which caused the back tire of the driver side to fail off and lose control of the vehicle, which put myself and other drivers in harm because of lost of vehicle. The rear sub frame has corroded sooner than it's lifecycle. The dealership has confirmed the issue, inspected
• My mechanic reported that the subframe is corroded and that the vehicle is unsafe to drive. He told me that I cannot drive it at all. Apparently this is a very common problem in C class and Glk class Mercedes vehicles. I read that this problem is considered a recall issue in Germany and Canada, b

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

“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ GLK350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE PROGRESSING IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE MORE THAN ONCE, INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO SAFETY CONCERN AND THE VE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

13 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES GLK350. WHILE TRAVELING 4 MPH AND PULLING A TRAILER, THE TRAILER BEGAN MOVING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION THAN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FACTORY TRAILER HITCH WAS FRACTURED INTO TWO PIECES IN THE LOCATION WHERE THE HITCH WAS WELDED TOGETHER. THE V
• 2010 MERCEDES BENKGLK 350. ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE OUT A PARKING SPACE IN THE WESTFIELD SHOPPING CENTER, WHEATON, MD. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND REVERSED SLOWLY. I THEN PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND MOVED FORWARD TO DO A 3 POINT TURN.. PLACED THE CAR IN REVERSE AND IT STAL
• INTERMITTENT WARNING "CHECK RIGHT TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHT" I CHECK AND LIGHT NOT FUNCTIONING; MESSAGE DISAPPEARS, LIGHTS WORK AND THEN REPEATS WITH LIGHT NOT FUNCTIONING. ADDITIONALLY CAR FAILS TO START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. HAS BEEN IN SHOP 3 DAYS. NOT SURE IF IT IS WIRING HARNESS FAULTY, CIRCUIT BOAR

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES GLK350. WHILE TRAVELING 4 MPH AND PULLING A TRAILER, THE TRAILER BEGAN MOVING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION THAN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FACTORY TRAILER HITCH WAS FRACTURED INTO TWO PIECES IN THE LOCATION WHERE THE HITCH WAS WELDED TOGETHER. THE V”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

11 complaints

• WHEN IS RAINING WATER LEAKS INSIDE OF RIGHT FRONT AND SOAK ENTIRE FLOOR. *TR
• SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION PROBABLY DUE TO ACCIDENTALLY HITTING CRUISE CONTROL HANDLE, WHICH IS RIGHT ABOVE TURN SIGNAL (DEFECTIVE DESIGN ISSUE IN MANY MERCEDES MODELS), WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PARK IN DISABLED PARKING AREA. *JS
• THAT SATURDAY I HAD MY 30,000 MILE SERVICE AT ESTATE MOTORS IN GOLDENS BRIDGE, NY. THE DEALER ALSO DID AN "OPEN RECALL". THEY DEDUCTED $20 FROM MY BILL TO GET A CAR WASH. I DROVE DIRECTLY TO A CAR WASH ON ROUTE 202 IN NEW MILFORD, CT. ABOUT 3:00 PM, I WAS THIRD IN LINE AND AS THE TWO CARS AHEAD EDG

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“WHEN IS RAINING WATER LEAKS INSIDE OF RIGHT FRONT AND SOAK ENTIRE FLOOR. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 280 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ GLK350. UPON SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE IT LUNGED FORWARD. HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED MOVING FORWARD UNTIL IT CRASHED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: FUEL/GAS TANK LEAKING AFTER FILLING UP THE TANK. CAR SMELL OF GAS AND POOL OF GAS OBSERVED ON THE FLOOR OF THE GARAGE. I HAVE TO BACKED UP THE CAR ON THE STREET TO AVOID POSSIBLE FIRE ON MY PROPERTY. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENCE...THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS A WEEK AGO, THE CAR SMELLS OF GAS AND I BROUGH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ GLK350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE PROGRESSING IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE MORE THAN ONCE, INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO SAFETY CONCERN AND THE VE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES GLK350. WHILE TRAVELING 4 MPH AND PULLING A TRAILER, THE TRAILER BEGAN MOVING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION THAN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FACTORY TRAILER HITCH WAS FRACTURED INTO TWO PIECES IN THE LOCATION WHERE THE HITCH WAS WELDED TOGETHER. THE V
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)