2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK350

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 has 188 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (71% of all complaints), specifically: after just parking the vehicle but before getting out - the drivers headrest "exploded" and pushed my head toward the steering wheel. when driving the vehicle home the message center said problem with the driver front airbag and the passenger front airbag and the warning light was on. the next day.

6 crash reports 3 injuries

188

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

134 complaints

71%

• AFTER JUST PARKING THE VEHICLE BUT BEFORE GETTING OUT - THE DRIVERS HEADREST "EXPLODED" AND PUSHED MY HEAD TOWARD THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME THE MESSAGE CENTER SAID PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER FRONT AIRBAG AND THE PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG AND THE WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. THE NEXT DAY
• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ GLK350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REC
• THIS VEHICLE HAD AN AIR BAG RECALL SOME TIME AGO. IN APPROXIMATELY EARLY MAY 2016 WE CALLED AND THE DEALER SAID THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT YET SUPPLIED IT WITH ANY REPLACEMENT AIR BAGS. THE DEALER SAID THAT A NEW RECALL NOTICE WOULD BE SENT OUT WHEN THE AIRBAGS WERE IN STOCK. NO NEW NOTICE HAS AS

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

“AFTER JUST PARKING THE VEHICLE BUT BEFORE GETTING OUT - THE DRIVERS HEADREST "EXPLODED" AND PUSHED MY HEAD TOWARD THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME THE MESSAGE CENTER SAID PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER FRONT AIRBAG AND THE PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG AND THE WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. THE NEXT DAY”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

13 complaints

• EVERYTIME I FILL UP THE TANK, IT SMELLS GAS IN THE GARAGE AFTER IT STAYS OVERNIGHT. I DO NOT OVERFILL THE TANK. BUT, THIS STILL PERSISTS. MANY MB OWNERS I HAVE SEEN ON THE MB BLOGS AND INQUIRIES ABOUT THIS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD ISSUE THAT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE SAFTE
• SINCE NEW THE GLK WOULD SMELL LIKE GAS ANY TIME YOU FUELED UP. I NEVER TOPPED IT OFF BECAUSE THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT MAY BE A REASON YOU SMELL THE FUEL. I TOOK IT IN TO GET LOOKED AT AN THEY TOLD ME IT'S COMMON IT'S JUST THE EVAP SYSTEM WORKING. THAT'S FINE BUT AFTER A FEW YEARS ANYTIME I FILLED UP
• THE GLK SMELLS LIKE GAS ANY TIME IT'S FUELED UP. I NEVER TOP IT OFF BECAUSE IF I DO, IT LEAKS FUEL UNTIL I GET DOWN TO 3/4 OF A TANK. I TOOK IT IN TO GET LOOKED AT AND THE DEALERSHIP WARRANTY DEPT. TOLD ME MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT ONE OF THE ONES AFFECTED BY THE SAMEEXAT TYPE OF FUEL LEAK AS OTHERS IN

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

“EVERYTIME I FILL UP THE TANK, IT SMELLS GAS IN THE GARAGE AFTER IT STAYS OVERNIGHT. I DO NOT OVERFILL THE TANK. BUT, THIS STILL PERSISTS. MANY MB OWNERS I HAVE SEEN ON THE MB BLOGS AND INQUIRIES ABOUT THIS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD ISSUE THAT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE SAFTE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

7 complaints

• AFTER JUST PARKING THE VEHICLE BUT BEFORE GETTING OUT - THE DRIVERS HEADREST "EXPLODED" AND PUSHED MY HEAD TOWARD THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME THE MESSAGE CENTER SAID PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER FRONT AIRBAG AND THE PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG AND THE WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. THE NEXT DAY
• THE GLASS ON THIS VEHICLE IS VERY BAD AND HAS SPECS AND VISIBILITY IS BAD WHEN IT'S DAYLIGHT AND SUNNY OUT THERE MB DEALER RECOMMENDED XRAIN BUT IT' HASN'T IMPROVED
• THIS IS A HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE REGARDING MY CAR. THERE IS MOLD BUILD UP IN THE AC SYSTEM, WHICH IS A HEALTH AND SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE, THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS TO THE HEALTH IF MY FAMILY, ESPECIALLY TO MY SON WITH ASTHMA. MOLD CAUSES MANY HEALTH PROBLEMS, AND THIS CAR SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN.

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

6 complaints

• WHILE PARKING MY CAR IN A GARAGE, IT ACCELERATED. UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES, IT SPEEDED UP CAUSING ME TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.
• THIS VEHICLE HAD AN AIR BAG RECALL SOME TIME AGO. IN APPROXIMATELY EARLY MAY 2016 WE CALLED AND THE DEALER SAID THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT YET SUPPLIED IT WITH ANY REPLACEMENT AIR BAGS. THE DEALER SAID THAT A NEW RECALL NOTICE WOULD BE SENT OUT WHEN THE AIRBAGS WERE IN STOCK. NO NEW NOTICE HAS AS
• THE CPA+ (COLLISION PREVENTION ASSISTANCE) BRAKE SYSTEM FITTED TO OUR 2012 GLK 350 MALFUNCTIONED. ON THE FREEWAY, WITHOUT ANY TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF OUR CAR FOR MORE THAN 100 FEET, THE AUTOMATIC BRAKES JOLTED THE CAR SLOWING IT DOWN SUDDENLY FROM APPROX 70MPH TO APPROX 55MPH. THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY TA

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

“WHILE PARKING MY CAR IN A GARAGE, IT ACCELERATED. UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES, IT SPEEDED UP CAUSING ME TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

4 complaints

• WE HAVE 2012 MERCEDES BENZ GLK350 BOUGHT FROM NANUET MERCEDES BENZ, NANUET, NY. ON MARCH 11 DRIVING ON RTE 306S AND HIT A POT HOLE COVERED WITH WATER AT ABOUT 20 MPH. THE HEAD REST SPLIT APART AND HIT MY NECK. IF I WERE DRIVING 40 OR MORE MILES PER HOUR THAT IMPACT WOULD HAVE BROKEN MY NECK EVEN COU
• The seats on both the passenger and driver size has split at the seams. They began to appear in 2012. The battery failed and the car would not start. Periodically the car starts up slow. The car bucks in a hard motion when trying to accelerate. The car makes a grinding noise, with a dragging feelin
• My passenger got 2 degree burns to his right buttocks and seat is melted ...he is a paralyzed patient i took him to the er and the burn center i have pictures and documentation....my guess the seat got to hot melted and burned him this what doctors concluded the is very scary for a seat to burn the

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

“WE HAVE 2012 MERCEDES BENZ GLK350 BOUGHT FROM NANUET MERCEDES BENZ, NANUET, NY. ON MARCH 11 DRIVING ON RTE 306S AND HIT A POT HOLE COVERED WITH WATER AT ABOUT 20 MPH. THE HEAD REST SPLIT APART AND HIT MY NECK. IF I WERE DRIVING 40 OR MORE MILES PER HOUR THAT IMPACT WOULD HAVE BROKEN MY NECK EVEN COU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 188 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: AFTER JUST PARKING THE VEHICLE BUT BEFORE GETTING OUT - THE DRIVERS HEADREST "EXPLODED" AND PUSHED MY HEAD TOWARD THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME THE MESSAGE CENTER SAID PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER FRONT AIRBAG AND THE PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG AND THE WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. THE NEXT DAY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: EVERYTIME I FILL UP THE TANK, IT SMELLS GAS IN THE GARAGE AFTER IT STAYS OVERNIGHT. I DO NOT OVERFILL THE TANK. BUT, THIS STILL PERSISTS. MANY MB OWNERS I HAVE SEEN ON THE MB BLOGS AND INQUIRIES ABOUT THIS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD ISSUE THAT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE SAFTE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: AFTER JUST PARKING THE VEHICLE BUT BEFORE GETTING OUT - THE DRIVERS HEADREST "EXPLODED" AND PUSHED MY HEAD TOWARD THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME THE MESSAGE CENTER SAID PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER FRONT AIRBAG AND THE PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG AND THE WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. THE NEXT DAY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: WHILE PARKING MY CAR IN A GARAGE, IT ACCELERATED. UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES, IT SPEEDED UP CAUSING ME TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)