2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK350

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 has 159 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (64% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2013 mercedes benz glk350. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the contact was involved in a head on crash with another vehicle. the air bags failed to deploy. the contact sustained head injuries that required medical attention. a police report was filed. the vehicle. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 4 crash reports 3 injuries

159

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

101 complaints

64%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ GLK350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE
• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ GLK350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SRS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V363000 (AI
• ON MAY-JUNE 2016 THE VEHICLE WAS SHOWING A WARNING LIGHT RELATED TO A MALFUNCTION OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT, THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THROUGH A VEHICLE INSPECTION THAT IT WAS RELATED TO THE STEERING MODULE. ONE WAS ORDERED. THE AIRBAGS WERE DISABLE FOR A MONTH, PLACING AT RISK MY WIFE'S LIFE. THE PROBLE

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ GLK350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

8 complaints

• THE SUNROOF ON MY 2013 MERCEDES BENZ GLK 350 SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED WITH NO WARNING. NOTHING HIT THE ROOF OR ANY OTHER PART OF THE CAR. THE WEATHER WAS ABOUT 36 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, NOT TOO COLD, NOT TOO HOT. THERE WAS A LOUD BANG (LIKE THE SOUND OF A GUNSHOT) FOLLOWED BY 5 - 10 MINUTES OF CRACKLI
• ON MAY-JUNE 2016 THE VEHICLE WAS SHOWING A WARNING LIGHT RELATED TO A MALFUNCTION OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT, THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THROUGH A VEHICLE INSPECTION THAT IT WAS RELATED TO THE STEERING MODULE. ONE WAS ORDERED. THE AIRBAGS WERE DISABLE FOR A MONTH, PLACING AT RISK MY WIFE'S LIFE. THE PROBLE
• WHEN I'M DRIVING THE CAR, THE CAR WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTS FROM D(DRIVE) TO P(PARK). IT HAPPENS ESPECIALLY WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE. I WENT TO DEALER FOR THE SAME ISSUE TWICE, AND IT SEEMS THEY STILL CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND FIX IT. THIS IS A LIFE-THREATENING ISSUE. JUST IMAGE THE CAR STOPS IMMEDIAT

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

“THE SUNROOF ON MY 2013 MERCEDES BENZ GLK 350 SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED WITH NO WARNING. NOTHING HIT THE ROOF OR ANY OTHER PART OF THE CAR. THE WEATHER WAS ABOUT 36 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, NOT TOO COLD, NOT TOO HOT. THERE WAS A LOUD BANG (LIKE THE SOUND OF A GUNSHOT) FOLLOWED BY 5 - 10 MINUTES OF CRACKLI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

8 complaints

• VEHICLE HAS ~ 20K MILES, BROUGHT INTO DEALER BECAUSE ABS LIGHT WENT ON WHILE DRIVING SAYING SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE. DEALER THEN FOUND GAS TANK LEAK, AND WOULD NOT LET ME LEAVE THE DEALER, BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY HAZARD. SEARCH SHOWS RECALL FOR EARLIER MODEL YEAR 2012 WITH SAME ISSUE, BUT DEALER SAYS N
• STARTING SMELLING FUEL ON LEFT REAR OF CAR FOUND OUT IT WAS THE LEFT FUEL SENDING UNIT CRACKED AND LEAKING NEXT TO THE FUEL LINE NIPPLE
• Feul leaks from the tank when the vehcle is on idling. I understand its feul pump leaking the feul. This is a gushing leak under the tank whne the car is idling no obvious leak when parked the engine is off.

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

“VEHICLE HAS ~ 20K MILES, BROUGHT INTO DEALER BECAUSE ABS LIGHT WENT ON WHILE DRIVING SAYING SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE. DEALER THEN FOUND GAS TANK LEAK, AND WOULD NOT LET ME LEAVE THE DEALER, BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY HAZARD. SEARCH SHOWS RECALL FOR EARLIER MODEL YEAR 2012 WITH SAME ISSUE, BUT DEALER SAYS N”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

7 complaints

• EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILS TO RELEASE. IF RELEASED BRAKE CANNOT BE APPLIED BECAUSE IT FREEZES. BRAKE WAS USED REGULARLY WHEN IN PARK AS PRESCRIBED. BRAKE WAS ALSO EXCERSIZED ACCORDING TO PROCEDURES ON P.165 OF THE 2012-3 GLK OWNERS MANUAL. UNDERBODY OF CAR WAS GENTLY WASHED PERIODICALLY TO FLUSH ANY SAL
• VEHICLE HAS ~ 20K MILES, BROUGHT INTO DEALER BECAUSE ABS LIGHT WENT ON WHILE DRIVING SAYING SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE. DEALER THEN FOUND GAS TANK LEAK, AND WOULD NOT LET ME LEAVE THE DEALER, BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY HAZARD. SEARCH SHOWS RECALL FOR EARLIER MODEL YEAR 2012 WITH SAME ISSUE, BUT DEALER SAYS N
• Sudden loss of brake function with large amounts of brake fluid leaking from the car.

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

“EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILS TO RELEASE. IF RELEASED BRAKE CANNOT BE APPLIED BECAUSE IT FREEZES. BRAKE WAS USED REGULARLY WHEN IN PARK AS PRESCRIBED. BRAKE WAS ALSO EXCERSIZED ACCORDING TO PROCEDURES ON P.165 OF THE 2012-3 GLK OWNERS MANUAL. UNDERBODY OF CAR WAS GENTLY WASHED PERIODICALLY TO FLUSH ANY SAL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

6 complaints

• VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED LEAVING MY 3 YEAR OLD IN THE VEHICLE STRAPPED TO HER CARSEAT. THE KEY FOB WAS IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. MY WIFE LEFT THE KEYS IN HER PURSE SINCE THEY ARE BLUETOOTH KEYS AND PLACED THEM INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND WALKED AROUND TO DRIVERS SIDE TO GET IN. VEHICLE SELF LOCK
• I JUST LEFT MY HOUSE AND DROVE APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES. I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND AS I MADE A TURN AND ACCELERATED, I FELT A DRAG AND THEN A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I THEN SMELLED SMOKE AND SAW BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. I PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT OF THE
• WHEN I'M DRIVING THE CAR, THE CAR WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTS FROM D(DRIVE) TO P(PARK). IT HAPPENS ESPECIALLY WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE. I WENT TO DEALER FOR THE SAME ISSUE TWICE, AND IT SEEMS THEY STILL CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND FIX IT. THIS IS A LIFE-THREATENING ISSUE. JUST IMAGE THE CAR STOPS IMMEDIAT

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

“VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED LEAVING MY 3 YEAR OLD IN THE VEHICLE STRAPPED TO HER CARSEAT. THE KEY FOB WAS IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. MY WIFE LEFT THE KEYS IN HER PURSE SINCE THEY ARE BLUETOOTH KEYS AND PLACED THEM INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND WALKED AROUND TO DRIVERS SIDE TO GET IN. VEHICLE SELF LOCK”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 159 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ GLK350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: THE SUNROOF ON MY 2013 MERCEDES BENZ GLK 350 SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED WITH NO WARNING. NOTHING HIT THE ROOF OR ANY OTHER PART OF THE CAR. THE WEATHER WAS ABOUT 36 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, NOT TOO COLD, NOT TOO HOT. THERE WAS A LOUD BANG (LIKE THE SOUND OF A GUNSHOT) FOLLOWED BY 5 - 10 MINUTES OF CRACKLI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: VEHICLE HAS ~ 20K MILES, BROUGHT INTO DEALER BECAUSE ABS LIGHT WENT ON WHILE DRIVING SAYING SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE. DEALER THEN FOUND GAS TANK LEAK, AND WOULD NOT LET ME LEAVE THE DEALER, BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY HAZARD. SEARCH SHOWS RECALL FOR EARLIER MODEL YEAR 2012 WITH SAME ISSUE, BUT DEALER SAYS N
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILS TO RELEASE. IF RELEASED BRAKE CANNOT BE APPLIED BECAUSE IT FREEZES. BRAKE WAS USED REGULARLY WHEN IN PARK AS PRESCRIBED. BRAKE WAS ALSO EXCERSIZED ACCORDING TO PROCEDURES ON P.165 OF THE 2012-3 GLK OWNERS MANUAL. UNDERBODY OF CAR WAS GENTLY WASHED PERIODICALLY TO FLUSH ANY SAL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)