2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 has 64 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.8x the segment average of 23. The most common issue is electrical problems (28% of all complaints), specifically: while driving the vehicle, a series of electrical system warnings were displayed in rapid succession. shortly thereafter, the vehicle lost power, the engine shut off, and the vehicle began to glide. this incident occurred on a residential street while the vehicle was travelling at 25-30 mph. the war. There are 20 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.
64
Total Complaints
20
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
2.8x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
ELECTRICAL
18 complaints- • WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, A SERIES OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WARNINGS WERE DISPLAYED IN RAPID SUCCESSION. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO GLIDE. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELLING AT 25-30 MPH. THE WAR
- • WE PURCHASED A NEW 2020 MERCEDES BENZ GLS 450 IN OCTOBER 2019 FROM THE OAKLAND DEALERSHIP AND SHIPPED THE CAR TO HAWAII. THE VEHICLE IS NOW 117 MONTHS OLD AND HAS ABOUT 4100 MILES. BECAUSE OUR VEHICLE IS LIGHTLY USED WE ARRANGED FOR MERCEDES BENZ TO SUPPLY AND INSTALLED A 'BATTERY MINDER' TO KEEP TH
- • The vehicle issued a “48v battery malfunction” and the car warned me not to drive the vehicle under any circumstance. This was while driving at 55 mph on a country road. The dealer I bought the car from had 3 other cars brought in for the same issue. The dealer my car was towed to said they just had
“WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, A SERIES OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WARNINGS WERE DISPLAYED IN RAPID SUCCESSION. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO GLIDE. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELLING AT 25-30 MPH. THE WAR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Recalls (20)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 AMG GLE 53, 2020 GLE350, GLE450, GLE580, GLS450, and GLS580 vehicles. The air conditioner drain hoses may have been incorrectly installed, causing water to drain into the passenger compartment.
Risk: Water intrusion into the driver and passenger side foot wells may cause corrosion and/or short circuits to electrical components, increasing the risk of fire. In addition, the emergency call (eCall) feature may be disabled and the doors may not unlock, increasing the risk of injury. Also, the engine may not start or may enter a limp-home mode, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and correct the air conditioner drain hoses, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021040024.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Recommended Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 Service Intervals
Service A / Service B alternating schedule. Requires MB-approved oil (229.5 spec typically).
"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.
Mercedes-Benz New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
EQ EV battery warranty is 10 years/155,000 miles
These are the terms for a new Mercedes-Benz. If you're buying a used 2020 GLS 450, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Mercedes-Benz dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 64 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ELECTRICAL: WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, A SERIES OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WARNINGS WERE DISPLAYED IN RAPID SUCCESSION. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO GLIDE. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELLING AT 25-30 MPH. THE WAR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: WE PURCHASED A NEW 2020 MERCEDES BENZ GLS 450 IN OCTOBER 2019 FROM THE OAKLAND DEALERSHIP AND SHIPPED THE CAR TO HAWAII. THE VEHICLE IS NOW 117 MONTHS OLD AND HAS ABOUT 4100 MILES. BECAUSE OUR VEHICLE IS LIGHTLY USED WE ARRANGED FOR MERCEDES BENZ TO SUPPLY AND INSTALLED A 'BATTERY MINDER' TO KEEP TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: 03/17/2023 driving on US1 coming up to speed after pulling onto highway after cars passed I went 0.2 miles and was looking at my driver side mirror ( no traffic on road ahead of me) when I hit something that pushed my big SUV toward oncoming traffic. I held wheel and muscled car to side of road sto
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: WE PURCHASED A NEW 2020 MERCEDES BENZ GLS 450 IN OCTOBER 2019 FROM THE OAKLAND DEALERSHIP AND SHIPPED THE CAR TO HAWAII. THE VEHICLE IS NOW 117 MONTHS OLD AND HAS ABOUT 4100 MILES. BECAUSE OUR VEHICLE IS LIGHTLY USED WE ARRANGED FOR MERCEDES BENZ TO SUPPLY AND INSTALLED A 'BATTERY MINDER' TO KEEP TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 20 recalls have been completed — free at any Mercedes-Benz dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 — Year Comparison
How does 2020 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 64
- Recalls
- 20
- Fire reports
- 3
- Crash reports
- 7
- Injury reports
- 6
- Segment avg
- 23
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450