2011 Mercedes-Benz GL350 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL350, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags937.5%
- Engine625.0%
- Brakes416.7%
- Suspension28.3%
- Driver assistance14.2%
- Seat belts14.2%
- Steering14.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
GOT THIS RECALL ISSUED 3 YEARS AGO,THE INFAMOUS TAKATA AIRBAG.CALLED THE DEALERS AROUND AGAIN AND AGAIN,THEY ARE SAYING NO PARTS AVAILABLE .ALWAYS THEY SAY IT S GONNA BE SOMEDAY IN THE NEAR FUTURE,NO SPECIFIC TIME OR DATES.DUE TO THE VITAL NATURE OF THIS ISSUE I CANT ACCEPT THEIR CANDOR AND LACK OF INTEREST .PLEASE CHECK AND ADVICE OF MY CONSUMER MODE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.THANK YOU
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ GL350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. RAY CATENA OF FREEHOLD MERCEDES-BENZ (4380 ROUTE 9 SOUTH, FREEHOLD, NJ 07728, 732-339-6800) STATED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF A LOANER VEHICLE OPTION FROM THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *JS
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL350. The contact stated that the dealer had previously serviced the vehicle under an unknown diesel emission recall; however, the failure occurred after the recall repair was performed with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine and ABS warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and the ignition switch was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The dealer determined that the engine compartment fuse box needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,001.
The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL350. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated continuously. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
- The hard brake lines from the going to the rear axle ruptured during light braking. The corroded sections have been removed and are available. - I had no indication of a problem until I went to stop the vehicle. I was able to slow the vehicle down but could not keep it from moving forward with out being in neutral. Had there been another car in front of me or in traffic, I would not of been able to stop. - The problem cannot be reproduced by a dealer, since the corroded and ruptured section of the lines had to be replaced. There has been no inspection of the issue since no accident occurred. - No warning lamps or any indication of a problem until the brake pedal was applied. Pedal was firm then suddenly went to the floor (repeatedly). Only until all the fluid drained from the reservoir did the "brake" light come on.
The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
Malfunction with the air suspension. The vehicle is currently lowered and will not rise which is causing the tires to sit in a bent position and a horrible ride. The tires appear that they will detach from vehicle which is a safety risk for myself and others. After repairs from someone who presented themselves as a certified Mercedes’ mechanic, the issues still exist. The problems first existed about a year and a half ago, about 6 months after purchasing. I am making payments on a vehicle I am unable to safely drive or use for travel with my family. This should be a recall due to several vehicles jus in my area with same issues.
GETTING MESSAGE " MALFUNCTIONING" AND COMPRESSOR COOLING DOWN EVEN THOUGH CHANGING FRONT STRUTS AND MAKING ROARING NOISE WHEN CAR IS IDLE, AND BURNT SMELL INSIDE CAR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
Malfunction with the air suspension. The vehicle is currently lowered and will not rise which is causing the tires to sit in a bent position and a horrible ride. The tires appear that they will detach from vehicle which is a safety risk for myself and others. After repairs from someone who presented themselves as a certified Mercedes’ mechanic, the issues still exist. The problems first existed about a year and a half ago, about 6 months after purchasing. I am making payments on a vehicle I am unable to safely drive or use for travel with my family. This should be a recall due to several vehicles jus in my area with same issues.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT IS BROKEN. THE MECHANISM WILL NOT RETRACT. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY HAVE BEEN SEEING THIS PROBLEM, BUT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO. THEY ONLY RESPOND TO RECALLS THAT NHTSA INITIATES. THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE BROKEN SEAT BELT FOR FREE, BECAUSE IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE EVEN THOUGH THE CAR ONLY HAS 37,000 MILES, BECAUSE IT IS 5 YEARS OLD, THE WARRANTY WAS 50,000 OR 4 YEARS, WHICHEVER CAME FIRST. WE PAID OVER $400 TO REPLACE THE SEATBELT BECAUSE THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. WE HAVE PICTURES AND THE ORIGINAL PART IN OUR POSSESSION. WE KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND WE HOPE YOU CAN ISSUE A RECALL. THANK YOU.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ GL350. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH AND NOTICED AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE AS THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER THE STEERING SYSTEM COLUMN WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILURE LATER RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .