2016 Mercedes-Benz GL350 Owner Complaints

Spontaneously exploding panoramic sunroof: I was driving northbound on I-5 in Everett, WA, on 27 January 2023 around 7pm. It was clear, the road was dry, it was around 45 degrees, and there was medium traffic. We were going about 65mph. Just myself and my 4 year old daughter were in the car. With no warning and no visible reason there was a gunshot-like sound and then wind (and a crying daughter). I figured out that it was the rear panel of our two-panel sunroof and glass was sprinkling down. Luckily the sunshade roller was holding much of it. We pulled over and checked it out and that is it. Nobody was injured, but there was glass all over my daughter and in her car seat. facts: -2016 GL350 Mercedes; 59500 miles, excellent shape, two-panel panoramic sunroof (front sliding; rear fixed in place) -I have a Packasport 90 rooftop box on low profile Whispbars that covers the entire sunroof with only about a 1.5" gap over the rear glass panel -the box has been on the roof for at least 3 years and the sunroof has not been operated in that time -there have been no modifications to the car besides the rooftop box -it is very, very, very unlikely that a rock could've hit it (although the dealer and insurance don't really want to hear this) -the temperature was normal for January -the highway was smooth and clean and dry -the glass was cratered upward after breaking (may not mean anything) -I was not following a dump truck or a logging truck -I didn't see or hear any rocks or debris in the split second before the breakage My assessment is that the glass shattered of its own accord. I do not know why, but I have seen reports of this on the internet in auto forums.

NHTSA ID

11508928

Incident

Jan 27, 2023

THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING ON THE VEHICLE PROVIDED IS SIGNIFICANTLY INFERIOR IN INTENSITY AND DISTANCE ILLUMINATED. IT IS VERY HARD TO SEE AN OBJECT AFTER FEW FEET AND NIGHT DRIVING BECOMES EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. AT NIGHT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SEE THE PASSING CARS OR PEOPLE AND FOLLOWING IS THE REPORT FROM IIHS ON THE ILLUMINATION RESULTS, WHICH WERE TESTED TO BE POOR. HTTP://WWW.IIHS.ORG/IIHS/RATINGS/VEHICLE/V/MERCEDES-BENZ/GLE-CLASS-4-DOOR-SUV/2018 I CONTACTED THE MB USA OFFICE AND THE INFORMED ME THIS IS AS PER DESIGN AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I SINCERELY RECOMMEND NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND CONDUCT SOME INVESTIGATION INTO IT. THIS WILL PREVENT ANY FATALITY OR SERIOUS CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

11092093

Incident

May 31, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GL350. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO EDHICKS MERCEDES (3102 S PADRE ISLAND DR, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78415), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. CONSUMER STATED HE HAD BRAKED HARD AND HIS WIFE WAS THROWN AGAINST THE DASHBOARD, BOTH WERE WEARING THEIR SEABELTS. VIN INVALID UPDATED 9/13/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11052207

Incident

Nov 26, 2017

Mileage

16,000 mi

ON SEPTEMBER 6 2017 MY MERCEDES CLUSTER PANAL (ODEMETER) STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING. WHICH THEN I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE ODOMETER WHICH THEN FAILED AGAIN HOURS AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR. AFTER REPLACING IT 3 TIMES UNDER WARRANTY I'M STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. I CONTACTED MERCEDES CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY AIN'T ADDRESSING THE ISSUE PROPERLY AND HAS STOPPED CALLING ME BACK REGARDING THIS MATTER. I HAVE BEEN OUT OF A CAR SINCE SEPTEMBER 6,2017 TILL TODAY WITH NO LOANER VEHICLE FROM MERCEDES. I WAS FORCED TO RENT A CAR UNDER MY OWN EXPENSE WHILE STILL MAKING THE LEASE PAYMENTS ON THE MERCEDES THAT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE SINCE I'M NOT ABLE TO KNOW SPEED, GAS, GEAR I'M IN ETC..

NHTSA ID

11044392

Incident

Sep 6, 2017

Mileage

30,000 mi