2016 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 2016 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
- Driver assistance120.0%
- Electrical120.0%
- Exterior lighting120.0%
- Seat belts120.0%
- Visibility120.0%
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
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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..
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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..
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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 .