2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450 Electrical Problems

The contact owns a 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated that the SRS warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that while the dealer was servicing the air suspension strut failures, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle had sustained severe water damage. The dealer informed the contact that the water had leaked from the sunroof through the headliner and onto the floor. The dealer informed the contact the water leak had caused mold on the headliner, and mold and corrosion on the floor, where the battery and electrical wires were located. The dealer informed the contact that the water entry had caused electrical failures, causing the driver's side and passenger's side third-row windows and the horn to become inoperable. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11623956

Incident

Oct 15, 2024

Blinkers and horn stopped working windshield wipers coming on without being turned on it’s saying drive to workshop without shifting gears and won’t start in the middle of the highway

NHTSA ID

11621304

Incident

Oct 22, 2024

RAIN LEAKED IN THROUGH THE BACK CAUSING THE REAR SAM TO BE FILLED WITH WATER. THIS CAUSED ALL OF MY TAILLIGHTS TO GO OUT. I SAW A RECALL FOR VEHICLES WITH THE SAME YEAR AS MINE BUT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE GL 450 THAT I CAN FIND. I CALLED MERCEDES WHICH YIELDED NOTHING.THEY TOLD ME THE RECALLS ARE VIN SPECIFIC, NOT VEHICLE SPECIFIC. I GUESS MY VIN WASN'T CHOSED EVEN THOUGH IT HAS THE SAME ISSUE AS THE ONES THEY RECALLED IN 2009. THIS IS A NEW SAM. IT WAS REPLACED BY US WHEN WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED.

NHTSA ID

11343043

Incident

Aug 3, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ABS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. IN ADDITION, THE ESP AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT ALL THE WHEELS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER .THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF SOUTH ORLANDO AT 407-374-0033 (LOCATED AT 4301 MILLENIA BLVD, ORLANDO, FL 32839) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000.

NHTSA ID

11244970

Incident

Aug 10, 2019

Mileage

190,000 mi

HEATING ELEMENT IN DRIVERS SIDE DEFECTIVE. THE CAR SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. MERCEDES REFUSES TO FIX UNDER WARRANTY. WILL ONLY COVER 25% OF A 1400$ REPAIR. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE SEAT.

NHTSA ID

11206247

Incident

May 1, 2019

Mileage

130,000 mi

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE ENGINE HAS SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT IDLE (STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT) AND WHEN TRAVELING 70+MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. THE EVENT HAPPENS VERY FAST AND THE ENGINE RESTARTS WITHIN 30SEC. THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD LIGHT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE BUT ALL SYSTEMS CONTINUE WORKING (AC, RADIO, ETC). I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 2 DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND NEITHER ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN VERY SCARY AND MAKES ME FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11130847

Incident

Sep 7, 2018

Mileage

168,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY SHUT-OFF WITH NO WARNINGS WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING ALL THE INTERNAL ELECTRONICS (E.G. NAVIGATION, DASHBOARD). AFTER 1 SECOND, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED ALL BY ITSELF. THE CLOCK INSIDE THE VEHICLE KEPT ON CIRCLING BACK AND FORTH AS IF SOME LIGHTNING HIT IT OR SOMETHING, AND IT WAS VERY SCARY, SINCE THERE WERE MANY CARS ON THE FREEWAY.

NHTSA ID

11088933

Incident

Apr 18, 2018

Mileage

153,000 mi

TL-CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES GL 450. CONTACT LOOKED ONLINE FOR RECALL FOR VEHICLE.MILEAGE ON VEHICLE IS 99,801. CONTACT WAS GOING 66MPH AT TIME WHEN DRIVERS SEAT CAUGHT FIREAND CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. MERCEDES HEATED SEATS RECALL FOR SEAT OVERHEATING AND HOLE BURNING IN DRIVERS SIDE SEAT. 0 RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN

NHTSA ID

11064425

Incident

Jan 22, 2018

Mileage

99,801 mi

2007 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAUSES FIRE. *SMD CONSUMER SENT ADDITIONAL CORRESPONDENCE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRE MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE SEAT HEATER. UPDATED 04/04/2017*JS UPDATED 04/14/2017*JS *JS

NHTSA ID

10933449

Incident

Jul 5, 2016

THE ISM (INTELLIGENT SERVO MODULE) HAS FAILED IN MANY OF THE SIMILAR MERCEDES CARS THAT I OWN. I CAN NOT START THE CAR AND CAN NOT EVEN ORDER THIS PART BECAUSE ONLY A DEALER CAN INSTALL THIS PART. MY VEHICLE IS STUCK IN A PARKING LOT AND THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO. I THINK THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ID

10937786

Incident

Dec 21, 2016

Mileage

91,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. ADDITIONALLY, THE ENGINE REMAINED FUNCTIONAL DURING TWO OF THE FAILURES, BUT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT SHIFT INTO THE CORRECT GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,561.

NHTSA ID

10915357

Incident

Oct 2, 2016

Mileage

127,561 mi

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING, I TURNED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT WARMER. LESS THAN THREE MINUTES LATER, I NOTICED A STRONG ODOR FOLLOWED BY A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF SMOKE AND HEAT COMING FROM THE SIDE OF THE SEAT NEAREST THE DOOR. I FELT WHAT I THOUGHT WAS SOMETHING POKING ME IN THE LEFT REAR POCKET OF MY PANTS, AND BURNED THE BACK OF MY KNUCKLE CHECKING FOR THE SOURCE OF THE HEAT. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF THE HEATER AND PULLED OFF AT THE FIRST SAFE LOCATION. I EXITED THE VEHICLE (A PALL OF SMOKE FOLLOWED ME) AND KNOCKED THE SMOKING EMBERS OUT OF THE VEHICLE (A HOLE LARGER THAN A QUARTER IS BURNED IN THE SEAT). I ALSO NOTICED A HOLE WAS BURNED THROUGH MY PANTS. APPARENTLY, I CAME VERY CLOSE TO SIGNIFICANT PERSONAL INJURY, NOT TO MENTION THE FACT OF POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WE CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SCHEDULED THE CAR FOR NEXT MONDAY. RESEARCHING INTO THE ISSUE, MINE IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE AS THERE ARE MULTIPLE CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS AND COMPLAINTS WITH THE NHTSA. OBVIOUSLY, THESE SEATS ARE DEFECTIVE, MERCEDES IS AWARE, THE PASSENGER SEAT IS NEXT AND IS NOT SAFE.

NHTSA ID

10839320

Incident

Mar 1, 2016

Mileage

100,101 mi

HEAD LIGHTS WENT OFF IN THE WHILE TRAVELING DUE TO DEFECTING WIRING SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO EXPERTS MB USED AN INFERIOR AND UNSUITABLE MATERIAL FOR THE INSULATION ON THE ELECTRICAL WIRES OF SOME OF THE GL450 MODELS. THIS INSULATION PREMATURELY DISINTEGRATES UNDER NORMAL USE CAUSING THE WIRES IT IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT AND INSULATE, TO SHORT CAUSING MANY PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

10721160

Incident

May 23, 2015

Mileage

117,000 mi

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE HORN INTERMITTENTLY GOES OFF AND WILL NOT STOP. MUST TURN OFF THE CAR TO GET THE HORN TO STOP SOUNDING. THEN, MUST TURN ON THE CAR AND TURN OFF THE CAR A FEW TIMES TO MAKE IT STOP UNTIL IT ALL STARTS HAPPENING, RANDOMLY, AGAIN. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASE AND HAS BEEN ROUTINELY SERVICED AND THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY STEERING WHEEL SWITCH. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE ISSUE IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL ITSELF. THE COST FOR AN IDENTICAL FACTORY WOOD STEERING WHEEL (WHICH IS WHAT THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW WITH) IS $3,000; IF WE OPTED FOR A LEATHER WRAPPED STEERING WHEEL INSTEAD THE COST WOULD BE $1500. THE OTHER WORKAROUND IS TO PULL THE FUSE AND NOT HAVE A HORN AT ALL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD NOT COST THIS MUCH TO HAVE A STEERING WHEEL SWITCH REPLACED! THIS IS ESSENTIAL, BASIC EQUIPMENT, AND STARTING HAPPENING ON A VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES. HAVE CONTINUED TO FOLLOW-UP WITH DEALER TO SEE IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL OR IF THEY WILL FIX, BUT MERCEDES IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10682780

Incident

Aug 30, 2012

Mileage

38,425 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY FAMILY TO AN AFTERNOON LUNCH ON THE 5TH OF DECEMBER, 2014, THE DAY WAS CHILLY AND IT WAS A GOOD TIME TO HAVE THE HEATED SEATS ON... AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING IN THE AREA (IT WAS ACTUALLY MY SEAT LIGHTING ME ON FIRE), NEEDLESS TO SAY THE SMELL CONTINUED TO GET WORSE AND I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I LOOKED FOR A SAFE AREA TO PULL OVER AND IDENTIFY THE SOURCE OF THE SMELL, BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD MY SIDE STARTED SMOKING AND LIT ON FIRE. I FRANTICALLY PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND JUMPED OUT. I THEN PROCEEDED TO RIP OF MY JACKET AND PUT OUT THE SMOLDERING SECTION OF IT. AFTER THAT I NOTICED THE CAR WAS STILL SMOKING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT ABOUT TO GO UP IN FLAMES, AT THIS TIME MY WIFE WAS PULLING OUR 2 YEAR OLD TWINS OUT OF THE VEHICLE I GOT BACK TO THE CAR TO TURN IT OFF AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE SCENE I FOUND THE HEATED SEAT HAD MALFUNCTIONED IN SOME MANNER AND BURNED A NICE HOLE IN THE SEAT WHICH IN RETURN LIT MY JACKET ON FIRE. I WILL GET IT INTO THE SHOP TO HAVE THE FUSE TAKEN OUT AND MAKE THE HEATED SEATS INOPERABLE NOT TAKING ANY CHANCES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10662961

Incident

Dec 5, 2014

Mileage

106,000 mi

AFTER STARTING VEHICLE AND TURNING ON SEAT WARMERS, THE CAR SMELLED OF A BURNING SMELL AND I FELT A VERY HOT SPOT ON MY BACK. I TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMERS TO FIND A HOLE BURNED INTO THE LEATHER. ALL OCCURRED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF 2007 MB GL-450.

NHTSA ID

10734182

Incident

Nov 30, 2014

Mileage

115,900 mi

I WAS IN MY 2007 MERCEDES GL450 AND HAD DRIVEN APPROX. 2 MILES WITH MY FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER ON. I STARTED TO NOTICE A STRANGE SMELL AND SUDDENLY THE CABIN WAS STARTING TO FILL UP WITH SMOKE. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BACK OF MY FRONT DRIVERS SEAT WAS ON FIRE. SNOW WAS ON THE GROUND SO I SCOOPED UP SNOW TO PACK IN THE FIRE/HOT SPOT WHICH HAD BURNED A LARGE HOLE THROUGH THE VINYL AND INSIDE PADDING MATERIAL. I LATER NOTICED THAT MY JACKET HAD BURN MARKS AND A HOLE IN THE EXACT LOCATION OF THE POINT OF THE FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10658757

Incident

Nov 16, 2014

Mileage

107,260 mi

DRIVING IN NEW JERSEY ON ROUTE 80 WEST FOR 1-2 MILES THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF BURNT WIRES THAT SMELL SO BAD AND HAVE NOTICED THAT THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER SEAT. IT WENT ON FOR FEW MINUTES WHERE THE WIRES ACTUALLY CAUGHT ON FIRE AND MELTED TOGETHER. STOPPED THE CAR, SHOT THE ENGINE OFF, WITH WINDOWS OPEN AND TRIED TO PULL THE WIRES APART TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE.... BUT COULD NOT SEPARATE THE WIRES FROM EACH OTHER. CALLED THE MB DEALER NEAR OUR LOCATION AND BROUGHT THE CAR IN AFTER THE MBUSA SUGGESTED TOWING IT IN AND LATER WE WERE TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER. THE LOCAL MB DEALER MANAGER I TALKED TO WAS VERY HELPFUL AND UNDERSTANDABLE AND HE TRIES TO SUPPORT ME THE BEST WAY HE COULD WHERE HE AGREED TO LOOK AT THE CAR AT REDUCED RATE TO HELP OUT TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE. THE CAR IS AT THE MB DEALER NOW. MBUSA SENT AN EXPERT TO INSPECT THE CAR AT THE MB DEALER AND AFTER A WEEK I WAS TOLD THAT NO ONE KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED. MBUSA RULED OUT ANY CONNECTIONS TO A PREVIOUS WORK DONE MB DEALER ON THE DRIVER SEAT HEATER. I WAS ALSO TOLD, BY MBUSA, THAT THE ISSUE IS AN INTERNAL AND THEY CAN??T DISCUSS THAT WITH ME AND I SHOULD GO THRU MY CAR INSURANCE SINCE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT??S APPROX. $12,000 JOB TO REPLACE THE MAIN HARNESS WHICH WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DAMAGE. I HAVE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY TO PURCHASE THIS SUV WHICH SUPPOSED TO BE SAFE AND RELIABLE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AND NEVER EXPECT THIS TO EVER HAPPEN. PERHAPS WE BROUGHT A LEMON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10584249

Incident

Apr 2, 2014

Mileage

140,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING IN MY SON [XXX] TO HIS SCHOOL IN WAYNE NEW JERSEY WITH MY GL 450 SEATS WARMER TURNED ON IN BOTH THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SEATS. I STARTED SMELLING SMOKE & THOUGHT IT WAS FROM OUTSIDE. I OPENED MY WINDOW, AND SMOKE STARTED SWIRLING INSIDE MY CAR AND STARTED GETTING THICKER WITHIN MINUTES. I TRY TO SEARCH FOR THE SOURCE OF THE STRANGE SMELL - BUT NO OBVIOUS CLUE OBSERVED. WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION I NOTICED THAT THE SEAT HAS BURNED A HOLE IN MY SUIT JACKET BACK LEFT SIDE. THE HOLE IN THE CAR IS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO IF POSSIBLE. I WOULD APPRECIATE DIRECTING ME TO THE APPROPRIATE LINE TO FIX MY SEAT AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF MY JEEP AND GET COMPENSATED FOR MY SUIT DAMAGE ASAP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10561862

Incident

Dec 12, 2013

Mileage

132,000 mi

I TURNED ON MY 2007 MERCEDES GL450 IN MY DRIVEWAY TO WARM IT UP AND 1 MINUTE LATER THE HORN CONTINUALLY WENT OFF. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THE HORN CONTINUED. SMOKE BEGAN FROM THE PASSENGER REAR TAIL LIGHT, THEN A FLAME. 911 WAS CALLED THE MOMENT WE SAW SMOKE. WITHIN SECONDS THE BACK SEAT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND THEN THE ENTIRE CAR. THE FLAMES WERE AS HIGH AS MY 2 STORY HOME. THERE IS NOTHING LEFT OF THIS CAR. THE AMOUNT OF BROKEN GLASS FROM ALL THE WINDOWS BLOWING OUT DOWN MY DRIVEWAY IS UNBELIEVABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10558873

Incident

Jan 3, 2014

Mileage

65,000 mi

MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 580 EASTBOUND IN LIVERMORE, CA. OTHER DRIVERS WERE FLAGGING ME TO PULL OVER. MY CAR IS TOTALLY DESTROYED. IT TOOK 3 FIRE TRUCKS AND 1500 GALLONS OF WATER AND FOAM TO PUT OUT. THERE WAS JUST UNDER 1/2 TANK OF GAS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10552653

Incident

Nov 17, 2013

Mileage

109,000 mi

MY MB GL450 2007 CARS HORN STARTED TO RANDOMLY GO OFF FOR NO REASON MULTIPLE TIMES. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES, ONCE WHEN I STARTED THE CAR IN GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT, SECOND TIME WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND SCARED OTHER MOTORIST TO PULL OVER. ONLY WAY I COULD MAKE IT STOP WAS TO PULL OVER AND TURN OFF THE CAR. WHEN I TURNED ON THE CAR THE HORN STARTED AGAIN, TURNED OFF, TURNED ON DROVE TO REPAIR SHOP. REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME THE SPRING FOR THE HORN HAD WARN OUT AND THE ELECTRONIC CONSOLE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SHOT. TOLD ME YOU CAN'T ORDER THE PART ANYMORE BECAUSE IT WAS DISCONTINUED, SO, WE HAVE TO ORDER A WHOLE NEW STEERING WHEEL FOR $1,200 PLUS $600 IN LABOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10523119

Incident

Jul 1, 2013

Mileage

83,000 mi

HORN STARTS HONKING BY ITSELF. WILL SOUND FOR 30 SECONDS OR MORE AND THEN STOP. OTHERWISE THE HORN DOES NOT WORK.. HORN CONTINUES TO RANDOMLY SOUND WHILE DRIVING. VERY UNSAFE AS IT STARTLES OTHER DRIVERS. TOOK TO DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BROKEN HORN SENSOR. HOWEVER TO FIX, THEY SAID THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL. TOTAL PRICE IS $1300 WITH LABOR. AT THIS PRICE IT WILL BE A WHILE BEFORE IT CAN BE FIXED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. A GOOGLE SEARCH TURNED UP SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS FORMS. AT THE $1,300 COST, THERE MUST BE SEVERAL MERCEDES GL 450 'S DRIVING AROUND WITH FAULTY HORNS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10477010

Incident

Sep 13, 2012

Mileage

92,000 mi

DRIVER SIDE SEAT CAUGHT FIRE AFTER HEATED SEAT BUTTON DEPRESSED ON THE DASH. APPROXIMATELY THREE MINUTES HAD ELAPSED WHEN SEAT BEGAN TO SMOKE. THE SMOKE CONTINUED AS THE SEAT CAUGHT FIRE ON THE FRONT LEFT PANEL OF THE BACK PORTION OF THE SEAT. THE FIRE PROJECTED THROUGH THE SEAT, BURNING A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT ABOUT TWO INCHES IN DIAMETER. DRIVER'S SWEATER WAS SINGED BY THE FLAME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10448071

Incident

Feb 13, 2012

Mileage

44,396 mi

MY CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. 90 MINUTES LATER ENGINE FIRE BEGAN THAT NEARLY BURNED DOWN MY GARAGE AND HOUSE. NO PROBLEMS WERE NOTICED IN THE CAR 60 MINUTES AFTER PARKING. FIRE OCCURRED 60 TO 90 MINUTES AFTER PARKING. *TT

NHTSA ID

10425972

Incident

Sep 16, 2011

Mileage

48,000 mi