2009 Mercedes-Benz GL450 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 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL450, 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
- Airbags842.1%
- Brakes315.8%
- Suspension315.8%
- Engine210.5%
- Electrical15.3%
- Driver assistance15.3%
- Exterior lighting15.3%
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
TAKATA INFLATORS : THE SRS LIGHT IS CONTINUOUSLY STAYING ON IN THE VEHICLE. AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE IS STARTED THE LIGHT COMES ON AND DOES NOT GO OFF UNTIL THE VEHICLE GOES BACK OFF.
TAKATA RECALL: STILL NO REMEDY AVAILABLE PER MERCEDES BENZ; FIRST NOTICE RECEIVED 2/2017.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated that the ABS and check engine warning lights were illuminated, and the struts had failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed prior to the recall repair, due to the failure. The contact declined to pay the diagnostic fee, and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the dealer failed to honor the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 156,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle started shuddering. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who informed the contact that the vehicle was not safe to drive. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) was completed; however, after the recall repair was completed, the vehicle failed to start. The dealer replaced the battery and completed other unknown repairs on the vehicle. The contact stated that he picked up and drove the vehicle to his residence; however, the vehicle failed to start the next day. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would reimburse the rental car cost. The failure mileage was approximately 143,300.
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
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated that the ABS and check engine warning lights were illuminated, and the struts had failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed prior to the recall repair, due to the failure. The contact declined to pay the diagnostic fee, and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the dealer failed to honor the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 156,000.
I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH MY SUSPENSION. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE IT TWICE IN 1 YEAR. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED ON THIS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated that the ABS and check engine warning lights were illuminated, and the struts had failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed prior to the recall repair, due to the failure. The contact declined to pay the diagnostic fee, and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the dealer failed to honor the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 156,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle started shuddering. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who informed the contact that the vehicle was not safe to drive. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) was completed; however, after the recall repair was completed, the vehicle failed to start. The dealer replaced the battery and completed other unknown repairs on the vehicle. The contact stated that he picked up and drove the vehicle to his residence; however, the vehicle failed to start the next day. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would reimburse the rental car cost. The failure mileage was approximately 143,300.
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
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle started shuddering. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who informed the contact that the vehicle was not safe to drive. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) was completed; however, after the recall repair was completed, the vehicle failed to start. The dealer replaced the battery and completed other unknown repairs on the vehicle. The contact stated that he picked up and drove the vehicle to his residence; however, the vehicle failed to start the next day. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would reimburse the rental car cost. The failure mileage was approximately 143,300.
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
I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH MY SUSPENSION. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE IT TWICE IN 1 YEAR. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED ON THIS.
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
TAKATA INFLATORS : THE SRS LIGHT IS CONTINUOUSLY STAYING ON IN THE VEHICLE. AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE IS STARTED THE LIGHT COMES ON AND DOES NOT GO OFF UNTIL THE VEHICLE GOES BACK OFF.
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 .