RoadVitals

2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450 Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Oct 4, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
17%
of 47 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsBrakes
Filed Oct 4, 2026

I was driving on the highway my break warning light came and when I tried pulling over car would not stop my break pedal went all the way to floor causing me to hit the back of another car and I had to get a tow

NHTSA ID
11768795
Incident
Oct 3, 2026
Brakes
Filed Sep 14, 2023

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had stated that while depressing the brake pedal there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID
11544543
Incident
Apr 14, 2023
Brakes
Filed Jan 19, 2023

Breaks became unusable due to lost power break fluid caused by corrosion on the lines. Fluid was completely gone and breaks were not effective at all. Dashboard showed RED light with break error. Dealer confirmed that rust build up caused the failure.

NHTSA ID
11502596
Incident
Jan 5, 2023
Brakes
Filed Nov 9, 2022

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact was notified that her vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulics). The dealer had been notified about the recall and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer had been notified of the recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID
11492941
Incident
May 22, 2022
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 27, 2022

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated that while merging onto a highway, the vehicle failed to upshift at 32 MPH, without warning. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle and was then able to resume normal driving. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulics) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

NHTSA ID
11486630
Incident
Sep 13, 2022
Mileage
140,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 22, 2022

I HAVE BEEN ISSUED A STOP DRIVE ORDER UNDER RECALL ID# 22V315. I HAVE CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ TWICE AND BEEN IGNORED TWICE. FIRST CALL WAS AROUND JULY 5TH-2022 AND SECOND CALL WAS ON JULY 12TH. THEY APPARENTLY DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR STOP DRIVE NOTICE AS NO ONE HAS GOTTEN BACK TO ME ON THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11475341
Incident
Jul 5, 2022
Brakes
Filed Jul 13, 2022
Crash reported

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL 450. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to stop the vehicle causing him to crash into the vehicle in front. There were no warning lights illuminated. Both air bags under the steering wheels deployed. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The police arrived on the scene and filed a report. The front of the vehicle hood, bumper, and radiator was destroyed. There were no injuries or medical treatments. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The approximate failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11473677
Incident
Jan 10, 2022
Brakes
Filed Apr 30, 2018

"TAKATA RECALL" MY 2012 GL 450 MERCEDES BENZ ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY. WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR THE BRAKES ENGAGED BEFORE I COULD STOP MY VEHICLE AND PULL OVER. IT LITERALLY ALMOST SENT ME THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD, A HARD GRINDING SOUND AND AN INTENSE STOP. STILL TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE JERKED AND JERKED AND THE BRAKES CONTINUED TO ENGAGE. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. IF THE ABS SYSTEM IS FAULTY OR A BAD SENSOR THEN IT SHOULD NOT ENGAGE ITSELF AT ALL. I CALLED THE LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER AND SPOKE WITH A SPECIALIST AND HE INFORMED ME THAT YES THE BRAKES WILL ENGAGE IF THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE ABS. AGAIN THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ON THE SENSORS WHETHER IT'S THE ABS SENSORS OR THE SPEED SENSOR WHICH THEY ALSO INFORMED US THAT COULD CAUSE THIS MALFUNCTION. REGARDLESS THE VEHICLE BRAKES SHOULD NOT ENGAGE WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
11091111
Incident
Apr 25, 2018
Mileage
51,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .