2015 Mercedes-Benz GL450 Owner Complaints

My 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 experienced an unexpected vehicle fire on Feb 13th 2026. The vehicle was just parked when I noticed smoke from the engine. The vehicle caught fire within a short period of time, and 911 was called. There was no known external cause for the fire. The incident appeared to originate from the engine compartment. This created a serious safety hazard and posed a risk of injury and property damage. The fire required immediate response from the fire department, and the vehicle was declared a total loss. The vehicle is currently in the possession of the insurance company. This incident raises concerns about a potential mechanical or electrical defect. A vehicle should not catch fire under normal operating or parked conditions. I am requesting that this incident be reviewed as a potential safety defect.

NHTSA ID

11728375

Incident

Feb 13, 2026

To Whom It May Concern: I am writing to formally request the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s assistance regarding a critical safety defect in my 2015 Mercedes‑Benz GL 450 (M278 engine). I purchased this vehicle in October 2024 with 76,000 miles, and it now has about 87,000 miles. Alarmingly, I recently received a quote for $13,000 to repair a camshaft failure and extensive electrical damage. I was unaware of these issues when I purchased this car. I bought it under the illusion that it would be a safe vehicle for me and my children. As a single parent and teacher I invested in this vehicle what I could afford and felt I had purchased a safe, reliable vehicle. I am devasted to have a proposal for repairs in excess of $13,000 from a Mercedes dealership who diagnosed the car. This caused me to do some research and I found the GL450 has a known and widespread defect. I also found, that this causes the cam shaft to need to be repaired and that this is not normal wear-and-tear—it is a systemic design vulnerability common across GL450 models. This can result in the engine seizing from what I was told and that directly poses a substantial risk when driving. From what I found this is a common issue with this car and I did not know that when I purchased it. This is a design flaw, not a misuse of the vehicle. Finally, a $13,000 repair to make this car safe and road ready is astronomical and is not aligned with a normal maintenance cost- manufacturer accountability is warranted here. I respectfully request that the NHTSA: Investigate whether a safety recall or extended warranty program is appropriate for this known defect in the GL450. Require Mercedes‑Benz to provide a comprehensive repair solution for me and repair this defect in my car's engine under the manufacturer's expense. And finally, for Mercedes to make customers affected by this aware of this engine defect and long term risks associated with this issue. Respectfully, Alyssa Begin

NHTSA ID

11679345

Incident

Aug 8, 2025

The contact owns 2015 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where DTC code: P060A00 was retrieved. The dealer determined that the solenoid valve had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to TSB Number: 37 13 17 2029027/8. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.

NHTSA ID

11626901

Incident

Apr 22, 2024

Mileage

119,000 mi

The contact owned a 2015 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated that the vehicle was in the dealer for 12 days for an oil change. The contact's son drove the vehicle 2 days later, at an undisclosed speed when the vehicle started smoking from the engine. The contact's son pulled over when the vehicle caught fire completely. The fire marshals came out to extinguish the fire, there were no injuries. No police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000. The consumer stated the vehicle was taken for routine maintenance and twelve days later returned without an oil change. Oil was added to the vehicle and it started smoking.

NHTSA ID

11500804

Incident

Apr 28, 2022

Mileage

110,000 mi

The rubber sealing around the lift gate failed on the vehicle and water seeped inside the vehicle and entire bottom of the vehicle underneath the floor board thereby damaging the electronic components, engine wire harness and headliner thereby rendering the vehicle was beyond repair. This issue led to mold to grow on the roof liner inside and on the seats which caused breathing issues for me and my family. This put our safety at risk! After talking the vehicle to authorized Mercedes Benz dealer in San Jose CA I was told that this is a known defect with the vehicle about which Mercedes Benz Inc is well aware for years and has not fixed it or recalled vehicles having this safety issue. I had purchased this vehicle from Mercedes Benz of Pleasanton on 6/10/2015 as Certified Pre Owned (CPO) but I was not informed that this safety issue existed. I was informed by Mercedes Benz of San Jose that the vehicle could not be repaired as mold would pose a health hazard for the occupants and the vehicle was deemed to be beyond repair and totaled. I had also purchased extended warranty at the time of purchase in 2015 but the dealership did not honor it for repairs.

NHTSA ID

11457171

Incident

Dec 24, 2021

Steering wheel will not go up and down. It will go in and out. This needs a recall! This is a HUGE problem with many Mercedes.

NHTSA ID

11451058

Incident

Feb 8, 2022

The airmatic system in this vehicle fails continuously, causing the vehicle to bump up and down while driving. Unsafe to drive

NHTSA ID

11448309

Incident

Oct 1, 2021

The fixed portion of the Panorama Sunroof exploded while driving on the highway at 65mph in light traffic and temperatures were in the mid 40's. Glass shards fell on the passengers, including three young children under the age of 5. Repairs are being arranged by customer pay and insurance. Manufacture denies fault.

NHTSA ID

11442843

Incident

Nov 27, 2021

PLASTIC COOLANT UNION ON RADIATOR HOSE GOING FROM THE COOLANT EXPANSION TANK TO THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY COOLANT PUMP CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED WHEN I WAS CHANGING THE LH DRIVER SIDE FRONT HEADLIGHT BULB. I WAS LEANING OVER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WITH MY HEAD DOWN TO VIEW THE BACK SIDE OF THE HEADLAMP TO REMOVE THE BULB, THE PLASTIC COOLANT UNION BROKE AT THIS EXACT TIME SHOOTING HOT ENGINE COOLANT ALL OVER MY FACE. I'VE SUFFERED 2ND AND 3RD DEGREE BURNS TO MY FACE, LIPS, NECK AND CHEST AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE ENGINE WAS ON, AT IDLE SPEED, VEHICLE STATIONARY IN DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ID

11390996

Incident

Jan 30, 2021

Mileage

86,230 mi

WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED ON VEHICLE TWICE JUST SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY HAS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

11378552

Incident

Dec 8, 2020

ON 12/30/2017 WE PURCHASED A MERCEDES-BENZ CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 'CPO' VEHICLE FROM MERCEDES BENZ OF NORTH PALM BEACH. WE ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP IN THE AFTERNOON SENT BY MERCEDES BENZ OF WEST PALM BEACH THEIR AFFILIATED DEALERSHIP FOR THE SPECIFIC VEHICLE WE PURCHASED. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP TO VIEW THE VEHICLE, IT WAS NOT DETAILED FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER. ON THE TEST DRIVE WITH OUR SALES PERSON I NOTED UNUSUAL NOISES AND RIDE CONDITIONS IN THE VEHICLE. THE SALESPERSON ASSURED US THAT IT IS A CPO VEHICLE WITH AN UNLIMITED MILEAGE WARRANTY BACKING UP BUMPER TO BUMPER FACTORY WARRANTY. HE GAVE US AN IMPLIED ORAL WARRANTY THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED TO OUR SATISFACTION - 'NOT TO WORRY'!

NHTSA ID

11297931

Incident

Dec 30, 2017

SAME ISSUE AS RECALL CAMPAIGN 2017020016 LAUNCH. THE LATCH SECURING THE THE CENTER CONSOLE DOORS MIGHT NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 201. THE SAME BASIC DESIGN OF THE RECALLED 2017 GLS CLASS SUV CENTER CONSOLE HAS BEEN IN USE IN OTHER GL AND GLS MODELS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

NHTSA ID

11257015

Incident

Sep 10, 2019

Mileage

52,015 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE PRE-SAFETY FUNCTION LIMITED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BY THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT IT FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF ARCADIA (101 N SANTA ANITA AVE, ARCADIA, CA 91006, (626) 701-8904) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A LOOSE SCREW WAS NOT FASTENED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND AN UNKNOWN WIRE WAS DETACHED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA ID

11130224

Incident

Sep 16, 2018

Mileage

25,000 mi

GL 450 WITH VIN [XXX] EXPERIENCED EXACT PROBLEM DEFINED BY NHTSA RECALL # 18V272 IN MAY 2018 (2 OR 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE FROM MERCEDES-BENZ USA). DEALERSHIP, MERCEDES-BENZ OF MIDLOTHIAN VIRGINIA, PERFORMED REPAIR WORK REQUIRED (BASED URGENT NEED FROM MIL SAYING "DO NOT DRIVE VEHICLE. MB MIDLOTHIAN REPAIRED THE ACTIVE SUSPENSION SYSTEM BY REPLACING THE "SEALING CAP" ON THE "ACS OIL RESERVOIR" - THE EXACT REPAIR SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL. I WAS CHARGED IN EXCESS OF $400 FOR THIS REPAIR AS THE DEALERSHIP "HAD NOT YET RECEIVED OFFICIAL NOTICE THAT THE RECALL WOULD INCLUDE (MY) VEHICLE." UPON RECEIVING THE OFFICIAL RECALL LETTER IN JUNE 2018, I CONTACTED MERCEDES-BENZ USA. MB-USA TOLD ME THAT THE WORK I HAD PAID FOR WAS, INDEED, COVERED BY THE RECALL, AND THAT MB DEALERSHIP SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE CHARGES AND RE-CHARGE MB-USA. ON AUGUST 20, I AGAIN CONTACTED MB MIDLOTHIAN WHO TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO FILE WITH MB-USA FOR REIMBURSEMENT. SO I, AGAIN, CONTACTED MB-USA AND ASKED FOR REIMBURSEMENT. MB-USA, AGAIN, TOLD ME "NO", THE DEALERSHIP MUST INITIATE THE PROCESS AND PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT. MB-USA REP SAID THAT THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD REIMBURSE ME SINCE THE WORK CONDUCTED WAS NOW A RECALL. PAYMENT FOR THE RECALL IS DIRECTLY BETWEEN MB-USA AND MB-DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER MB-MIDLOTHIAN DEALERSHIP SAID THAT "THIS IS NOT THE WAY IT WORKS." THIS IS AN ISSUE BETWEEN MB-USA AND MB-DEALERSHIP-NOT ME. I, THE CUSTOMER, AM CAUGHT BY THE FINGER-POINTING IN THE MIDDLE WITH NO RESOLUTION.THIS IS A KNOWN MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IDENTIFIED BY A RECALL !!! MB-USA AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS WORK IT OUT, AND NOT LEAVE CUSTOMERS WITH NO RESOLUTION BECAUSE OF THEIR INCOMPETENCE. I AM A PHD AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER, BUT DO NOT WORK FOR OR GET PAID BY MB. THUS, AS A VERY FRUSTRATED CUSTOMER, I AM CAUGHT IN MB BUREAUCRACY WITH NO RESOLUTION OR ACCEPTANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11121091

Incident

May 17, 2018

Mileage

65,000 mi

SECOND ROW HEAD REST DOES NOT ADJUST TO DIFFERENT POSITIONS MAKING IT UNSAFE FOR CHILDREN.

NHTSA ID

10816202

Incident

Dec 20, 2015

Mileage

5,200 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL FORWARD AS IF THE VEHICLE WERE IN DRIVE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER A CURB AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10726816

Incident

May 3, 2015

Mileage

5,000 mi

TRIED TO INSTALL CHILD SAFETY SEATS IN 2ND ROW SEATS. THE 2ND ROW HEADRESTS PREVENT THE PROPER INSTALLATION OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEATS. THE HEADRESTS CANNOT BE REMOVED, OR MOVED OUT OF THE WAY SO THAT THE CHILD SAFETY SEATS CAN BE INSTALLED PROPERLY. I HAVE REPORTED TO OUR MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER. THEY ARE WORKING ON A RESPONSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10669746

Incident

Dec 22, 2014

Mileage

2,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADREST PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM PROPERLY INSTALLING A CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HEADREST COULD ONLY BE REMOVED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

NHTSA ID

10663410

Incident

Nov 10, 2014

Mileage

2,000 mi