2016 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 2016 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
- Interior & seats440.0%
- Engine220.0%
- Brakes110.0%
- Steering110.0%
- Suspension110.0%
- Visibility110.0%
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
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
Tailgate sometimes opens while driving. It sometimes takes many attempts to reclose it from the outside of car. It will not reclose using the electronic button on the door. The alert comes on on the dashboard and its extremely dangerous as luggage can fall out. This happened while highway driving last week, scary. Apparently after googling this, it is common issue. The tailgate is one big gate hinged at the top so stuff can fall out.
2ND ROW HEAD REST UNSAFE AND UNUSEABLE - THE HEADREST IS TOO LOW AND TOO HIGH FOR A CHILD OR SMALL PERSON TO USE. WHEN IN DOWN POSITION, SEAT PUSHES HEAD FORWARD; WHEN IT IS UP, IT'S TOO TALL FOR THE HEAD. ALSO HEADREST IS VERY DIFFICULT TO PULL UP. BASICALLY, THIS PART IS NOT USEABLE BY ANYONE EXCEPT A VERY TALL PERSON. SHOULD BE REPLACED BY MERCEDES. INJURIES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THIS DESIGN. NO INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED; ONLY COMPLAINTS ABOUT USING THE HEAD REST.
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 owned a 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated when he parked the vehicle and went into a business, he returned within 5 minutes and the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The fire department was already notified and arrived on the scene, then extinguished the fire with water. The police arrived on the scene; however, a report was not filed. The vehicle melted from the front bottom to the windshield. The vehicle was towed to the towing company. There were no injuries. No medical treatments were received on the scene or required. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed yet; however, the contact believes it was a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 5,000.
WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN JULY 2019 AND IN ADDITION TO THE CAR HAVING WARRANTY UP TO 50,000 MILES, WE PURCHASED AN ADDITIONAL SERVICE/REPAIR PACKAGE FOR $1,800.00 RECENTLY WE NOTICED THAT WHEN WE FIRST START DRIVING THE CAR HAS A NOISE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THE NOISE IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE AND WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE. WE TOOK THE CAR TO MERCEDES BENZ OF VALENCIA AND TO SAY THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STAFF WAS UNWILLING TO HELP IS A GROSS UNDERSTATEMENT. THEY EVENTUALLY DID AGREE TO KEEP THE CAR GOVERNING AND TEST DRIVE IT IN THE MORNING, THEY CALLED THE FOLLOWING DAY ON DECEMBER 3RD AND TOLD US TO COME AND GET THE CAR. BILL THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THEY HEARD THE NOISE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE THE BRAKES ON THE CAR ARE NEW AND THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT COULD BE WRONG WITH THE CAR. WE ARE CONCERNED AND , WORRIED ABOUT OUR SAFETY, WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND THE ADDITIONAL REPAIR PACKAGE FOR PEACE OF MIND EXPECTING TO GET THE PROPER SERVICE TO ADDRESS ANY ISSUES BECAUSE THE CAR IS COVERED BY A 50,000 MILE WARRANTY AND WE PURCHASED ADDITIONAL SERVICE PACKAGE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN JULY 2019 AND IN ADDITION TO THE CAR HAVING WARRANTY UP TO 50,000 MILES, WE PURCHASED AN ADDITIONAL SERVICE/REPAIR PACKAGE FOR $1,800.00 RECENTLY WE NOTICED THAT WHEN WE FIRST START DRIVING THE CAR HAS A NOISE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THE NOISE IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE AND WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE. WE TOOK THE CAR TO MERCEDES BENZ OF VALENCIA AND TO SAY THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STAFF WAS UNWILLING TO HELP IS A GROSS UNDERSTATEMENT. THEY EVENTUALLY DID AGREE TO KEEP THE CAR GOVERNING AND TEST DRIVE IT IN THE MORNING, THEY CALLED THE FOLLOWING DAY ON DECEMBER 3RD AND TOLD US TO COME AND GET THE CAR. BILL THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THEY HEARD THE NOISE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE THE BRAKES ON THE CAR ARE NEW AND THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT COULD BE WRONG WITH THE CAR. WE ARE CONCERNED AND , WORRIED ABOUT OUR SAFETY, WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND THE ADDITIONAL REPAIR PACKAGE FOR PEACE OF MIND EXPECTING TO GET THE PROPER SERVICE TO ADDRESS ANY ISSUES BECAUSE THE CAR IS COVERED BY A 50,000 MILE WARRANTY AND WE PURCHASED ADDITIONAL SERVICE PACKAGE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V241000 (STEERING). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO AUTOHAUS OF PEORIA (2322 W VAN WINKLE WAY, PEORIA, IL 61615) WHO STATED THAT THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
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
WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN JULY 2019 AND IN ADDITION TO THE CAR HAVING WARRANTY UP TO 50,000 MILES, WE PURCHASED AN ADDITIONAL SERVICE/REPAIR PACKAGE FOR $1,800.00 RECENTLY WE NOTICED THAT WHEN WE FIRST START DRIVING THE CAR HAS A NOISE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THE NOISE IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE AND WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE. WE TOOK THE CAR TO MERCEDES BENZ OF VALENCIA AND TO SAY THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STAFF WAS UNWILLING TO HELP IS A GROSS UNDERSTATEMENT. THEY EVENTUALLY DID AGREE TO KEEP THE CAR GOVERNING AND TEST DRIVE IT IN THE MORNING, THEY CALLED THE FOLLOWING DAY ON DECEMBER 3RD AND TOLD US TO COME AND GET THE CAR. BILL THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THEY HEARD THE NOISE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE THE BRAKES ON THE CAR ARE NEW AND THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT COULD BE WRONG WITH THE CAR. WE ARE CONCERNED AND , WORRIED ABOUT OUR SAFETY, WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND THE ADDITIONAL REPAIR PACKAGE FOR PEACE OF MIND EXPECTING TO GET THE PROPER SERVICE TO ADDRESS ANY ISSUES BECAUSE THE CAR IS COVERED BY A 50,000 MILE WARRANTY AND WE PURCHASED ADDITIONAL SERVICE PACKAGE.
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
THE WINDSHIELD IS WEAK PRONE TO BREAK/CRACK EASILY. IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS 4 WINDSHIELDS HAVE BEEN REQUIRED. NOT NORMAL AND THIS IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS.
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 .