RoadVitals

2011 Mercedes-Benz GL550 Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
15
Latest Nov 14, 2025
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
1
Reports on file since Oct 22, 2016

What this page shows

Our database holds 15 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL550. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–15 of 15

Brakes
Filed Nov 14, 2025

The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL550. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). The contact stated that while reversing, the brake pedal was depressed with an abnormal hissing sound coming from the brake pedal. The contact stated that the sound was audible since the vehicle was purchased in 2019. The local dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact received a vehicle compliance letter from the manufacturer, which stated that a mobile mechanic could be sent to the residence to inspect the vehicle, and the dealer would offer tow service. However, when the dealer was contacted, the dealer refused to assist the contact with the tow service or a mobile mechanic. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The vehicle remained at the residence and had not been driven due to the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000.

NHTSA ID
11699386
Incident
Sep 14, 2019
Mileage
22,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 9, 2023

The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL550. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked while accelerating. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, no failure was found. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V496000 (Fuel System, Diesel). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ID
11521108
Incident
Apr 15, 2023
Mileage
150,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 17, 2023

Intermittently car does not engage when key fob is inserted into eis (electric ignition switch) and turned. No dash lights turn on, car does not start. Car has turned off while driving. Car has remained running when key was removed. Key will lock and unlock doors and open hatch.

NHTSA ID
11517502
Incident
Oct 20, 2022
Airbags
Filed Aug 19, 2019

2011 MERCEDES BENZ GL550. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE UPON ARRIVAL TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL REPAIR TO BE COMPLETED. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS A 220 MILE DRIVE TO HAVE THE RECALL COMPLETED THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE PICKED UP AND RETURNED BY MERCEDES. *JS

NHTSA ID
11244664
Incident
Aug 19, 2019
Airbags
Filed May 24, 2019

MERCEDES HAS NOT PROVIDED A RESOLUTION TO THE RECALL FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

NHTSA ID
11209640
Incident
May 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Jun 12, 2018

TAKATA RECALL. DEALER SAYS MERCEDES STILL HAS NOT ISSUED PARTS, AND CAN NOT FIX IT. IT HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW.

NHTSA ID
11101420
Incident
Jun 1, 2018
Airbags
Filed Apr 23, 2018

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ GL550. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. MERCEDES-BENZ OF LITTLETON (8070 S BROADWAY, LITTLETON, CO) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11089631
Incident
Feb 8, 2016
Airbags
Filed Nov 19, 2017

TAKATA RECALL - ITS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS. THE ONLINE SYSTEM SAYS THAT THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WOULD NOT TAKE THE CAR IN AS A TRADE AS THEY SAID THEY CANT SELL IT.

NHTSA ID
11047315
Incident
Nov 19, 2017
Mileage
69,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 8, 2017

TAKATA RECALL...WHY IS NO ONE ABLE TO HELP ME. MY AIRBAGS HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND I KEEP GETTING TOSSED AROUND AND NO ONE IS CLAMING RESPONSIBILITY. THE REASON I PURCHASED A MERCEDES IS FOR SAFETY OF MY FAMILY OF FIVE. WHAT DO I DO TO GET THIS FIXED?

NHTSA ID
11044640
Incident
Nov 7, 2017
Airbags
Filed Nov 2, 2017

TAKATA RECALL. MY CAR IS ON THE "HIGH RISK" LIST OF CARS THAT NEED TO HAVE THE AIRBAGS REPLACED, BUT I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER TWICE AND BOTH TIMES I WAS TOLD NOT TO CALL AGAIN BECAUSE THEY WOULD CONTACT ME WHEN REPLACEMENT WERE AVAILABLE. WHEN I TOLD THEM THAT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR (ESPECIALLY WITH MY KIDS INSIDE), I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY FATALITIES 'YET' AND IT IS OK TO KEEP DRIVING WITH THE FAULTY AIRBAG.

NHTSA ID
11042814
Incident
Oct 13, 2017
Airbags
Filed Nov 2, 2017

TAKATA RECALL RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF AIRBAG RECALL, NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIME TRYING TO GET IT FIXED. GOING ON A YEAR AND STILL NO FIX OR GIVEN A TIME FRAME TO GET IT DONE.

NHTSA ID
11042573
Incident
Jan 26, 2016
Airbags
Filed Aug 31, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ GL550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN FEBRUARY OF 2016. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER (PARK PLACE MERCEDES OF ARLINGTON, TX) AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11020902
Incident
Feb 1, 2017
Airbags
Filed Apr 6, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ GL550. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS). 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 MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/16/17*LJ UPDATED 06/23/17*JS

NHTSA ID
10970963
Incident
Feb 29, 2016
Airbags
Filed Feb 1, 2017

TAKATA RECALL IF MERCEDES BENZ IS AWARE OF THIS RECALL HOW COME A YEAR LATER I HAVEN'T BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS. THE RECALL STILL SHOWS NO REMEDY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY AS THIS IS A FAMILY CAR AND I DRIVE MY YOUNG KIDS EVERYDAY AROUND IN THIS VEHICLE. MERCEDES SHOULD BE ASHAMED. I WANT THIS MATTER FIXED ASAP. CERTAIN MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES AND ONE FCA MODEL ARE EQUIPPED WITH DRIVER-SIDE FRONT AIRBAGS PROVIDED BY THE SUPPLIER TK HOLDINGS INC. ("TAKATA"). ON JANUARY 25, 2016 TAKATA FILED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT WITH NHTSA ANNOUNCING A POTENTIAL DEFECT IN SOME OF THE SUBJECT INFLATORS. BASED UPON TAKATA'S INFORMATION TO DATE, TAKATA IS AWARE OF FOUR TEST RUPTURES IN BALLISTIC TESTS OF NON-DESICCATED PSDI-5 INFLATORS. TAKATA IS NOT AWARE OF ANY FIELD INCIDENTS IN WHICH A PSDI-5 INFLATOR HAS RUPTURED, EITHER DESICCATED OR NON-DESICCATED. TAKATA IS TAKING THIS ACTION IN AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, TO ADDRESS ALL OF THE SUBJECT NON-DESICCATED PSDI-5 AIR BAG INFLATORS, DUE TO THE SIMILARITIES OF DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING CHARACTERISTICS FOR THIS TYPE OF INFLATOR USED IN THE U.S. MARKET. DAG IS NOT AWARE OF ANY FIELD INCIDENTS WITH THE SUBJECT TAKATA PSDI-5 INFLATORS. HOWEVER, BASED ON THE INFORMATION ABOVE AND IN AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, DAG WILL CONDUCT A VOLUNTARY RECALL OF THE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SUBJECT TAKATA PSDI-5 INFLATORS IN THE UNITED STATES AS IDENTIFIED BY TAKATA IN THE DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT. SAFETY RISK: ACCORDING TO TAKATA, IN THE EVENT OF AN INFLATORRUPTURE, METAL FRAGMENTS COULD PASS THROUGH THE AIR BAG CUSHION MATERIAL, WHICH MAY RESULTING INJURY OR DEATH TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS. REMEDY: ONCE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE CUSTOMERS WILL BE SENT A LETTER ASKING THEM TO GO TO AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES BENZ DEALER WHO WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG OF THE POTENTIALLY AFFECTED VEHICLES RECALL STATUS: INCOMPLETE. REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE

NHTSA ID
10948947
Incident
Jan 1, 2017
Airbags
Filed Oct 22, 2016

TAKATA RECALL - MERCEDES STILL DOES NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THIS RECALL, WHICH WAS ISSUED IN MAY.

NHTSA ID
10918072
Incident
Oct 22, 2016

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.

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