Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Corrosión en toda la parte trasera (subframe) que sujeta la suspensión haciendo el carro inestable a la hora de detener el automóvil, y apaga los sistemas ABS,ESP. lo cual lo hace mas peligrosa la conducción. Si Toyota hizo el cambio en sus vehículos con por que mercedes benz deberia comprometerse a repara esta parte. Ya que es un riesgo a la seguridad.
Subframe of the car rusted and rotted from inside out. to the point of rear suspension completely detached from subframe. it caused my car to fish tail and lose control under even slow breaking conditions. once we discovered the problem we were told the car was a death trap and was absolutely unsafe to operate. we found out this is a common problem for this MB model type. the problem was already under recall in Europe. there are thousands of existing owner complains about the exact same issue. MB USA initially refused to acknowledge the problem, but on 2/14/2023 they sent a memo to all US dealers to repair rotted subframe for free under "extended warrantee". however, they refused to pay for the full repair even after dealership specifically informed them that it was not possible to complete the repair without replacing thrust arm and rod, which were damaged due to the Subframe failure. this incident endangered me and my family, cost $2000+ out of pocket for repairs in addition to the loss of access to my vehicle for at least 3 weeks.
I had my 2010 Mercedes GLK in for B service today (Jan. 3, 2023), and the repair team inspected the vehicle and informed me that I have a RUST HOLE approximately 1" x 2" in size located adjacent to an attachment point for the wheels in the REAR SUBFRAME. If it breaks, it could cause the vehicle to become difficult to control. Additionally, they informed me that the BRAKE LINES are also RUSTING/WEAKENING. If the brakes fail while driving it could cause loss of control of the vehicle. Since these are hidden parts that I typically can't see, I had no warning that there was anything wrong until I had it in for routine maintenance. I have the invoice for the oil change, with a notation from the repair team regarding these parts. The vehicle is available for inspection should it be necessary.
Premature rear subframe corrosion due to design of component, vehicle is available for inspection upon request. If control arm detaches geometry of suspension will change and divert into another lane and cause a crash, the issue was confirmed by an independent service center. The vehicle is due to be inspected by the manufacturer 12-30. No warning of issue as the majority is covered by body panel.
The contact owns a 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the rear end began to fishtail and shattered. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving slowly to a nearby repair shop. The mechanic informed the contact that the rear subframe was corroded and had detached from the vehicle. The contact was able to drive to her residence. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the rear subframe to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 149,000.
The contact owns a 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle was shaking and making abnormal sounds coming from the engine. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with sub frame corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
The contact owns a 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350. The contact called for the owner of the vehicle who stated that the vehicle was beginning to wobble while driving. The contact stated that he worked for a dealer where a certified mechanic observed the vehicle and diagnosed that the control arms were severely rusted and not seated correctly on the vehicle causing the rear subframe to be severely damaged and needing replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage 79,308. Consumer stated been vehicle is being held at a repair facility for quite some time now.
ACCELERATION/BRAKE ISSUE. ON 09/0517 I PULLED INTO MY PARKING LOT APARTMENT COMPLEX AND UPON PULLING INTO MY PARKING SPOT, I ATTEMPTED TO BACK MY 2010 MERCEDES 2010 GLK350 TO ALIGN MY CAR. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, BUT SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. I ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. BEFORE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON MY DASHBOARD IT DISPLAYED "CHECK BRAKE PADS". I PURCHASE THIS CAR ON 08/16/17 AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS (2) SAFETY RECALLS FOR 'TAKATA" AIRBAGS. THIS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN MY 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ GLK350 IS ALARMING AND CONCERNING.
THAT SATURDAY I HAD MY 30,000 MILE SERVICE AT ESTATE MOTORS IN GOLDENS BRIDGE, NY. THE DEALER ALSO DID AN "OPEN RECALL". THEY DEDUCTED $20 FROM MY BILL TO GET A CAR WASH. I DROVE DIRECTLY TO A CAR WASH ON ROUTE 202 IN NEW MILFORD, CT. ABOUT 3:00 PM, I WAS THIRD IN LINE AND AS THE TWO CARS AHEAD EDGED FORWARD, TURNING LEFT TO GO IN, I NUDGED MY GAS PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF LIKE A ROCKET, GLANCED OFF THE CAR BUMPER AHEAD, RAN OVER ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT AND A 3 FOOT TALL TREE, WENT HALFWAY OVER A 3 FOOT HIGH WALL AND WAS STOPPED BY SMASHING INTO A TREE. NOBODY WAS HURT. I HAD KEPT MY SEAT BELT ON AND WAS ONLY SLIGHTLY BRUISED. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING WRONG, AS I TOLD THE POLICE, BUT REALIZED LATER THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE. I AM A GOOD AND CAREFUL DRIVER AS ALL RECORDS WILL ATTEST. I COULD NOT HAVE JAMMED MY FOOT DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL. I LATER FOUND THAT THE "OPEN RECALL" HAD TO DO WITH A CAM SOLENOID, WHICH IS INVOLVED WITH THE FLOW OF GASOLINE INTO THE MOTOR. I ALSO FOUND ON GOOGLE THREE ALMOST IDENTICAL INCIDENTS REPORTED ON THIS PARTICULAR MODEL AND YEAR. TAKE A LOOK. I FIND IT VERY HARD TO BELIEVE THIS IS JUST A COINCIDENCE. S MERCEDES BENZ HAS BEEN UNCOOPERATIVE AND STATES THEIR INSPECTION SHOWED NOTHING WRONG WITH THE RELEVANT PARTS OF MY SUV. AFTER THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE AND REPAIR, I THINK ONE CAN BE SKEPTICAL ABOUT THEIR OPINION. HOW COULD THEY KNOW WHAT THE CAR WAS LIKE BEFORE THIS? MERCEDES DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY. AS I AM DEEPLY UPSET BY THE COST TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY FOR SOMETHING I DO NOT BELIEVE IS MY FAULT, THE FUTURE INCREASES IN INSURANCE RATES THAT WILL FOLLOW, THE $560 LOST IN THE 30,000 MILE CHECK-UP AND MY $1000 DEDUCTIBLE, THE LOSS OF VALUE OF MY CAR, AND BY THE INSENSITIVITY AND RUDENESS OF MERCEDES BENZ, WHOSE STAFF FAILS TO RETURN PHONE CALLS AND IS GENERALLY UNCOOPERATIVE. *TR
SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION PROBABLY DUE TO ACCIDENTALLY HITTING CRUISE CONTROL HANDLE, WHICH IS RIGHT ABOVE TURN SIGNAL (DEFECTIVE DESIGN ISSUE IN MANY MERCEDES MODELS), WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PARK IN DISABLED PARKING AREA. *JS
WHEN IS RAINING WATER LEAKS INSIDE OF RIGHT FRONT AND SOAK ENTIRE FLOOR. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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