RoadVitals

2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 Steering Problems

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

Data refreshed

Steering 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 10, 2025
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.
3%
of 241 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 the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. 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. 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 steering

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

Other / unspecifiedSteeringVisibility
Filed Oct 10, 2025
Fire reported

On [XXX], my mother was driving our 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 to work around 6:30 AM when the vehicle suddenly caught on fire without warning. The car was completely destroyed in the fire. Thankfully, she was able to exit safely. After doing research online, we found many reports of 2010 GLK 350 models catching fire due to fuel system issues and leaks, which appear to be common with this year and model. We were surprised to learn that our VIN currently shows no active recalls, even though the issue seems widespread. We can provide photos of the car before and after the fire, towing documentation, and the police/fire report. The cleanup and towing bills have been expensive, and we are filing this report so NHTSA can investigate whether this is a safety defect that should result in an official recall. Vehicle: 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 Incident Date: [XXX] Location: Mountville, PA VIN: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11692599
Incident
Oct 10, 2025
Steering
Filed Oct 6, 2021

On September 20, 2021, my steering wheel locked will driving into shopping center in Stockton, CA., I called AAA towing service to tow my car to Mercedes-Benz of Stockton for repairs. I'm glad to say no one was behind me while driving. It locked without any notice, near by customers to the center pushed my car to safety. Thank you.

NHTSA ID
11435769
Incident
Sep 20, 2021
Steering
Filed May 6, 2019

THE VEHICLE IS A MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP IN RALEIGH, NC ON CAPITAL BLVD BECAUSE IT WILL NOT START. THERE'S A STEERING LOCK PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD THAT ONLY CERTAIN VIN NUMBERS IS COVERED FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. MY VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE SAME RECALL (STARTED JAN 25, 2019) BEING IT'S HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AT THE SAME TIME AS THE OTHER VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS AT CAPITAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD IT TOWED TO MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD IT WOULDN'T START. CAPITAL CHEVROLET SAID THAT THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP SAID IT COULD HAPPEN AT ANYTIME AND ANYWHERE. I WAS TOLD THE COST IS ON ME. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THERES A RECALL ON MY YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL BUT NOT MY VEHICLE WHICH IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME ISSUE. CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN WHY THIS VERY LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND MYSELF AND MY GRANDCHILDREN COULD LOSE OUR LIVES IF IT HAPPENED WITH US WHILE OCCUPYING THE VEHICLE, WHO WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RECALL AND OUR LIVES?

NHTSA ID
11205901
Incident
Apr 11, 2019
Mileage
80,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalSteering
Filed Oct 6, 2018

STEERING COLUMN MODULE ELECTRICAL CAUSING THE CAR INOPERATIVE. I TURNED THE IGNITION AND NO SOUND. THE DASHBOARD DID NOT LIGHT UP. I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TOWED BECAUSE THE WHEEL LOCKED. I HAD TO REQUEST A TOW THAT HANDLES THIS TYPE OF ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11133642
Incident
Oct 5, 2018
Steering
Filed Mar 25, 2018

IGNTION ISSUES

NHTSA ID
11081159
Incident
Mar 25, 2018
Mileage
85,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 14, 2017

I WAS DRIVING MY GLK 350 ON A ROAD AT 35 MPH AND SUDDENLY MY STEERING WHEEL GOT STUCK AND IT WASN'T MOVING I HIT THE BRAKES IN THE MIDDLE OF ROAD. I COULDN'T MOVE MY STEERING WHEEL AND I TURNED OFF MY CAR AND TRIED TO RESTART IT AND IT DIDN'T STARTED. I CHECKED MY BATTERY IT WAS GOOD. I LOOKED ONLINE WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR GLK 350 AND ONLY MERCEDES CAN FIX IT SO I HAVE TO TOE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT COSTED ME $1850 IT'S JUST A WAY FOR THEM TO MAKE MONEY BUT IT COULD HAVE GOT ME INTO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT THAT DAY

NHTSA ID
11023566
Incident
Aug 27, 2017
Mileage
119,684 mi
Steering
Filed May 24, 2017

STEERING LOCK SEIZED AFTER CAR WAS PARKED. UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS, TURN IGNITION OR START CAR. COST $2000 TO FIX! THE WORST CAR EVER!!

NHTSA ID
10991514
Incident
May 23, 2017
Steering
Filed Sep 28, 2015

TLA* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ GLK350. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ESP MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,279. UPDATED 11/18/15*LJ, UPDATED 3/21/18*JB

NHTSA ID
10778095
Incident
Sep 21, 2015
Mileage
50,279 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 .