RoadVitals

2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 4MATIC

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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
+1 complaint in 30 days
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
10
Latest Mar 15, 2024
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
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.
3

Overview

Our database contains 15 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 4MATIC, most frequently naming the driver assistance, electrical and powertrain (other) categories. 10 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 232 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Driver assistance628.6%
  • Electrical419.0%
  • Powertrain (other)314.3%
  • Engine314.3%
  • Brakes29.5%
  • Visibility14.8%
  • Fuel system14.8%
  • Other / unspecified14.8%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

10 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Mar 15, 2024
116,020 units potentially affected
The defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023-2024 GLE 350, 2020-2024 GLE 450, 2020-2023 GLS 580, GLE 580, 2019-2023 GLS 450, 2021-2023 Maybach GLS 600, AMG GLS 63, 2021-2024 AMG GLE 53, AMG GLE 53 Coupe, and AMG GLE 63 S vehicles. A 48-Volt ground connection under the passenger seat may not be secured properly, resulting in the ground connection overheating.
The risk: An overheated ground connection can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the 48-Volt ground connection as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 3, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024040002.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLCManufacturer number 2024040002View on NHTSA.gov

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE

Feb 16, 2024
105,071 units potentially affected
The defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020-2023 GLE 450 and GLS 450 vehicles. The transmission may not fully downshift in certain conditions, causing the engine to stall.
The risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will update the transmission control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Dec 21, 2023
79,676 units potentially affected
The defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2024 GLE, GLS, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL, GLC, CLS, AMG GT, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle details. The fuel pump may shutdown, causing a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 28, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on February 23, 2024, April 19, 2024, June 28, 2024, August 9, 2024, October 1, 2024, and December 2, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 23V-445.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Sep 14, 2026

I am writing to formally log an urgent Safety-Critical Incident Report regarding a complete brake system failure on my 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS450 (VIN: ⁠[XXX]). Incident Details: Date & Time:[XXX] Vehicle Mileage: Approximate 30k miles Occupants: 5 family members (including 3 children) Maintenance History: Fully and regularly maintained according to manufacturer schedules. What Happened: While driving with my family on the highway, the brake pedal suddenly went completely soft and lost braking power, creating an extremely dangerous, life-threatening situation. The dashboard did not display any advance warning before the failure occurred. Fortunately, I was able to safely coast the vehicle to the shoulder using emergency deceleration. Inspection under the vehicle indicated a severe brake fluid leak/hydraulic pressure loss. The vehicle had to be towed directly to an authorized dealership Enterprise Motorcar [XXX] Our Demands & Requests: As a 2022 model with low mileage and proper maintenance, a sudden failure of a fundamental safety component like the hydraulic braking system—without prior sensor warning—is completely unacceptable and points to potential manufacturing or material defect. I request MBUSA to take the following actions immediately: Open a Formal Safety Case: Assign a dedicated Case Manager to investigate this failure. Comprehensive Diagnostic Report: Coordinate with the dealership to conduct a full root-cause analysis on why the hydraulic line/system ruptured and why no warning light was triggered beforehand. Full Warranty / Defect Coverage: Ensure all repair costs, parts replacements, and associated towing expenses are 100% covered by Mercedes-Benz. Loaner Vehicle / Mobility Support: Provide a comparable loaner vehicle for our family while our vehicle is under inspection and repair. Please confirm receipt of this email and provide me with a MBUSA Safety Case Number at your earliest convenience. Sincerely INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C

NHTSA ID
11763973
Incident
Sep 12, 2026
Driver assistance
Filed May 15, 2026

I have been receiving errors that visibility is reduced. Lane departure system is not working and car has brake suddenly in moderate traffic despite not being close to vehicle ahead of me.

NHTSA ID
11738195
Incident
May 14, 2026
Visibility
Filed Apr 16, 2026

The contact owns a 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS450. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the roof of the vehicle. The vehicle was pulled over to the shoulder lane and the contact discovered that the sunroof glass had shattered. No warning lights were illuminated. A dealer was contacted, and the dealer suggested that the insurance provider be contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA ID
11731633
Incident
Apr 16, 2026
Mileage
50,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 17, 2026

Car has been auto braking even though there is nothing in front of the car. This is extremely dangerous and could lead to serious rear end collisions. There are many similar complaints on online forums and Mercedes (and their lawyers) do nothing. Link to video: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11724974
Incident
Mar 17, 2026
Filed Jan 16, 2026
Fire reported

The vehicle caught fire while parked and running in the driveway of my home. There were no modifications, no accident, and no external cause. The fire occurred without warning and posed a serious safety risk to occupants and property. The vehicle was under manufacturer warranty at the time of the incident. The fire caused damages to my house too. There were no warning lamps or messages. Benz has not done an investigation yet.

NHTSA ID
11711487
Incident
Jan 4, 2026
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 10, 2025

The car has on 5+ occasions had the collision avoidance system shut down (photos of dash showing this are available and have been shared with the dealer). There were no weather incident at the time. Lane following........ same type of thing also shared with dealer. Most disturbing is on multiple occasions, with the speed control engaged driving on the interstate at 65 to 70 mph, the speed limit indicator on the dash changed to 40 (no speed limit change) and the car went into hard breaking mode until I disengaged the system. (also reported to dealer) Each time the car went into the shop, they "checked the systems" and found no faults and made no repair except on one occasion, they "flashed" the software. The car went into the dealer with 67,000 miles on June 3, 2025 with a promise that they would get to the bottom of this issue. The car was returned after a full "testing" and for good measure, one software update and the replacement of a forward facing camera lens. For each item submitted, they reported no history of any faults and found nothing wrong with the car. The car was returned [XXX] at [XXX]. On [XXX] going 60 mph in traffic, the speed limit indicator jumped to 80 mph and the car immediately and rapidly accelerated until I shut the system down. I took a photo of the dash showing the 80 MPH indication. There are NO locations in Virginia that have an 80 mph speed limit. Also, on several occasions, an alert comes up the the car has been in an accident..... when parked in my garage and a bogus date. Other software glitches happen on a periodic basis INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11665997
Incident
Jun 6, 2025
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 28, 2024
Crash reported

Vehicle lost power while driving on a busy freeway and came to a complete stop and would not restart resulting in it being struck by a vehicle in the rear. More information available in the collision center pre estimate scan and full estimate.

NHTSA ID
11632849
Incident
Nov 29, 2024
BrakesElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 17, 2024
Crash reported

While backing out of steep driveway, the car computer screen blinked saying "updating" then screen went blank, lost power, I could not brake. We have a row of trees at the back of our driveway that stopped the car ( with damage) or else we would have rolled into our neighbors basement all. Tree limbs poked a hole in bumper, cracked left tail light, and damaged the back hatch. Mercedes is saying User fault. I have been driving for 45 years without a ticket, wreck or causing an accident, and I am not a liar. If this blanking of the computer screen happened on a highway , a whole family could be killed, or caused a MULTI-car accident. I am concerned about OTHERS welfare. sent 8/17/2024

NHTSA ID
11609145
Incident
Mar 6, 2024

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

LI46.35-P-067339

STEERING

Complaint During part of the steering movement, it feels heavier or more difficult to steer in the same spot every time. OR Rattling, humming, dry sliding/gravel noise from the electric steering system when steering (see attachment). Complaint does not impact the ability to safely steer or control the vehicle. Cause Ball screw drive (KGT) of electric steering damaged by: 1. External force due to: ‑ Hitting the curb/posts with the front wheels. ‑ Driving over obstacles (e.g. pothole/ threshold/ speed bump/ gully) at an inappropriate speed. 2. Corrosion/ water ingress through a damaged boot (see attachment). ‑ Cracks (1) ‑ High pressure cleaner (2) ‑ Animal bite (3) See various examples listed in the attachments for examples of outside influence. Remedy Remove boot clamps closest to steering gear housing on both left and right (as seen in "Steering Rack Boot Clamp Location"). Pull back boot and inspect for rust, broken end stops, water, or any other anomalies. Replace electric steering. Note: Steering gears replaced due to outside influence or damage must not be claimed under warranty!

LI46.00-P-079786

STEERING

Complaint Noise from front end thought to be from steering gear. Cause During diagnostics of a front end noise, workshop is under the impression the noise is coming from the steering gear. Remedy If the root cause of the noise cannot be found and is seemingly from the steering rack, perform the below LI's and diagnostics. If they have been performed and the root cause still cannot be determined, a TIPS case must be opened to the Body/Chassis/Entertainment team prior to replacing the steering rack. • LI46.35‑P‑067339 ‑ "Rattling, Humming, Dry Sliding/Gravel Noise When Steering" • LI46.35‑P‑071461 ‑ "Check Tie Rod Outer Joint of Steering Gear" • LI46.10‑P‑077391 ‑ "Knocking Noise In The Area Of The Steering Gear or Steering Column Tube When Braking Or Moving Off; The Steering Wheel Can Also Be Felt To "Crack"" • Remove boot clamps closest to steering gear housing on both left and right (as seen in "Steering Rack Boot Clamp Location"). Pull back boot and inspect for rust, broken end stops, water, or any other anomalies. Keep the boot clamps in case the rack is returned. • If the noise is described as "clacking" or "knocking" when moving the wheel back and forth in quick oscillations and the thrust element in the steering rack has NOT been checked yet, please perform a check and subsequent adjustment, if necessary, as detailed in AR46.20‑P‑0601ME. • Remove sway bar links and see if noise persists. • Perform NVH time‑domain noise diagnosis pointing to the steering rack as the root cause. The TIPS case must contain the following: • Video underneath the vehicle with clearly audible noise while engine is running. • Video inside the vehicle with clearly audible noise while engine is running. • Vehicle checked for history of collisions. • Vehicle history checked for other noise complaints in the area. • List of other checked components (suspension, drive line components, wheel bearings, etc...). • Along with the audible noise, does the feel/noise change through only a certain part of the steering arc sweep? • Provide the thrust element before and after readings.

LI72.20-P-075746

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; STRUCTURE:BODY

Complaint Tailgate opens unintentionally. Cause Accidental or unnoticed activation of the button to open the tailgate on the vehicle key. EXAMPLE: when stored in trouser pocket, handbag etc. Remedy As of the 6th generation, the vehicle key can be recoded so that the tailgate no longer opens as a result of a long press on the button, but by double‑clicking on the button instead. This reduces the likelihood of the button being activated accidentally or unintentionally. The recoding can be carried out as follows: 1. Add SA Code O19 into VeDoc (O for Oscar, not "zero") • an XSS ticket may be necessary to add the SA code 2. Perform SCN coding of EIS N73 control unit 3. Deactivate the vehicle key (a successful deactivation is indicated by the LED lighting up 2x briefly and then 1x for a long period). 4. Place the vehicle key in the storage compartment on the key symbol and turn on the ignition. IMPORTANT: all other vehicle keys must be outside the recognition range of the vehicle when doing this! Perform steps 3 and 4 successively for all vehicle keys. Notes: 6th, 7th and 8th generation keys can be deactivated as follows: Up to modification year 22/1 by double clicking the "Lock button" As of modification year 22/1, by press and holding the “Lock button", then double‑click the “Unlock button" at the same time. On model series 167, the storage compartment with the key symbol is located in the armrest. The SCN coding from the EZS is only transferred correctly to the vehicle key under the following conditions: Only one vehicle key is located in the vehicle, this key has been deactivated and it is positioned on the marking in the storage compartment for the data transfer. The costs for this adaptation are to be borne by the customer. For the newer BR 174, 178, 244, 248, 520, and 540, a software update must be initiated, as there is no way to perform SCN coding.

LI54.71-P-079104

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Complaint Traffic sign symbol for "Traffic Sign Assist" is blinking in instrument cluster without obvious cause usually with one of the following scenarios: • Flashing without a speed limit ("‑ ‑"). • Flashing when current vehicle speed is under speed limit. • Flashing between US speed limit symbol and European speed limit symbol. NOTE: • Verify that the concern falls under one of the attachment videos. If not, then it is outside of the scope of this LI. • This also does not cover "Traffic Sign Inoperative" messages on the instrument cluster. Cause There are two identified reasons for this concern: 1. Country code information stored incorrectly at a particular geographic latitude range. 2. Incorrect reference data when the vehicle is started and a GPS signal is not immediately available. Remedy Update head unit software to latest version and the re‑check function in the same location. If vehicle is still exhibiting one of the symptoms as described exactly as in the complaint section or as shown in the video attachments, open a TIPS case to the Body/Chassis/Entertainment inbox with the following: • Video of the concern. • Exact location (latitude and longitude is best)

CL - Tank Leak Detection

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Dear Mercedes-Benz Owner: In our continuing efforts to ensure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the satisfaction of our customers, Mercedes-Benz USA is extending the warranty coverage for the Diagnostic Module for Tank Leakage Detection ("DMTL") on your vehicle from the original New Vehicle Limited Warranty of 4 years / 50,000 miles to 15 years/150,000 miles (whichever occurs first). This applies to the vehicle regardless of ownership. Why the Warranty extension? On certain Model Year 2018 - 2024 A / C / CLA / CLS / E / G / GLA / GLB / GLC / GLE / GLS / GT / S / SL Mercedes-Benz vehicles, under certain circumstances, the DMTL may trigger erroneous Diagnostic Trouble Code ("DTC") entries that may result in the illumination of the Check Engine Malfunction Indicator Lamp ("MIL"). Any repairs under this warranty extension must be performed by an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership. • If your preferred authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership performs a diagnosis and confirms that your vehicle has the issue, the repair will be covered under this extended warranty and performed at no cost to you. • This extended warranty does not apply to any other components or conditions beyond the ones mentioned above, and standard warranty terms apply, including the exclusions with respect to extra expenses, as identified in the Service and Warranty Information booklet.

LI54.65-P-080132

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Complaint 1. General Diagnostic Tips 2. One or More PARK Sensor Activations 3. Red Ring Around Vehicle 4. "Active Parking and Parking Assist Inoperative" on Instrument Cluster 5. Cameras 6. Other Park Topics. Cause Various root causes Remedy See attached diagnostic guide.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 4MATIC by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026220—
2025710—
2024150054.6
2023750—
2022Viewing1510065.0

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.