Home · 2011 Mercedes-benz Gl-class · Complaints

What 97 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Mercedes-benz Gl-class

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (97)Crash / fire / injury (6)Airbags (56)Brakes (11)Suspension (11)Engine (7)Electrical system (6)Steering (3)Fuel system (2)Transmission & drivetrain (2)Backup camera & sensors (1)Fuel System, Diesel (1)

Newest first · 97 complaints · page 2 of 4

May 24, 2019Airbags

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

NHTSA ODI 11209640

May 9, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO START THE IGNITION. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. OPEN ROAD MERCEDES-BENZ (1250 US-22, BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP, NJ 08807 (908) 685-0800) DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. *AS CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE ISSUE IS SAME AS NOTED BY MERCEDES BENZ IN THEIR SERVICE CAMPAIGN (HTTPS://TESTING-PUBLIC.CARMD.COM/TSB/DOWNLOAD/97801/218390). ON THE 3RD PAGE, THERE IS A REFERENCE TO THE 'GL' MODEL CARS AND THE YEAR, HOWEVER MY CAR WASN'T NOTED IN THAT CAMPAIGN, WHICH SHOULD'VE BEEN. I WENT THROUGH QUIET AN INCONVENIENCE AS A RESULT PERSONALLY AND MONETARILY BY M. BENZ'S FAILURE ACCURATELY INCLUDE MY VEHICLE AS PART OF THIS SERVICE CAMPAIGN. *JB

NHTSA ODI 11206495

Apr 12, 2019Airbags

I HAVE BEEN CALLING MERCEDES FOR GOING ON 3 YEARS ABOUT FIXING THIS RECALL ISSUE. I GET A LETTER PERIODICALLY PUSHING BACK MY PARTS AVAILABLE DATE. THE DEALERSHIP ALWAYS SAID THEY CANNOT PROVIDE ANY ESTIMATE ON WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. FINALLY, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM VICE PRESIDENT OF CUSTOMER SERVICES CHRISTIAN TRIEBER DATED MARCH 2019 REGARDING THIS "URGENT-IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL 2019030018". IT STATES THAT PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AND TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT "IMMEDIATELY". I CALLED AND WAS PUT ON WHAT WAS PROBABLY A FAKE HOLD TO 'CHECK' PART AVAILABILITY, AND TOLD THE SAME THING I'VE BEEN TOLD TIME AFTER TIME WHICH IS THAT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND NO TIME ESTIMATE CAN BE PROVIDED. THE LETTER STATES THAT "SAFETY IS OF UTMOST CONCERN TO MERCEDES BENZ", BUT THAT'S A BIT HARD TO BELIEVE AT THIS POINT. THIS HAS TO BE THE LONGEST TIME EVER TAKEN TO ADDRESS AS SERIOUS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THIS. CAN ANYTHING BE DONE? IS THERE NO ACCOUNTABILITY TO TAKE CARE OF THIS WITHING WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN A RIDICULOUSLY UNREASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME? ACCORDING TO MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP IN SAN DIEGO, THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE BUT WAIT LONGER AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.

NHTSA ODI 11195935

Mar 9, 2019Airbags

GOT THIS RECALL ISSUED 3 YEARS AGO,THE INFAMOUS TAKATA AIRBAG.CALLED THE DEALERS AROUND AGAIN AND AGAIN,THEY ARE SAYING NO PARTS AVAILABLE .ALWAYS THEY SAY IT S GONNA BE SOMEDAY IN THE NEAR FUTURE,NO SPECIFIC TIME OR DATES.DUE TO THE VITAL NATURE OF THIS ISSUE I CANT ACCEPT THEIR CANDOR AND LACK OF INTEREST .PLEASE CHECK AND ADVICE OF MY CONSUMER MODE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI 11185523

Feb 25, 2019Airbags

SINCE 2/2017 THE SUPPOSED TOP QUALITY BRAND MERCEDES BENZ HAS POSTPONED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE TAMARA AIRBAGS. THEY ARE JEOPARDIZING THEIR CUSTOMERS LIVES. I SPEND $70 000 ON THIS CAR TO KEEP MY FAMILY SAFE, BUT THEY RATHER SPEND MILLIONS IN A FORMULA E RACING SERIES THAT NOBODY WATCHES THEN TO REPLACES THESE DANGEROUS AIRBAGS

NHTSA ODI 11182460

Feb 13, 2019Airbags

TAKATA RECALL - THE RECALL ORIGINALLY CAME OUT IN 2/2016, AND AT THE TIME, IT SAID A REMEDY WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. I RECENTLY READ ANOTHER ARTICLE ABOUT THE RECALL AND WHEN I CHECKED IT STILL SAID A REMEDY WASN'T AVAILABLE. THAT'S THREE YEARS THEY'VE HAD TO FIX IT AND THEY HAVEN'T.

NHTSA ODI 11179924

Dec 27, 2018Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. MERCEDES-BENZ OF WHITE PLAINS (50 BANK ST, WHITE PLAINS, NY 10606, (914) 750-4148) 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 ODI 11163710

Nov 3, 2018Airbags

TAKATA RECALL: MERCEDES BENZ CONTACTED VIA MAIL STATING THE AIRBAG RECALL BACK IN FEBRUARY 2017 FOR 2011 GL450. MB STATED THAT AIRBAGS WILL BE REPLACE NO LATER THAN JUNE 2017. I HAVE CONTACTED TWO DIFFERENT MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIPS TO HAVE THE AIRBAG REPLACE HOWEVER; I WAS TOLD THAT PARTS OR THE REMEDY WAS STILL NOT AVAILABLE. IT'S NOVEMBER 2018 AND I AM STILL WAITING ON A FIXED, WHILE I HAVE TO DRIVE THIS VERY DANGEROUS VEHICLE THAT HAS VERY HIGH POTENTIAL TO KILL ME IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11145167

Oct 23, 2018Airbags

TAKATA RECALL: THE RECALL WAS INITIATED FEBRUARY 9, 2016 AND WE ARE STILL WAITING TO HAVE THE AIRBAGS REPLACED. THE WAIT TIME IS EXCESSIVE PARTICULARLY BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A WARMER CLIMATE.

NHTSA ODI 11142139

Oct 9, 2018Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ GL350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. RAY CATENA OF FREEHOLD MERCEDES-BENZ (4380 ROUTE 9 SOUTH, FREEHOLD, NJ 07728, 732-339-6800) STATED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF A LOANER VEHICLE OPTION FROM THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11139300

Sep 5, 2018Suspension

MY 2011 GL450 MERCEDES SUV IS DRIVING SIDEWAYS ONE FRONT AND ONE BACK SUSPENSION AIRBAGS ARE NOT WORKING I FEEL LIKE MY CARE IS GOING TO FLIP OVER WHEN I TURN. THIS IS A HAZARDOUS PROBLEM. CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS A DEATHS NOT ONLY ON THE DRIVER BUT OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD

NHTSA ODI 11124629

Aug 24, 2018Airbags

THE TAKATA AIRBAGS HAVE BEEN RECALLED SINCE FEBRUARY 2016 WITH RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH. AFTER 2.5 YEARS, THERE IS STILL NO RESOLUTION AND I AM UNABLE TO GET NEW AIRBAGS OR CONFIRM IF MY VEHICLE EVEN HAS TAKATA AIRBAGS. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11122036

Jul 30, 2018SuspensionFuel system

RECALL THE AIR SUSPENSION BAGS KEEPS BUSTING ALSO I CAN'T TELL HOW MUCH GAS IN MY TANK I REPLACE THE BACK AIR SUSPENSION AIR BAG AND NOW THE FRONT HAS GONE OUT I ALSO REPLACE THE SUSPENSION LEVELING VALUE THE CAR BOUNCES WHEN DRIVING

NHTSA ODI 11114529

Jun 26, 2018Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ GL350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11104123

Jun 12, 2018Airbags

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 ODI 11101420

Jun 12, 2018Crash

DEAR LADY/GENTLEMAN GOOD MORNING I WAS DRIVING OUT FROM THE PARKING VERY SLOW. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED BUT FOR WHAT I KNOW CAR INCREASE SPEED RAPIDLY. I PUSH BRAKES BUT DOESN'T STOP AS A RESULT MY CAR HIT OTHER CARS IN PARKING. FOR WHAT I KNOW STEERING WAS LOCK. PLEASE CHECK IF MY CAR HAD ANY ELECTRONIC ATTACK . THANK YOU IN ADVANCE [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11101523

Jun 12, 2018Airbags

I AM THE OWNER OF THIS 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450 FOR 7 YEARS. IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, I HAVE BEEN RECEIVING THE AIRBAG RECALL NOTICES FROM MERCEDES-BENZ. SO FAR, NO INDICATION OF WHEN THIS RECALL WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF. OBVIOUSLY MERCEDES-BENZ DOESN'T CARE OF ITS' CUSTOMERS' SAFETY. I ALSO APPALL THAT OUR GOVERNMENT HAS NO REGULATION IN PLACE TO FORCE THE CAR MANUFACTURER TO FIX THIS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE AUTO MANUFACTURES CAN AFFORD STRONG LOBBYING IN CAPITAL HILL ?I?!?!

NHTSA ODI 11101532

Apr 24, 2018Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ GL350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF TYSONS CORNER AT 703-442-8200 (8545 LEESBURG PIKE, VIENNA, VA 22182) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. 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 ODI 11089877

Apr 23, 2018Airbags

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 ODI 11089631

Mar 21, 2018Airbags

TAKATA RECALL. THIS CAR IS USED TO TRANSPORT MY GRAND KIDS AROUND TOWN. I ALSO USE IT AS A REALTOR TO CARRY CUSTOMERS AROUND. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SLOW REACTION FROM THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND THE LIABILITY I CARRY. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS. PLEASE PUT SOME PRESSURE ON THEM TO REPAIR/REPLACE THESE DANGEROUS AIR BAGS.

NHTSA ODI 11080611

Feb 28, 2018Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 116V081000 (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. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF HEMPSTEAD, 110 W GRAHAM AVE, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REMEDY WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND TO WAIT UNTIL THE NOTIFICATION INFORMING HER TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11075441

Feb 21, 2018Airbags

I CONTACT MERCEDES DEALER THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NO REMEDY TO FIX THE BROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11074072

Feb 4, 2018Suspension

THE AIRMATIC SYSTEM EXPLODED WHILE THE CAR WAS AT THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALIER IN MODESTO, CALIFORNIA PARKED TO HAVE THE BREAKS REPAIRED .. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE CAR IS NO OPERABLE DUE TO ONE OF THE VARIOUS AIRMATIC CONTROLES EXPLODED WHILE PARKED WAITING BEING SERVICES. THE EXPLOSION WAS LOUD AND KEEPT THE CAR BOUNCING FOR A COUPLE MINUTES WHILE THE OTHER AIRMATIC CONTROLES WERE DEFLATING DUE TO THE EXPLOTION. MORE INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER IN MODESTO CALIFORNIA SINCE THE EXPLO TION OCCURRED AT THEIR SHOP

NHTSA ODI 11066844

Jan 14, 2018Airbags

TAKATA RECALL. SINCE 2/11/16 THE REMEDY FOR THE RECALL HAS NOT BEEN AVAILABLE. WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 11/10/17, REMEDY WAS STILL UNAVAILABLE. HOW LONG BEFORE A REMEDY WILL BE AVAILABLE? RECALL # 2016020003.

NHTSA ODI 11062684

Jan 4, 2018Airbags

TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED A NOTICE OF THE RECALL APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO. WE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM FLAGSHIP MOTORCARS OF LYNNFIELD, MA BUT MOVED TO TEXAS IN NOVEMBER 2015. WE HAD OUR MERCEDES BENZ GL450 SERVICED AT MERCEDES-BENZ OF THE WOODLANDS, TX AT THE BEGINNING OF 2016 AND ASKED ABOUT GETTING THE AIRBAGS REPLACED. WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT US WHEN THE PARTS CAME IN BUT THEY HAVE NEVER DONE SO. WE'VE CHECKED IN WITH THEM ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS BUT CONTINUE TO BE TOLD THAT THEY STILL DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO REPLACE THE AIRBAGS FOR THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11058490

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Working with the data? Download all 97 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 26, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Mercedes-benz Gl-class verdict →