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)

56 of 97 complaints match · Airbags · clear filters · page 3 of 3

Jan 31, 2017SuspensionElectrical systemAirbags

THIS CAR WAS SOLD TO ME AS A CPO VEHICLE FROM MERCEDES BENZ OF GREENWICH WITH 32K MILES IN 2014. SINCE OWNERSHIP ALL AIRBAGS HAVE FAILED AND BEEN REPLACED EXCEPT THE RECALLED TAKATA STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG. THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS, REAR AIRBAGS ETC. ARE NOW ON THE SECOND REPLACEMENT. THE COMPUTER FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND THE DASHBOARD WENT COMPLETELY BLACK AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME THAT THIS YEAR VEHICLE HAS CONTINUAL PROBLEMS AND FAILURES. IT THE SOUND LIKE THE CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I WAS TOLD TO SELL THE CAR PRIVATELY SINCE THE VALUE HAS PLUMMETED.

NHTSA ODI 10948750

Jan 20, 2017Airbags

I WAS ADVISED BY MERCEDES 6 MONTHS AGO THAT MY AIR BAG IS DEFECTIVE--OR PRONE TO HAZARD IN AN ACCIDENT. THEY SAID THERE IS NO REMEDY. I WANT THE AIRBAGS DEACTIVATED BUT MERCEDES REFUSES

NHTSA ODI 10946805

Oct 22, 2016Airbags

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

NHTSA ODI 10918072

Aug 2, 2016Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, 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 NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10892630

Mar 18, 2016AirbagsBrakesFuel system

I BOUGHT A MERCEDES GL450 ABOUT A YEAR AGO, IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF EVER SINCE I GOT IT, ALSO THE REASON I PURSHASED THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE I'VE HEARD GOOD THINGS FROM MERCEDES " THAT IT'S SAFE AND A RELIABLE VEHICLE" . SO I THOUGHT AND I WOULD'VE NEVER IMAGINE THIS VEHICLE PUT ME MY FAMILY AND I AT RISK. STARTING WITH THE AIRBAG. THE SENSOR KEEPS ON TRIGGERING IT SO ITS MALFUNCTIONED. ALSO I HAVE AN ABS/ESP SENSOR ON AS WELL. SO AS I AM DRIVING THE CAR THE CAR SUDDENLY BRAKES FREQUENT, THERE'S TIMES THAT IT DOESN'T AT ALL AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. HUGE RED FLAG!!! ON TOP OF THAT I HAVE A FUEL LEAK WHICH I NEVER TOUGHT IT WAS A LEAK, II SMELLED GAS ALL THE TIME AND LIVING BY A GAS STATION I WOULDVE NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD BE MY CAR. YET THE SMELL FOLLOWED ME EVERYWHERE I WENT WITH THE CAR. SO WHEN I FINALLY LOOKED INTO IT, MIND YOU I NEVER DOUBTED THE MERCEDES BRAND, BUT WAS I WRONG AGAIN.... I HAVE A FUEL LEAK NOW ON TOP OF MY OTHER SAFETY CONCERNS... SCARY ESPECIALLY WITH MY KIDS ABOARD ALSO I HAVE DONE MORE INVESTIGATING ON THE ABS AND IT TELLS ME THAT ALSO MY CAR IS AT RISK OF SLIDING DOWN THE ROAD. THE CAR IS JUST SITTING ON MY DRIVEWAY.. THIS VEHICLE IS SO EXPENSIVE YET SO MANY PROBLEMS AND NONE OF THEM ARE MAINTENANCE ISSUES. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MERCEDES CORPORATE AND SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY CAR AND THEY CANT DO NOTHING ABOUT IT ALSO THAT MY CAR IS OLD IS PROBABLY A MAINTENANCE ISSUE. MERCEDES CANT EVEN STAND BEHIND THERE EXPENSIVE PRODUCT... WHAT ARE WE REALLY PAYING FOR ESPECIALLY WHEN ITS UNSAFE.... MY CAR CAN BLOW UP ANY MINUTE....!!!! THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND MIND YOU MY CAR ISNT THAT OLD. ITS A 2011!!!! I HAVE HAD A TOYOTA COROLLA THAT HASNT GAVE ME ANY ISSUES FOR OVER 10 YEARS.!! ITS UNACCEPTABLE AND THE FACT THAT MERCEDES CANT EVEN FIX MY ISSUE EVEN WITH A SAFETY HAZARD...!!! I DEMAND SOMETHING TO BE DONE AND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.PLEASE HELP

NHTSA ODI 10850434

Aug 25, 2014AirbagsCrash

WE WERE SOUTH BOUND ON US131 AND WAS STRUCK IN THE DRIVERS DOOR. ENTIRE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE HAS DAMAGE FROM FRONT BUMPER TO REAR WHEEL. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE COMPUTER HAS A STORED CODE FOR BOTH DRIVERS SIDE DOORS. I HAVE CONTACTED MERCEDES AND THEY CONTEND THAT THE AIR BAGS PERFORMED PROPERLY. VEHICLE IS JUST NOW BEING DISASSEMBLED TO DETERMINE DAMAGE SO I THINK MERCEDES MIGHT BE COVERING SOMETHING UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10628199

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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 →