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)

2 of 97 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · clear filters

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

Feb 2, 2011Transmission & drivetrain

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2011 MERCEDES BENZ GL450 4MATIC LAST NIGHT. THE CAR HAS A KEYLESS GO SYSTEM. WHEN I WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR THIS AFTERNOON I ACCIDENTALLY TURNED THE CAR OFF WITHOUT PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK AND BEGAN TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. I NOTICED THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACK DOWN MY DRIVEWAY. THE CAR NEVER WENT INTO PARK WHEN I TURNED IT OFF. RATHER IT WENT INTO NEUTRAL. I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN A CAR THAT DIDN'T GO INTO A PARK MODE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TERMINATED. THANK GOODNESS A CHILD WASN'T PLAYING IN MY DRIVEWAY OR MY DOG WAS THERE. A CAR OF THIS SOPHISTICATION, TECHNOLOGY AND PRICE SHOULD HAVE SHIFTED INTO THE PARK MODE, NOT THE NEUTRAL MODE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF EVEN IF THE CAR WASN'T PUT IN PARK. ADDITIONALLY, OF THAT IS HOW THE CAR WORKS, THEN I WOULD THINK THERE WOULD BE A SAFETY SWITCH N THE DRIVER'S SEAT THAT WOULD DISENGAGE THE GEAR WHEN I WENT TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I AM TRULY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS AS WELL AS PARKED CARS WITH WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10380039

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 →