Home · 2012 Mercedes-benz Gl-class · Complaints

What 76 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 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 (76)Crash / fire / injury (6)Airbags (40)Brakes (10)Suspension (7)Transmission & drivetrain (5)Engine (4)Electrical system (3)Fuel system (3)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (2)Seat belts (2)Body & structure (1)

2 of 76 complaints match · Electronic Stability Control (esc) · clear filters

Feb 24, 2020SteeringSuspensionElectronic Stability Control (esc)

THE REAR SUSPENSION BECAME SOFT AFTER THE DEALER DID AN INTIAL CHECK AFTER I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE VEHICLE FEELING UNSTABLE AFTER SPEEDS OF 70MPH. I HAD BOTH AIR SHOCKS CHANGED IN THE REAR. AFTER TWO (2) MONTHS THE FRONT SUSPENSION ON THE PASSENGER ALSO STARTED TO LEAK CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SUSPENSION TO AUTOMATICALLY ADJUST IN THE FRONT WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED. THIS OCCURED WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OR IN MOTION, HIGHWAY OR CITY STREETS.

NHTSA ODI 11311208

Feb 27, 2019Electrical systemAirbagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)

NHTSA HEADQUARTERS 1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE SE. WEST BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20590 TEL: 1-(888)-327-4236 TEL: 1-202-336-9550 EMAIL: NHTSA.WEBMASTER@DOT.GOV WEB: WWW.NHTSA.GOV REF: FORMAL COMPLAINT - 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ 450 GL- THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE 1) FAILURE TO PERFORM SAFETY RECALL REPAIR IN TIMELY MANNER - 2) REFUSAL TO CONDUCT REPAIR UNDER ITS ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER WARRANTY 3) REFUSAL TO PROVIDE MONETARY COMPENSATION FOR DEFECTIVE AUTO PARTS & LABOR MR. SIR OR MADAM, THE PURPOSE OF THIS LETTER IS TO NOTIFY THE NHTSA THAT MERCEDES BENZ USA HAS FAILED TO PERFORM SAFETY RECALL REPAIRS IN TIMELY MANNER, AND, THE CORPORATION HAS ALSO REFUSED TO CONDUCT REPAIR UNDER ITS WARRANTY OBLIGATIONS FOR MY 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ 450 GL (VIN: XXXX) ACCORDING TO THE US SAFETY LAWS AND REGULATIONS. THIS LETTER MANDATES THAT MERCEDES BENZ USA SHOULD PERFORM ALL REQUIRED SAFETY RECALL REPAIR FOR DYSFUNCTIONAL AIRBAG INFLATORS AND DEFECTIVE REAR DOOR LOCK & MOTOR FOR OUR CORPORATE VEHICLE - 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ 450 GL IN TIMELY MANNER, NOT LATER THAN 15 DAYS BECAUSE : 1) MERCEDES BENZ USA HAS FAILED TO REFORM ORIGINAL SAFETY RECALL REPAIRS DURING LAST TWO YEARS ' SINCE FEBRUARY 9, 2016. 2) A DRIVER-SIDE EXPLOSION DURING DEPLOYMENT COULD RESULT IN METAL STRIKING THE FRONT PASSENGER OR OTHER OCCUPANTS, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH ' SIMPLY THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. (SEE ATTACHED COPIES). PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11182895

Working with the data? Download all 76 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 2012 Mercedes-benz Gl-class verdict →