What 52 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Mercedes-benz GLC

I was driving along in my 2013 MB GL450 with the M278 engine when the engine stopped. I had it towed to my home and checked it out. I had a suspicion the engine was seized. I eventually had to towed to my closest MB dealership for evaluation. The engine was seized. Their further investigation revealed that a wrong oil filter had been installed when the oil was changed 5 months and 3000 miles earlier. I tried to find out what this wrong filter would cause. I asked the dealership and then MB and got no response. I suspect if this filter caused the issue it would have been an oil pressure issue. The car gave no indication of anything wrong prior to engine seizing. I got no message on the display and when switching on the switch there is no indicator on the dashboard to indicate anything about oil pressure. There is no "oil can" that pops up red indicating an oil pressure issue. To this day have no idea why the engine seized other than an improper oil filter.

NHTSA ODI 11724243

Exhaust valve not working properly and the result of an engine misfire. Mercedez sent us a warranty letter to extend the warranty for this issue 6 months after our warranty expired even though you can find online this has been a known issue for our model of car and year, GL450 2013. There are tons of online forums and threads from Mercedez Benz owners about this manufacturer issue. This should not fall under purchasing an extended warranty or in our case a $17,000 bill to fix the issue on a car with only 70,000 miles on it. This should be a recall.

NHTSA ODI 11528865

The engine failed under 100k miles after being properly maintained according to the manufactures guidelines.

NHTSA ODI 11494992

2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450; it started with the activation of the vehicle's check - engine light. The Mercedes-Benz service advisor diagnosed the issue as oil intrusion into the vehicle's engine wiring harness. The estimated cost to repair was quoted as $7,0000.00. This resulted in the replacement of the engine wiring harness, four (4) Lambda sensors, four (4) camshaft hall sensors and four (4) camshaft solenoids. This trouble could cause engine failure or misfire if not corrected. Driving the MB GL450 in this condition is a safety issues for anyone driving on the road. Researching on the internet about MB GL450/550 engine oil intrusion into the engine wiring harness is a common problem.

NHTSA ODI 11477496

2013 MERCEDES ROUGH RUNNING AT IDLE, VARIOUS FAULTS STORED FOR INJECTOR QUANTITY COMPENSATION FOR CYLINDER BALANCING. FAULT CODE P1CWF-85. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT EVENTUALLY CAME ON. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS FOUND THAT BOTH ENGINE BANK 1 AND 2 CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS WERE FULL OF OIL DUE TO FAILED INTERNAL PACKING OF SENSOR. INSPECTED INJECTOR CONNECTORS AND HAD OIL, O2 SENSORS CONNECTOR HAD OIL, POWER TRAIN CONTROL UNIT FULL OF OIL. IF ENOUGH OIL WAS TO FLOW THROUGH THE ELECTRICAL WIRES TO THE CONTROL UNIT AS SUCH THIS INSTANCE OR SENSOR MAY RESULT IN IMMEDIATE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND VEHICLES ABILITY TO DRIVE. IF THE VEHICLE IS ON THE HIGHWAY AND STOPS WORKING MAY ENDANGER OCCUPANTS. ALSO NOTED THAT THE FAILED PART IS A MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE BULLETIN FOR PREVIOUS MALES AND MODELS BUT THIS 2013 GL550 IS NOT INCLUDED EVEN THOUGH THE SAME PART NUMBER IS USED IN THE NEW CARS AS THE PREVIOUS VEHICLES WITH THIS MERCEDES BENZ ACKNOWLEDGED ISSUE. ALSO NOTED THAT THE BODY HARNESS CONNECT TO THE SAME ENGINE CONTROL UNIT WHICH CONTROLS THE SAFETY FUNCTIONS SUCH AS AIRBAGS, SPEEDOMETER AND OTHER ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS.*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11320867

THIS CAR HAS LOT OF ISSUES WITH WATER PUMP, RADIATOR LEAK, LOT OF ENGINE PROBLEMS. OIL LEAK IT'S GOT LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. RADIATOR HOSES LEAK. CAR STOPPED ON MASS PIKE GOING TO ALBANY, NY TOOK IT TO BENZ OF ALBANY THEY SAID ENGINE MISFIRES NEEDS ENGINE REPLACEMENT AND IT WOULD COST $47,000 TO REPLACE. VERY VERY BAD ENGINES. I LEFT A VOICEMAIL ON BENZ CUSTOMER SERVICE AND NO ONE CALLED BACK OR SEND ME ANY TYPE OF RECALLS. VERY BAD SERVICE.

NHTSA ODI 11235222

MAKES A RATTLING NOISE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER STARTING AND SPUTTERING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. MY CAR HAS 64K AND DAIGNOSED THE CAR AT 2 DEALERSHIPS CONFIRMED THE ENGINE CHAIN STRETCHED

NHTSA ODI 11207870

OIL LEAK PERSISTENT FROM OIL COOLER IN DIESEL BLUETEC ENGINE SPRAYING OIL OUTSIDE GASKET ONTO FUEL LINES, OIL PAN, AND ONTO THE GROUND EMITTING HIGH LEVEL OF SMOKE WITH TARRY BURNT TOXIC NOXIOUS CHARCOAL SMELL FUMIGATING THROUGH THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE WITH VISIBLE BLUE SMOKE WHILE DRIVING MODERATE TO LONG DISTANCES. BLACK TARRY RESIDUE LEAKAGE VISIBLE ON DRIVEWAY AND STREET UNDERNEATH CAR WHEN PARKED OVERNIGHT OR FOR SHORT TIME WITH PAN LEAKED.

NHTSA ODI 11207874

ENGINE HARNESS WIRES CONTAMINATION IN ME, CAUSE SENSORS DAMAGE AND ENGINE PROBLEMS TO START UP RIGHT NORMAL DEALER WANT TO CHARGE ME 14K FOR SERVICE AND REPAIR , EVERY TIME I START THE CAR IT SOUNDS LIKE IT TAKE TIME TO START AND I GET THE CHECK ENGINE EVERTIME I START THE CAR

NHTSA ODI 11185140

MAKES A RATTLING NOISE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER STARTING AND SPUTTERING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING

NHTSA ODI 11183712

OIL LEAK PERSISTENT FROM OIL COOLER IN DIESEL BLUETEC ENGINE SPRAYING OIL OUTSIDE GASKET ONTO FUEL LINES, OIL PAN, AND ONTO THE GROUND EMITTING HIGH LEVEL OF SMOKE WITH TARRY BURNT TOXIC NOXIOUS CHARCOAL SMELL FUMIGATING THROUGH THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE WITH VISIBLE BLUE SMOKE WHILE DRIVING MODERATE TO LONG DISTANCES. BLACK TARRY RESIDUE LEAKAGE VISIBLE ON DRIVEWAY AND STREET UNDERNEATH CAR WHEN PARKED OVERNIGHT OR FOR SHORT TIME WITH PAN LEAKED.

NHTSA ODI 11105432

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ GL550. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SPUTTER, HESITATE, AND, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF ORLAND PARK, 8430 W. 159TH ST, ORLAND PARK, ILLINOIS) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DUE TO A FAULTY CYLINDER HEAD; HOWEVER, THE SPARK PLUGS AND SPARK PLUG WIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC LATER DIAGNOSED THAT THE NUMBER 5 CYLINDER WAS MISFIRING AND THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT ADDRESSED THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11071696

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 (NA) MERCEDES BENZ GL450. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THROUGH A PUDDLE, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THE KEY AND TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. ...UPDATED 09/28/15 *BF *CN

NHTSA ODI 10745399

CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING. PROBLEM REPORTED TO YOU, BEFORE! THEY SENT ME TO THREE DEALER, ALL THEY DID WAS ROUTINE CHECKS AND DID NOT ADMIT TO PROBLEM. THIS IS EXACTLY LIKE GM KEY PROBLEM. WHY DIDN'T YOU SURVEY THIS ISSUE AND GET A RECALL?!!

NHTSA ODI 10569373

THIS IS TO REPORT AN EVENT HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE BEFORE. THE CAR ENGINE SYO SUDDENTLY WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT SPEED AND MUST HAVE THE CAR PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF HIGHWAY TO RESTART AGAIN!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10520043