What 38 owners told NHTSA about the 2020 Mercedes-benz GLS

AMENDMENT TO ACTIVE CASE 11723015. CRITICAL AIRBAG & SAFETY DEFECTS. This files a safety defect amendment to open case 11723015. Diagnostic scans confirm central data bus network collapse on VIN [XXX] has migrated into safety-critical occupant restraint and visibility modules, violating 49 U.S.C. § 30118. I. AIRBAG & RESTRAINT HAZARDS Scans from [XXX], document active faults: DTC U042782: "Implausible data received from Electronic Ignition Lock." The SRS module receives corrupted data from the failed ignition gateway, creating risk of airbag non-deployment. DTC B007A13: Passenger seatbelt pre-tensioner open circuit; occupants are unprotected against crash displacement. DTC B11FA4B: Active "Overtemperature" faults in heating elements indicate localized thermal short-circuit risk. II. HARDWARE DECAY Physical teardown confirmed structural oxidation on the central gateway motherboard and corroded connector pins. Modular swaps failed; network lock code U016887 returned within 8 months. Raw dealer records are available for federal inspection. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11741714

The engine wiring harness insulation near the ignition coil connectors prematurely deteriorated due to prolonged exposure to engine heat in the turbocharger/exhaust area. Multiple wiring connectors exhibited brittle, cracked insulation with exposed conductors. The degraded wiring began shorting within the ignition system, causing engine misfires, ignition circuit faults, and eventual loss of engine operation. While being operated by a rental customer the vehicle developed severe misfires followed by electrical shorting, smoke, localized flames in the engine harness area, and eventual engine shutdown. The flames self-extinguished after the electrical shorting stopped, but portions of the harness insulation showed thermal damage and overheating. The customer became stranded due to the vehicle becoming inoperable. Diagnostic faults included ignition coil circuit open faults and ignition primary circuit faults. The vehicle ultimately became inoperable due to the electrical failure. Inspection revealed multiple adjacent ignition harness connectors showing progressive heat-related insulation degradation in the same high-temperature area, indicating a broader harness material failure rather than isolated damage. This failure occurred on a 5-year-old vehicle. Engine wiring harness insulation should not prematurely degrade and short under normal operating conditions.

NHTSA ODI 11736819

Today around 6:47pm. I was reversing my car and I noticed another car in my backup camera and tried shift the gear shift to drive but it didn't work and stayed stuck on reverse and would not moved and the brake pedal and emergency brake wouldn't work.

NHTSA ODI 11587350

03/17/2023 driving on US1 coming up to speed after pulling onto highway after cars passed I went 0.2 miles and was looking at my driver side mirror ( no traffic on road ahead of me) when I hit something that pushed my big SUV toward oncoming traffic. I held wheel and muscled car to side of road stopping short of a telephone pole. Car was upright I had trouble loosening seat belt while my wife was hanging forward into hers. Dog harnessed in back seat was ok Got out of car to see a car hauler 30? Footer sticking about 4 feet into the road and travel lane. Investigation by police revealed truck driver backed out of a company driveway into the road with no people helping. With traffic totaled right front tearing wheel off. No air bags deployed, I do not believe accident avoidance nor auto braking employed, MB safety and accident location didn’t activate and not sure passenger seat belt pre tightened. Police report Saco Maine 23-113-AC . MBUSA notified. Car held for them to examine. 4 weeks later have heard nothing other than “ we’re working on it”police and Insurance found 0 fault for me. Car totaled for repair cost

NHTSA ODI 11524751

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 MERCEDES-BENZ GLS450. THE CONTACT STATED SHE NOTICED A FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN THE WINDOWS WERE OPEN. THE CONTACT SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION DUE TO BREATHING PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER ED HICKS IMPORTS LOCATED AT 3102 S PADRE ISLAND DR, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78415 (361) 854-1955, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THE FIRST TIME WITH A MELTING STICKER ON THE CADILLAC AND IT NEEDING TO BE REMOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED ON 12/21/2019, WHILE DRIVING 7 MPH, WHEN SHE HEARD MULTIPLE LOUD ABNORMAL NOISES (EXPLOSIONS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CADILLAC CONVERTER AND TURBO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

NHTSA ODI 11299513