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2021 Mercedes-benz GLS
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
36 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 20, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Electrical system problems dominate (44% of complaints).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#186 of 450Among the 2021 models with a matured record, the 2021 Mercedes-benz GLS ranks #186, scoring higher than 58% of them. See the 2021 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2021 Mercedes-benz GLS, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (16)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Electrical system
44%16 complaints · 5 in the last 2 years
“System malfunctioned detail: 48v battery malfunction, 12v battery malfunction. Safety concern: I was driving on [XXX] , the battery malfunction warning suddenly pop up…”
Engine
11%4 complaints
“Repeated failures of 48 volt battery system has shut vehicle totally off while under highspeed and in traffic”
Lane Departure
8%3 complaints
“Mercedes has launch a Campaign Nr 2022010001 Campaign Desc: 21P0699002 in which will retrofit augmented reality camera in 1147 vehicle model year 2021-2022 . My car ca…”
Driver assistance
8%3 complaints
“The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes Benz GLS450. The contact stated while driving 75 mph with the cruise control engaged, the vehicle decelerated to 45 mph than to 15 mph…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
Too few owners named a mileage on this model to place issues against an odometer yet.
Read all 36 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 5 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Mercedes-benz before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2021 Mercedes-benz GLS beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2021? See how every GLS model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2021 Mercedes-benz GLS against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.