What 18 owners told NHTSA about the 2024 Mercedes-benz GLS 450 4matic

While traveling at highway speeds, the digital instrument cluster suffered a sudden, complete power loss and went entirely black for approximately 5 seconds before rebooting. Component failed: Digital instrument cluster / dashboard display. It is available for inspection. Safety risk: Complete loss of critical data (speedometer, vehicle status) at high speed. It caused immediate driver confusion over whether the vehicle had stalled or lost propulsion, creating an acute risk of a high-speed collision in traffic. Reproduced by dealer: [UNKNOWN] Inspected by others: [NO] Prior symptoms: UNKNOWN. There were no warning lamps, messages, or symptoms prior to the sudden blackout.

NHTSA ODI 11748661

[XXX] girl went in back passenger door (rear facing car seat present), crouched under seat area to climb to middle seat when [XXX] brother push button and seat moved forward without stopping crushing [XXX] old head between back of seat and back of Car seat. There was no safety stop, was stuck mother has to press button to move seat back to release head. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11743087

I am submitting a complaint regarding the air conditioning system in my vehicle. The vehicle has a refrigerant (Freon) leak that causes the air conditioning system to stop cooling properly. In addition, there is a loud abnormal noise coming from the AC system while operating. The issue has progressively become worse. The air conditioner either blows warm air or loses cooling performance completely, especially during normal driving conditions. The abnormal noise appears when the AC compressor engages. This defect affects driving comfort and may indicate a failure of the air conditioning components, refrigerant lines, or compressor system. The refrigerant leak also raises concerns about long-term vehicle reliability and safety. The vehicle has been inspected/repaired, but the problem continues to occur.

NHTSA ODI 11736838

The panoramic sunroof spontaneously shattered. I was driving on highway under open sky and the sun roof just imploded and all the glass came shattering inside all over. There were no extreme weather or any construction or chances of any debris from anything around. No impact object could be identified upon inspection after the car was stopped.

NHTSA ODI 11733613

On November 30, 2024, I purchased a new 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 4MATIC equipped with factory-installed Pirelli tires (size: P 275/45HR21 front; 315/40HR21 rear). At the time of the accident on February 22, 2026, the vehicle had only 15,257 miles. While driving on the interstate in wet conditions, the tires failed to provide adequate traction, causing the vehicle to hydroplane. The loss of traction felt as though the vehicle was driving on ice and was inconsistent with over a year of prior operation in similar weather conditions without issue. The suspected components involved include the Pirelli tires, as well as the Electronic Stability Program (ESP), traction control system, and 4MATIC all-wheel drive system, which did not appear to effectively intervene. The vehicle spun and was involved in a crash, placing myself, my wife, and my child—who has Autism—at significant risk, along with surrounding motorists traveling at interstate speeds. Despite visible tread remaining, the tires did not perform as expected. Based on warranty expectations of approximately 50,000 miles, the apparent performance failure at only 15,257 miles raises serious safety concerns. The vehicle is currently at a collision repair facility and is available for inspection. The issue has not been reproduced, and a manufacturer inspection is pending. The vehicle has been inspected by law enforcement and insurance representatives. There were no warning lights or alerts related to traction, stability, or tire performance prior to the incident. As a result, the vehicle was rendered undrivable, required towing, and has been under repair for over a month, causing significant inconvenience and financial impact. I am requesting a formal investigation and review for appropriate resolution.

NHTSA ODI 11728541

During interstate travel in rainy conditions, the vehicle appeared to lose traction and hydroplane. The tires appeared to have adequate remaining tread; however, they did not provide expected traction and the vehicle felt as though it was driving on ice. This was inconsistent with my prior experience operating the vehicle for over a year in various weather conditions without encountering similar issues. The Electronic Stability Program (ESP), traction control system, and 4MATIC all-wheel drive system did not appear to intervene to stabilize the vehicle. The vehicle spun and was involved in a crash. Despite the impact, no airbags deployed. The vehicle was rendered undrivable and towed from the scene. It is currently located at a collision repair facility and is available for inspection upon request. The suspected systems involved include the Electronic Stability Program (ESP), traction control system (TCS), 4MATIC all-wheel drive system, and Supplemental Restraint System (SRS/airbags). The vehicle has not yet undergone a full manufacturer engineering inspection, but such a review has been requested. The loss of traction at interstate speed in wet conditions created a serious safety risk to the occupants of the vehicle and surrounding motorists. The apparent lack of stability control intervention and the absence of airbag deployment increased the potential risk of injury. The vehicle was inspected by law enforcement at the scene, towed, and has been reviewed by insurance representatives as part of a claim. A manufacturer inspection is pending based on a defective claim that was filed. There were no warning lights, alerts, or messages related to traction control, stability control, or airbags prior to the incident.

NHTSA ODI 11721041

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 exhibits a critical "Spatial Mapping Offset" defect within the MBUX 360-degree camera interface and the Active Brake Assist (ABA) logic. Specifically, the digital rendering of physical obstacles on the dashboard display is offset by approximately 0.5 feet (6 inches). This creates a "false clear" condition where the driver is visually signaled that an obstacle has been cleared while the vehicle’s chassis is still in a strike position. On September 27, 2025, this defect resulted in a collision with a stationary post. Despite the system’s Parking Control Module identifying the object (recorded as "Orange/Indented" in dealer Repair Order #731706), the system failed to escalate to a Red Triangle alert or initiate autonomous braking. Furthermore, the vehicle’s sensing suite is demonstrably unstable, exhibiting "Phantom Alerts" (detecting non-existent obstacles) and total Augmented Reality (AR) camera blackouts in direct sunlight—a failure the manufacturer’s representative attributed to solar interference. The manufacturer (MBUSA) has formally denied a defect exists, claiming the system is not designed to detect stationary objects or operate below 4 mph. However, I have documented video/photographic evidence of the vehicle successfully intervening for stationary objects at these speeds in other scenarios (e.g., concrete garage posts). This proves the system's safety protocols are intermittent and unreliable. This lack of synchronization between real-time spatial data and the driver interface makes a collision mathematically inevitable and constitutes a significant public safety hazard.

NHTSA ODI 11717545

i've purchased brand new 2024 gls 450 mercedes benz and this is the 3rd times i have to bring my car to the mercedes facility to add a quarter of oil and jerky shifting so i dont feel safety and comfortable to drive this car anymore. i need help or my money back, what do i need to do?.

NHTSA ODI 11671311

On [XXX], my wife and I were driving our 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 when I pulled over after sensing vibration on the highway. Upon inspection, all four tires were found to be severely worn, with the right rear tire completely bald and showing exposed steel belts. I have attached photos of the tires. The vehicle had been serviced at Mercedes-Benz of Wesley Chapel, FL at 10,000 miles in January 2025, and the dealer noted the rear tires were at 3–4/32" tread depth. Despite this, we were not warned that the tires were unsafe. The dealership did not contact us, did not send photos, and did not recommend immediate replacement — even though they did follow that protocol on our other vehicle (a GLE 350) serviced the same day. This inconsistency in communication led us to unknowingly drive 4,000 miles — including 60 miles at highway speed — on dangerously unsafe tires. The dealership has admitted the tread depth was low at the time of service but is attempting to shift responsibility despite not alerting us to the risk. This is a serious safety oversight. If we had experienced a tire failure at highway speeds, we could have been injured or killed. This type of service-related negligence should be tracked, as it may indicate broader issues in service safety practices at this and other dealerships. The Dealer refuses to take responsibility for their negligence. I have had other issues with the quality of their service, including a recent engine failure on my GLE 350 while crossing a 4 lane highway. Wesley Chapel Mercedes Benz had serviced the GLE 350 two months earlier, including the ignition system. My wife was driving at the time and could have been hit by on-coming traffic. So I have has two dangerous driving incidents because of Mercedes Benz Wesley Chapel Florida’s Service Department. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11670282

Over the past 14 months, the emergency breaking system has gone off approximately 25 times during non-emergency situations. Most of the incidents have been when no other vehicles or impediments are anywhere close by. This has created a very significantly unsafe and ongoing situation for my family which so far are being ignored by Mercedes Benz.

NHTSA ODI 11664075

car spontaneously caught fire while driving, without any warning, with smoke first coming from the air vents followed by smoke from under the bonnet then visible fire engulfing the front of the car, it was serviced 6 weeks prior without any concerning findings on the mechanical or electrical components. 911 was called and fire was extinguished and insurance claim filed, currently being investigated by insurance as to what may have caused the fire.

NHTSA ODI 11657413

Head-up display unit inoperable on multiple occasions over a span of few months during the first year of ownership. Display panel occasionally went blank, including while driving.

NHTSA ODI 11635164

The glass panel between the windshield and the sunroof spontaneously shattered. I wasn't aware of this and had just noticed increased wind noise while driving for a few weeks until I noticed that it was due to shattered glass panel. It is cracked almost all around and somewhat dislocated. Upon close inspection in can be seen that cracks run throughout the glass panel. There is no single point of impact of a possible foreign object, so I can rule out the possibility of something hitting it with high confidence. I took it to the dealership but they refused responsibility under manufacturer warranty, claiming it must have been an object hitting it and quoted $3,815.10 for repair. I have detailed pictures showing no impact marks.

NHTSA ODI 11618091

The contact owns a 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS450. The contact stated while the vehicle was idling, the vehicle shut off with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact also stated that a message to exit the vehicle was displayed. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to the dealer on four separate occasions. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the contact was informed that the failure was related to the battery. The battery was either recharged or replaced while at the dealer; however, the failure returned soon after repair. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11613588

I would like to report that there is a Key Fob connection problem with my car causing it to lock with the key inside the car. This could pose safety issues. I placed my purse with my Key Fob and phone on the passenger seat. I loaded other items in the car. I closed the door to walk around the car to get in the drivers seat. When the door closed, the car immediately locked. My husband had to come with his phone to open with Mercedes Me App. It was a hot day. Fortunately, my infant granddaughter was not in the car. I discussed this event with my local dealer. They informed me that it is happening to other 2024 cars because the fob has a new design which allows it to go into a sleep mode to preserve the battery. They informed that it happens randomly. They were aware of it happening to other customers. I phoned customer service with Mercedes USA. They had previous reports of this happening. They even mentioned that a child had to be rescued by breaking the window. They suggested that I report the problem to your organization. I was told that was the only way that it could be addressed by a recall. Both the dealership and the USA representative said that there was no way to prevent it from happening again. This problem can result in children being locked in the car. This can also result in being locked out of the car in areas with no way to summons help. I am very concerned. There is no warning that could prevent this situation. I will be happy to provide my car for inspection.

NHTSA ODI 11606905

The contact owns a 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS580. The contact stated while driving at approximately 70 MPH, the contact heard a loud popping sound inside the cabin of the vehicle and became aware that the rear section of the panoramic sunroof had shattered. The contact stated that the shattered sunroof panel was still in place and had not entered the cabin or fallen onto the highway. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that a rock had shattered the sunroof. The sunroof was replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 2,500.

NHTSA ODI 11603192

The contact owns a 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS580. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH with his wife in the front passenger's seat, the Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking system engaged and the vehicle stopped abruptly, causing both the contact and his wife to be propelled forward. The contact stated that there were no other vehicles or pedestrians around the vehicle prior to the failure. The contact was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the computer did not communicate that the malfunction had occurred. No further assistance was provided. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer advised the contact to take the vehicle back to the dealer for further diagnostic testing. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who informed the contact that they could not assist due to the previous assessment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact followed up with the manufacturer and was advised that the failure needed to recur 4 - 5 times for a buyback to be considered. The failure mileage was approximately 2,200.

NHTSA ODI 11589306

this concerns the rear view camera..it operates sporadically, or intermittanally,first time inn didn't work as expected it blanked out and I hit a tree...as I backed up it did NOT show anything behind my car....so I backed into a tree... following that I made an appt. at Mercedes dealer in newton nj., explained what had happened, service manager stated he NEVER heard of that problem, they checked it out and found NO problem....approximately a 10 days later as I was backing up in driveway I backed into a pickup truck that was NOT seen on the screen....my daughter was watching intently after prior crash....Never did the image of the pickup show on the screen..$5887.00 in damage later to truck and nearly the same on my card called Mercedes customer service? got to their voice mail, left a message to return my call ,that it was quite important, a week later I still have not heard from them!!! I have chills when I think how this problem could manifest itself in aster parking lot, or more importantly in a school parking lot... a tragedy because of someone ignoring the problem... hopefully your organization will not ignore this very real situation....I NEVER want to hear that something that is shown on google to be recalled hundreds of thousands of times is still occurring, I find it very disheartening that a $95,000 Mercedes suv would continue since 2016 to have this recurring problem without being corrected. i'm sure there have been horrible instance of a child being injured or killed....please address this best you can. thank you there were 2 incidents, [XXX] and [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11584767