NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
115 reports70,000 miles · Dec 8, 2011
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY CAME TO A HALT. THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE DEFECT WAS RELATED TO INTERNAL DAM…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY CAME TO A HALT. THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE DEFECT WAS RELATED TO INTERNAL DAMAGE WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO FAULTY CAM SHAFT LOCKING. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 01/25/12
NHTSA ODI #10438988
1,000 miles · Nov 2, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD FIRST POWER DOWN AND THE LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF BEFORE STALLING. THE DEALER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF DIAGNOSING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER PROMISED TO CALL THE CONTACT BAC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD FIRST POWER DOWN AND THE LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF BEFORE STALLING. THE DEALER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF DIAGNOSING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER PROMISED TO CALL THE CONTACT BACK WITH SOME ASSISTANCE FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
NHTSA ODI #10433954
57,000 miles · Oct 24, 2011
SeatsFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE EXHIBIT A STRONG PLASTIC ODOR AND THE DRIVERS SEAT RELEASED SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
NHTSA ODI #10432541
48,000 miles · Sep 18, 2011
Electrical SystemFire
MY CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. 90 MINUTES LATER ENGINE FIRE BEGAN THAT NEARLY BURNED DOWN MY GARAGE AND HOUSE. NO PROBLEMS WERE NOTICED IN THE CAR 60 MINUTES AFTER PARKING. FIRE OCCURRED 60 TO 90 MINUTES AFTER PARKING. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10425972
Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2011
Equipment
AIRMATIC FAILURE FRONT SUSPENSION MANY TIMES SINCE 2007 FOR GL 450 WARRRANY REPLACEMANT IN 2008 , 2009 AND NOW AGAIN IN 2011. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10414838
5,000 miles · Jul 5, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
MY 2007 MERCEDES BENZ GL450 HAS A PROBLEM SINCE ABOUT 5,000 MILES. THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS TOO MUCH TRAVEL TO STOP ESPECIALLY, IN TRAFFIC THE PEDAL GOES ALL MOST TO THE FLOOR IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I HAVE REPEATEDLY BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION. EVEN AFTER THEY PERFORMED A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB. THERE REPLY WAS IT IS NORMA…
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MY 2007 MERCEDES BENZ GL450 HAS A PROBLEM SINCE ABOUT 5,000 MILES. THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS TOO MUCH TRAVEL TO STOP ESPECIALLY, IN TRAFFIC THE PEDAL GOES ALL MOST TO THE FLOOR IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I HAVE REPEATEDLY BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION. EVEN AFTER THEY PERFORMED A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB. THERE REPLY WAS IT IS NORMAL THEY ALL DO THE SAME. [XXX] 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). *TR *KB
NHTSA ODI #10410595
55,000 miles · Jun 22, 2011
Suspension
AIR SUSPENSION FAILURE: INITIAL FAILURE - FRONT END SUSPENSION FAILED - LOWERED COMPLETELY WHERE TIRES WOULD APPEAR TO CONTACT WHEEL WELL. DEALER 'FIXED' PROBLEM SECOND FAILURE - LEFT FRONT AIR SUSPENSION LOWERED, THE REMAINING THREE DID NOT LOWER ITSELF. THE CAR DRIVES AT AN ODD ANGLE WITH LEFT FRONT END POINTING TO THE GROU…
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AIR SUSPENSION FAILURE: INITIAL FAILURE - FRONT END SUSPENSION FAILED - LOWERED COMPLETELY WHERE TIRES WOULD APPEAR TO CONTACT WHEEL WELL. DEALER 'FIXED' PROBLEM SECOND FAILURE - LEFT FRONT AIR SUSPENSION LOWERED, THE REMAINING THREE DID NOT LOWER ITSELF. THE CAR DRIVES AT AN ODD ANGLE WITH LEFT FRONT END POINTING TO THE GROUND. AGAIN THE TIRE APPEARS TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE WHEEL WELL. RIDE IS ROUGH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10408483
72,000 miles · May 31, 2011
Steering
MERCEDES BENZ GL 450 2007. STEERING GOT LOCKED WHILE DRIVING. LATER THE DEALER FOUND OUT IT BECAUSE OF STEERING PUMP PRESSER WENT DOWN. MERCEDES SERVICE WAS NOT HELPFUL ON THIS. I WAS LUCKY THAT NOT MUCH CARS ON THE ROAD WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPEN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10403748
5,000 miles · May 16, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES GL 450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THERE WAS A DELAYED STOPPING RESPONSE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. THE DEALER CHANGED THE BRAKES BUT THE FAIL…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES GL 450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THERE WAS A DELAYED STOPPING RESPONSE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. THE DEALER CHANGED THE BRAKES BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. HE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000. STATUS UPDATE. UPDATED 06/15/11
NHTSA ODI #10401063
33,000 miles · Feb 27, 2011
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure
MECHANICAL FAILURE FOR THE TRUCK'S LIFTGATE. LIGHT FLASHED AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. WILL NOT TURN OFF NOW, GETTING IT CHECKED TOMORROW. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10384688
Official recalls
2Apr 26, 2024
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML, GL, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake performance or brake failure.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MMUSA's number for this recall is 2024050001/2. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-315.
May 9, 2022
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML-Class, GL-Class, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake performance or brake failure.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2022050014, 2022050015 2022090006, & 2022090007.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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