IllustrationDriver side, 2nd row seat belt will not retract. Needed for our children. I will contact a local garage and dealer to fix.
2013 MERCEDES-BENZ GL350
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all GL350 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 6 of 7 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
7 reportsOIL 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 TAR…
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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.
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
MAKES A RATTLING NOISE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER STARTING AND SPUTTERING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING
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 TAR…
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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.
THERE ARE 13 COMPLAINTS ALREADY LOGGED AT NHTSA ABOUT DIFFERENT MODEL BENZ WITH PANORAMIC ROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODING. LIKELY ALL THOSE UNFORTUNATE DRIVERS, I WAS DRIVING ON A CLEAR SAT MORNING OF OCT 2016 WITH NO TRAFFIC AROUND ME WHEN I SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION LIKE A BULLET FIRED. I GOT SCARED AND ALMOST LOST THE CONTROL …
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THERE ARE 13 COMPLAINTS ALREADY LOGGED AT NHTSA ABOUT DIFFERENT MODEL BENZ WITH PANORAMIC ROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODING. LIKELY ALL THOSE UNFORTUNATE DRIVERS, I WAS DRIVING ON A CLEAR SAT MORNING OF OCT 2016 WITH NO TRAFFIC AROUND ME WHEN I SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION LIKE A BULLET FIRED. I GOT SCARED AND ALMOST LOST THE CONTROL AND GOT STUNNED. FEW SECONDS LATTER, I SAW GLASS OF PANORAMIC ROOF SHATTERING DOWN I 465. I PULLED OVER & CALLED THE ROAD SIDE.THERE ARE SEVERAL DOZEN CASES ON BENZ FORUM, DEALER AND BENZ NOT ADMITTING THE DESIGN DEFECT. DIFFERING IT TO INSURANCE DUE TO HIGH COST. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS NHTSA NEEDS TO START INVESTIGATION. THE ISSUE IS MORE WIDELY REPORTED THEN KIA/HYUNDAI ROOF ISSUE.
AIRMATIC SUSPENSION SYSTEM DROPS IN THE REAR OF VEHICLE.
Official recalls
319V787000 · Communication
Nov 1, 2019
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.
18V272000 · Suspension:front
Apr 27, 2018
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2012-2014 ML350 Bluetec 4Matic and ML550 4Matic, 2012-2015 ML63 AMG 4Matic and ML350 4Matic, 2013-2016 GL350 Bluetec 4Matic, GL550 4Matic and GL63 AMG 4Matic, 2017 GLS350d 4Matic, GLS450 4Matic, GLS550 4Matic and GLS63 AMG 4Matic, 2015 ML400 4Matic, 2016 GLE400 4Matic, GLE350 4Matic, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLE63S AMG 4Matic, GLE450 4Matic Coupe and GLE63S AMG 4Matic Coupe, 2015-2016 GL450 4Matic and 2013-2014 GL450 4Matic vehicles equipped with the Active Curve System (ACS). In certain driving conditions, if the oil level in the ACS reservoir is below the minimum level, the oil may foam and leak out of the vent holes in the reservoir cap.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The leaking oil in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will correct the oil level as necessary and replace the reservoir sealing cap to prevent oil foam from leaking out, free of charge. The recall began August 30, 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018070015.
13V166000 · Seat Belts
Apr 29, 2013
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (Mercedes) is recalling certain model year 2013 GL350 BlueTEC, GL450 4MATIC, GL550 4MATIC, and GL63 AMG vehicles manufactured May 15, 2012 through October 4, 2012. The second row seat belt anchor fitting bolts may not be properly torqued.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the bolts are not properly torqued, the seat belt anchor bolts may continue to loosen and in the the event of a crash, the belted occupant may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Mercedes-Benz will notify owners and dealers will check, and tighten the bolts of the seat belt anchor fittings, as necessary, free of charge. The recall campaign began on May 24, 2013. Owners may contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.