Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
120–25K
225–50K
150–75K
475–100K
4100–150K
0150K+
23 reports with mileage · 14 unknown
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 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seats. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
37 reports
3,000 miles · Mar 2, 2014
Service BrakesWheels
1- BRAKES; VIBRATION AND SEVER SHAKING WHILE BREAKING , SINCE 11/2012 AT 2500 MILES NOW AT 14000 MILES . PADS AND ROTORS HAS BEEN CHANGED 3 TIMES AND PROBLEM IS KEEP COMING BACK / 2- VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING : SINCE 11/2012 VEHICLE VIBRATES AT ALL DRIVING SPEED 35-70 AND VARIES OF THE ROADS. HAS BEEN TO SERVICES 8 TIMES…
Read full complaint
1- BRAKES; VIBRATION AND SEVER SHAKING WHILE BREAKING , SINCE 11/2012 AT 2500 MILES NOW AT 14000 MILES . PADS AND ROTORS HAS BEEN CHANGED 3 TIMES AND PROBLEM IS KEEP COMING BACK / 2- VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING : SINCE 11/2012 VEHICLE VIBRATES AT ALL DRIVING SPEED 35-70 AND VARIES OF THE ROADS. HAS BEEN TO SERVICES 8 TIMES . ALL TIRES HAS BEEN REPLACED AT 7K MILES. VEHICLE SYMPTOMS GETS BETTER AFTER ROAD FORCE BALANCE BUT RETURNS AFTER FEW HUNDRED MILES. MB USA HAS DECLINED THE REPAIR! 3- ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS; DRIVER SIDE LUMBAR SUPPORT . REAR DOOR COULD NOT BE CLOSED , COOLING SYSTEM HOSE PROBLEM , KEY FOBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED , AC CONTROL DOES NOT ADJUST AUTOMATICALLY IN AUTO POSITION. PRE SAFE COLLUSION SYSTEM PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10566656
2,500 miles · Aug 26, 2013
Seats
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECOND ROAD SEAT HEAD RESTS WOULD NOT ALLOW HIS CHILD TO BE SECURED PROPERLY IN A BOOSTER SEAT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HEAD RESTS WOULD CAUSE THE CHILD TO BE PUSHED TOWARD THE SIDE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT SECURE …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECOND ROAD SEAT HEAD RESTS WOULD NOT ALLOW HIS CHILD TO BE SECURED PROPERLY IN A BOOSTER SEAT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HEAD RESTS WOULD CAUSE THE CHILD TO BE PUSHED TOWARD THE SIDE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT SECURE THE CHILD IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ALTER THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,500.
NHTSA ODI #10537338
2,000 miles · Jul 27, 2013
Service Brakes
BRAKES ROTORS WARPED THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED AGAIN ON JUNE 5 2013 AT 5269 MILES REPLACED AGAIN NOT TOWING ANYTHING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10532134
10 miles · Jul 19, 2013
Seat BeltsSeats
MY CHILD, WHO IS 11, CAN NOT SIT IN THE REAR SEATS OF THIS TRUCK WITHOUT THE SHOULDER HARNESS SLIDING ACROSS HIS NECK, A TERRIBLE SITUATION SHOULD AN ACCIDENT OCCUR. HIS HEAD IS FORCED DOWNWARD BY THE HEAD REST IN EITHER THE UP OR DOWN POSITION. GIVEN THE POSITION OF THE HEAD REST, EVEN A BOOSTER SEAT IS INEFFECTIVE. THE VEHI…
Read full complaint
MY CHILD, WHO IS 11, CAN NOT SIT IN THE REAR SEATS OF THIS TRUCK WITHOUT THE SHOULDER HARNESS SLIDING ACROSS HIS NECK, A TERRIBLE SITUATION SHOULD AN ACCIDENT OCCUR. HIS HEAD IS FORCED DOWNWARD BY THE HEAD REST IN EITHER THE UP OR DOWN POSITION. GIVEN THE POSITION OF THE HEAD REST, EVEN A BOOSTER SEAT IS INEFFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH "POWER EASY ENTRY" OPTION WHICH MAKES REMOVING THE HEADRESTS IMPOSSIBLE (VEHICLES WITHOUT THIS OPTION HAVE REMOVABLE HEAD RESTS). THE DEALER, AFTER SEEING MY CHILD IN THE SEAT, ALSO AGREED THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY SO, AT ITS EXPENSE, REMOVED SOME PARTS OF THE "POWER EASY ENTRY" OPTION SO WE COULD REMOVE THE HEADRESTS. THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10525802
180 miles · Jul 18, 2013
Seats
THE 2ND ROW HEADRESTS DO NOT FULLY EXTEND/RETRACT UPWARD AND ALSO CANNOT BE REMOVED! WE ARE BEING TOLD BY MBUSA THAT THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE "EASY ENTRY 2ND ROW OPTION" AND THAT THOSE HEADRESTS HAVE LIMITED CAPABILITIES AS FAR AS RAISING/LOWERING/REMOVING. AS A RESULT CHILDREN SITTING IN THE 2ND ROW HAVE THEIR HEADS PUSHED FORWAR…
Read full complaint
THE 2ND ROW HEADRESTS DO NOT FULLY EXTEND/RETRACT UPWARD AND ALSO CANNOT BE REMOVED! WE ARE BEING TOLD BY MBUSA THAT THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE "EASY ENTRY 2ND ROW OPTION" AND THAT THOSE HEADRESTS HAVE LIMITED CAPABILITIES AS FAR AS RAISING/LOWERING/REMOVING. AS A RESULT CHILDREN SITTING IN THE 2ND ROW HAVE THEIR HEADS PUSHED FORWARD (BECAUSE OF THE HEADRESTS) WHICH IS CAUSING MAJOR NECK DISCOMFORT AND IS A REAL HAZARD FOR CHILDREN. THIS ALSO CANNOT BE CURED BY RAISING THE HEADREST BECAUSE CHILDREN OF A CERTAIN SIZE, PROBABLY AGES 10-16, AREN'T SHORT ENOUGH TO FIT "UNDER" THE HEADREST AND AREN'T TALL ENOUGH TO HAVE THEIR HEAD/NECK FIT PROPERLY ON THE HEADREST. THERE NEEDS TO BE AN OPTION WHERE THESE VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH THE "EASY ENTRY 2ND ROW OPTION", CAN HAVE THEIR 2ND ROW HEADRESTS REMOVED WHEN CHILDREN OF A CERTAIN HEIGHT WILL BE SITTING THERE. THIS IS REALLY A BIG PROBLEM AND A DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT MBUSA NEEDS TO ADDRESS IMMEDIATELY. I AM NOT SURE HOW THEY MISSED THIS IN THEIR SAFETY TESTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10525534
220 miles · Jul 17, 2013
Seats
THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW- THE HEADRESTS IN THE SECOND ROW ARE NOT ADJUSTABLE. THEY ONLY HAVE TWO POSITIONS: FULLY UP OR FULLY DOWN. IN EITHER OF THESE POSITIONS, MY 11 YEAR OLD CHILD'S HEAD IS IN A CLEARLY UNSAFE POSITION. IN THE DOWN POSITION, HIS BACK IS PUSHED FORWARD AND HIS NECK PUSHED DOWN ON THE SEATBELT. IN TH…
Read full complaint
THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW- THE HEADRESTS IN THE SECOND ROW ARE NOT ADJUSTABLE. THEY ONLY HAVE TWO POSITIONS: FULLY UP OR FULLY DOWN. IN EITHER OF THESE POSITIONS, MY 11 YEAR OLD CHILD'S HEAD IS IN A CLEARLY UNSAFE POSITION. IN THE DOWN POSITION, HIS BACK IS PUSHED FORWARD AND HIS NECK PUSHED DOWN ON THE SEATBELT. IN THE UP POSITION, THE BOTTOM OF THE HEADREST HITS THE VERY TOP OF THE BACK OF HIS HEAD AND, AGAIN, PUSHES HIS HEAD FORWARD AT A SEVER ANGLE. I HAVE TRIED TO RESOLVE THIS WITH THE DEALER AND MERCEDES BENZ USA BUT THEY HAVE STOPPED REPLYING TO ME. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD FOR ANYONE WHO IS APPROXIMATELY THE SIZE OF MY SON (4' 9"). I WOULD LIKE TO SEND YOU PICTURES OF MY SON SEATED WITH THE TWO HEADREST POSITIONS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10525434
4,600 miles · Jun 16, 2013
Engine
THIS IS TO REPORT AN EVENT HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE BEFORE. THE CAR ENGINE SYO SUDDENTLY WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT SPEED AND MUST HAVE THE CAR PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF HIGHWAY TO RESTART AGAIN!!! *TR
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.
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.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2013 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year