2016 Mercedes-Benz Gl450 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Seats (3) · Visibility:windshield (1) · Suspension (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mercedes-Benz Gl450 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (5)
Communication 2019-11-01 · campaign 19V787000 · 24,226 vehicles
Defect: 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
Risk: An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Suspension:front 2018-04-27 · campaign 18V272000 · 9,725 vehicles
Defect: 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
Risk: The leaking oil in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Steering:electric Power Assist System 2017-04-11 · campaign 17V241000 · 58,323 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 GLE300d 4Matic, E400 4Matic Coupe, GL63 AMG, GLE350, GLE350 4Matic, GLE350d 4Matic, GLE400 4Matic, GLE43 AMG Coupe 4Matic, GLE550e 4Matic, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLE63S AMG 4Matic and GLE63S AMG Coupe 4Matic vehicles, 2017 E300 4Matic and GLS63 AMG 4Matic vehicles, and 2016-2017 GL350 4Matic BlueTec, GL450 4Matic, and GL550 4Matic vehicles. The affected vehicles have an electric power steering connector that may be insufficiently sealed, allo
Risk: If water enters the power steering control unit, the power steering assist may be deactivated, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and inspect the electric power steering rack, replacing the rack as necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed June 30, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Air Bags:frontal:sensor/Control Module-Inactive 2017-03-14 · campaign 17V177000 · 51 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 AMG GT-S, GLC300, CLA250 and GLE300d 4Matic vehicles, 2013 C250, E350 BlueTec and G63 AMG vehicles, 2008-2014 C300 vehicles, 2013-2014 C300 4Matic and ML350 4Matic vehicles, 2009 C350 vehicles, 2014 CLS550, E350 4Matic, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Wagon 4Matic, GLK350 and SL550 vehicles, 2012 CLS550 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2016 E350 vehicles, 2016-2017 GL450 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2014 ML350 4Matic BlueTec vehicles, 2015 S550, S550 4Matic and C30
Risk: If the air bags do not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, there would be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update software in the affected control units, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Arm 2017-02-08 · campaign 17V081000 · 37 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 GLE350 4Matic, GLE350, GLE350 4Matic Bluetec, GL450 4Matic, and GLE450 Coupe 4Matic vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that connects the upper control arm and the axle stub may not have been properly tightened.
Risk: The loose bolt may cause improper wheel tracking, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tightness of the bolt connecting the upper control arm and the axle stub on the affected vehicles, replacing the upper control arm if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Service bulletins (78)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Service Brakes 2026-09-22 · LI42.10-P-078779 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60mph. note: although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is distinctly different if it happens at all times or only while braking. cause although the cause of the vibra
Structure:body 2026-09-14 · LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. cause under analysis. remedy to narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • if the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary,
Steering 2026-08-28 · LI46.35-P-067339 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint during part of the steering movement, it feels heavier or more difficult to steer in the same spot every time. or rattling, humming, dry sliding/gravel noise from the electric steering system when steering (see attachment). complaint does not impact the ability to safely steer or control
Fuel/Propulsion System 2026-08-15 · CL - Tank Leak Detection · Warranty Program/Extension
dear mercedes-benz owner: in our continuing efforts to ensure the proper performance of mercedes-benz products and to enhance the satisfaction of our customers, mercedes-benz usa is extending the warranty coverage for the diagnostic module for tank leakage detection ("dmtl") on your vehicle from the
Electrical System 2026-08-06 · LI82.85-P-079087 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint a popup is seen on the hu with the message "data connection temporarily not available". potentially affected functionalities in ntg4.5, ntg5 1.weather 2.local search 3.ip radio 4.send2car 5.speech detection service 6.navigation 7.iheartradio 8.traffic cams cause mb apps is sundowned for al
Structure:body 2026-08-06 · LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. cause under analysis. remedy to narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • if the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary,
Showing the 6 most recent of 78 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-04-16 · Unknown Or Other“panoramic sunroof spontaneously shattered at some time between 2/4/26 and 2/5/26. car was fine when i drove on 2/4/26 and parked at home at approximately 4:30p (still light outside). i got in car next day 2/5/26 at approximately 5:45p (when dark outside). heard slight air/wind noise as pulled out of driveway and started driving. looked up and saw s…”
2025-03-07 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:hatchback/Liftgate:lock“tailgate sometimes opens while driving. it sometimes takes many attempts to reclose it from the outside of car. it will not reclose using the electronic button on the door. the alert comes on on the dashboard and its extremely dangerous as luggage can fall out. this happened while highway driving last week, scary. apparently after googling this, it…”
2024-01-16 · Unknown Or Other“coolant reservoir hose blew out on my 2016 gl450 mercedes benz.…”
2022-08-02 · Engine · 5,000 mi · 🔥 fire“the contact owned a 2016 mercedes-benz gl450. the contact stated when he parked the vehicle and went into a business, he returned within 5 minutes and the vehicle was engulfed in flames. the fire department was already notified and arrived on the scene, then extinguished the fire with water. the police arrived on the scene; however, a report was no…”
2022-07-06 · Unknown Or Other“air conditioner always make musty / moldy odor. many forums says that is a common problem all across mercedes models and it causes allergic reaction resulting in sneezing all the time when a/c is on. problem is especially bad for my kids who have environmental allergy like mold/mildew. this horrible odor coming from a/c is due to mold/mildew fo…”
2021-08-10 · Unknown Or Other“1. transmission spontaneously disengaged park to allow the car to roll backwards 10 feet. no one was in the car at the time of the incident. i have a security system video of the incident. 2. spontaneous runaway vehicle could have crashed children in the driveway or the street. 3. the dealer is not available to reproduce the problem. 4. no one perf…”
2019-12-12 · Suspension · 40,058 mi · 💥 crash“we purchased the car in july 2019 and in addition to the car having warranty up to 50,000 miles, we purchased an additional service/repair package for $1,800.00 recently we noticed that when we first start driving the car has a noise on the right side, the noise is most noticeable when applying the brake and when releasing the brake. we took the…”
2018-05-26 · Visibility:windshield · 3,500 mi“the windshield is weak prone to break/crack easily. in less than 3 years 4 windshields have been required. not normal and this is potentially dangerous.…”
2018-05-02 · Unknown Or Other · 24,000 mi“the sunroof in this vehicle shattered overnight without any known cause. the vehicle was parked in the driveway at my home. no one was injured in this incident. the vehicle was last driven at 10 p.m. on 05/01/18 without the damage, and at 7:30 a.m. this morning, 05/02/18, when i was getting ready to leave my home, i noticed the middle of the su…”
2017-07-10 · Steering“tl* the contact owns a 2016 mercedes-benz gl450. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 17v241000 (steering). the part to do the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the contact spoke to autohaus of peoria (2322 w van winkle way, peoria, il …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.