2011 Mercedes-Benz GL450 problems
Owners have filed 64 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL450. Air bags is the most reported problem area, at 53% of complaints. Next are suspension (14%) and brakes (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 64 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 53% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 5 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 5 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 73,000 miles 22 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 5 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 0 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 8 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 4 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 1 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 1 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Of the 22 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 73,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 5 complaints mention a crash; 3 complaints mention a fire; 5 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2011 ranks 5th most-complained-about out of 7 model years of the Mercedes-Benz GL450 with enough data (21 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
I [XXX] own. The Mercedes Benz, it was in recall for the Air Bag, I took it to the Dealer at the Coral Gables Dealership of the Mercedes, 300 Almeria Ave, Coral Gables 33134. Phone (305)306-3549. and it was check. I was involved in an Accident on ([XXX]) went into a canal. 50 feet down, the Air Bag did not OPEN, the Brake did not brake properly the truck slip through the grass, and we end it in the Canal.
The contact owned a 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated that while driving and attempting to make a right turn, the vehicle failed to stop, which led him to rear-end a truck in front. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact sustained a fracture in the finger, and forehead injury caused by the impact with the steering wheel that required medical attention. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed, and the vehicle was deemed destroyed.
Were told by a mechanic at betten imports in grand rapids, mi, that the suspension was stuck in the 'low' position, causing the tires to become cupped and pitted. After keeping the vehicle for one week, betten's service manager said that it was bad tires and not the suspension. Only all season tires available for this body type are not adequate for winter driving, and make driving this vehicle in any precipitation hazardous.
The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the message for brake and traction control failure was intermittently displayed, causing the cruise control to disengage. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with ha ydraulic control unit failure. The contact was informed that the hydraulic control unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost.