2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 problems
Owners have filed 188 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK350. Air bags is the most reported problem area, at 71% of complaints. After that come fuel system (7%) and brakes (3%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 188 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 71% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 10 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 5 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 41,000 miles 27 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 | 6 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 8 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 2 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 3 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 2 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 1 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 27 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 41,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 47,000 miles (11 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 10 complaints mention a crash; 5 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2012 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 6 model years of the Mercedes-Benz GLK350 with enough data (131 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 mercedes-benz glk350. While driving approximately 50 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle. The contact stated that only the two headrest air bags deploy. The contact sustained internal injuries to the head and body that required medical attention. The driver of the other vehicle sustained injuries that also required medical attention. A police report was filed. The contact was able to drive the vehicle from the scene.
When driving 40 MPH or more, the engine stalls and the unit in the dashboard that contains the odometer and speed, begins to turn white in color. It appears the software error within the engine control unit causes the vehicle to stall when driving at a certain speed or when I am coasting to a stop, such as at a traffic light. My vehicle begins to shut-down in the mist of my driving at 40 MPH or more, however, when I put my foot on the brake, the engine picks up speed.
Since new the glk would smell like gas any time you fueled up. I never topped it off because the dealer told me that may be a reason you smell the fuel. I took it in to get looked at an they told me it's common it's just the evap system working. That's fine but after a few years anytime I filled up I noticed it would start leaking onto my garage floor. I took it in to the dealer and they told me it's out of warranty by a month an this would cost over a thousand to get fixed.
Takata recall we were notified of this recall nearly three years ago. There has been no movement on a repair. This is absurd, we have actually been notified that our two mercedes vehicles that are affected by this recall, have been dropped in priority for a repair.