vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

Mercedes Benz GL320 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

32 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

79,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2006 to 2009 model years. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 32 complaints (21.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior721.9%
Braking behavior412.5%
Engine operation26.3%
Electrical and battery issues26.3%
Fuel system concerns13.1%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Steering
7
Seats
4
Unknown Or Other
4
Air Bags
3
Electrical System
3
Engine
3
Suspension
2
Engine And Engine Cooling
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Steering7
Seats4
Unknown Or Other4
Air Bags3
Electrical System3
Engine3
Suspension2
Engine And Engine Cooling1

Steering: 7; Seats: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Air Bags: 3; Electrical System: 3; Engine: 3; Suspension: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
4
50,000 to 74,999
5
75,000 to 99,999
8
100,000 to 149,999
4
150,000 and above
3
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9994
50,000 to 74,9995
75,000 to 99,9998
100,000 to 149,9994
150,000 and above3

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 3

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 6 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2008
1
2009
3
2011
3
2012
2
2013
3
2014
7
2015
3
2016
2
2017
2
2018
2
2019
1
2020
1
2022
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20081
20093
20113
20122
20133
20147
20153
20162
20172
20182
20191
20201
20222

2008: 1; 2009: 3; 2011: 3; 2012: 2; 2013: 3; 2014: 7; 2015: 3; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2022: 2

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10290226 · 2009-10-29 (October 29, 2009)

MY GL 320 ? 2007 LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER AND THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE POWER COMES BACK ON IN 10 TO 20 SECONDS AND THE CAR CAN BE RESTARTED. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES DURING THE FIRST 10 DAYS OF OCT 2009 WHEN THE MILEAGE WAS JUST UNDER 30,000. NOTE THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKE ASSIST GO OUT COMPLETELY AS DO THE HEADLIGHTS. ON ONE ACCESSION AT NIGHT ON A CURVE I WENT OFF THE ROAD BEFORE BEING ABLE TO STOP. ON ALL OCCASIONS THIS HAPPENED 15 TO 20 SECONDS AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES TO DEACTIVATE THE SPEED CONTROL AND AFTER COASTING…

Owner-reported narrative. 29,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10290226 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10393647 · 2011-03-29 (March 29, 2011)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ GL320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE POWER STEERING STOPPED FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT OF RECALL 08V682000 (STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE AP…

Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10393647 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11475718 · 2022-07-25 (July 25, 2022)

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL 320. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) which stated that the tow was free of charge. The contact stated that he has contacted Mercedes-Benz roadside assistance to arrange for the tow and was redirected to call the Mercedes-Benz recall hotline. The contact stated that he was told to contact several other numbers to arrange for tow the dealer. The contact stated the was unable to arrange the tow to the dealer. The contact was upset that he was…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11475718 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10584545 · 2014-04-23 (April 23, 2014)

STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. CAR STALLED AND WAS ALMOST REAR- ENDED. GOT TO SIDE OF ROAD SOME FLUID, RESTARTED AFTER 20 MINUTES. WHEN RESTARTED WEIRD NOISE WHEN TURNING BUT CLOSE TO DEALER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 74,545 miles reported. Look up ODI 10584545 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10596661 · 2014-06-06 (June 6, 2014)

I WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT GETTING INTO THE CAR AND THE PASSENGER SIDE ADAPTIVE HEAD REST RELEASED. THIS IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT WHIPLASH BUT DEPENDING ON THE FORCE IT RELEASED AT (IT'S MECHANICAL NOT AN AIRBAG) IT COULD CAUSE INJURY. THE VEHICLE SMELLED AS IF AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT HAD MELTED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE WIRING IN THE FRONT SEAT THAT TRIGGERED THE MALFUNCTION. THE SEAT HAS TO BE REMOVED AND THE HEAD REST HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1980. THE SEAT IS A 10 WAY POWER SEAT BUT IT …

Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10596661 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10549631 · 2013-10-26 (October 26, 2013)

THERE IS A FUEL LEAK AROUND THE FILTER NEAR THE HEATING ELEMENT. SOUNDS LIKE THE DESCRIPTION OF A RECALL WITH THE 2011 AND 2012 MODELS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10549631 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2006
0
2007
2
2008
2
2009
3
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20060
20072
20082
20093

2006: 0; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 3

Year-by-year records

Mercedes Benz GL320 model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
200610Not available
200752+2
20082020
200963+1