2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
137 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
56,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 35 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 100 of 137 complaints (73.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 8.8% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 3.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 3.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 2.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 1.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 100 |
| Steering | 8 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Seats | 4 |
Air Bags: 100; Steering: 8; Electrical System: 6; Service Brakes: 6; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Power Train: 4; Seats: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 102 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 31 |
| 2019 | 56 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2014: 5; 2015: 3; 2016: 2; 2017: 4; 2018: 31; 2019: 56; 2020: 11; 2021: 4; 2022: 5; 2023: 5; 2024: 4; 2025: 5; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 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 10567369 · 2014-02-27 (February 27, 2014)
I WAS BACKING MY VEHICLE INTO A SPOT ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN "DRIVE" TO PULL FORWARD, THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD . I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AND WHEN THE CAR KEPT ON GOING, I PRESSED THE PARKING BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR IN "PARK". THE CAR ENDED UP JUMPING THE SIDEWALK AND HITTING THE POSTS AND GARAGE OF A HOUSE. I DID NOT PRESS THE ACCELERATOR BY MISTAKE. I DO HAVE A WITNESS WHO WAS ON THE SIDEWALK AT THE TIME WHO WATCHED ME DURING THE ORDEAL.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10567369 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10972019 · 2017-04-12 (April 12, 2017)
EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILS TO RELEASE. IF RELEASED BRAKE CANNOT BE APPLIED BECAUSE IT FREEZES. BRAKE WAS USED REGULARLY WHEN IN PARK AS PRESCRIBED. BRAKE WAS ALSO EXCERSIZED ACCORDING TO PROCEDURES ON P.165 OF THE 2012-3 GLK OWNERS MANUAL. UNDERBODY OF CAR WAS GENTLY WASHED PERIODICALLY TO FLUSH ANY SALT ETC. FROM EXPOSED BRAKE LINES AS PER MANUAL WHEN CAR WAS WASHED ON A REGULAR BASIS. NOW IT CANNOT BE APPLIED IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. THERE IS NO VISIBLE CORROSION ON THE BRAKE LINES. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MBUSA 2012 -2015 GLKS. RESULT" ONE…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10972019 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11045766 · 2017-11-13 (November 13, 2017)
ON MAY-JUNE 2016 THE VEHICLE WAS SHOWING A WARNING LIGHT RELATED TO A MALFUNCTION OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT, THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THROUGH A VEHICLE INSPECTION THAT IT WAS RELATED TO THE STEERING MODULE. ONE WAS ORDERED. THE AIRBAGS WERE DISABLE FOR A MONTH, PLACING AT RISK MY WIFE'S LIFE. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE FIXED BUT THE AIRBAGS NOW COULD BE DISABLE OR WILL MALFUNCTION IN THE FUTURE. SINCE THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE HAS TAKATA AIRBAGS, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THE REPLACEMENTS OF ALL AIRBAGS, INSTEAD OF A TRIAL/WAITING IF THIS WILL MALFUNCTION IN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11045766 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11325442 · 2020-05-21 (May 21, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ GLK350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING ASSIST WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING BOLT CORRODED AND DETACHED FROM THE STEERING SHAFT. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V290000 (STEERING) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS R…
Owner-reported narrative. 74,277 miles reported. Look up ODI 11325442 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11112787 · 2018-07-20 (July 20, 2018)
VEHICLE HAS ~ 20K MILES, BROUGHT INTO DEALER BECAUSE ABS LIGHT WENT ON WHILE DRIVING SAYING SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE. DEALER THEN FOUND GAS TANK LEAK, AND WOULD NOT LET ME LEAVE THE DEALER, BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY HAZARD. SEARCH SHOWS RECALL FOR EARLIER MODEL YEAR 2012 WITH SAME ISSUE, BUT DEALER SAYS NO RECALL FOR 2013. ABS SENSORS ARE ALSO MALFUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING. TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS FOR ABS SENSORS. TWO BEEN REPLACED WITHIN ONE WEEK!
Owner-reported narrative. 19,437 miles reported. Look up ODI 11112787 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11554946 · 2023-11-13 (November 13, 2023)
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK350. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the garage, there was a strong gasoline odor coming from the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was a strong gasoline odor inside and outside of the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that a fee would be charged for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for an oil change, and the contact was informed that the fuel pump and the sendi…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11554946 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11421710 · 2021-06-21 (June 21, 2021)
Transmission goes into park at low speed when braking.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11421710 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11532662 · 2023-07-17 (July 17, 2023)
When the car ids in drive, it at time hesitate to engae and also drag when the transmission change or whne it is give gas. This leads to drag from the rear wheels and vibrations. It happens also wheel one slows and wants to increase speed. Whne the car was about one yea old, I notice this a few times and complained - I was told they did not notice anything like that. But it happened oens in a while. But now it is every day occurence - more frequenlty since December 2022
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11532662 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11437181 · 2021-10-18 (October 18, 2021)
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK350. The contact stated that while taking the vehicle to 2 independent mechanics for a smog check inspection, she notified the mechanics that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The mechanics stated that at times the electrical sensor needed to be reset. Several days later the warning light returned. The contact took the vehicle to MBZ dealer who diagnosed the failure as Camshaft- hall sensor leaking oil travel into harness to my module. The Contact has now learned and been informed by mechan…
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11437181 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11578969 · 2024-03-22 (March 22, 2024)
Out of no where when I cranked my car the airbag light came on in my car. I took it to have a diagnostic test done and the report shows short circuit at steering gear and driver air bag squib. When I look up my make and model a previous recall for driver airbag comes up, but it's not assigned to my specific vin. Also, there was a previous recall for the steering gear bolts on my make and model but it also was not assigned to my vin. NO ONE AT MERCEDES WILL HELP ME! THEY STATE NO ONE HAS THE ABILITY TO ASSIGN RECALLS TO A SPECIFIC VIN IF IT WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11578969 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11720856 · 2026-02-27 (February 27, 2026)
RECALL NO: 19V-868 | VIN: [XXX] | CASE #: [XXX] VEHICLE: 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 (X204) DESCRIPTION OF SAFETY PROBLEM: This complaint concerns a failure to adequately remedy NHTSA Recall 19V-868. Since [XXX], my vehicle has been grounded at Mercedes-Benz of Westmont. The dealer performed the recall out of sequence, ignored documented circuit faults, and refused mandatory Xentry commissioning and SCN Normalization, leaving the SRS system inoperative and uncertified. NHTSA records (Ex B-27) confirm the recall remains "Incomplete." MANUFACTURER …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11720856 at NHTSA ↗