Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
69 owner complaints analyzed
21 distinct recall campaigns
8,900 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 to 2020 model years. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 21 of 69 complaints (30.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 21 | 30.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 15 | 21.7% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 7.2% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 5.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 4.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 21 |
| Engine | 13 |
| Unknown Or Other | 10 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Suspension | 6 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 4 |
Electrical System: 21; Engine: 13; Unknown Or Other: 10; Power Train: 8; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7; Service Brakes: 6; Suspension: 6; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 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 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 52 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 |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 13 |
| 2025 | 12 |
| 2026 | 12 |
2018: 4; 2019: 1; 2020: 4; 2021: 7; 2022: 10; 2023: 6; 2024: 13; 2025: 12; 2026: 12
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 15 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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 11118382 · 2018-08-07 (August 7, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 MERCEDES-BENZ GLS450. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. ALSO, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED UPON REACHING A HILL. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO FLETCHER JONES MOTORCARS (3300 JAMBOREE RD, NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660, [phone removed]). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIF…
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11118382 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11150448 · 2018-11-09 (November 9, 2018)
I FOUND OUT THAT ONLY ON 2018 MERCEDES GLS MODELS, THE CAR LETS YOU TURN OFF THE ENGINE WITHOUT A WARNING AND PUTS THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AUTOMATICALLY. IT DOES NOT PUT THE CAR TO 'P' OR GIVES YOU A WARNING SAYING YOU NEED TO PUT THE GEAR TO 'P' TO STOP THE CAR. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN ANY CAR. BASICALLY YOU BRAKE AND STOP THEN TURN OFF THE ENGINE WITH THE BUTTON. THE CAR SHIFTS TO 'N' INSTEAD OF 'P' AND IF YOU RELEASE THE BRAKE THE CAR SLIDES SINCE IT IS IN NEUTRAL. EVEN OLDER CARS DO NOT LET YOU TURN OFF THE ENGINE BEFORE SHIFTI…
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 11150448 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11597427 · 2024-06-28 (June 28, 2024)
Vehicle triggered into limp mode while driving, Braking Assist Disabled, Traction Control Disable, Sound System Disabled. Sent to dealership for repairs. Dealer found water pooled in the passenger side footwell. Estimation 10-20k to fix vehicle. Matching the exact details of the recall issued against 2020-2021 Mercredes Benze GLS450. Water forms as a typical byproduct of a car’s air conditioning system and is diverted away from the car down to the ground through a drain hose. In the affected vehicles, the drain hose may be incorrectly installe…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11597427 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11098025 · 2018-05-25 (May 25, 2018)
MY GLS-450 HAS THE 'LIGHTING PACKAGE' WITH ACTIVE LED HEADLAMPS INCLUDING 'CORNER-ILLUMINATING FRONT HEADLAMPS, ACTIATED (ACTIVATED SPELLED WRONG) BY THE STEERING WHEEL OR TURN-SIGNAL USE, BRIGHTEN YOUR WAY INTO DRIVEWAYS AND GARAGES.' AS I LIVE IN A VERY DARK RURAL AREA, I ORDERED THESE LIGHTS. I SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE LEDS, WHILE SUPERIOR FOR FORWARD LIGHTING,PROVIDE LITTLE OR NO SIDE LIGHTING FOR THE DRIVER TO SEE WHEN TURNING ONTO DIVIDED HIGHWAYS WITH DARK ISLANDS, ETC. THIS IS BECAUSE THE LEDS ARE VERY STRAIGHT SHOOTING FORWARD. BUT T…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11098025 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11098029 · 2018-05-25 (May 25, 2018)
THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE STEERING PILOT PART OF THE DRIVER ASSISTANCE PACKAGE OPTION I HAVE ON MY 2018 MERCEDES-BENZ GLS-450. THE STEERING PILOT IS SO POORLY DEVELOPED IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO CRASH SEVERAL TIMES, SO I HAVE TURNED IT OFF MOST OF THE TIME. THE MBUSA WEBSITE SAYS OF STEERING PILOT, ' THE STEERING PILOT FEATURE HELPS THE DRIVER KEEP THE VEHICLE CENTERED BETWEEN LANE MARKINGS WHILE CRUISING ON STRAIGHT ROADS, OR EVEN IN GENTLE CURVES.' NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. WHEN DEPLOYED, STEERING PILOT CAUSES MY VE…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11098029 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11402929 · 2021-03-14 (March 14, 2021)
WE PURCHASED A NEW 2020 MERCEDES BENZ GLS 450 IN OCTOBER 2019 FROM THE OAKLAND DEALERSHIP AND SHIPPED THE CAR TO HAWAII. THE VEHICLE IS NOW 117 MONTHS OLD AND HAS ABOUT 4100 MILES. BECAUSE OUR VEHICLE IS LIGHTLY USED WE ARRANGED FOR MERCEDES BENZ TO SUPPLY AND INSTALLED A 'BATTERY MINDER' TO KEEP THE VEHICLES 48 VOLT SYSTEM CHARGED WHEN WE ARE AWAY FOR AN EXTENDED TIME. HOWEVER WE DID NOT HAVE THE BATTERY MINDER HOOKED UP AT THIS TIME BECAUSE WE ARE USING THE VEHICLE ON A WEEKLY BASIS. ON MARCH 7, 2021 WE EXPERIENCED A "48 VOLT BATTERY MALF…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11402929 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11439135 · 2021-11-02 (November 2, 2021)
The vehicle warnign system displayed "48v Malfunction." Vehicke lost all acceleration in the middle of the highway. The vehicle was just returned3 days ago after undergoing a state inspection at the MB dealership. In looking at the issue on line this appears to be a known problem to Mercedes. They are even facing a class action lawsuit for it in the same model year GLE, which is based on many of the same systems. SOmeone is going to get killed when their vehicle stalls in the middl eof the highway.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11439135 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11427911 · 2021-08-05 (August 5, 2021)
We were driving the vehicle at about 30 MPH on a road when suddenly the engine completely shut off. There was no more power steering and no warning that it turned off. We got the car slowed down and once we came to a stop the car put itself in Park. After that we could restart it and keep driving with the car acting very different. This then happened again later on in the day going about 20 MPH up to a stop light. It shut itself off and luckily we were able to come to a stop with the brakes without running into the intersection and no one hitti…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11427911 at NHTSA ↗
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 20 |
2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2020: 20