2011 Mercedes Benz GL: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
1,460 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 3 complaints (66.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 3 | 100.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Steering:Electric Power Assist System | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
Steering: 2; Electrical System: 1; Steering:Electric Power Assist System: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 0 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 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 3 |
2011: 3
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 3 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10405730 · 2011-06-09 (June 9, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ GLK350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AND THE TURN SIGNAL WERE BOTH LOCATED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL. WHENEVER HE ACTIVATED THE LEFT OF RIGHT TURN SIGNALS, HIS HAND WOULD HIT THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSING IT TO ENGAGE INSTEAD OF THE TURN SIGNAL WHICH WAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY AND COULD NOT BE CHANGED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ALSO STATED THAT SINCE THE SWITCH WAS DESIGNED ON THE SAME SI…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10405730 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10424127 · 2011-09-07 (September 7, 2011)
MY HUSBAND WAS GOING ON HIS THIRD DEPLOYMENT, HE DID NOT WANT ME TO HAVE ANY CAR PROBLEM, SO WE SPENT ALMOST 70K FOR A BRAND NEW 2011 MERCEDES GL BLUE TECH. HOWEVER, LESS THAN 30 DAYS AND 1460 MILES, THE STEERING WHEEL QUIT WORKING DURING A TURN, IT ALMOST KILLED ME. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER (VALLEY MOTOR MERCEDES, HUNT VALLEY , MD )AND THE MERCEDES, THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THIS HAPPENED, THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT MY SAFETY AND REFUSED TO REPLACE THE CAR. THEY DID NOT CARE THE FACT I WAS SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE THE CAR EITHER, THEY CHARGE S…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,460 miles reported. Look up ODI 10424127 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10429298 · 2011-10-10 (October 10, 2011)
IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS AND LESS THAN 1,500 MILES, THE BRAND NEW SUV'S STEERING WHEEL QUIT WORKING DURING THE TURN, THE BELT , THE PULLEY AND THE TENSIONER WERE BROKEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *KB
Owner-reported narrative. 1,436 miles reported. Look up ODI 10429298 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
10V540000 · Fuel System, Other:Fuel Filter
Reported: 2010-10-29 (October 29, 2010)
MERCEDES BENZ IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 M-CLASS, MODEL W164, GL-CLASS, MODEL X164, E-CLASS, MODEL W212, R-CLASS, AND MODEL V251VEHICLES. THE O-RING MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY LUBRICATED IN ALL CASES. LACK OF LUBRICATION CAN LEAD TO LEAKAGE OF THE FUEL FILTER.
Consequence: DIESEL FUEL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON ROADS AND MAKING THOSE ROADS SLIPPERY, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372. THIS CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED . PLEASE SEE RECALL CAMPAIGN 11V-496.
NHTSA campaign record ↗11V496000 · Fuel System, Diesel
Reported: 2011-10-03 (October 3, 2011)
MERCEDES-BENZ USA (MBUSA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 VEHICLES INCLUDING E-CLASS (212 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 2010 THROUGH FEBRUARY 2011, R-CLASS (251 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 2010 THROUGH APRIL 2011, ML-CLASS (W164 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 2010 THROUGH MARCH 2011, GL-CLASS (X164 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 2010 THROUGH MARCH 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2012 S-CLASS (221 PLATFORM) VEHICLES. THE DIESEL FUEL FILTER MAY LEAK FROM THE AREA AROUND THE HEATING COMPONENT.
Consequence: DIESEL FUEL MAY BE DEPOSITED ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.
Remedy: MBUSA WILL CONTACT OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE DIESEL FUEL FILTER IF NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 30, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ USA AT 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA campaign record ↗