2015 Mercedes-Benz GL350: complaints, problems and recalls

A BLANKET OF SNOW/ICE FORMED ON MY ROOF DURING THE MORNING. IT WAS NOT REMOVABLE DUE TO FREEZING AND BONDING TO THE ROOF. AS THE CAR HEATED UP INSIDE, THAT BLANKET BECAME LOOSE. WHEN I HIT MY BRAKES ON THE ROAD, THE BLANKET CAME DOWN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD BLOCKING MY VIEW OF THE ROAD. THE WIPERS STOPPED AND WOULD NOT WORK BECAUSE WHEN THEY DO NOT RETURN TO THE PARK POSITION, THEY DO NOT REPEAT THEIR WIPING MOTION. ALSO, THE LIP AT THE REAR OF THE HOOD CAUGHT AND KEPT THE BLANKET OF SNOW IN PLACE AS I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP. MORE CONCRETELY…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10681050 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES BENZ GL350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK STARTED TO LEAK ONTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STALLED BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE HELPED THE CONTACT BY PLACING FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FUEL LEAK PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM BEING ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO CLEAN UP THE FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,300.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10693851 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ GL350. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE CONTACT APPLIED FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO A PALM TREE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING TO DETERMINE IF THEY WOULD SEND A TECHNICIAN TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10983029 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ GL350W. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND ENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN THE DRIVER TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE SPEEDOMETER WENT TO ZERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY WERE SAFELY ABLE TO PULL OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AND THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE OFF SLOWLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED…

Owner-reported narrative. 24,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11181422 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE THE VEHICLE IS TURNED ON BUT STATIONARY (E.G. STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT IN LIGHT TRAFFIC) I BEGAN TO SMELL DIESEL EXHAUST IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR WAS VERY STRONG AND I HAD TO LOWER THE WINDOWS IN ORDER TO BREATHE. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK NEAR THE TURBO. I HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL INJECTOR AND LEAK LINE, IN ADDITION TO ALL PIPE SEALS AT TURBO.

Owner-reported narrative. 112,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 11398107 at NHTSA ↗

Took to South Bay Mercedes dealer in Torrance because of engine light on. Cause: "Obsolete CDI Control Unit Software" Repair: "Updated to latest software version" Charge: $224.99 because "not covered by Emissions Warranty Extension" Do not understand how Mercedes Benz does not provide a critical software upgrade for free or under a recall? Modifications to the diesel engine and its software done less than a year ago.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11465485 at NHTSA ↗

On Mercedes GL350, the trunk/ hatch door will not open from outside. It just stopped working. Therefore, I tried to open it from inside, but there is no manual latch inside to open the trunk/ hatch door. It is a safety issue. The dealer, Mercedes Benz of Richmond, 8225 West Broad Street, charged $235 to open the hatch door. The dealership billed total $1322.48 (after 10% discount $1219.66) to replace the latch and its motor. Kindly help the GL350 owner to have latch installed inside open the door in case of emergency.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11621263 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2016-12-14 (December 14, 2016)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2015 GL350 4Matic Blutec, GL450 4Matic, GL550 4Matic, ML250 Blutec, ML350, ML350 4Matic, ML400 4Matic and 2015-2016 GL63 AMG 4Matic vehicles manufactured September 29, 2014 through March 27, 2015. The affected vehicles have axle bolts on the front and/or rear drive axle carriers that may not have been assembled correctly. As a result, the remaining bolts may fracture.

Consequence: If any of the remaining front or rear axle bolts fracture, the vehicle may be unstable, reducing the handling capability and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the axle carrier bolts, free of charge. The recall is began February 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Reported: 2018-04-27 (April 27, 2018)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2012-2014 ML350 Bluetec 4Matic and ML550 4Matic, 2012-2015 ML63 AMG 4Matic and ML350 4Matic, 2013-2016 GL350 Bluetec 4Matic, GL550 4Matic and GL63 AMG 4Matic, 2017 GLS350d 4Matic, GLS450 4Matic, GLS550 4Matic and GLS63 AMG 4Matic, 2015 ML400 4Matic, 2016 GLE400 4Matic, GLE350 4Matic, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLE63S AMG 4Matic, GLE450 4Matic Coupe and GLE63S AMG 4Matic Coupe, 2015-2016 GL450 4Matic and 2013-2014 GL450 4Matic vehicles equipped with the Active Curve System (ACS). In certain driving conditions, if the oil level in the ACS reservoir is below the minimum level, the oil may foam and leak out of the vent holes in the reservoir cap.

Consequence: The leaking oil in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will correct the oil level as necessary and replace the reservoir sealing cap to prevent oil foam from leaking out, free of charge. The recall began August 30, 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018070015.

Reported: 2019-11-01 (November 1, 2019)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf

Consequence: An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.