2014 Mercedes-Benz GL450: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
21 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
56,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2014 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 21 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 19.0% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 14.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 9.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 4.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 7 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly | 3 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Lane Departure: Warning | 1 |
Engine: 7; Electrical System: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly: 3; Power Train: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Exterior Lighting: 1; Lane Departure: Warning: 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 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 11 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 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2017: 3; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 3; 2022: 2; 2023: 3; 2024: 3; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10667575 · 2014-12-22 (December 22, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION JERKED AND HESITATED TO SHIFT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE TECHNICIAN REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE AND THE MODULE WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30.
Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 10667575 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10715465 · 2015-05-09 (May 9, 2015)
YOU NEED TO ORDER A RECALL OF MERCEDES BENZ GL450 (2014) (VIN [XXX]). I HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE LOCKING WHEN I DROVE BACK FROM SAN DIEGO AND SEVERAL TIMES I WAS CLOSE TO HIT OTHER VEHICLES. IN ADDITION, THIS WEEK MY BRAKES STARTED SQUEALING AND I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL FRIDAY (5/8/2015) TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. NOW THEY TELL ME THAT AT 16,000 IT IS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR TO BE COMPLETELY OUT OF BRAKES (WORN OUT) AND THAT THE CALIPER DAMAGED THE ROTORS AND THAT THEY WANT ME TO PAY $700 TO REPLACE THE PADS AND R…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10715465 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10948508 · 2017-01-30 (January 30, 2017)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 70 MPH THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. WE WERE NOT BEHIND ANOTHER CAR AND DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF AN UNPOPULATED AREA ALONG THE !-10 FREEWAY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10948508 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11045065 · 2017-11-10 (November 10, 2017)
CONSISTENT MILDEW FOUL ODOR COMES FROM THE AIR CONDITION.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,180 miles reported. Look up ODI 11045065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11045127 · 2017-11-10 (November 10, 2017)
TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE - CERTAIN HIGH END GL MODEL HAVE OPTIONAL EASY THIRD ROW ENTRY. THE SECOND ROW IN SUCH MODELS FOLDS WITH A TOUCH OF A BUTTON. HOWEVER WHEN FULLY DEPLOYED - THE SECOND ROW SEAT'S HEAD REST IN SUCH MODELS PREVENT PROPER INSTALLATION OF KID'S CARSEAT ' SUCH THAT THE UPPER PART OF THE CARSEAT IS PROJECTED FORWARD. I AM 6 FEET AND CAN EASILY PUT THE WHOLE OF MY FORARM BEHIND MY KID'S CARSEAT AFTER INSTALLATION. THE RESULT IS ' A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE FORWARD POSITIONING OF THE KID'S CARSEAT. MY KID HAS REPORTED NECK SPRAIN M…
Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11045127 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11184270 · 2019-03-05 (March 5, 2019)
SUNROOF EXPLODED AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. ROADWAY WAS SMOOTH AND THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME SO I'M CERTAIN IT WASN'T A ROCK OR OTHER OBJECT THAT BROKE IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11184270 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11244201 · 2019-08-15 (August 15, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, SEVERAL MESSAGES DISPLAYED REGARDING THE PARKING BRAKE RELEASE, TRANSMISSION, AND THE VEHICLE BEING INOPERABLE. ALSO, SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FEATURES MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WORLD WIDE MOTORS INC. (3900 EAST 96TH ST, INDIANAPOLIS, IN) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MAIN VEHICLE WIRE HARNESS WAS DAMAGED DUE TO WATER THAT DRAINED FROM THE SUN ROOF INTO THE PANELS OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11244201 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11355330 · 2020-09-16 (September 16, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BOUNCED AND PULLED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT WHILE DRIVING WITH AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN MERCEDES-BENZ OF CORAL GABLES (300 ALMERIA AVE, CORAL GABLES, FL 33134), AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FOUR-WHEEL SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS REPAIRED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT, OFFERED NO …
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11355330 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
14V158000 · Child Seat:Latch Strap
Reported: 2014-03-31 (March 31, 2014)
Mercedes Benz USA, LLC (Mercedes) is recalling certain model year 2014 GL350 BlueTEC 4Matic, GL450 4Matic, GL550 4Matic, and GL63 AMG vehicles manufactured November 4, 2013, through November 15, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the foldable second row seat bottom may not fold down low enough to allow proper use of the child seat achors. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."
Consequence: Without the use of the lower anchor points, a child restraint may be insufficiently or improperly anchored to the seat, increasing the risk of injury to the child in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Mercedes will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the seat pan of the second row seat, free of charge. The recall began on May 2, 2014. Owners may contact Mercedes at 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V272000 · Suspension:Front
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V787000 · Communication
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗