2015 Mercedes-Benz GL450: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
38,508 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 18 complaints (38.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 11.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 5.6% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 5.6% |
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 |
| Suspension | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint | 1 |
Engine: 7; Suspension: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Electrical System: 2; Power Train: 2; Seats: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint: 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 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 8 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 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2014: 1; 2015: 3; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2020: 2; 2021: 2; 2022: 3; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 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 10663410 · 2014-12-10 (December 10, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADREST PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM PROPERLY INSTALLING A CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HEADREST COULD ONLY BE REMOVED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10663410 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10669746 · 2015-01-02 (January 2, 2015)
TRIED TO INSTALL CHILD SAFETY SEATS IN 2ND ROW SEATS. THE 2ND ROW HEADRESTS PREVENT THE PROPER INSTALLATION OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEATS. THE HEADRESTS CANNOT BE REMOVED, OR MOVED OUT OF THE WAY SO THAT THE CHILD SAFETY SEATS CAN BE INSTALLED PROPERLY. I HAVE REPORTED TO OUR MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER. THEY ARE WORKING ON A RESPONSE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10669746 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10726816 · 2015-06-23 (June 23, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL FORWARD AS IF THE VEHICLE WERE IN DRIVE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER A CURB AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10726816 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10816202 · 2015-12-25 (December 25, 2015)
SECOND ROW HEAD REST DOES NOT ADJUST TO DIFFERENT POSITIONS MAKING IT UNSAFE FOR CHILDREN.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10816202 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11121091 · 2018-08-20 (August 20, 2018)
GL 450 WITH VIN [XXX] EXPERIENCED EXACT PROBLEM DEFINED BY NHTSA RECALL # 18V272 IN MAY 2018 (2 OR 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE FROM MERCEDES-BENZ USA). DEALERSHIP, MERCEDES-BENZ OF MIDLOTHIAN VIRGINIA, PERFORMED REPAIR WORK REQUIRED (BASED URGENT NEED FROM MIL SAYING "DO NOT DRIVE VEHICLE. MB MIDLOTHIAN REPAIRED THE ACTIVE SUSPENSION SYSTEM BY REPLACING THE "SEALING CAP" ON THE "ACS OIL RESERVOIR" - THE EXACT REPAIR SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL. I WAS CHARGED IN EXCESS OF $400 FOR THIS REPAIR AS THE DEALERSHIP "HAD NOT YET RECEIVED OF…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11121091 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11130224 · 2018-09-18 (September 18, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE PRE-SAFETY FUNCTION LIMITED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BY THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT IT FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF ARCADIA (101 N SANTA ANITA AVE, ARCADIA, CA 91006, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A LOOSE SCREW WAS NOT FASTENED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND AN UNKNOWN WIRE WAS DETACHED, WHICH CAUSED THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11130224 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11257015 · 2019-09-17 (September 17, 2019)
SAME ISSUE AS RECALL CAMPAIGN 2017020016 LAUNCH. THE LATCH SECURING THE THE CENTER CONSOLE DOORS MIGHT NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 201. THE SAME BASIC DESIGN OF THE RECALLED 2017 GLS CLASS SUV CENTER CONSOLE HAS BEEN IN USE IN OTHER GL AND GLS MODELS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
Owner-reported narrative. 52,015 miles reported. Look up ODI 11257015 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11297931 · 2020-01-08 (January 8, 2020)
ON 12/30/2017 WE PURCHASED A MERCEDES-BENZ CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 'CPO' VEHICLE FROM MERCEDES BENZ OF NORTH PALM BEACH. WE ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP IN THE AFTERNOON SENT BY MERCEDES BENZ OF WEST PALM BEACH THEIR AFFILIATED DEALERSHIP FOR THE SPECIFIC VEHICLE WE PURCHASED. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP TO VIEW THE VEHICLE, IT WAS NOT DETAILED FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER. ON THE TEST DRIVE WITH OUR SALES PERSON I NOTED UNUSUAL NOISES AND RIDE CONDITIONS IN THE VEHICLE. THE SALESPERSON ASSURED US THAT IT IS A CPO VEHICLE WITH AN UNLIMITED MILEAGE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11297931 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.
16V900000 · Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft
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.
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 ↗