2014 Mercedes-Benz GL550: complaints, problems and recalls

MERCEDES GL 550. FRONT SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONERS ACTIVATED WITH NO IMMINENT CRASH. RANDOM OCCURRENCE IN BOTH FRONT SEATS AND RELEASED AFTER 2-3 SECONDS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 12,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10639532 at NHTSA ↗

THE REAR HEADRESTS IN THE MODELS THAT HAVE THE EZ FOLD SYSTEM IN THE 2014 GL550 WILL NOT COME OUT, NOR DO THE HEADRESTS TILT BACK TO A COMFORTABLE POSITION FOR CHILDREN. IN THE MERCEDES FORUMS, THERE ARE DOZENS OF COMMENTS ON THIS AND I HAVE ATTACHED PHOTOS FROM ONE OF THESE THAT MIMICS WHAT MY CHILDREN, 9 & 13 ARE EXPERIENCING - UNABLE TO SIT VERY COMFORTABLY IN THE BACK SEAT, AS THE HEADREST PROTRUDES TOO FAR OUT WHERE THEIR NECKS ARE TOO CRANKED FORWARD, OR HEAD IS NOT IN A GOOD POSITION. I AM SEEKING A FIX WHERE THE HEADREST CAN TILT BACK…

Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10991657 at NHTSA ↗

DAIMLER AG, (DAG) THE MANUFACTURER OF MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES, HAS DETERMINED THAT ON CERTAIN GLE, GLS AND GLE COUP VEHICLES (166, 292 PLATFORM) WITH THE ACTIVE CURVE SYSTEM (ACS), THE OIL IN THE ACS'S OIL RESERVOIR COULD START FOAMING UNDER DYNAMIC DRIVING SITUATIONS IN COMBINATION WITH AN OIL LEVEL BELOW MINIMUM. THE OIL FOAM MIGHT LEAK OUT OF THE OIL RESERVOIR THROUGH THE VENT HOLES IN THE SEALING CAP. DEPENDING ON THE ORIENTATION OF THE VENT HOLES IN THE SEALING CAP, LEAKING OIL COULD SPRAY ONTO HOT SURFACE COMPONENTS OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. …

Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11104245 at NHTSA ↗

I HAD JUST ARRIVED HOME. THE CAR WAS OFF AND I WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE. I OPENED THE DOOR BUT IT DIDN'T OPEN ALL THE WAY TO THE FIRST HINGE. MY HAND WAS IN THE DOOR AS IT SLOWLY STARTED TO CLOSE. THE DOOR CAUGHT SLIGHTLY AND THE SOFT CLOSE FEATURE ACTIVATED. MY THUMB WAS CAUGHT IN THE DOOR AND WAS CRUSHED AS THE DOOR SEALED COMPLETELY CLOSED WITH THE SOFT CLOSE FEATURE. I WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR DURING THIS TIME. I WAS YANKING ON THE DOOR HANDLE TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR TO FREE MY THUMB BUT THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN UNTIL THE SOFT CLOSE WAS CO…

Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11160890 at NHTSA ↗

Tapping noise developed in the engine, after dealership inspection using borescope, scored cylinder walls were found, resulting to engine replacement. Please see: Lena Jamil, et al. v. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (Case No: 2:22-cv-08130-FLA-AFM)

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11537166 at NHTSA ↗

The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz GL550. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized, and the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine and malfunction PP0 warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to steer the vehicle to the shoulder of the roadway. The contact stated that an independent mechanic facility was nearby, so the mechanic and the contact pushed the vehicle into the shop. The vehicle was diagnosed with failed cam shaft gear and lifters. The contact was informed that the cam shaft g…

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11569931 at NHTSA ↗

Leaky exhaust valves

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11610291 at NHTSA ↗

The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz GL550. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with leaky exhaust valves. The dealer determined that the exhaust valves needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where a similar assessment was made. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under TSB Number: 10233794. The manufacturer referred the…

Owner-reported narrative. 104,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11611751 at NHTSA ↗

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.

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.