2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK350: complaints, problems and recalls

I WAS BACKING MY VEHICLE INTO A SPOT ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN "DRIVE" TO PULL FORWARD, THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD . I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AND WHEN THE CAR KEPT ON GOING, I PRESSED THE PARKING BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR IN "PARK". THE CAR ENDED UP JUMPING THE SIDEWALK AND HITTING THE POSTS AND GARAGE OF A HOUSE. I DID NOT PRESS THE ACCELERATOR BY MISTAKE. I DO HAVE A WITNESS WHO WAS ON THE SIDEWALK AT THE TIME WHO WATCHED ME DURING THE ORDEAL.

Owner-reported narrative. 7,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10567369 at NHTSA ↗

TWICE I'VE HAD THE ISSUE WHERE NONE OF MY LIGHTS WORK WHILE I'VE BEEN DRIVING. NOT SURE ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS, HOWEVER BOTH TIMES I HIT MY TURN SIGNAL TO TURN (DOESN'T MATTER RIGHT OR LEFT) AND THERE IS NO INDICATOR VISIBLE ON MY DASHBOARD. ALSO THERE IS NO TICKING/SIGNALING NOISE. WHEN I'VE PULLED OVER AND HAD MY PASSENGER GET OUT AND LOOK AT MY REAR OR FRONT TURN SIGNALS NOTHING WORKS, PERIOD. I DID MENTION THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FIRST TIME AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. I'VE NOT BOTHERED A 2ND TIME SINCE THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10585656 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED LEAVING MY 3 YEAR OLD IN THE VEHICLE STRAPPED TO HER CARSEAT. THE KEY FOB WAS IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. MY WIFE LEFT THE KEYS IN HER PURSE SINCE THEY ARE BLUETOOTH KEYS AND PLACED THEM INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND WALKED AROUND TO DRIVERS SIDE TO GET IN. VEHICLE SELF LOCKED WHILE SHE WAS WALKING AROUND TO DRIVER'S SIDE, LEAVING CHILD TRAPPED IN VEHICLE IN 100 DEGREE WEATHER. CALLED MERCEDES BENZ OF AMERCIA, RELAYED THE PROBLEM. PHONE REP "[XXX]" SAID THIS HAPPENS FROM TIME TO TIME AND "THEY" DO NOT KNOW WHY. TALKE…

Owner-reported narrative. 14,195 miles reported. Look up ODI 10615022 at NHTSA ↗

I JUST LEFT MY HOUSE AND DROVE APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES. I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND AS I MADE A TURN AND ACCELERATED, I FELT A DRAG AND THEN A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I THEN SMELLED SMOKE AND SAW BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. I PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND SAW FLAMES UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR. IN A MATTER OF MINUTES THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. 911 WAS CALLED AND THE FIRST RESPONDERS, A POLICEMAN AND A PERSON FROM THE ASSOCIATED FIRE PROTECTION, ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES WITH A …

Owner-reported narrative. 4,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10626238 at NHTSA ↗

THE SUNROOF ON MY 2013 MERCEDES BENZ GLK 350 SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED WITH NO WARNING. NOTHING HIT THE ROOF OR ANY OTHER PART OF THE CAR. THE WEATHER WAS ABOUT 36 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, NOT TOO COLD, NOT TOO HOT. THERE WAS A LOUD BANG (LIKE THE SOUND OF A GUNSHOT) FOLLOWED BY 5 - 10 MINUTES OF CRACKLING AS THE SUNROOF GLASS BROKE INTO HUNDREDS OF PIECES. IT APPEARS TO BE THE TOP LAYER OF DOUBLE-PANED GLASS, AS THE GLASS DID NOT FALL INTO THE CAR. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH AT THE TIME. THERE WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS. *…

Owner-reported narrative. 20,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10660904 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN WHEN THE VEHICLES RPM JUMPED TO 4000, I QUICKLY PUT THE VEHICLE IN "PARK". THEN TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN. THE RPM JUMPED TO 4000 AGAIN. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND STARTED IT AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN A WEEK. BOTH TIMES AT A STOP - ONCE AT A STOP SIGN AND ONCE AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE MERCEDES DEALER BUT MERCEDES SERVICE STATES THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. ALMOST EXACTLY 1 YEAR AGO, MY WIFE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE "LUNGED" FORW…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10678544 at NHTSA ↗

DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER LEAVES A WIDE WATER STREAK WHEN LEAVING THE A-PILLAR, BLOCKING DRIVER'S VISION. SENT VEHICLE BACK TO TWO DEALERS FOR 5 TIMES. EACH TIME THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED A WIPER BLADE, BUT PROBLEM REMAINED. A NEW MB FACTORY WINDSHIELD WAS INSTALLED IN 2014 SUMMER DUE TO GLASS DAMAGE UNRELATED TO THIS DEFECT. AFTER THAT, PROBLEM REMAINS. IN NOVEMBER 2014, A SERVICE MANAGER CITED A PUBLICATION FROM XENTRY, TOPIC NUMBER LI82.30-P-059239 (C), SUGGESTING THAT IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM EXISTING ON ALL PASSENGER CAR MODEL SERIES AND THERE'S NO TE…

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10724448 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ GLK350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10811758 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2012-10-10 (October 10, 2012)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (Mercedes Benz) is recalling certain model year 2013 GLK350 and GLK350 4-Matic vehicles, manufactured from May 31, 2012, through August 2, 2012, for failing to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment." The affected vehicles have voltage in the parking lamp circuit that exceeds the maximum value listed.

Consequence: The higher illumination level may cause glare to oncoming vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Mercedes Benz will notify owners, and dealers will update the software calibration number (SCN) of the subject electronic control unit. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Mercedes Benz at 1-800-367-6372.

Reported: 2017-04-12 (April 12, 2017)

Mercedes-Benz USA LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2014 C250, C300 4MATIC, GLK250 4MATIC BLUETEC and GLK350 vehicles, 2013 C250 Coupe, C350, C350 4MATIC Coupe, C350 Coupe and C63 AMG Coupe vehicles, and 2013-2015 GLK350 4MATIC vehicles. The steering coupling connecting bolt may have been insufficiently tightened, possibly resulting in a loss of steering.

Consequence: A loss of steering can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the steering coupling connecting bolt, tightening it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Reported: 2017-10-06 (October 6, 2017)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling these vehicles: 2014-2018 CLA250, CLA250 4Matic, CLA45 AMG 4Matic, 2015-2018 GLA250, GLA250 4Matic, GLA45 AMG 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C63S AMG, 2012-2014 C250, C350, C300 4Matic, E550 4Matic, 2013-2014 C63 AMG, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2013-2015 C350 4Matic Coupe, GLK250 4Matic BlueTec, GLK350, GLK350 4Matic, 2016-2017 C350e, C43 AMG, 2015 C400 4Matic, 2016-2018 C63 AMG, GLC300, GLC300 4Matic, 2017-2018 C300 Coupe, C300 4Matic Coupe, C43 AMG, C63 AMG Coupe, C63S AMG Coupe, C300 Cabriolet, C300 4Matic Cabriolet, C43 AMG Cabriolet, C63 AMG Cabriolet, C63S AMG Cabriolet, GLC300 4Matic Coupe, GLC43 AMG, GLC43 AMG Coupe, 2014 E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabriolet, E400 Hybrid, 2015-2017 E400 Coupe, E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabriolet, 2014-2017 E550 Coupe, E550 Cabriolet, B250e, 2014-2016 E250 BlueTec, E63 AMG 4Matic Wagon, 2012-2013 E350 BlueTec, 2012-2016 E350, E350 4Matic, 2015-2016 E400, E400 4Matic, 2012 E63 AMG, 2014-2015 E250 4Matic BlueTec, 2013-2016 E350 Wagon, 2017 GLC300d 4Matic, and 2018 GLC350e 4Matic. The driver's air bag may unexpectedly deploy due to insufficient grounding of the steering components if an electrostatic discharge occurs and the air bag clockspring is broken.

Consequence: If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will add sufficient grounding to the steering components, free of charge. The recall began in December 6, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

Reported: 2018-01-10 (January 10, 2018)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013 C250, C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C350, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG, C63 Coupe, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, E550 Cabrio, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E550 Coupe, GLK350 4Matic, GLK250 Bluetec 4Matic, GLK350, SLS Coupe, SLS AMG GT Coupe, and SLS Roadster vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, MBUSA is recalling certain 2010 C300, C300 4Matic, C63 AMG, E350 Coupe, E550 Coupe, GLK350, and GLK350 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." MBUSA is also recalling certain 2009 C300, C300 4Matic, C63 AMG, and C350 vehicles ever registered in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI and WY or "Zone C." In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. Mercedes issued an interim notification to owners on February 23, 2018. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts are available. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

Reported: 2019-01-09 (January 9, 2019)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2014 C250, C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2014-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, GLK 350, GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, 2015-2017 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2014-2017 E550 Cabrio, and 2014-2016 E550 Coupe vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally, MBUSA is recalling certain 2012-2014 C250, E350 4Matic Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2011 C300, 2011-2014 C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Coupe, 2015-2016 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2011-2016 E550 Cabrio, E550 Coupe, 2011-2015 GLK350 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, and 2013-2015 GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." MBUSA is also recalling certain 2012-2014 C250, E350 4Matic Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2010-2011 C300, 2010-2014 C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 Coupe, 2011-2014 E350 Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2015-2016 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2016-2017 E550 Cabrio, 2010-2016 E550 Coupe, 2010-2015 GLK350 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, and 2013-2015 GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

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.