2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK350: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
114 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
33,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 84 of 114 complaints (73.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 7 | 6.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 4.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 3.5% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 2.6% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 0.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 84 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Steering | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 4 |
| Engine | 3 |
Air Bags: 84; Electrical System: 7; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Power Train: 5; Steering: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 4; Engine: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 88 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 |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 61 |
| 2020 | 22 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2015: 5; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 3; 2019: 61; 2020: 22; 2021: 7; 2022: 4; 2023: 3; 2024: 4; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 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 10678793 · 2015-01-25 (January 25, 2015)
MESSAGE DASHBOARD INDICATOR (MDI) READ "INOPERATIVE. SEE OPERATOR'S MANUAL" WITH OTHER MALFUNCTION LIGHTS INCLUDING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (CEL). TURNED CAR OFF AN ON AND ONLY THE CEL REMAINED. ALSO, THERE WAS A RECURRING TICKING NOISE THAT PRECEDED AFOREMENTIONED ISSUES THAT I ALSO REPORTED. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED LOOSE PIN IN ENGINE ECU (P045100) FOR THE CEL AND REPLACED A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FOR THE TICKING NOISE. TICKING NOISE CONTINUED AND VEHICLE RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DETERMINED THE TICKING NOISE WAS RELATED TO THE DASH/RADIO/AC …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10678793 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10704191 · 2015-04-07 (April 7, 2015)
WE WERE DRIVING ON NORMAL FREEWAY SPEED ALONG INTERSTATE 5 SOUTH APPROACHING FORT TEJON TOWARDS LOS ANGELES WHEN SUDDENLY THE DASHBOARD DISPLAYED THE MESSAGE " INOPERATIVE. CHECK OPERATOR'S MANUAL". WITH THIS MESSAGE, THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND ULTIMATELY SHUT OFF ITS POWER ON US. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE ABLE TO SAFELY GLIDE AND DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE ROADSIDE. WITH THE SPEEDING TRAILER TRUCKS AND CARS ON ALL THREE LANES THAT WE HAD TO PASS THROUGH BEFORE SAFELY PARKING THE CAR, IT COULD HAVE COST US OUR LIVES. PLEASE OPEN AN INVESTIGATION TO ADDRE…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10704191 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10716591 · 2015-05-14 (May 14, 2015)
WHILE EXITING THE HWY THE CAR SLOW DOWN ON ITS OWN FROM ABOUT 60 TO AROUND 45 WITHOUT BREAKING. INOPERATIVE SEE OWNER'S MANUAL APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE CAR STARTED LOOSING POWER. WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE IT DID WOULD NOT SPEED UP PASS 50. AFTER COMING TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT I TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND IT WAS VERY SLOW EVEN WHEN THE PEDAL WAS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME. I PUMP THE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO SPEED UP AND IT WOULD NOT GO PASS 55-60 DESPITE PRESSING THE GAS TO THE F…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,168 miles reported. Look up ODI 10716591 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10763088 · 2015-09-11 (September 11, 2015)
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT ~65MPH IN HER NEW 2015 GLK350 W/ PANORAMIC & 4MATIC & ~7000 MILES. IT WAS 7:00PM IN VERY LIGHT TRAFFIC. NO ONE WAS NEAR HER AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. SHE HEARD A VERY LOUD STARLING BANG. AT FIRST SHE THOUGHT A TIRE HAD BLOWN. SHE THEN HEARD FAINT CRACKLING NOISE ABOVE HER HEAD. THE SUN SHADE WAS CLOSED SO NO GLASS DROPPED INTO THE CABIN AREA. WITHIN MINUTES SHE NOTICED THAT THE SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED. NOTEWORTHY POINT, THE SUNROOF GLASS WAS BROKEN CONVEX. SO, IT WAS SLIGHTLY POUCHED UPWARD, WHICH …
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10763088 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10778870 · 2015-09-30 (September 30, 2015)
DRIVING BACK FROM VACATION LAST SATURDAY, ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE, OUR MOTOR SHUT ITSELF OFF. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING, USING CRUISE CONTROL, GOING STRAIGHT, WITH THE "ECON" BUTTON TURNED OFF. LUCKILY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND WE WERE ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FREEWAY WITHOUT MISHAP. MY HUSBAND TURNED THE KEY OFF, WAITED ABOUT A MINUTE, THEN STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON, BUT OUR MOTOR STAYED ON, AND WE DROVE HOME WITHOUT ANY MORE PROBLEMS. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH OUR M.B. DEALER TO HA…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10778870 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10861093 · 2016-04-23 (April 23, 2016)
FOR LAST 2 MONTHS AND CONTINUING ON, THE 'ESP INOPERATIVE' MESSAGE POPS UP FREQUENTLY, EVEN WHEN THE WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS ARE WARM, DRY AND CLEAR. WHEN IT OCCURS, THE CAR SEEMS TO LOOSE ACCELERATION (POWER) AND SLOWS DOWN (RATHER VERY QUICKLY ON ROADWAY SLOPING UP). PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT SPEED UP THE CAR IMMEDIATELY; IT WOULD AFTER A WHILE. WHEN THIS OCCURS, I PULL OVER THE CAR AND TURN IT OFF & ON TO GET RID OF THE 'ESP INOPERATIVE' MESSAGE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON HIGH SPEED EXPRESSWAY AS WELL. IT FELT VERY DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10861093 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10966988 · 2018-01-29 (January 29, 2018)
2015 GLK MERCEDES BENZ. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED AS A RESULT FROM THE ACCIDENT, HAS SUFFERED FROM HEARING LOSS AND CHRONIC TINNITUS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THE VOLUME OF THE EXPLOSION CAUSED BY THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG EXCEEDED INDUSTRY SAFETY STANDARDS. THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10966988 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11002664 · 2017-07-01 (July 1, 2017)
MY MB GLK 35 CRASHED AT A HIGH SPEED AROUND 80 MPH,IT BURNT TO GROUND . I WOULD HAVE BEEN BURNT ALIVE WITHOUT PEOPLE USING A BIG ROCK TO BREAK THE WINDOW AND PULLING ME OUT . DUE TO THE STEERING AND ENGINE MALFUNCTION , MY CAR CRASHED AND I COULDN'T OPEN THE DOOR NOR WINDOWS . THIS IS HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE , MERCEDES BENZ NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS ACCIDENT AND I DON'T WANT MORE VICTIMS LIKE THIS .
Owner-reported narrative. 90 miles reported. Look up ODI 11002664 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
17V252000 · Steering
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V627000 · Air Bags:Frontal
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V010000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
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.
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 ↗