AI Damage2013 Mercedes-Benz GL350: common problems
Owners of the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL350 filed 7 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 7
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 57% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 43% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel/propulsion system 29% of all complaints
- 4 Seat belts 14% of all complaints
- 5 Suspension 14% of all complaints
- Engine: 4 complaints (57% of all).
- Powertrain: 3 complaints (43% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 2 complaints (29% of all).
- Seat belts: 1 complaints (14% of all).
- Suspension: 1 complaints (14% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 7 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Driver side, 2nd row seat belt will not retract. Needed for our children. I will contact a local garage and dealer to fix.
Makes a rattling noise for several seconds after starting and sputtering noise when accelerating. My car has 64k and daignosed the car at 2 dealerships confirmed the engine chain stretched
Oil leak persistent from oil cooler in diesel bluetec engine spraying oil outside gasket onto fuel lines, oil pan, and onto the ground emitting high level of smoke with tarry burnt toxic noxious charcoal smell fumigating through the cabin and outside with visible blue smoke while driving moderate to long distances.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 12,538 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 34% most complained about).
On average one model year of the GL350 has 10 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 7, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL350?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, powertrain, fuel/propulsion system. Total complaints: 7. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (29%), oil leak or consumption (29%), smoke, burning smell, fire (29%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL350?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL350 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2013 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.