AI Damage2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450: common problems
Owners of the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450 filed 37 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 37
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 24% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 22% of all complaints
- 3 Seats 14% of all complaints
- 4 Suspension 14% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 11% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 7 Air bags 5% of all complaints
- 8 Seat belts 5% of all complaints
- Engine: 9 complaints (24% of all).
- Electrical system: 8 complaints (22% of all).
- Seats: 5 complaints (14% of all).
- Suspension: 5 complaints (14% of all).
- Service brakes: 4 complaints (11% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 37 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 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Backover prevention | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 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.
The air bags did not deploy; however, they ruptured and burst into smoke after approximately ten minutes without warning. Both the driver and front passenger sustained injuries that required medical attention. The police and the paramedics were at the scene and a police report was filed.
I am reaching out to bring to your attention a significant manufacturing flaw in the Mercedes GL450 model, which poses a severe risk to both vehicle functionality and passenger safety.
The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, and moved the gear shifter in and out of park(P); however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that other unknown messages were displayed.
The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact had experienced the failure five times. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer however, the technician was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired.
The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power while the fuel gauge was at a quarter tank. An unknown message was displayed. AAA arrived on the scene and added fuel to the vehicle.
This trouble could cause engine failure or misfire if not corrected. Driving the MB GL450 in this condition is a safety issues for anyone driving on the road. Researching on the internet about MB GL450/550 engine oil intrusion into the engine wiring harness is a common problem.
Unknown:The road adaptive tire pressure sensors are off and the air suspension is malfunctions.At the cost of this model I would expected a little more class of safety measures.
Compressor is cooling then a malfunction message appears on the screen. Vehicle shakes violently in the rear up and down at low and high speeds and over any small bumps in the road. This concerns me for the safety of other owners whom may have the same problem.
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 6,176 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 17% most complained about).
On average one model year of the GL450 has 38 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 37, about average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Seats. Occupant sensor, power adjustment, seat mounts.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, electrical system, seats. Total complaints: 37. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: engine failure or replacement (11%), vibration (11%), stalls while driving (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450?
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 GL450 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 2026-11-06.