AI Damage2015 Mercedes-Benz GL450: common problems
Owners of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz GL450 filed 18 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and seats. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 18
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 39% of all complaints
- 2 Seats 17% of all complaints
- 3 Suspension 17% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 11% of all complaints
- 6 Electronic stability control 6% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 6% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 6% of all complaints
- Engine: 7 complaints (39% of all).
- Seats: 3 complaints (17% of all).
- Suspension: 3 complaints (17% of all).
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (11% of all).
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 18 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 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 3 | 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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 mercedes benz gl450. While in park, the vehicle started to roll forward as if the vehicle were in drive. The vehicle rolled over a curb and crashed into a tree. The vehicle was driven to the dealer for diagnostic testing, but was not repaired.
My 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 experienced an unexpected vehicle fire on Feb 13th 2026. The vehicle was just parked when I noticed smoke from the engine. The vehicle caught fire within a short period of time, and 911 was called. There was no known external cause for the fire.
The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where DTC code: P060A00 was retrieved. The dealer determined that the solenoid valve had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to TSB Number: 37 13 17 2029027/8.
The contact's son drove the vehicle 2 days later, at an undisclosed speed when the vehicle started smoking from the engine. The contact's son pulled over when the vehicle caught fire completely. The fire marshals came out to extinguish the fire, there were no injuries. No police report was filed.
Steering wheel will not go up and down. It will go in and out. This needs a recall! This is a HUGE problem with many Mercedes.
The airmatic system in this vehicle fails continuously, causing the vehicle to bump up and down while driving. Unsafe to drive
Windshield has cracked on vehicle twice just sitting in the driveway has to be a manufacturer defect.
On 12/30/2017 we purchased a mercedes-benz certified pre-owned 'cpo' vehicle from mercedes benz of north palm beach. We arrived at the dealership in the afternoon sent by mercedes benz of west palm beach their affiliated dealership for the specific vehicle we purchased.
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 8,624 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 24% most complained about).
On average one model year of the GL450 has 38 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 18, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Seats. Occupant sensor, power adjustment, seat mounts.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Mercedes-Benz GL450?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, seats, suspension. Total complaints: 18. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (11%), headlights and tail lights (6%), won't start (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2015 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 2015 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 2015 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.