AI Damage2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK350: common problems
Owners of the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 filed 133 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and fuel/propulsion system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 133
- involving a crash
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 69% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel/propulsion system 15% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 5% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 5% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 4% of all complaints
- 6 Engine 2% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel system 2% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 2% of all complaints
- Air bags: 92 complaints (69% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 20 complaints (15% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 6 complaints (5% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Steering: 6 complaints (5% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 5 complaints (4% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 7-speed
Drive: RWD, 4WD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 133 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 92 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 20 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 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.
My wife was t bone on dec., 24, 2018 by another vehicle she flipped 2 time and hit a guard rail the air bags never deployed. She is now home and healing. I wanted to know how she will be compensated my your company cause the air bags was never fixed in her car.
In two cases, while I was waiting at a red light, the brake failed and the car moved forward, then stopped before it hit the car in front of it. At first I thought maybe I didn't pressure the brake pedal hard enough. After an accident happened, I am sure it was the brake's problem.
My kids and I went into a football game and when we came out I used the key fob to unlock the doors but the vehicle didnât recognize my key fob when I tried to start it. There were no lights or warnings leading up to this incident. The dash didnât say anything besides âremove key from ignitionâ.
I noticed fuel / gas smell from my vehicle. I looked up cause for this type of occurrence. I was referred to a recall bulletin for this particular cause - Recall Campaign #[phone]. My vehicle (VIN #) is not on the recall list.
I was driving in highway with speed of 60 mph and suddenly the driver side window dropped down and due to sudden air coming insude, my car was shifted and I drove to nearest exit and no matter how hard I tried, I was unable to pullup the window and took it to mechanic and he noted he has seen this several times before…
The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and was diagnosed that the brake lines had failed due to severe rust and corrosion. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted regarding the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.
This causes a constant stress..., what if there is a fire? I heard and read so many similar complains and concerns. This should constitute for a RECALL. What is the responsibility of NHTSA to the consumer's safety.
We looked online Motortrend.com said Certain 2011-2012 MB CLK 350 4matic are being recalled for a potential fuel leak caused by a crack in the fuel filter flange, Dec 15, 2012.' We stopped by MBenz of Lynnwood, Wa and spoke Garrett, a service rep.
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 2,911 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 8% most complained about).
On average one model year of the GLK350 has 100 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 133, above average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK350?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, fuel/propulsion system, service brakes. Total complaints: 133. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (11%), smoke, burning smell, fire (5%), warning lights, check engine (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK350?
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 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 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 2011 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.