AI Damage2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK350: common problems
Owners of the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 filed 137 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and steering. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 137
- involving a crash
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 73% of all complaints
- 2 Steering 6% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 5% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 4% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 4% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 3% of all complaints
- 7 Seats 3% of all complaints
- 8 Engine 2% of all complaints
- Air bags: 100 complaints (73% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Steering: 8 complaints (6% of all).
- Service brakes: 7 complaints (5% of all).
- Electrical system: 6 complaints (4% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion 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 137 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 | 100 | 3 | 0 |
| Steering | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 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 failed to deploy. The driver ruptured discs two through seven in the neck, which required medical attention. The other driver was not injured. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the front end of the vehicle was rebuilt.
A malfunction warning light illuminated. The contact had a minor injury to his back, both arms, and left eye. It was unknown if the other individuals involved in the crash sustained injuries. A police report was made. Medical attention was sought but no further assistance was needed.
The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained head injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed. It was unknown if the vehicle was diagnosed however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 28,000.
I slammed on my brakes and when the car kept on going, I pressed the parking brake and put the car in "park". The car ended up jumping the sidewalk and hitting the posts and garage of a house. I did not press the accelerator by mistake.
The contact shifted the transmission into neutral(N) while the vehicle continued to accelerate and the RPM was extremely elevated. The contact was able to turn off the vehicle while the transmission was in neutral (N).
I am reporting a safety issue involving my Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 following repairs performed by an authorized dealership, Critz Mercedes-Benz in Savannah, Georgia. I brought the vehicle in due to persistent noise when shifting gears and steering-related symptoms.
I am writing to express a serious safety concern regarding the Mercedes-Benz GLK 350, particularly related to the fuel pump system under the rear passenger area. It has come to my attention that the fuel pumps in these vehicles emit a strong, unpleasant odor every time the car is refueled.
While the vehicle was parked fuel leaked underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the driver's side fuel tank housing had cracked causing fuel to leak. The vehicle was not yet repaired.
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 2,832 of 36,659 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 137, above average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- 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 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK350?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, steering, service brakes. Total complaints: 137. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (7%), rust, corrosion (4%), airbag warning light (3%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2013 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 2013 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 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.