AI Damage2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS 550 reliability: common problems
Owners of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS 550 filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and engine. The maker issued 76 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 6
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 76
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 17% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 17% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel/propulsion system 17% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (17% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 22.
- Engine: 1 complaints (17% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 1 complaints (17% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 6 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 22 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Exterior lighting | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Visibility | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Backover prevention | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Fuel system | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Seats | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 0 | 0 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Feel unsafe fuel rails and more where recalled in April 2022 Not all gls550 were recalled at the time due to no reason Drive to Florida with my wife and kids and car gave up on the side of a bridge hwy over the ocean We were stuck car smelt like gas and wouldnât turn on we had nowhere to get out on a 25ft bridge…
We had our Mercedes GLS550 2017 with 59,295 overheat and call for immediate shut down on the Massachusetts Turnpike with my wife and child in the car. It was quite a dangerous situation because the failure caused by hose assembly 166-830-15-00 clamp (as described by the dealer as the reason for the loss of fluid and…
Rear axle lock up briefly made a sound like someone rear ended the car and snap the left side rear cv axle. Vehicle is awd and does not move on its own power.. Shop tow suv and on the air found the axle inner joint just spins but car does not move, they pulled the axle and the is metal burnt into the axle shaft seems…
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 12,234 of 32,257 model years in the NHTSA data (top 38% most complained about).
On average one model year of the GLS 550 has 5 complaints (3 years in the data). This year has 6, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors
Cause Under analysis. Remedy To narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • If the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and…
- Complaint Customer complaints relating to automatic transmission 725.0 (NAG3 Classic /9G‑TRONIC automatic…
Complaint Customer complaints relating to automatic transmission 725.0 (NAG3 Classic /9G‑TRONIC automatic transmission) and 725.1 (NAG3 facelift/9G‑TRONIC automatic transmission facelift) For faster, more effective and…
- Complaint Repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60MPH. NOTE
Although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is distinctly different if it happens at all times or only while braking. Cause Although the cause of the vibration…
- Complaint Only vehicles with a variable transfer case are affected
This can be identified through control unit N45 or N15/7 in the quick test. When accelerating with light load, vibrations or jolting sensation may come from the drivetrain. It may be mistaken for a harsh shift. Cause…
- Complaint Customer complaints relating to automatic transmission 725.0 (NAG3 Classic / 9G‑TRONIC automatic…
Complaint Customer complaints relating to automatic transmission 725.0 (NAG3 Classic / 9G‑TRONIC automatic transmission) and 725.1 (NAG3 facelift/9G‑TRONIC automatic transmission facelift) For faster, more effective…
- Complaint During part of the steering movement, it feels heavier or more difficult to steer in the same…
Complaint During part of the steering movement, it feels heavier or more difficult to steer in the same spot every time. OR Rattling, humming, dry sliding/gravel noise from the electric steering system when steering…
- Complaint A popup is seen on the HU with the message "data connection temporarily not available"
Potentially affected functionalities in NTG4.5, NTG5 1.Weather 2.Local Search 3.IP Radio 4.Send2Car 5.Speech Detection Service 6.Navigation 7.iHeartRadio 8.Traffic Cams Cause MB Apps is sundowned for all vehicles with…
- Complaint This document is intended as a pre-case diagnostic reference for transmission related concerns
It will also ensure that if a case is necessary, all supporting documentation is available. This should not be used on its own as justification for creating a TIPS case. Cause The root cause will vary depending on the…
- Complaint Mercedes-Benz USA is currently experiencing limited availability of transmission fluid…
Complaint Mercedes-Benz USA is currently experiencing limited availability of transmission fluid specification ATF 236.17 due to a global supply constraint. 236.17 ATF 1L and 5L (PNs: A002989060312 and A002989060313)…
- Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end)
The noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. Note: Sound file in attachment Cause If the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboard collar nut (by 1 turn), the…
- Complaint Creaking noise, in irregular sequence when driving slowly in combination with slight steering…
Complaint Creaking noise, in irregular sequence when driving slowly in combination with slight steering movements and/or Creaking/crackling noises from the area of the wheel bearing on the front axle when cornering/…
- Complaint After successful commissioning of the HERMES control unit (N112/9) with XENTRY Diagnosis DVD…
Complaint After successful commissioning of the HERMES control unit (N112/9) with XENTRY Diagnosis DVD 03/2026, the message "SOS - service not activated" appears on the instrument cluster. In addition, the following…
NHTSA lists 76 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS 550?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, engine, fuel/propulsion system. Total complaints: 6. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: windows, sunroof (33%), A/C or heater (17%), knocking, grinding or other noise (17%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS 550?
NHTSA lists 76 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 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS 550 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 2017 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.