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Mercedes-Benz GL

Model years 2006–2011 in the US safety record. No model year stands out in owner complaints. Fewest complaints: 2007, 2008, 2009.

12owner complaints
5recall campaigns
40service bulletins
6model years on record

Complaints by model year

Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.

’06’08’10’06’09

NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026

Year by year

Model yearComplaintsRecallsBulletinsCrashes · fires
2011 GL3270 · 0
2010 GL40100 · 0
2009 GL1060 · 0
2008 GL1370 · 0
2007 GL3250 · 0
2006 GL0250 · 0

A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections

Most common problems

  • Visibility2
  • Steering2
  • Fuel system, gasoline2
  • Vehicle speed control1
  • Tires1
  • Suspension1
  • Structure1
  • Seats1

NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years

Fuel consumption by year

Official Canadian test results for 10 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 10.9–12.7 L/100 km.

YearVariantEngineTransmissionCityHighwayCombinedCO₂ g/km
2016GL 350 BlueTec 4MATIC · Sport utility vehicle: Standard · Diesel3.0 L, 6 cyl.AS713.610.012.0322
2015GL 350 BlueTec 4MATIC · Sport utility vehicle: Standard · Diesel3.0 L, 6 cyl.AS713.610.012.0324
2014GL 350 BlueTec 4MATIC · Sport utility vehicle: Standard · Diesel3.0 L, 6 cyl.AS713.410.212.0324
2013GL 350 BlueTec 4MATIC · Sport utility vehicle: Standard · Diesel3.0 L, 6 cyl.AS712.39.010.9294
2012GL 350 BlueTec 4MATIC · Sport utility vehicle · Diesel3.0 L, 6 cyl.A714.310.912.7343
2011GL 350 BlueTec 4MATIC · Sport utility vehicle · Diesel3.0 L, 6 cyl.A713.910.412.3332
2010GL 350 BlueTec · Sport utility vehicle · Diesel3.0 L, 6 cyl.A713.810.312.2329
2009GL 320 BlueTec 4MATIC · Sport utility vehicle · Diesel3.0 L, 6 cyl.A713.910.412.3332
2008GL 320 CDI 4MATIC Turbo · Sport utility vehicle · Diesel3.0 L, 6 cyl.A713.09.811.6313
2007GL 320 CDI · Sport utility vehicle · Diesel3.0 L, 6 cyl.A713.110.111.7316

Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada

In New Zealand

553 GL cars are on the New Zealand register; 20% arrived as used imports.

Model yearRegisteredSold new in NZUsed imports
2018202
2017101
201627179
201513310031
2014966227
2013634514
201238343
201143393
201038342
200923203
200821137
200748407
200620181

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0

In the Netherlands

816 GL cars are on Dutch roads; 82% arrived later as imports, and 263 still have a recall open. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.

First registeredOn the roadImportedMedian list price
20157081%€140,811
20149884%€155,386
201314773%€143,140
20114090%€154,798
20104183%€137,109
20096294%€142,849
20089583%€140,056
200718080%€138,176
20068386%€138,105

RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new

Road collisions in Great Britain

From 2021 to 2025, 65 GL cars were involved in road collisions in Great Britain that injured someone and were reported to the police. 1 of those collisions were fatal and 14 caused serious injuries. As with any count, models with more cars on British roads appear more often.

YearCars in injury collisionsFatalSerious
20251002
20241204
20231501
20221204
20211613

Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data 2021–2025 · Open Government Licence v3.0 · how we count

In the United Kingdom

2,898 GL cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.

BuiltLicensedOff the road (SORN)
20201—
20192—
20172—
201619415
201559025
201449154
201347352
20121007
201123756
201015944
200913055
2008164118
2007298272
20065782
199701

Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0

MOT test results in Great Britain

3,655 GL cars took their annual MOT test in 2023; 79% passed first time, against 66% for all cars of the same ages. Older cars fail more often, so compare a year with the same year of other cars.

First registeredTestsPassed first timeAll cars that yearAverage mileage
201622588%79%65,900 mi
201563983%75%72,300 mi
201453683%72%82,000 mi
201350682%68%93,700 mi
201210672%66%101,100 mi
201128679%63%109,200 mi
201021978%60%114,100 mi
200919669%59%119,100 mi
200828974%57%123,500 mi
200752774%57%129,400 mi
200612675%56%128,200 mi

Why they fail

Share of all first tests that ended in a fail because of each part of the car (one test can fail on several).

AreaGLAll cars, same ages
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment7.2%13.9%
Tyres5.6%7.0%
Brakes5.1%8.0%
Noise, emissions and leaks3.4%3.8%
Suspension2.8%11.8%
Body, chassis, structure2.0%4.3%
Visibility1.8%5.2%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems1.5%1.2%

DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests of cars only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail

New registrations in Europe

16,716 new Mercedes-Benz GL cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2010 and 2021, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2021 the largest markets were Italy (1).

YearNew carsLargest marketsMass kgCO₂ g/kmPower kW
20211Italy2,580—410
20202Spain, Germany2,455253 (NEDC)160
20192Spain, Germany2,468197 (NEDC)190
20182Italy2,500225 (NEDC)173
201718Germany, United Kingdom, Romania2,465216 (NEDC)219
2016931Germany, United Kingdom, Italy2,456—203
20153,437Germany, United Kingdom, Czechia2,462—212
20143,917Germany, United Kingdom, Czechia2,466—221
20134,489Germany, United Kingdom, Czechia2,463—223
2012710United Kingdom, Poland, France2,498—199
20111,197United Kingdom, Czechia, Poland2,508—199
20102,010Germany, United Kingdom, Czechia2,523——

Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement

EU safety alerts

Safety Gate, the European Union's rapid alert system, names the GL in 8 alerts. European versions can differ from the North American car.

SR/03711/24 · Injuries20 Dec 2024 · C-Class, E-Class, M-Class, S-Class, CLS, GLC, GLS, GLE, GLK, GL

The three aluminium screws of the steering box may corrode due to exposure to spray water and aggressive road-grit (salt) used for melting ice. Advanced corrosion could weaken the screws, leading to potential breakage during manoeuvring or parking. If all fixi…

A12/00830/22 · Injuries10 Jun 2022 · GL, ML, R-Class

Severe corrosion may lead to a leakage of the brake booster, thus reducing the braking force, leading to an increase in brake pedal force required to decelerate the vehicle, resulting in a possible increase in stopping distance. Moreover, due to severe corrosi…

A12/01236/20 · Injuries18 Sept 2020 · A-Class, C-Class, GLK, E-Class, ML, GL, R-Class, SLK, SLS AMG

The driver and passenger airbags of the company Takata in vehicles with ammonium nitrate gas generators without drying agents could, under certain climate conditions, lead over time to a chemical change in the fuel.In the event of an accident triggering the re…

A12/1385/18 · Fire28 Sept 2018 · GL, GLE, GLS, ML

The sealing cap of the Active Curve System's oil reservoir does not prevent oil from leaking out. Oil may leak out and spray onto hot components. As a consequence it may ignite and lead to fire.

A12/0457/17 · Injuries14 Apr 2017 · A-Class, CGI, C-Class, CL, CLA, CLK, CLS, E-Class, G-Class, GL, GLA, GLC, GLE, GLS, GLK, GTS, M-Clas

Following the update of the control unit coding, the coding parameters of the control unit could be defective. This could give rise to various unplanned reactions in the vehicle: the wrong airbag could be triggered in the event of an accident, the airbag contr…

A12/0286/17 · Injuries10 Mar 2017 · GL, GLE, M-Class

The upper suspension arm may not have been correctly screwed to the stub axle, which could affect the steering.

A12/0069/17 · Injuries27 Jan 2017 · GL, GLE, GLS, ML

Due to incorrect functioning of the occupancy sensor system on the passenger's side, the airbag may not deploy in the event of an accident.

A12/0624/13 · Injuries31 May 2013 · GL350, GL450, GL500, GL63 AMG

The product poses a risk of injuries because the second-row seat belt anchor fitting bolts may not be properly torqued. The anchor bolts may thus continue to loosen through vibration caused by driving and therefore may not withstand the strain.

Safety Gate (European Commission) · CC0

Recalls

5 campaigns cover the GL.

11V496000 · Fuel system, diesel3 Oct 2011 · 2011

MERCEDES-BENZ USA (MBUSA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 VEHICLES INCLUDING E-CLASS (212 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 2010 THROUGH FEBRUARY 2011, R-CLASS (251 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 2010 THROUGH APRIL 2011, ML-CLASS (W164 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 2010 THROUGH MARCH 2011, GL-CLASS (X164 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 2010 THROUGH MARCH 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2012 S-CLASS (221 PLATFORM) VEHICLES. THE DIESEL FUEL FILTER MAY LEAK FROM THE AREA AROUND THE HEATING COMPONENT.

10V540000 · Fuel system, other29 Oct 2010 · 2011

MERCEDES BENZ IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 M-CLASS, MODEL W164, GL-CLASS, MODEL X164, E-CLASS, MODEL W212, R-CLASS, AND MODEL V251VEHICLES. THE O-RING MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY LUBRICATED IN ALL CASES. LACK OF LUBRICATION CAN LEAD TO LEAKAGE OF THE FUEL FILTER.

08V682000 · Steering19 Dec 2008 · 2008

MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING 577 MY 2008 GL-CLASS, M-CLASS, AND R-CLASS VEHICLES. A DEFECT MAY EXIST IN THE DRIVING PIN USED TO CONTROL THE OIL PRESSURE OF THE POWER STEERING.

08V242000 · Trailer hitches2 Jun 2008 · 2006, 2007, 2008

MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING 52,740 MY 2006-2008 GL AND ML CLASS VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FLEX-N-GATE TRAILER HITCH. SOME OF THE WELD SEAMS CONNECTING THE TRAILER HITCH RECEIVER TO THE ATTACHMENT BAR USED TO SECURE THE TRAILER HITCH TO THE BODY FRAME DO NOT MEET PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS.

08V006000 · Engine and engine cooling9 Jan 2008 · 2006, 2007, 2008

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DIESEL ENGINES, THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR COULD FAIL DUE TO SEPARATION OF BOND WIRES FROM THE LEAD FRAME IN THE SENSOR. THIS RESULTS IN AN INTERRUPTION IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IN THE CHIP HOUSING OF THE SENSOR.

NHTSA recalls