Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Visibility1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
In the Netherlands
62 first registered in 2009 are on Dutch roads; 94% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €142,849.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde17
- Band onvoldoende profiel16
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld16
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)13
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen11
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt8
- Roetfilter werkt niet goed, aantal deeltjes meer dan toegest7
- Remvertraging / remwerking parkeerrem onvoldoende7
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
130 cars built in 2009 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 55 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 196 of these cars first registered in 2009 took their annual MOT test. 69% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2009 the figure was 59%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 18.4% | 18.7% |
| Suspension | 7.7% | 16.4% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Brakes | 5.1% | 10.1% |
| Tyres | 5.1% | 7.5% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 4.1% | 1.4% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In New Zealand
23 2009 cars are on the New Zealand register; 13% arrived as used imports, 87% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 3 variants: combined 12.3–16.3 L/100 km (about 14–19 mpg US), CO₂ 332–375 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL 320 BlueTec 4MATIC · Sport utility vehicle · Diesel | 13.9 | 10.4 | 12.3 |
| GL 450 4MATIC · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 18.2 | 13.5 | 16.1 |
| GL 550 4MATIC · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 18.4 | 13.7 | 16.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mercedes-Benz told its dealers about the 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10039256 | MERCEDES-BENZ: THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS ON WITH MULTIPLE POSSIBLE TROUBLE CODES STORED. THERE COULD BE A PROBLEM WITH THE CAMSHAFT AND/OR SCORING OF A PISTON. *RM |
| 10038977 | MERCEDES-BENZ: THE AUTO-TRANSMISSION SWITCHES TO LIMP HOME MODE OR HAS NO POWER. THERE ARE MULTIPLE POSSIBLE FAULT CODES. A PISTON MAY BE DAMAGED. *RM |
| 10038218 | MERCEDES-BENZ: SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR HEATER LINES. *RM |
| 10037408 | MERCEDES-BENZ: SHOCK ABSORBER PROCEDURE. *RM |
| 10034566 | MERCEDES BENZ: REPROGRAM MBRACE (N123/4) DIALED NUMBERS TO HUGHES. THIS ACTION APPLIES TO NEW VEHICLE INVENTORY ONLY. *PE |
| 10030940 | MERCEDES: UNEVEN STEERING FORCES WHEN STEERING FROM LOCK TO LOCK. INCREASED STEERING FORCES IN CERTAIN POSITIONS. APPROXIMATELY EVERY 90 DEGREES A PRESSURE POINT CAN BE FELT WHICH MUST BE OVERCOME BY INCREASED FORCE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. UNIVERSAL JOINT IN STEERING COUPLING, (STEER COUPLING) HAS EXCESSIVE RESISTANCE. REPLACE STEERING COUPLING (STEER COUPLING). NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)