Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Structure1
- Suspension1
- 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
Registered new in Europe in 2010
2,010 new Mercedes-Benz GL cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2010; the largest markets were Germany (985), the United Kingdom (279), Czechia (127).
- Average mass
- 2,523 kg
- Fuel type recorded
- Diesel 91% · Petrol 9.1%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
In the Netherlands
41 first registered in 2010 are on Dutch roads; 83% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €137,109.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde20
- Band onvoldoende profiel15
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen11
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm4
- Remleiding door corrosie aangetast4
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt3
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)3
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld3
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
159 cars built in 2010 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 44 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, 219 of these cars first registered in 2010 took their annual MOT test. 78% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2010 the figure was 60%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2010 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 10.0% | 17.8% |
| Suspension | 5.9% | 15.5% |
| Brakes | 5.0% | 9.6% |
| Tyres | 4.1% | 7.4% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.7% | 4.5% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 1.4% | 1.3% |
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
38 2010 cars are on the New Zealand register; 5% arrived as used imports, 89% 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 12.2–16.7 L/100 km (about 14–19 mpg US), CO₂ 329–384 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL 350 BlueTec · Sport utility vehicle · Diesel | 13.8 | 10.3 | 12.2 |
| GL 450 4MATIC · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 18.3 | 13.6 | 16.2 |
| GL 550 4MATIC · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 18.9 | 13.9 | 16.7 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 2010 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 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10039258 | MERCEDES-BENZ: THE STEERING IS LEAKING IN THE AREA OF INPUT SHAFT, BECAUSE OF WEAR ON A SEAL RING. MODEL 164/251. *RM UPDATED 2/1/12. *PE |
| 10039257 | MERCEDES-BENZ: THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT IS ON WITH STORED TROUBLE CODES. IDLE SPEED LIMITS WERE SET TOO NARROW. *RM |
| 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 |
| 10034306 | MERCEDES: AIRBAG DURABILITY AND RELIABILITY. AIR BAG SRS CONTROL MODULE (N2/2) DOES NOT HAVE A SET SHELF LIFE AND WILL NORMALLY BE RELIABLE FOR THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE. WITH 164, 216 221, 251 AND NEWER, THE AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT CAN BE RESET FIVE TIMES. WITH MODES 202, 210 AND NEWER, THE AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT CAN BE RESET THREE TIMES. EARLIER MODELS WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THEIR AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT AND TRIGGERED RESTRAIN COMPONENTS CHANGED ONLY AFTER AN ACCIDENT. NO MODELS OR MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE |
| 10032569 | MERCEDES: CHECK TIRE PRESSURE LABEL, REPLACE IF REQUIRED. AN INCORRECT TIRE PRESSURE LABEL MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE LEFT B PILLAR. (MODELS GL450 4 MATIC; GL320 CDI 4 MATIC; GL550 4 MATIC; GL320 BLUETEC). *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)