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2011 Mercedes-Benz GL450 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 55 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL450, most often about the air bags (62% of complaints, typically around 69,500 miles). It is the most complained-about GL450 model year since 2000 and has 3 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory2 recalls for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL450 problems
Air bags
34 complaints · 62%Half of these problems showed up before 69,500 miles.
Takata recall-how can you have this lethal of a situation and not have parts to replace. I want it in writing that I tried to rectify this and have been told there are no parts available at this time.
Since 2/2017 the supposed top quality brand mercedes benz has postponed the replacement of the defective tamara airbags. They are jeopardizing their customers lives. I spend $70 000 on this car to keep my family safe, but they rather spend millions in a formula e racing series that nobody watches then to replaces…
Suspension
9 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: front.
We were stopped at a red stoplight, out of nowhere there was a loud explosion, shook the whole car and sank, the feeling like we were in a sink hole or like a tire blew but the tire was fine. A loyd hissing sound ensued. Thank god, we were at a stop light and not in a speed that could have been deadly.
My 2011 GL450 mercedes SUV is driving sideways one front and one back suspension airbags are not working I feel like my care is going to flip over when I turn. This is a hazardous problem. Can cause accidents a deaths not only on the driver but other people on the road
Brakes
7 complaints · 13%The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated that while reversing, the message "release parking brake" was displayed. The contact stated that she engaged the parking brake release button. The contact was able to continue driving. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving.…
The contact owned a 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated that while driving and attempting to make a right turn, the vehicle failed to stop, which LED him to rear-end a truck in front. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact sustained a fracture in the finger, and forehead injury caused by the…
Electrical
4 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: ignition.
The electronic ignition switch either won't start the engine or will finally start after a long delay or after repeated attempts are made to turn the key and start the engine using either of the two electronic keys. The car has failed to start causing my wife to be stranded on numerous occasions and poses a serious…
The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated that it would take numerous attempts to start the ignition. No warning lights illuminated. Open road Mercedes-Benz (1250 US-22, bridgewater township, nj 08807 ([phone]) diagnosed that the ignition switch needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired.…
Other or unspecified
3 complaints · 6%
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2011 Mercedes-Benz GL450 recalls
Brakes: vacuum
Risk: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on may 24, 2024. Owners may contact mbusa customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Mmusa's number for this recall is 2024050001/2. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22v-315.
Full defect summary
Mercedes-benz USA, llc (mbusa) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ml, gl, and r-class vehicles. Please refer to mbusa's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake performance or brake failure.
Brakes: vacuum
Risk: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed june 30, 2022. Owners may contact mbusa customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Mbusa's numbers for this recall are 2022050014, 2022050015 2022090006, & 2022090007.
Full defect summary
Mercedes-benz USA, llc (mbusa) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ml-class, gl-class, and r-class vehicles. Please refer to mbusa's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake performance or brake failure.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Mbusa will their notify owners, and fiat chrysler will notify the affected chrysler owners. Dealers for the respective brands will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. This recall began november 2016. Mercedes-benz owners may contact mbusa customer service at 1-800-367-6372 and chrysler owners may contact fiat chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Full defect summary
Mercedes-benz USA, llc. (mbusa) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 ml320 bluetec 4matic, gl320 bluetec 4matic and r320 cdi 4matic, 2011 e350 cabriolet and e550 cabriolet, 2009-2011 ml350, ml350 4matic, ml550 4matic, ml63 amg, and c63 amg, 2010-2011 ml450 4matic hybrid, e350 coupe, e350 4matic, e550 coupe, e550 4matic, and e63 amg, 2011-2012 gl350 bluetec 4matic and r350 bluetec 4matic, 2009-2012 gl450 4matic, gl550 4matic and r350 4matic, 2007-2008 slk280, slk350, and slk55 amg, 2011-2014 sls amg coupe, 2012 sls amg cabriolet, 2013-2014 sls amg gt and sls amg gt cabriolet, 2005 c230 kompressor and c320, 2006-2007 c230, 2006-2011 c350, 2008-2011 c300 and c300 4matic, 2010-2012 glk350 and glk350 4matic and 2007-2008 chrysler crossfire vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL450
- What are the most common problems with the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL450?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (34 complaints, typically around 69,500 miles); suspension (9 complaints, typically around 80,000 miles); brakes (7 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL450 have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 26, 2024 (brakes). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2011 a bad year for the Mercedes-Benz GL450?
- It is the most complained-about GL450 model year since 2000, with 55 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.