2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other GL450 years
- About as many complaints as other years 6th of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 37 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450. That ranks 6th out of 11 GL450 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (9 complaints, 24%), typically at around 37,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 fire, 3 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 37owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 9 | 24% | 37,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 8 | 22% | 36,500 | — | — |
| Seats | 5 | 14% | 200 | — | — |
| Suspension | 5 | 14% | 88,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 11% | 4,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 4 | 11% | 88,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 3 | 8% | 89,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 5% | 24,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 5% | 50,005 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 5% | 3,000 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 3% | 88,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 3% | 36,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 3% | 110,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 3% | 5,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 3% | 106,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 3% | 75,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450 recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Communication
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf
Risk: An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.
Suspension:front
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2012-2014 ML350 Bluetec 4Matic and ML550 4Matic, 2012-2015 ML63 AMG 4Matic and ML350 4Matic, 2013-2016 GL350 Bluetec 4Matic, GL550 4Matic and GL63 AMG 4Matic, 2017 GLS350d 4Matic, GLS450 4Matic, GLS550 4Matic and GLS63 AMG 4Matic, 2015 ML400 4Matic, 2016 GLE400 4Matic, GLE350 4Matic, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLE63S AMG 4Matic, GLE450 4Matic Coupe and GLE63S AMG 4Matic Coupe, 2015-2016 GL450 4Matic and 2013-2014 GL450 4Matic vehicles equipped with the Active Curve System (ACS). In certain driving conditions, if the oil level in the ACS reservoir is below the minimum level, the oil may foam and leak out of the vent holes in the reservoir cap.
Risk: The leaking oil in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will correct the oil level as necessary and replace the reservoir sealing cap to prevent oil foam from leaking out, free of charge. The recall began August 30, 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018070015.
Seat belts
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (Mercedes) is recalling certain model year 2013 GL350 BlueTEC, GL450 4MATIC, GL550 4MATIC, and GL63 AMG vehicles manufactured May 15, 2012 through October 4, 2012. The second row seat belt anchor fitting bolts may not be properly torqued.
Risk: If the bolts are not properly torqued, the seat belt anchor bolts may continue to loosen and in the the event of a crash, the belted occupant may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Mercedes-Benz will notify owners and dealers will check, and tighten the bolts of the seat belt anchor fittings, as necessary, free of charge. The recall campaign began on May 24, 2013. Owners may contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I bought the vehicle with 104k miles. When hooked to a computer it shows 177k. The odometer was tampered with
I was driving along in my 2013 MB GL450 with the M278 engine when the engine stopped. I had it towed to my home and checked it out. I had a suspicion the engine was seized. I eventually had to towed to my closest MB dealership for evaluation. The engine was seized. Their further investigation…
While driving on the freeway, we picked up a big screw in our tire which immediately deflated. To continue our journey, we wanted to replace the tire with the spare wheel. To do that, we used the floor jack that came with the car and this would have been it's first use. While attempting to lift the…
I am reaching out to bring to your attention a significant manufacturing flaw in the Mercedes GL450 model, which poses a severe risk to both vehicle functionality and passenger safety. The issue pertains to water infiltration into the battery compartment situated beneath the front passenger seat…
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked; however, while opening the door to enter the vehicle, the message "Transmission not in P, Risk of Vehicle Rolling Away" was displayed. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, and moved the gear…
Other Mercedes-Benz GL450 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 GL450 | 1 | 2 |
| 2016 GL450 | 13 | 5 |
| 2015 GL450 | 18 | 3 |
| 2014 GL450 | 21 | 3 |
| 2013 | 37 | 3 |
| 2012 GL450 | 47 | 3 |
| 2011 GL450 | 55 | 3 |
| 2010 GL450 | 42 | 3 |
| 2009 GL450 | 15 | 3 |
| 2008 GL450 | 55 | 2 |
| 2007 GL450 | 115 | 2 |
See all Mercedes-Benz GL450 problems by year, every Mercedes-Benz model, or the Mercedes-Benz VIN decoder.
Similar Mercedes-Benz models
Embed this 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450 badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450?
Owners most often report engine, electrical system, seats problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 9 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other GL450 model years, the 2013 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.