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Mercedes-Benz GL550Years to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 69 owner complaints and 10 safety recalls on record for the Mercedes-Benz GL550.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints69Top: Air bagsSafety recalls102008–2017 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Mercedes-Benz GL550 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the GL550 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2017Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls2016Not rated–/1001 complaint · 4 recalls2015Not rated–/1008 complaints · 3 recalls2014Not rated–/10010 complaints · 3 recalls2013Not rated–/1006 complaints · 3 recalls2012Not rated–/1008 complaints · 3 recalls2011Not rated–/10015 complaints · 3 recalls2010Not rated–/1003 complaints · 3 recalls2009Not rated–/1006 complaints · 3 recalls2008Not rated–/10012 complaints · 2 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Mercedes-Benz GL550 problems

All model years combined: 69 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags241
Steering111
Engine111
Electrical system101
Power train41
Service brakes, hydraulic31
Service brakes30
Suspension30
Wheels21
11 other systems164
10 recalls

Mercedes-Benz GL550 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

3%Power assist: vacuum24V-298 · 2008–2012 · Apr 26, 2024 · 15,604 vehiclesDo not drive43%Power assist: vacuum22V-315 · 2008–2012 · May 9, 2022 · 350,294 vehiclesDo not drive78%Communication19V-787 · 2013–2016 · Nov 1, 2019 · 24,226 vehicles94%Suspension: front18V-272 · 2013–2016 · Apr 27, 2018 · 9,725 vehicles87%Steering: electric power assist system17V-241 · 2016–2017 · Apr 11, 2017 · 58,323 vehicles89%Air bags: frontal16V-903 · 2016–2017 · Dec 15, 2016 · 47,799 vehicles73%Axle assembly: axle shaft16V-900 · 2015 · Dec 14, 2016 · 48 vehicles65%Driver side: inflator module16V-081 · 2009–2012 · Feb 11, 2016 · 711,159 vehicles81%Child seat: latch strap14V-158 · 2014 · Mar 31, 2014 · 69 vehicles–Seat belts13V-166 · 2013 · Apr 29, 2013 · 256 vehicles
1 investigation

NHTSA investigations of the GL550

  1. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · 2009–2012 · still open
    Open