2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Complaint Log

2007 MERCEDES GL450- TURNED ON SEAT HEATERS AND WITHIN A COUPLE MINUTES SMELT BURNING MATERIAL. DISCOVERED THE SEAT HEATER WAS BURNING A HOLE IN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVER SEAT BACK. TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER BUT IT HAD ALREADY BURNED A HOLE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A DIME. TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THEY HAVE SEEN THE SAME PROBLEM BEFORE. THEY ARE ORDERING A REPLACEMENT SEAT BACK, BUT ARE NOT WILLING TO ADDRESS MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE OTHER SEAT. *TR

DRIVING ON HWY WITH MY 3 CHILDREN IN CAR, I FELT AS IF I HAD A STICKER IN MY PANTS. SOMETHING WAS POKING ME. THEN WE ALL SMELT SOMETHING BURNING, WHICH CDF WAS PARKED ON THE SIDE OF HWY SO WE DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEN MY OLDEST SAID "MOM THERE'S SMOKE IN THE CAR" I LOOKED BACK IN MY REVIEW MIRROR AND SAW THE BACK OF THE CAR FULL OF SMOKE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE HWY AND WE ALL EXITED THE CAR. UPON DOING SO, I GRABBED MY PERSONAL AND IMPORTANT BELONGINGS. NOTICED THE DRIVERS SEAT HAD A HOLE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A NICKEL IN THE BACK PORTION. THEN MY KIDS TOLD ME MY PANTS HAD A HOLE, AND THEN WE NOTICED MY SKIN HAD A BLISTER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER(60 MILES) RENTED A CAR THAT HELD 7 PASSENGERS, SINCE I WAS ON MY WAY TO PICK MY PARENTS UP FROM THE AIRPORT 2 1/2 HOURS AWAY FROM OUR HOME. MERCEDES DECLINES TO PAY FOR RENTAL CAR, TOOK THEM 20 DAYS TO GET PARTS AND HAVE IT FIXED. I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE DEALER. THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN ANY HELP SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR. *TR

VEHICLE WILL NOT CHANGE GEAR AND BECOME SLUGGISH WITH TERRIBLE FUEL CONSUMPTION. TRIED FUEL TREATMENT, PROBLEM GETS BETTER THEN RETURN. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH TO 75 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE INVOLUNTARILY DECELERATED THEN STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. SHE THEN SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 72,500.

MY 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ GL-450 WITH 36,900 MILES SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND WAS BARELY RESPONSIVE WHILE DRIVING HOME YESTERDAY (2/17/2010), AND THEN THE CAR REQUIRED 3 OR 4 ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AS I WAS TRYING TO BACK INTO MY DRIVEWAY. I DROVE THE CAR TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP THIS MORNING. THIS PROBLEM FIRST HAPPENED A FEW MONTHS AGO (AUGUST 2009 AT 34,500 MILES) DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE WHILE WE WERE OUT OF TOWN ON A VACATION TRIP. WE HAD TO REPEATEDLY PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY, TURN THE CAR OFF FOR AWHILE AND THEN RESTART, TO GET THE VEHICLE TO HAVE SUFFICIENT POWER TO GET HOME AND TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. AT THAT TIME THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP REPLACED A CAMSHAFT SOLENOID MAGNET. THIS PROBLEM IS SO DANGEROUS THAT WE HAVE NOW LOST CONFIDENCE THAT WE CAN SAFELY TAKE THIS VEHICLE ON A VACATION TRIP. *TR

TODAY MY HUSBAND WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING MY 2007 GL450. THANK GOD HE WASN'T INJURED BUT THE SITUATION HE EXPLAINED TO ME HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE AND I'VE BEEN ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR BEFORE SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENED. HE LEFT HOME FOR WORK AT ABOUT 6AM AND WHILE STILL IN THE SUBDIVISION DRIVING ABOUT 20 MILES/HR ON A ROAD WITH ABOUT 1" OF SNOW, HE TRIED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN BUT THE BRAKES LOCKED AND THE STEERING WOULDN'T TURN AND HE ENDED UP SMASHING THE FRONT END ON A HUGE STONE AND RICOCHETING TO A FIRE HYDRANT. LIKE I SAID, THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND I'D BEEN ASSUMING THAT THE SKIDDING WAS BECAUSE OUR TIRES WERE WORN BUT WE GOT BRAND NEW TIRES LESS THAN A WEEK AGO SO THIS DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE. I HAVEN'T BEEN IN TOUCH WITH MERCEDES YET BUT I WILL BE CONTACTING THEM TO ADVISE THEM OF THIS ISSUE. *TR

2007 MERCEDES GL450 ON DEC 11 2009 I NOTICED THE SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING WHILE DRIVING MY SUV. SHORTLY THEREAFTER I FELT AN INTENSE BURNING ALONG MY LEFT LOWER BACK. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. ALONG THE LEFT SIDE BACK OF THE DRIVERS SEAT WAS A 1.5 X 0.5INCH HOLE BURNT THROUGH THE FABRIC. I WAS USING THE SEAT HEATER AT THE TIME. THE INCIDENT DAMAGED MY PANTS AND LEATHER JACKET. *TR

MY GL 320 ? 2007 LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER AND THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE POWER COMES BACK ON IN 10 TO 20 SECONDS AND THE CAR CAN BE RESTARTED. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES DURING THE FIRST 10 DAYS OF OCT 2009 WHEN THE MILEAGE WAS JUST UNDER 30,000. NOTE THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKE ASSIST GO OUT COMPLETELY AS DO THE HEADLIGHTS. ON ONE ACCESSION AT NIGHT ON A CURVE I WENT OFF THE ROAD BEFORE BEING ABLE TO STOP. ON ALL OCCASIONS THIS HAPPENED 15 TO 20 SECONDS AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES TO DEACTIVATE THE SPEED CONTROL AND AFTER COASTING TO LESS THAN APPX. 40MPH. THE DEALER COULD FIND NO DIRECT CODE INDICATION FOR THE PROBLEM BUT DID FIND NUMEROUS LOW VOLTAGE CODES AND CHANGED OUT A NUMBER OF FUSE AND REFUSE BOXES AND FUSES. THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN ONLY 100 MILES SINCE THE DEALER WORK AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOR RECURRED. *TR

2007 MERCEDES GL . TURNED ON SEAT WARMER, MINUTES LATER, BOTH PEOPLE IN CAR STARTED COUGHING BECAUSE OF FUMES. DRIVER FELT SOMETHING BURNING, SEAT HEATER BURNED A HOLE IN LEATHER SEAT, DRIVER'S SHIRT AND ON BODY. *TR

DRAMATIC EXPLOSIVE FAILURE OF THE RIGHT ADAPTIVE SUSPENSION STRUT AIRBAG WHILE VEHICLE WAS STANDING IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE ENGINE ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE THE STRUT WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILED PART WAS RETURNED TO MBUSA FOR INSPECTION. I HAVE HIGH QUALITY DIGITAL PHOTOS OF THE INCIDENT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN THE DRIVEWAY, IF NHTSA WOULD LIKE THEM, BUT UNFORTUNATELY NOT OF THE REMOVED, DAMAGED STRUT. *TR

1. MADE A LEFT TURN ONTO THE ROADWAY FROM A STOP. 2. HAD FAILURE OF THE ABS, ESP AND PARKTRONIC SYSTEMS OF THE VEHICLE. STEERING WHEEL FELT LIKE THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. 3. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND STARTED. THIS CONDITION SELF CORRECTED AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE A SECOND TIME. HAVE HEARD THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH VEHICLES FROM OTHER MANUFACTURERS AS WELL. *TR

THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO A 2007 MERCEDES GL450. I HAVE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. 14 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE WENT INTO THE SHOP. ON 2 OCCASIONS MY CAR SHUT COMPLETELY DOWN ON BUSY ROAD WAYS AND BOTH TIMES MERCEDES DID NOT WANT TO FIX THE CAR. MERCEDES CLAIMED A DRINK WAS SPILT IN THE CAR ON A COMPUTER SYSTEM UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. ON THE FIRST OCCASION LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AND WITH IN 30 SECONDS THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AND HAD TO BE PUSHED OFF THE ROAD WAY. ALL OF THE DOORS WERE LOCKED UP WE FINALLY MANAGED TO CLIMB OUT THE DRIVERS SIDE. I HAD 3 KIDS IN MY CAR AND THE THOUGHT OF NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OUT OF THIS CAR REALLY CONCERNS ME. ON THE SECOND OCCASION WHICH WAS APPROXIMATLY 2 WEEKS LATER THE CARS WINDOWS STARTED ROLLING UP AND DOWN AND SMOKING. THE CAR THEN SHUT DOWN ON US AND AT THIS POINT WAS SMOKING SO BAD MY KIDS WERE COUGHING. THE CAR THEN JUMPED OUT OF PARK. AGAIN THE CAR WAS TOWED IN THE NEXT DAY AND MERCEDES SAID WE SPILT A DRINK IN THE CAR THAT SHUT IT DOWN. MERCEDES REFUSED TO FIX THE CAR EVEN THOUGH IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE. I HAVE DONE MUCH RESEARCH AND HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY SPILT A DRINK AND THAT IS WHY IT SHUT DOWN. ONE MAN'S CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN A DRIVEWAY ANOTHER'S GL WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND BURNT HIS HOUSE DOWN KILLING HIS ANIMALS. THE LIST GOES ON AND MERCEDES WILL NOT RECALL THIS MODEL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES, THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE HEATED SEATS. MINUTES LATER, SHE FELT PAIN ON HER REAR. SHE NOTICED THAT THE LEATHER ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT WAS MELTING AND ON FIRE. SHE SAFELY PULLED OVER AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. SHE CALLED THE DEALER AND IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 27,088.

ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008 AT APPROXIMATELY 3:30 PM I WAS INVOLVED IN AN MVA IN WHICH I STRUCK THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT CONSIDERABLE SPEED. THIS CAUSED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO MY CAR (2007 MERCEDES GL450) WITH NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. DURING THE ATTEMPT AT STOPPING I FELT THE BRAKE PEDAL BECOME MUSHY AND BE INEFFECTIVE. AT FIRST THE BRAKES GRABBED STRONG AND THEN LET LOOSE WITH THE EVENTUAL COLLISION. AFTER CONSULTING WITH AN INDEPENDENT MERCEDES MECHANIC, IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THIS BRAKE BEHAVIOR COULD BE EXPLAINED BY AN ANTI-LOCKING BRAKE (ABS) SENSOR FAILURE. THIS WOULD ACCOUNT FOR THE RELEASE OF THE BRAKES (POSSIBLE DETECTION OF SKID) BUT ALSO THE FALSE DATA REACHING THE CENTRAL COMPUTER WITH AN ERRONEOUS SPEED, THUS DISABLING THE AIRBAGS. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MERCEDES BENZ OR NORTH AMERICA WHICH HAS YIELDED NO INSPECTION OR RESOLUTION. I HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR ONE OF THEIR FIELD ENGINEERS TO EXAMINE THE CAR AND SEE IF THE ABS SENSOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE POSSIBLE BRAKE FAILURE. ALTHOUGH THE CRASH MAY STILL BE MY DRIVER ERROR, I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE REPAIRING THE CAR AND GIVING IT BACK TO MY WIFE FOR TRANSPORTATION OF THE FAMILY. HAS AN ABS SENSOR FAILURE BEEN REPORTED FOR THIS MODEL BEFORE? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ GL320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE STEERING AND BRAKES LOST POWER. THE CONTACT SWAYED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE CONTACT WAS VERY CONCERNED IN DRIVING THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SAFETY RISKS INVOLVED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES GL 450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THERE WAS A DELAYED STOPPING RESPONSE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. THE DEALER CHANGED THE BRAKES BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. HE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000. STATUS UPDATE. UPDATED 06/15/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 11,139.

1. POOR BATTERY LIFE AND ALTERNATOR LIFE IN 2007 GL 450 2. ENGINE DIED AND ELECTRONICS DIED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, REPORTED TO MERCEDES BENZ CORPORATION WITH NO RESOLVE.3. LIFT GATE CONSTANTLY MALFUNCTIONS AND DOES NOT CLOSE. *TR

MY 2007 MERCEDES BENZ GL450 HAS A PROBLEM SINCE ABOUT 5,000 MILES. THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS TOO MUCH TRAVEL TO STOP ESPECIALLY, IN TRAFFIC THE PEDAL GOES ALL MOST TO THE FLOOR IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I HAVE REPEATEDLY BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION. EVEN AFTER THEY PERFORMED A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB. THERE REPLY WAS IT IS NORMAL THEY ALL DO THE SAME. [XXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR *KB

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE 'CHARGE AIR HOSE' CONNECTING TO THE TURBO INTERCOOLER SYSTEM ON MY 2007 MERCEDES GL320CDI HAS FAILED. THE HOSE HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES TOTAL. ACCORDING TO INTERNET MESSAGE BOARDS THERE ARE NUMEROUS FAILURES THAT MB HAS FAILED TO FIX INCLUDING MINE. ON ALL OCCASIONS OF THE INCIDENT MY ENTIRE FAMILY HAS BEEN IN THE VEHICLE. WHILE UNDER ACCELERATION THE HOSE FAILS AND FORWARD SPEED IS LOST. ON TWO OCCASIONS I HAVE BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE AND DRIVING ON THE INCLINE OF A HILL WHERE OTHER VEHICLES WERE BEHIND ME. IT IS NOT SAFE. *TR

ON THE 2007-2008 MERCEDES GL THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AC VENT CLOSEST TO THE SIDE WINDOWS ALLOWS AIR TO BE DIRECTED THE VENT ON THE DOOR (WHICH SHOULD BE USED FOR DEFROST ONLY); THIS THEN FOGS UP THE SIDE WINDOWS, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE SIDE MIRRORS WHENEVER THE AC IS ON. THIS IS CERTAINLY A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM IN HOT HUMID AREAS LIKE HOUSTON. I HAVE HAD TO DUCT TAPE THE VENT TUBE IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VENTS FROM FOGGING UP THE SIDE WINDOWS AND BLOCKING THE VIEW OF THE SIDE MIRRORS. THIS WAS REPORTED TO MERCEDES USA A YEAR AGO, ACCORDING TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, BUT MERCEDES USA HAS YET TO FIX THIS DANGEROUS DESIGN DEFECT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE, HOWEVER, THEY GRINDED THE EDGES OF THE BRAKE PADS TO REDUCE THE SQUEAKING NOISE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,600. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED CHAMFERING THE BRAKE PADS TO ALLEVIATE THE NOISE. THE DEALER STATED VEHICLE LOW ON OIL. UPDATED 09/2807 *TR

AUTOMATIC OPENING REAR HATCH OPENS WITHOUT A COMMAND TO DO SO. SEVERAL TIMES I'VE FOUND IT OPEN WHEN PARKED IN PUBLIC PARKING LOTS. TWICE IT HAS OPENED WITHIN MY GARAGE, CAUSING THE HATCH TO STRIKE THE GARAGE DOOR AND SCRATCH AND DAMAGE THE TRUCKS PAINT. ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE AND BACKED UP TO A FENCE. THE HATCH OPENED AND STRUCK TWO SHOVELS THAT WERE LEANING AGAINST THE FENCE. IN TURN, THE SHOVELS FELL ALONG THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED $800 IN PAINT DAMAGE. THE REASON THIS HAPPENS IS BECAUSE THE SHAPE OF THE REMOTE KEY FOB IS CONVEX INSTEAD OF CONCAVE. IN TURN, WHEN THE FOB IS IN YOUR FRONT PANTS POCKET AND YOU KNELL TO PICK SOMETHING UP, PRESSURE FROM YOU LEG CAUSE THE THE HATCH SWITCH TO ENGAGE AND THE HATCH TO OPEN. I KNOW THIS BECAUSE IT HAPPENED ONE TIME WHEN I WAS NEARBY THE CAR WHEN THE HATCH INADVERTENTLY OPENED. THE PROBLEM IS EXCESSIVE BECAUSE THE FOB HAS A LONG RANGE. CONSEQUENTLY, THE HATCH CAN OPEN WHEN YOU ARE WELL AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE (E.G. INSIDE A BUILDING). I'VE COMPLAINED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO MY MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER AND HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY TOLD THAT THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE. I FIND THAT VERY HARD TO BELIEVE. *TR