2017 Mercedes Benz Gls450: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2017 Mercedes Benz Gls450
On the 2017 Mercedes Benz Gls450, the failure owners report most often is other electrical problem, with 6 reports on file. Across every failure mode on this year, half the dated reports were filed before 15,000 miles. Overall it scores 82 out of 100, severe risk for a 2017.
Severe risk for a 2017 — 14th riskiest of the 263 2017 vehicles we can rate. 51 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What owners report breaking
Owners have reported 24 named failure modes on the 2017 Mercedes Benz Gls450, and the three most-reported carry 29% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Other electrical problem leads with 6 reports and about 2.0 per 1,000 vehicles.
Other engine problem follows with 5 reports, median 20,000 miles. 3 of those reports mention a fire.
Other fuel system problem follows with 4 reports. 3 of those reports mention a fire.
By system, the reports fall mostly into engine (8), electrical (6) and body (6).
When these failures get reported
18 of the reports on the 2017 Mercedes Benz Gls450 came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 15,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 83% by 50,000 miles and 89% by 100,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed.
The busiest stretch is between 0 and 10,000 miles, which alone holds 39% of the dated reports.
67% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, which is early enough that a fair number of these cars were still under a factory warranty when the owner complained.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 24. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
How bad it is when it goes
Across the named modes, 2 mention a crash, 12 a fire and 1 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 5.06, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other electrical problem at $250–$2,000, other engine problem at $300–$4,000, other fuel system problem at $300–$2,200 and other body or interior problem at $200–$2,000. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
20% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 6 | 2 | — | 21k | — | 2.0 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other engine problem | engine | 5 | 2 | — | 21k | — | 1.6 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 1.3 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 1.3 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Loss of power steering | steering | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 1.0 | $600–$2,800 | Critical |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 3 | 1 | — | 13k | — | 1.0 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 136k | — | 0.7 | $1,200–$4,500 | Critical |
| Other steering problem | steering | 2 | 2 | — | 5k | — | 0.7 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.7 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 2 | 1 | — | 41k | — | 0.7 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Engine bay fire | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $4,000–$20,000 | Critical |
| Overheating | cooling | 1 | 1 | — | 56k | — | 0.3 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Differential or transfer case failure | drivetrain | 1 | 1 | — | 1k | — | 0.3 | $900–$4,200 | High |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $200–$900 | High |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 1 | 1 | — | 29k | — | 0.3 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Sunroof failure or glass breakage | body | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $700–$4,500 | High |
| Liftgate, tailgate or trunk failure | body | 1 | 1 | — | 6k | — | 0.3 | $250–$1,500 | Moderate |
| Air conditioning failure | hvac | 1 | 1 | — | 12k | — | 0.3 | $400–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.3 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 4 | 3 | — | 13k | — | 1.3 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2017 Mercedes Benz Gls450 draws about 17 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 93rd percentile of complaint rates among 2017 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 3,033 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2017 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other electrical problem
Vehicle is only 3 weeks old. A faulty engine wire harness caused the vehicle to cease operating in traffic and put my family in a potentially life threatening situation. Mercedes did not replace but only "repaired" the wire, which we were told was not assembled correctly and was pinched in a bracket and subsequently chafed, which can potentially still cause a life threatening engine malfunction during normal operation. Mercedes is not willing to replace the engine harness wire, nor replace the vehicle. I fear for the safety of my family.
Other engine problem
Vehicle is only 3 weeks old. A faulty engine wire harness caused the vehicle to cease operating in traffic and put my family in a potentially life threatening situation. Mercedes did not replace but only "repaired" the wire, which we were told was not assembled correctly and was pinched in a bracket and subsequently chafed, which can potentially still cause a life threatening engine malfunction during normal operation. Mercedes is not willing to replace the engine harness wire, nor replace the vehicle. I fear for the safety of my family.
Recalls on the 2017 model year
NHTSA has issued 8 recall campaigns covering the 2017 Mercedes Benz Gls450, affecting an estimated 4,906 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover electrical system:software and communication. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
242,722 vehicles 2022-05-20- Defect
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2022 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, AMG GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL-Class, GLC-Class, CLS-Class, GLB-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. An error in the communication module's SIM card software can cause a mobile network connection failure, disabling the emergency call (eCall) system.
- Consequence
- A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting the emergency services call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- The communication module software will be updated through an Over-the-Air (OTA) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2022. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on July 8, 2022, May 17, 2024, July 29, 2024, and September 27, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers are for this recall is 2022060005 and 2023110006.
COMMUNICATION
67 vehicles 2021-02-12- Defect
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2019 C300, E300, 2018-2020 CLA250, 2020 CLS450, AMG E53, AMG GT53, GLE450, 2018 AMG E63, AMG GTA, 2017-2020 GLA250, GLC300, 2019 GLC350, AMG GLC43, 2017-2018 GLE350, 2019 AMG GLC 43, GLC350, GLE400, 2017 GLS450, S550, C300 Cabrio, and 2018-2019 S560 vehicles. On June 18, 2021, an additional 9 vehicles were added, including certain 2021 GLA250, GLC300, 2018 S450, E400, and 2017 CLA250 vehicles. The communication module might have been inadvertently deactivated during a service visit, which could have disabled the…
- Consequence
- A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting emergency services through the call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the communication module and activate it, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021. Letters for the owners of the 9 additional vehicles were mailed July 9, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021030005.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
1,292,258 vehicles 2021-02-05- Defect
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 - 2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to the Part 573 report for specific vehicle model details. The software design of the communication module may fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (eCall) in the event of a crash.
- Consequence
- Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.
- Remedy
- MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020025.
COMMUNICATION
24,226 vehicles 2019-11-01- Defect
- 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
- Consequence
- An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- 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
9,725 vehicles 2018-04-27- Defect
- 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…
- Consequence
- The leaking oil in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- 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.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
8,700 vehicles 2017-12-18- Defect
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017 GLE400 4Matic, GLE350 4Matic, GLE350, GLE550e 4Matic, GLE43 AMG 4Matic, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLS450, GLE63S 4Matic, GLS63 4Matic, S550e, S600, S63 AMG 4Matic, S65 AMG, S550, Mercedes-Maybach S600, Mercedes-Maybach S550 4Matic, GLE43 AMG 4Matic Coupe, GLE63S 4Matic Coupe, 2017-2018 GLS550 4Matic, S550 4Matic, 2018 S450, and S63 AMG 4Matic vehicles. The rear passenger door on the driver side may indicate that it is locked, when it may not be. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor…
- Consequence
- If the door appears to be locked, the door may be unintentionally opened, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left rear door lock, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in January 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
3,620 vehicles 2017-10-17- Defect
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 GLE300d 4Matic, GLE400 4Matic, GLE350 4Matic, GLE63 AMG, GLE63 AMG Coupe, GLE63S AMG and GLE63S AMG Coupe, and 2017 GLS450 4Matic, GLE550 4Matic, and GLE63 AMG 4Matic vehicles. These vehicles may have excess bulkhead insulation extending into the lower windshield area, possibly affecting the windshield bonding and the full protective function of the passenger's frontal air bag in the event of a crash.
- Consequence
- If the passenger's frontal air bag does not function as designed in the event of a crash, the front seat passenger has an increased risk of injury.
- Remedy
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will remove any excess bulkhead insulation and rework the windshield bonding, as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner letters will be mailed in December 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy is available in late January 2018. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018020002. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
5,882 vehicles 2017-02-08- Defect
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017 GLE 400 4Matic, GLE 350 4Matic, GLE 350, GLE 550E 4Matic, GLE 63 AMG, GLE 63S AMG, GLE 43 AMG 4Matic Coupe, GLE 63S AMG 4Matic Coupe, GLS 450 4Matic, GLS 550 4Matic, and GLS 63 AMG 4Matic vehicles. In certain types of crash events, the center console may unlatch, allowing the objects within to fly around the cabin. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact."
- Consequence
- In the event of a crash, if objects are not secured within the center console, they may strike the vehicle occupants, increasing their risk of injury.
- Remedy
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will modify the center console so that it remains latched in a crash, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in early March 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2017 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
How 2017 compares with the other years
Severe risk for a 2017 — 14th riskiest of the 263 2017 vehicles we can rate. Every score on this site is a rank inside its own model year, which is what makes a 2004 and a 2019 comparable at all.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
What this page cannot tell you
51 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 51 reports, 18 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 35% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Mercedes Benz Gls450?
The most-reported failures are other electrical problem (6 reports, median 20,000 miles), other engine problem (5 reports, median 20,000 miles) and other fuel system problem (4 reports). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
Is the 2017 Mercedes Benz Gls450 reliable?
It scores 82 out of 100 on our risk index, which is severe — 14th riskiest of the 263 2017 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2017 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed