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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
867 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS450 fuel system problems

fuel system problem

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2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS450 Owner Comments

problem #6

Apr 272022

GLS450

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On numerous occasions, when either slowing down or in a slow turn, the engine dies and will not reengage until I have turned off the vehicle, exited, then reentered an started the vehicle. I have had passengers in the vehicle who will attest to this occurring, in fact, the last time it happened, I was almost broadsided when the vehicle stopped in the middle of a left-hand turn, crossing three lanes of oncoming traffic. The vehicle has been to the dealership at least three times and it's either a "software update" requirement or "we can't duplicate" the issue. When I called MB Customer Service, Michael (initial intake) told me "I have seen this issue before."

- Woodbridge, VA, USA

problem #5

May 112022

GLS450

  • miles
While driving, vehicle has abruptly stopped/engine turned off causing car to not accelerate and come to a stop. One instance was on a busy freeway, causing our family to pull off the interstate with nearly no curb, risking rear-end collision due to the abrupt stalling of the vehicle. In this instance, the 48 volt battery failure warning, engine overheat warning, engine light warning came on. When MCB dealership evaluated the vehicle, there were no stored associated error codes and MCB service returned the vehicle to me saying that the issue did not occur when they drove it. The same issue occurred again 5 months later, this time in a busy intersection, where the car would not accelerate and I was forced to pull of the road. The check engine light as well as other failure lights came on. THe car was returned to MCB service and again, no error codes were stored and the dealership said they could not find the cause of the problem. This vehicle issue (reported to the NHTSA by several other 2020 GLS owners) is a LIFE-THREATENING DANGEROUS VEHICLE PROBLEM. Both times, the engine abruptly failed and the car would not accelerate in the middle of heavily trafficked roads/freeways, which could easily result in a catastrophic accident. Both times, the vehicle did not store the associated error codes, despite the display illuminating several warning lights, including the check engine light. THe unreliability of this expensive vehicle is particularly concerning to me as it is used to transport young children. Mercedes is taking no accountability for this vehicle failure and claims they have not heard of this issue prior, which is clearly inaccurate given that it has been reported to NHTSA by several other GLS owners. This is an enormous safety liability, not only for the owners of this vehicle, but for innocent bystander drivers who could easily have a rear end collision with the car as it fails to accelerate and the engine abruptly stalls/stops.

- Paradise Vly, AZ, USA

problem #4

Nov 022021

GLS450

  • miles
The vehicle warnign system displayed "48v Malfunction." Vehicke lost all acceleration in the middle of the highway. The vehicle was just returned3 days ago after undergoing a state inspection at the MB dealership. In looking at the issue on line this appears to be a known problem to Mercedes. They are even facing a class action lawsuit for it in the same model year GLE, which is based on many of the same systems. SOmeone is going to get killed when their vehicle stalls in the middl eof the highway.

- Newtown, PA, USA

problem #3

Aug 042021

GLS450

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

We were driving the vehicle at about 30 MPH on a road when suddenly the engine completely shut off. There was no more power steering and no warning that it turned off. We got the car slowed down and once we came to a stop the car put itself in Park. After that we could restart it and keep driving with the car acting very different. This then happened again later on in the day going about 20 MPH up to a stop light. It shut itself off and luckily we were able to come to a stop with the brakes without running into the intersection and no one hitting us from behind. Once again it put itself in Park. We were able to restart the car and drive again with diminished power and really weird shifting from the transmission. The check engine light turned on both times and when we got it to the dealership the next morning all the check engine lights were off again. This is extremely dangerous to the driver and occupants. Our little son was in the back seat. We commute with this car in southern california and if this were to happen on the freeway it would be disastrous. Everyone is at risk with this car. It will just stop without any warning signs and you can have someone rear end you. And the power steering turns off also which if the car turns off in a corner on the freeway you will have no way of controlling the vehicle and will just go into the middle barrier or oncoming traffic. This could be even worse if driven on a mountain road and you loose all power of the vehicle. We will not be driving the car anymore since we have no idea when it will shut off again while driving.

- Bermuda Dunes, CA, USA

problem #2

Mar 072021

GLS450

  • 4,200 miles
We purchased a new 2020 Mercedes Benz gls 450 in October 2019 from the oakland dealership and shipped the car to Hawaii. The vehicle is now 117 months old and has about 4100 miles. Because our vehicle is lightly used we arranged for Mercedes Benz to supply and installed a 'battery minder' to keep the vehicles 48 volt system charged when we are away for an extended time. However we did not have the battery minder hooked up at this time because we are using the vehicle on a weekly basis. On March 7, 2021 we experienced a "48 volt battery malfunction' which left our car disabled on the side of an uphill major roadway. There was no warning just a sudden extreme loss of power, supplemental systems such as the ac deactivated, warning lights flashed and our vehicle coasted to the side of the road. I believe the brake system was also diminished by the loss of electrical boost. After a while we were able to restart the vehicle and began to 'limp home'. the vehicle was not able to accelerate and we experienced 'over heating' warnings ( in red ) and had to stop the vehicle to cool the engine. We arranged for Mercedes Benz roadside assistance to tow the vehicle to the kona Mercedes Benz service centre the next day. Yellow engine warning lights remained on when the vehicle was placed on the tow vehicle.we have used the kona service centre since it was opened, the team led by paulette gantala is very capable and they perform excellent work. After several days we learned that the cause of the malfunction was not found and we were told to 'monitor the situation'. I attached the service report which describes the extensive investigative work completed by the kona Mercedes service centre. We are very concerned this malfunction is a safety related issue and needs to be escalated. Sudden unexpected loss of power creates extremely dangerous situations.

- Kamuela, HI, USA

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problem #1

Nov 222019

GLS450

  • 1,000 miles
The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz Gls450. The contact stated she noticed a fuel odor coming from the vehicle when the windows were open. The contact sought medical attention due to breathing problems. The vehicle was taken to local dealer ed hicks imports located at 3102 S padre island dr, corpus christi, tx 78415 (361) 854-1955, where it was diagnosed the first time with a melting sticker on the Cadillac and it needing to be removed. The vehicle was repaired but continue to experience the failure. The contact stated on 12/21/2019, while driving 7 mph, when she heard multiple loud abnormal noises (explosions). The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer, where it was diagnosed that the Cadillac converter and turbo needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired as of yet. The manufacturer had not been informed of failure. The failure mileage was 1,000.

- Fulton, TX, USA

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