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FaultScore report

2013 Mercedes Benz GL350 problems

Owners have filed 12 complaints about the 2013 Mercedes Benz GL350 with NHTSA between 2016 and 2022. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 4 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Mercedes Benz GL350 All 2013 cars
C

FaultScore 45/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Mercedes Benz GL350.

How this is worked out

The numbers

12

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

3

Fires reported

6

Injuries reported

59,000 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

0%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 29 vs 50 Severity 100 vs 50 Early failure 0 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 29
Against the median year of the Mercedes Benz GL350. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
75% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 0
0% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2013 compares with every other Mercedes Benz GL350

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2013 Mercedes Benz GL350

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Engine & Cooling 4 33.3%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 61,000 mi

Transmission & Drivetrain 3 25.0%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 63,000 mi

Fuel & Propulsion 2 16.7%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 64,500 mi

Other & Unspecified 1 8.3%

Median failure at 53,000 miles

Seat Belts 1 8.3%
Suspension 1 8.3%

Median failure at 55,000 miles

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Oct 2016 peak 5 Apr 2022

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 59,000 miles SAN Jose, CA 1 injured

POWER TRAIN

OIL LEAK PERSISTENT FROM OIL COOLER IN DIESEL BLUETEC ENGINE SPRAYING OIL OUTSIDE GASKET ONTO FUEL LINES, OIL PAN, AND ONTO THE GROUND EMITTING HIGH LEVEL OF SMOKE WITH TARRY BURNT TOXIC NOXIOUS CHARCOAL SMELL FUMIGATING THROUGH THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE WITH VISIBLE BLUE SMOKE WHILE DRIVING MODERATE TO LONG DISTANCES. BLACK TARRY RESIDUE LEAKAGE VISIBLE ON DRIVEWAY AND STREET UNDERNEATH CAR WHEN PARKED OVERNIGHT OR FOR SHORT TIME WITH PAN LEAKED.

NHTSA complaint #11207874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 59,000 miles SAN Jose, CA 1 injured

ENGINE

OIL LEAK PERSISTENT FROM OIL COOLER IN DIESEL BLUETEC ENGINE SPRAYING OIL OUTSIDE GASKET ONTO FUEL LINES, OIL PAN, AND ONTO THE GROUND EMITTING HIGH LEVEL OF SMOKE WITH TARRY BURNT TOXIC NOXIOUS CHARCOAL SMELL FUMIGATING THROUGH THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE WITH VISIBLE BLUE SMOKE WHILE DRIVING MODERATE TO LONG DISTANCES. BLACK TARRY RESIDUE LEAKAGE VISIBLE ON DRIVEWAY AND STREET UNDERNEATH CAR WHEN PARKED OVERNIGHT OR FOR SHORT TIME WITH PAN LEAKED.

NHTSA complaint #11207874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 59,000 miles SAN Jose, CA 1 injured

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

OIL LEAK PERSISTENT FROM OIL COOLER IN DIESEL BLUETEC ENGINE SPRAYING OIL OUTSIDE GASKET ONTO FUEL LINES, OIL PAN, AND ONTO THE GROUND EMITTING HIGH LEVEL OF SMOKE WITH TARRY BURNT TOXIC NOXIOUS CHARCOAL SMELL FUMIGATING THROUGH THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE WITH VISIBLE BLUE SMOKE WHILE DRIVING MODERATE TO LONG DISTANCES. BLACK TARRY RESIDUE LEAKAGE VISIBLE ON DRIVEWAY AND STREET UNDERNEATH CAR WHEN PARKED OVERNIGHT OR FOR SHORT TIME WITH PAN LEAKED.

NHTSA complaint #11207874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Bakersfield, CA Fire 1 injured

POWER TRAIN

OIL LEAK PERSISTENT FROM OIL COOLER IN DIESEL BLUETEC ENGINE SPRAYING OIL OUTSIDE GASKET ONTO FUEL LINES, OIL PAN, AND ONTO THE GROUND EMITTING HIGH LEVEL OF SMOKE WITH TARRY BURNT TOXIC NOXIOUS CHARCOAL SMELL FUMIGATING THROUGH THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE WITH VISIBLE BLUE SMOKE WHILE DRIVING MODERATE TO LONG DISTANCES. BLACK TARRY RESIDUE LEAKAGE VISIBLE ON DRIVEWAY AND STREET UNDERNEATH CAR WHEN PARKED OVERNIGHT OR FOR SHORT TIME WITH PAN LEAKED.

NHTSA complaint #11105432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Bakersfield, CA Fire 1 injured

ENGINE

OIL LEAK PERSISTENT FROM OIL COOLER IN DIESEL BLUETEC ENGINE SPRAYING OIL OUTSIDE GASKET ONTO FUEL LINES, OIL PAN, AND ONTO THE GROUND EMITTING HIGH LEVEL OF SMOKE WITH TARRY BURNT TOXIC NOXIOUS CHARCOAL SMELL FUMIGATING THROUGH THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE WITH VISIBLE BLUE SMOKE WHILE DRIVING MODERATE TO LONG DISTANCES. BLACK TARRY RESIDUE LEAKAGE VISIBLE ON DRIVEWAY AND STREET UNDERNEATH CAR WHEN PARKED OVERNIGHT OR FOR SHORT TIME WITH PAN LEAKED.

NHTSA complaint #11105432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Bakersfield, CA Fire 1 injured

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

OIL LEAK PERSISTENT FROM OIL COOLER IN DIESEL BLUETEC ENGINE SPRAYING OIL OUTSIDE GASKET ONTO FUEL LINES, OIL PAN, AND ONTO THE GROUND EMITTING HIGH LEVEL OF SMOKE WITH TARRY BURNT TOXIC NOXIOUS CHARCOAL SMELL FUMIGATING THROUGH THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE WITH VISIBLE BLUE SMOKE WHILE DRIVING MODERATE TO LONG DISTANCES. BLACK TARRY RESIDUE LEAKAGE VISIBLE ON DRIVEWAY AND STREET UNDERNEATH CAR WHEN PARKED OVERNIGHT OR FOR SHORT TIME WITH PAN LEAKED.

NHTSA complaint #11105432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Perry Hall, MD

SEAT BELTS

Driver side, 2nd row seat belt will not retract. Needed for our children. I will contact a local garage and dealer to fix.

NHTSA complaint #11462800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 63,000 miles SAN Jose, CA

POWER TRAIN

MAKES A RATTLING NOISE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER STARTING AND SPUTTERING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. MY CAR HAS 64K AND DAIGNOSED THE CAR AT 2 DEALERSHIPS CONFIRMED THE ENGINE CHAIN STRETCHED

NHTSA complaint #11207870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 59,000 miles SAN Jose, CA 1 injured

POWER TRAIN

OIL LEAK PERSISTENT FROM OIL COOLER IN DIESEL BLUETEC ENGINE SPRAYING OIL OUTSIDE GASKET ONTO FUEL LINES, OIL PAN, AND ONTO THE GROUND EMITTING HIGH LEVEL OF SMOKE WITH TARRY BURNT TOXIC NOXIOUS CHARCOAL SMELL FUMIGATING THROUGH THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE WITH VISIBLE BLUE SMOKE WHILE DRIVING MODERATE TO LONG DISTANCES. BLACK TARRY RESIDUE LEAKAGE VISIBLE ON DRIVEWAY AND STREET UNDERNEATH CAR WHEN PARKED OVERNIGHT OR FOR SHORT TIME WITH PAN LEAKED.

NHTSA complaint #11207874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 63,000 miles SAN Jose, CA

ENGINE

MAKES A RATTLING NOISE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER STARTING AND SPUTTERING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. MY CAR HAS 64K AND DAIGNOSED THE CAR AT 2 DEALERSHIPS CONFIRMED THE ENGINE CHAIN STRETCHED

NHTSA complaint #11207870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 59,000 miles SAN Jose, CA 1 injured

ENGINE

OIL LEAK PERSISTENT FROM OIL COOLER IN DIESEL BLUETEC ENGINE SPRAYING OIL OUTSIDE GASKET ONTO FUEL LINES, OIL PAN, AND ONTO THE GROUND EMITTING HIGH LEVEL OF SMOKE WITH TARRY BURNT TOXIC NOXIOUS CHARCOAL SMELL FUMIGATING THROUGH THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE WITH VISIBLE BLUE SMOKE WHILE DRIVING MODERATE TO LONG DISTANCES. BLACK TARRY RESIDUE LEAKAGE VISIBLE ON DRIVEWAY AND STREET UNDERNEATH CAR WHEN PARKED OVERNIGHT OR FOR SHORT TIME WITH PAN LEAKED.

NHTSA complaint #11207874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 59,000 miles SAN Jose, CA 1 injured

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

OIL LEAK PERSISTENT FROM OIL COOLER IN DIESEL BLUETEC ENGINE SPRAYING OIL OUTSIDE GASKET ONTO FUEL LINES, OIL PAN, AND ONTO THE GROUND EMITTING HIGH LEVEL OF SMOKE WITH TARRY BURNT TOXIC NOXIOUS CHARCOAL SMELL FUMIGATING THROUGH THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE WITH VISIBLE BLUE SMOKE WHILE DRIVING MODERATE TO LONG DISTANCES. BLACK TARRY RESIDUE LEAKAGE VISIBLE ON DRIVEWAY AND STREET UNDERNEATH CAR WHEN PARKED OVERNIGHT OR FOR SHORT TIME WITH PAN LEAKED.

NHTSA complaint #11207874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 58,000 miles Clayton, NC

ENGINE

MAKES A RATTLING NOISE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER STARTING AND SPUTTERING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING

NHTSA complaint #11183712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Bakersfield, CA Fire 1 injured

POWER TRAIN

OIL LEAK PERSISTENT FROM OIL COOLER IN DIESEL BLUETEC ENGINE SPRAYING OIL OUTSIDE GASKET ONTO FUEL LINES, OIL PAN, AND ONTO THE GROUND EMITTING HIGH LEVEL OF SMOKE WITH TARRY BURNT TOXIC NOXIOUS CHARCOAL SMELL FUMIGATING THROUGH THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE WITH VISIBLE BLUE SMOKE WHILE DRIVING MODERATE TO LONG DISTANCES. BLACK TARRY RESIDUE LEAKAGE VISIBLE ON DRIVEWAY AND STREET UNDERNEATH CAR WHEN PARKED OVERNIGHT OR FOR SHORT TIME WITH PAN LEAKED.

NHTSA complaint #11105432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Bakersfield, CA Fire 1 injured

ENGINE

OIL LEAK PERSISTENT FROM OIL COOLER IN DIESEL BLUETEC ENGINE SPRAYING OIL OUTSIDE GASKET ONTO FUEL LINES, OIL PAN, AND ONTO THE GROUND EMITTING HIGH LEVEL OF SMOKE WITH TARRY BURNT TOXIC NOXIOUS CHARCOAL SMELL FUMIGATING THROUGH THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE WITH VISIBLE BLUE SMOKE WHILE DRIVING MODERATE TO LONG DISTANCES. BLACK TARRY RESIDUE LEAKAGE VISIBLE ON DRIVEWAY AND STREET UNDERNEATH CAR WHEN PARKED OVERNIGHT OR FOR SHORT TIME WITH PAN LEAKED.

NHTSA complaint #11105432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Bakersfield, CA Fire 1 injured

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

OIL LEAK PERSISTENT FROM OIL COOLER IN DIESEL BLUETEC ENGINE SPRAYING OIL OUTSIDE GASKET ONTO FUEL LINES, OIL PAN, AND ONTO THE GROUND EMITTING HIGH LEVEL OF SMOKE WITH TARRY BURNT TOXIC NOXIOUS CHARCOAL SMELL FUMIGATING THROUGH THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE WITH VISIBLE BLUE SMOKE WHILE DRIVING MODERATE TO LONG DISTANCES. BLACK TARRY RESIDUE LEAKAGE VISIBLE ON DRIVEWAY AND STREET UNDERNEATH CAR WHEN PARKED OVERNIGHT OR FOR SHORT TIME WITH PAN LEAKED.

NHTSA complaint #11105432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 53,000 miles Fishers, IN

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THERE ARE 13 COMPLAINTS ALREADY LOGGED AT NHTSA ABOUT DIFFERENT MODEL BENZ WITH PANORAMIC ROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODING. LIKELY ALL THOSE UNFORTUNATE DRIVERS, I WAS DRIVING ON A CLEAR SAT MORNING OF OCT 2016 WITH NO TRAFFIC AROUND ME WHEN I SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION LIKE A BULLET FIRED. I GOT SCARED AND ALMOST LOST THE CONTROL AND GOT STUNNED. FEW SECONDS LATTER, I SAW GLASS OF PANORAMIC ROOF SHATTERING DOWN I 465. I PULLED OVER & CALLED THE ROAD SIDE.THERE ARE SEVERAL DOZEN CASES ON BENZ FORUM, DEALER AND BENZ NOT ADMITTING THE DESIGN DEFECT. DIFFERING IT TO INSURANCE DUE TO HIGH COST. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS NHTSA NEEDS TO START INVESTIGATION. THE ISSUE IS MORE WIDELY REPORTED THEN KIA/HYUNDAI ROOF ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10925563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles Dallas, TX

SUSPENSION

AIRMATIC SUSPENSION SYSTEM DROPS IN THE REAR OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10919787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.