Mercedes Benz GL450 suspension problems

SUSPENSION

Air compressor fail

NHTSA complaint #11737595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

Unknown:The road adaptive tire pressure sensors are off and the air suspension is malfunctions.At the cost of this model I would expected a little more class of safety measures.

NHTSA complaint #11456392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

The vehicle has begun to "dance" and sway, abnormally on common highway bumps. It can be scary.

NHTSA complaint #11455563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

The airmatic system in this vehicle fails continuously, causing the vehicle to bump up and down while driving. Unsafe to drive

NHTSA complaint #11448309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

Driver's side tire continues to leak air - note low tire pressure even with new tire replacement. Airmatic Suspension failure. Rear airbag suspension airbag. Compression also failed. Several complaints to dealer advising the car was bouncing up and down while in drive. Took vehicle to the shop with suspension complaints at the end of April 2021. We were told they did not find an issue with suspension but saw an issue with the sway bar. This cost $549.00. The week we brought the car home it was still bouncing up and down and we contacted the dealer again and was advised they did not find anything wrong. Within 2 weeks of having the vehicle, I was driving and the vehicle was violently bouncing up and down even traveling at a low level. We took the vehicle back and have not been advised now that they see the malfunction light for the suspension on they realize that's the issue. The suggested cost to repair only the rear is $4k. If the front and rear need repairs it over $7k. The issue is it appears this is a known issue for the Airmatic system and with a vehicle in this price range and under 90k miles - appears to be a issue with manufacturing. I was also advised this repair is no longer covered on their extended warranty.

NHTSA complaint #11420287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

WE WERE STOPPED AT A RED STOPLIGHT, OUT OF NOWHERE THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION, SHOOK THE WHOLE CAR AND SANK, THE FEELING LIKE WE WERE IN A SINK HOLE OR LIKE A TIRE BLEW BUT THE TIRE WAS FINE. A LOYD HISSING SOUND ENSUED. THANK GOD, WE WERE AT A STOP LIGHT AND NOT IN A SPEED THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY.

NHTSA complaint #11406490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

WHEN ACTIVATION OF THE SUSPENSION LIFT SYSTEM. COMPRESSOR IS COOLING THEN A MALFUNCTION MESSAGE APPEARS ON THE SCREEN. VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY IN THE REAR UP AND DOWN AT LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS AND OVER ANY SMALL BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THIS CONCERNS ME FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHER OWNERS WHOM MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. 2013 MERCEDES BENZ GL 450 IS THE MODEL I OWN CURRENTLY AND IVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM FOR THE PAST 3 MONTHS AND I'M ALMOST SCARED TO DRIVE IT FOR FEAR OF SOMETHING CATOSTROPHIC HAPPENING. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. EVEN WHEN PARK AND ACTIVATING THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM THE ERROR MESSAGE STILL APPEARS.. I HAD A INDEPENDANT MECHANIC SAY ITS THE REAR AIR BAGS AND THE COMPRESSOR THAT HAS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF IT BEING A 4 MATIC MODEL THE AIR LINE FROM THE COMPRESSOR IS NOT SUPPLYING THE REAR SUSPENSION WITH ENOUGH AIR TO LIFT THE VEHICLE THUS CAUSING THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE.

NHTSA complaint #11364349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BOUNCED AND PULLED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT WHILE DRIVING WITH AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN MERCEDES-BENZ OF CORAL GABLES (300 ALMERIA AVE, CORAL GABLES, FL 33134), AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FOUR-WHEEL SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS REPAIRED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT, OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.

NHTSA complaint #11355330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

THE REAR SUSPENSION BECAME SOFT AFTER THE DEALER DID AN INTIAL CHECK AFTER I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE VEHICLE FEELING UNSTABLE AFTER SPEEDS OF 70MPH. I HAD BOTH AIR SHOCKS CHANGED IN THE REAR. AFTER TWO (2) MONTHS THE FRONT SUSPENSION ON THE PASSENGER ALSO STARTED TO LEAK CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SUSPENSION TO AUTOMATICALLY ADJUST IN THE FRONT WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED. THIS OCCURED WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OR IN MOTION, HIGHWAY OR CITY STREETS.

NHTSA complaint #11311208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

ON 12/30/2017 WE PURCHASED A MERCEDES-BENZ CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 'CPO' VEHICLE FROM MERCEDES BENZ OF NORTH PALM BEACH. WE ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP IN THE AFTERNOON SENT BY MERCEDES BENZ OF WEST PALM BEACH THEIR AFFILIATED DEALERSHIP FOR THE SPECIFIC VEHICLE WE PURCHASED. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP TO VIEW THE VEHICLE, IT WAS NOT DETAILED FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER. ON THE TEST DRIVE WITH OUR SALES PERSON I NOTED UNUSUAL NOISES AND RIDE CONDITIONS IN THE VEHICLE. THE SALESPERSON ASSURED US THAT IT IS A CPO VEHICLE WITH AN UNLIMITED MILEAGE WARRANTY BACKING UP BUMPER TO BUMPER FACTORY WARRANTY. HE GAVE US AN IMPLIED ORAL WARRANTY THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED TO OUR SATISFACTION - 'NOT TO WORRY'!

NHTSA complaint #11297931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

UPON ACCELERATION AFTER A COMPLETE STOP THERE ARE SEVERAL SECONDS OF HESITATION TO ACCELERATE AND LOUD CLICKING SOUNDS THAT NEIGHBORING CARS CAN HEAR. AFTER DOING ONLINE RESEARCH, THIS ISSUE IS NOT LIMITED TO GL450. OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPRESSED THE SAME CONCERN IN OTHER MODELS: 2008 C300, 2009 C300, 2015 C300, 07 GL450, 03 GL450.

NHTSA complaint #11235020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

THE STEERING ON THE SUV FREEZES AND DOESN'T TURN PROPERLY COULD CAUSE OVER STEERING AND A DEADLY ACCIDENT. ALSO THE SHOCKS ARE BAD.

NHTSA complaint #11171765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

4-5 MILES INTO DRIVING AIRMATIC MALFUNCTION APPEARS ON MY DASHBOARD ( PICTURE OF AN STRAIGHT UP ARROW IN THE MIDDLE OF CAR PICTURE) WHEN I INCREASE THE SPEED TO 50 MILES THE TACHOMETER GOES CRAZY AND I HEAR LOUD SOUND. CAR HAS LESS THAN 50 000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #11138764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

MY 2011 GL450 MERCEDES SUV IS DRIVING SIDEWAYS ONE FRONT AND ONE BACK SUSPENSION AIRBAGS ARE NOT WORKING I FEEL LIKE MY CARE IS GOING TO FLIP OVER WHEN I TURN. THIS IS A HAZARDOUS PROBLEM. CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS A DEATHS NOT ONLY ON THE DRIVER BUT OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD

NHTSA complaint #11124629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

AT AROUND 60K MILES, I HAD TO REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC SUSPENSION ON BOTH OF THE FRONT TIRES (AROUND $3,000). NOW I'M HAVING ISSUES WITH THE BACK AND WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO REPLACE THEM AS WELL AT 69K MILES.

NHTSA complaint #11123444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

GL 450 WITH VIN [XXX] EXPERIENCED EXACT PROBLEM DEFINED BY NHTSA RECALL # 18V272 IN MAY 2018 (2 OR 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE FROM MERCEDES-BENZ USA). DEALERSHIP, MERCEDES-BENZ OF MIDLOTHIAN VIRGINIA, PERFORMED REPAIR WORK REQUIRED (BASED URGENT NEED FROM MIL SAYING "DO NOT DRIVE VEHICLE. MB MIDLOTHIAN REPAIRED THE ACTIVE SUSPENSION SYSTEM BY REPLACING THE "SEALING CAP" ON THE "ACS OIL RESERVOIR" - THE EXACT REPAIR SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL. I WAS CHARGED IN EXCESS OF $400 FOR THIS REPAIR AS THE DEALERSHIP "HAD NOT YET RECEIVED OFFICIAL NOTICE THAT THE RECALL WOULD INCLUDE (MY) VEHICLE." UPON RECEIVING THE OFFICIAL RECALL LETTER IN JUNE 2018, I CONTACTED MERCEDES-BENZ USA. MB-USA TOLD ME THAT THE WORK I HAD PAID FOR WAS, INDEED, COVERED BY THE RECALL, AND THAT MB DEALERSHIP SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE CHARGES AND RE-CHARGE MB-USA. ON AUGUST 20, I AGAIN CONTACTED MB MIDLOTHIAN WHO TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO FILE WITH MB-USA FOR REIMBURSEMENT. SO I, AGAIN, CONTACTED MB-USA AND ASKED FOR REIMBURSEMENT. MB-USA, AGAIN, TOLD ME "NO", THE DEALERSHIP MUST INITIATE THE PROCESS AND PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT. MB-USA REP SAID THAT THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD REIMBURSE ME SINCE THE WORK CONDUCTED WAS NOW A RECALL. PAYMENT FOR THE RECALL IS DIRECTLY BETWEEN MB-USA AND MB-DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER MB-MIDLOTHIAN DEALERSHIP SAID THAT "THIS IS NOT THE WAY IT WORKS." THIS IS AN ISSUE BETWEEN MB-USA AND MB-DEALERSHIP-NOT ME. I, THE CUSTOMER, AM CAUGHT BY THE FINGER-POINTING IN THE MIDDLE WITH NO RESOLUTION.THIS IS A KNOWN MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IDENTIFIED BY A RECALL !!! MB-USA AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS WORK IT OUT, AND NOT LEAVE CUSTOMERS WITH NO RESOLUTION BECAUSE OF THEIR INCOMPETENCE. I AM A PHD AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER, BUT DO NOT WORK FOR OR GET PAID BY MB. THUS, AS A VERY FRUSTRATED CUSTOMER, I AM CAUGHT IN MB BUREAUCRACY WITH NO RESOLUTION OR ACCEPTANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #11121091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

RECALL THE AIR SUSPENSION BAGS KEEPS BUSTING ALSO I CAN'T TELL HOW MUCH GAS IN MY TANK I REPLACE THE BACK AIR SUSPENSION AIR BAG AND NOW THE FRONT HAS GONE OUT I ALSO REPLACE THE SUSPENSION LEVELING VALUE THE CAR BOUNCES WHEN DRIVING

NHTSA complaint #11114529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

CAR JUST REACHED 90K MILES WITH LIMITED DRIVING. THE AIRMATIC SUSPENSION HAS BEEN ACTING ODDLY FOR THE PAST MONTH - I WOULD FIND IT LOW IN THE REAR IN THE MORNING AFTER BEING PARKED IN A FLAT GARAGE. THE NEXT DAY THE ENTIRE CAR WOULD BE LOWERED. WHE IS TURN OFF THE CAR, YOU WOULD HEAR AIR BEING RELEASED. TODAY, WHEN PARKED, THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION, THE CAR SHOOK FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN THE ENTIRE THING SANK TO THE WHEEL WELLS. ASSUME THE COMPRESSOR HAS EXPLODED AND AFTER READING VARIOUS POSTS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL MERCEDES THAT HAVE AIRMATIC SUSPENSIONS AND SHOULD BE FIXED/RECALLED BY MERCEDES.

NHTSA complaint #11113701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.