29 of the
273 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz GL450
are about the suspension —
11% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2008.
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated that the ABS and check engine warning lights were illuminated, and the struts had failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed prior to the recall repair, due to the failure. The contact declined to pay the diagnostic fee, and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the dealer failed to honor the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 156,000.
NHTSA complaint #11724677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE AIRMATIC SUSPENSION HAS FAILED, THE TRUCK IS SITTING LOW THE AIR COMPRESSOR BLEW INTO PIECES FROM WORKING TO HARD. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES AIRMATIC SHOCKS ON MANY DIFFERENT MODEL... PLEASE HELP US ,THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL.. I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 45000 MILES ON MY TRUCK.
NHTSA complaint #11153532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE KEEPS LOSING AIR, STEERING WHEEL HARD TO TURN, CAR LEANING TO RIGHT SIDE, AIRBAG LIGHTS KEEPS COMING ON, THE CAR LOOSES POWER WHEN TURNING. DURING THE NIGHT CAR WILL LOWER IT SELF. ABS WILL COME ONE, SMELL SMOKE. WAS TOLD BY DEALER I HAVE LEAKS IN THE ENGINE, HAD TO REPAIR SUSPENSION, AND DIFFERENT STRUTS AND PARTS WHILE DURING WARRANTY AND AFTER SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. I NOTIFIED MBUSA, AND APPARENTLY THIS CAR HAS BEEN HAVING AIRBAGS AND SUSPENSION ISSUES REPAIRED BEFORE I BOUGHT IT, THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAS BEEN DOING THE SAME REPAIRS. WITHIN A MONTH OF REPAIRING ON THING, THE CAR STARTS TO LEAN TO RIGHT, MAKE NOISE, LEAK FLUIDS FROM WHO KNOWS WHERE.
NHTSA complaint #11150789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED MY MB GL450 IN 2010 AND AT THAT TIME IT WAS COVERED AS A PRE-OWNED MB VEHICLE. UNDER THE WARRANTY, I HAD THE AIR RIDE SUSPENSION FIXED TWICE. ONCE ON FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT. AFTER THE WARRANT EXPIRED, I HAVE HAD TO DO BOTH SIDES OF MY SUSPENSION AGAIN. NOW THE FRONT LEFT HAS FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. I HAVE READ MY BLOGS AND POSTS ABOUT THIS MB SUSPENSION DEFECT AND WANT HOPE THE NHTSA CAN PUSH MB TO ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THIS FAILED PRODUCT.
NHTSA complaint #11074351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKATA RECALL .MY CAR HAVE THE AIR SHOCKS COMPLETELY DOWN THE AIR IS ESCAPING FROM 3 OF THEM AND THE CAR LOOKS AND DRIVE VERY BAD ,ALSO THE TURBINE SPEED CONTROL SENSOR IS FAILING SINCE I PURCFCHASE THIS VEHICLE, THA CAR STOP MOVING FORWARD EVERY TIME IGOT TO A STOP ,AND I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN TURN THE CAR ON IN ORDER TO KEEP MOVING
NHTSA complaint #11062600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
8/30/16 REPLACED RIGHT FRONT AIRMATIC STRUT.SUSPENSION KEPT DROPPING. 8/1717 AT TIMES,AFTER CLOSING DOOR,AIR ESCAPES AND SUSPENSION DROPS. DEALER CHECKED CODES AND NOTHING. SUSPENSION CONTINUES TO DROP WHEN DOOR CLOSES. CAN HEAR AIR ESCAPING. NOT EVERY TIME, BUT 3 OUT OF 4 TIMES
NHTSA complaint #11019951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE GOES ON ONE SIDE, DEALER BLAMES AND REPAIRS STRUTS, SAME ISSUE HAPPEN AFTER 5 MONTHS, AND DEALER BLAMES AIR SUSPENSION BELLOWS. STIFF AND NOISY STEERING MAY ALSO BE RELATED TO TAKATA RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10926429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2 COMPLAINTS -1 I WAS DRIVING W/OUT A COAT ON & TURNED THE DRIVERS SEAT HEATER ON. THEN I STARTED FEELING A SHARP, STINGING PAIN ON MY BACK AND STARTED SMELLING THE BURNING OF WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE THE SEAT. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT TRYING TO GET WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A STINGING OR BITING INSECT OFF MY BACK. ONCE I REALIZED IT WAS THE SEAT HEATER, I TURNED THE SEAT HEATER OFF, ONLY TO FIND I NOW HAVE A HOLE IN MY SEAT. IF MERCEDES KNOWS THEY HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AS I HAVE COME TO READ HERE, THEY SHOULD WARN PEOPLE NOT TO USE THE HEATERS TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND AVOID HAVING A HOLE IN THE SEAT OR REPLACE THE SEAT AND HEATER. #2 THE FRONT AIR SUSPENSION SHOCK CRASHED ON THE FRONT OF MY CAR. MY CAR SAT IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR OVER A MONTH WAITING FOR MERCEDES TO REENGINEER THE AIR SHOCK. FINALLY, THEY TOLD US TO BUY AN AFTERMARKET AND THEY WOULD INSTALL. SHORTLY THEREAFTER REAR OF THE CAR WOULDN'T LEVEL AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE COMPRESSOR SO THAT WAS REPLACED. BUT STILL THE REAR WAS UNEVEN SO THEY REPLACED BOTH REAR SHOCKS AND STILL THE CAR WOULDN'T LEVEL. THEN THEY HAD THE NERVE TO TELL ME IT WAS THE FRONT AFTERMARKET AND THEY NOW NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THE CAR WAS A 2007 SO WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT. I STOPPED GOING TO THE DEALER AND INSTEAD TOOK IT TO A PRIVATE SHOP. THEY REPLACED A SENSOR FOR A MINIMAL CHARGE AND THE CAR HAS BEEN FINE SINCE.
NHTSA complaint #10855376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIRMATIC SUSPENSION COMPONENTS CONTINUE TO FAIL ON THIS VEHICLE. AIRMATIC AIR PUMP WAS FIRST REPLACED DEC 2013 AT 71,000MI. FRONT SUSPENSION AIR SPRINGS FAILED AND SUSPENSION STRUTS HAVE BOTH BEEN REPLACED, OCT 2014 AT 85,000 MI. REAR SUSPENSION AIR SPRINGS FAILED AND HAVE WERE REPLACED, JULY 2015 AT 101,600MI. AIRMATIC AIR PUMP WAS REPLACED AGAIN ALONG WITH THE SUSPENSION VALVE BLOCK WAS REPLACED , NOV 2015 AT 107,300MI. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH DEALERSHIP THEY ONLY WARRANT REPAIR FOR 12 MOS AND INFORMED US THAT MERCEDES DOES NOT HAVE RECALL OR PROVIDE CUSTOMER SUPPORT TO REPLACE THESE ITEMS UNLESS PAID FOR BY CUSTOMERS. FRONT AIR SPRINGS DEFLATED DURING TRIP DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED , SUSPENSION DROPPED DOWN AND HAD TO PULL OVER. HAD TO DRIVE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP WITH SUSPENSION DROPPED DOWN ON FRAME STOPS. BECAUSE OF HIGH COST GETTING REPAIR AT MERCEDES DEALERSHIP, REPAIRS WERE MADE BY OTHER SHOPS AS THEY CHARGE HIGHER PRICES FOR REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #10822231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2007 MERCEDES GL450 AIR SUSPENSION COMPRESSOR ALL THE SUDDEN BECAME NOISY POPPED THE HOOD TO CONFIRM NOISE AND IT WAS THE AIR SUSPENSION COMPRESSOR CAR WAS DRIVING FINE HAD TO GET TO MY DESTINATION ONLY 2 MILES AWAY THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN BOOM I THOUGHT MY TIRE BLEW OUT CAR STARTED BOUNCING IN THE REAR BADLY PULLED OVER TO CHECK AND THE REAR OF THE CAR WAS ALL THE WAY DOWN SCAIRED THE HECK OUT OF ME GOT HOME CRAWLED UNDER CAR AND THE LEFT REAR AIR SUSPENSION BAG BLEW APART COMPLETELY NO WARNING AT ALL EXCEPT THE DISPLAY ON DASH STATED COMPRESSOR COOLING DOWN HOPE MERCEDES WILL SOMEHOW HELP WITH REPAIR AND LOOK INTO THIS FOR A SAFETY ISSUE AND POSSIBLY HELP WITH THE REPAIR SOMEHOW AS I SEE THE AIRPUMP WAS JUST CHANGED IN 2013 THANKS FOR LISTENING.
NHTSA complaint #10747324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A POTHOLE AND BECAME INOPERABLE. THE COMPRESSOR OVERHEATING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT AXLE, HUBS, AND SUSPENSION WERE CORRODED AND THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING. ALL THE PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,876. UPDATED 09/10/15
NHTSA complaint #10734596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BELIEVE THIS IS A FAULTY PART. I HAD 31,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FRONT AIRMATIC WENT OUT. NOW THE BACK IS GOING OUT AT 50,000 MILES. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN THEY SAID IT'S NOT IF IT WILL GO OUT IT'S WHEN. SO I BELIEVE MERCEDES BENZ KNOWS THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS AND WE ARE PAYING FOR BAD PARTS. I BELIEVE THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEIR IS A PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10717494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THERE'S A WHISTLING SOUND ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING LOW THAN USUAL AND THERE MESSAGE INDICATOR STATES THAT THERE'S AN FAILURE WITH SUSPENSION.
NHTSA complaint #10604659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MERCEDES GL450 THE FRONT END STARTED RIDING LOW AFTER DRIVING IT AND WOULD THEN ADJUST ITSELF, WHICH WAS VERY NOTICEABLE NOT THE MINUTE AMOUNT IS SUPPOSED TO DO JUST FOR AERODYNAMICS. THEN IT STARTED OUT LOW FROM A PARKING POSITION AND ONCE ON THE ROAD IT WOULD RAISE A LITTLE TO WHERE IT WAS DRIVABLE THAT WENT ON FOR TWO DAYS I HAD AN APPOINTMENT TO GET IT INSPECTED AND ON THE THIRD DAY THE FRONT END JUST LOWERED ITSELF AND THE WHOLE CAR WAS VERY UNSTABLE JUMPED UP AND DOWN BECAUSE OF TBE GREAT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FRONT AND BACK I WAS DRIVING ON A ONE LANE ROAD ON A MOUNTAINOUS REGION WHICH IS WHERE I LIVE AND HAD NOWHERE TO PULL OVER. I MADE IT AFTER DRIVING AT 30 MPH ON A 45 MPH ZONE, FRONT AIR SUSPENSION STRUTS THAT WERE LEAKING AND TOLD ME THIS CAR WAS NOTORIOUS FOR THIS PROBLEM. I NEED YOU TO PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS O BELIEVE IT IS A HAZARDOUS DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE!
NHTSA complaint #10594155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED A VEHICLE FROM AUTO WORLD USA IN BEDFORD, OHIO. I HAVE EXPERIENCED ISSUED WITH THE CAR FROM THE DAY I TOOK THE CAR TO TRY AND GET INSPECTED IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKES AND TIRES WERE GOOD TO PASS INSPECTION; HOWEVER WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO GET INSPECTED I HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES, BRAKES AND ROTORS. I TOOK THE CAR TO MERCEDES BENZ TO GET LOOKED AT DUE TO THE BURNING SMELL THAT KEEPS COMING THROUGH THE VENTS WHEN THE HEAT IS ON. I WAS TOLD THE MY OIL SEPARATOR WAS LEAKING' THAT MY AIR SPRINGS ARE LEAKING AND THAT MY REAR AIR SUSPENSIONS WERE BAD. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR I WAS OFFERED A WARRANTY THAT I WAS TOLD WOULD COVER THOSE TYPES OF REPAIRS. WELL IT TURNS OUT THE SUSPENSION IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND I CANNOT GET THE OIL SEPARATOR FIXED BECAUSE THERE IS A DEDUCTIBLE (THAT I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF.) I HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR TO AUTO WORLD USA IN OHIO TO GET REPAIRS DONE AND I LIVE IN PITTSBURGH, PA. I WAS TOLD BY THE WARRANTY COMPANY THAT THE DEALERSHIP COULD CALL AND THEY WOULD WAIVE THE DEDUCTIBLE. TERRY DOBBINS AT AUTO WORLD, WAS VERY RUDE AND SAID THAT SHE WOULD NOT CALL THE WARRANTY AFTER SHE KEPT EXPRESSING SHE WAS GOING HOME SHE JUST HAPPENED TO ANSWER MY CALL. WHAT TYPE OF COMPANY TREATS A CUSTOMER LIKE THAT? I WAS GIVEN FALSIFIED INFORMATION ON MANY LEVELS AND WAS TREAT LIKE I COMMITTED A CRIME. AUTO WORLD USA SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED THEIR SALES PRACTICES ARE FRAUDULENT. THEY HAVE PUT THE LIFE OF ME AND MY CHILDREN IN JEOPARDY BY SELLING ME A CAR THAT HAD SAFETY ISSUES AND IT IS THEIR DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CAR DID NOT HAVE SAFETY ISSUES BEFORE IT WAS SOLD TO A CONSUMER WITH AN "AS-IS" WARRANTY OR NOT. ME AND MY KIDS COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BECAUSE I WAS SOLD A CAR WITH A SAFETY HAZARD. SOMEBODY ELSE MAY NOT BE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEIR CAR BEFORE IT'S TO LATE.
NHTSA complaint #10566242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TODAY I WAS SHOPPING IN A STORE WHILE MY TEENAGE SON WAITED IN THE CAR FOR ME. HE CAME RUNNING IN THE STORE ACCOMPANIED BY A WITNESS THAT WAS IN THE PARKING LOT TO TELL ME THAT SOMETHING ON MY CAR EXPLODED OUTSIDE. THE ADULT WITNESS EXPLAINED THAT THE NOISE WAS SO LOUD AND SO ABRASIVE THAT THEY THOUGHT A BOMB WENT OFF. IT SHOOK THE ENTIRE CAR. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS HURT. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS INCIDENT TOOK PLACE WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR? IT HAS TO HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE AIR SUSPENSION. I'M HAVING IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC TOMORROW. I'VE SPENT LOTS OF MONEY FIXING MANY THINGS ON THIS CAR. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW MUCH THIS ISSUE COSTS ME (SARCASM). I'VE ALREADY REPLACED ONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE AIR SUSPENSION ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. WHEN THOSE AIRBAGS GO OUT, THE VEHICLE CAN'T BE SAFE TO DRIVE. IT STARTS SLIPPING, IT HAS DIFFICULTY STOPPING, IT SHAKES AGGRESSIVELY WHEN DRIVEN, YET WHEN ALL THAT HAPPENED IT DIDN'T TELL ME THAT THE CAR NEEDED SERVICE. IT TELLS ME EVERYTHING ELSE CONSTANTLY LIKE TIRE PRESSURE IS OFF, A REAR LAMP IS OUT, ETC. BUT DOESN'T TELL ME THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE? MERCEDES IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SAFEST CAR ON THE ROAD, AND IT SHOULD BE FOR THE PRICE THEY CHARGE. HOWEVER, MY FAMILY CERTAINLY WAS NOT SAFE TODAY WHEN I WAS DRIVING THIS CAR. IT IS HARD TO TELL HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN IN JEOPARDY AS THIS PART WAS WAITING TO EXPLODE. PRINCESS [XXX] IN A MERCEDES. I HAVE TO WONDER IF HER CAR HAD AIR SUSPENSION THAT WENT BAD. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10551468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SERVICE NUMEROUS TIME COMPLAINING SOME WEIRD NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND A BUMPY RIDE. LEFT VEHICLE WITH DEALER SERVICE AT LEAST 8 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NEVER FIXED. RIGHT BEFORE MY WARRANTY EXPIRED IN DECEMBER 2012; I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND ASKED THEM TO COMPLETELY INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR ANY PROBLEMS NEEDING REPAIR BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. THE DEALER SERVICE FOUND NO ISSUES AND WERE NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE OF BUMPY RIDE; ASKED US TO REPLACE TIRES (WE WERE TOLD THE SAME 3 TIMES PREVIOUSLY AND WE REPLACED TIRES EACH TIME BUT NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM) AND WE REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES THE FOURTH TIME IN 4 YEARS. PICKED UP THE CAR AND NOTICED NO OF THE ISSUES WERE RESOLVED; AND THE WARRANTY EVENTUALLY EXPIRED. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR MAINTENANCE AND THEY GAVE MEAN AN ESTIMATE OF AROUND $1800 FOR BAD LEFT-FRONT STRUT. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE DEALER WORKSHOP.
NHTSA complaint #10548853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.