2012 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class reliability
Owners have filed 77 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class over 15 years — 0 per year. That is the fewest complaints per year among the 5 GL-Class years on this site. NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.
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77
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15
The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (40 of 77), then Suspension (7) and Hydraulic brakes (6). Those filings include 4 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 4 that report an injury.
The 2013 GL-Class has 52 complaints, 5 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.
The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class. How we count. Data as of .
Recalls (0)
No recalls on file with NHTSA for this model year.
Complaints by component (77 total)
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4
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Complaints filed per year
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
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"dash light in red keeps indicating SRS , also dash says SRS Malfunction front left service required, Pre-Safe Inoperative See operators Manuel. also seatbelt case falling off."
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"I purchased a this vehicle at a dealership Laurel Ford as is no warranty for $14,000 and not even in a week of me having it the key fob was not working and it’s been giving me problems so now it’s not is not reading the…"
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"The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL350. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard an abnormally loud crack. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that the rear glass in the…"
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"The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL350. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. In addition, the…"
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"The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK350. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver's seat was excessively hot while using the heated seat feature. The contact was burned by the…"
NHTSA crash ratings
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class SUV AWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
| 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class SUV RWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.
Specs and fitment
Known issues for this generation
Recall 13V-166 covers certain 2013 GL350 BlueTEC, GL450 4MATIC, GL550 4MATIC, and GL63 AMG vehicles: second-row seat-belt anchor fitting bolts may not be properly torqued. The campaign lists 256 vehicles across those GL models; dealers check and tighten the bolts. Recall 18V-272 covers certain 2013-2016 GL350 Bluetec, GL550, and GL63 AMG 4Matic vehicles (and ML/GLS models): power steering oil foam can leak from the reservoir. That multi-model campaign lists 9,725 vehicles; dealers correct the oil level and replace the reservoir sealing cap. Recall 16V-900 covers certain 2015 GL350/GL450/GL550 and related models for axle-carrier bolts that may loosen (48 vehicles).
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Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class reliable?
Owners have filed 77 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class over 15 years — 0 per year. That is the fewest complaints per year among the 5 GL-Class years on this site. NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.
What are common problems with a 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class?
The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (40 of 77), then Suspension (7) and Hydraulic brakes (6). Those filings include 4 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 4 that report an injury.
Is the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class more reliable than the years next to it?
The 2013 GL-Class has 52 complaints, 5 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.
Has the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class been recalled?
NHTSA has no recalls on file for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class?
Owners have filed 77 complaints about the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class with NHTSA.
What oil does a Mercedes-Benz GL-Class take?
GL 450 lists 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-30, or 5W-40 (~7.4 qt). Verify the MB approval sheet on the oil container.
What does recall 13V-166 cover on the GL-Class?
Certain 2013 GL350 BlueTEC, GL450 4MATIC, GL550 4MATIC, and GL63 AMG vehicles: second-row seat-belt related defect—see the NHTSA campaign for the remedy.
What tire sizes did the X166 GL-Class use?
275/55R19, 275/50R20, or 295/40R21 depending on trim.