2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class reliability
Owners have filed 171 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class over 15 years — 1 per year. That is more complaints per year than most GLK-Class years here — over the median of the other years, which is 0. NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.
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171
1
0
15
The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (136 of 171), then Fuel and propulsion system (12) and Service brakes (6). The most filings arrived in 2017 (69 of 171). Those filings include 5 that report a crash and 3 that report an injury.
The 2013 GLK-Class has 146 complaints, 4 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 GLK-Class. How we count. Data as of .
Recalls (0)
No recalls on file with NHTSA for this model year.
Complaints by component (171 total)
Show 9 more Show less
5
0
3
0
Complaints filed per year
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
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"On August 17, 2025 I rearended a vehicle in front of me who jammed on their brakes for no apparent reason. We were the only two vehicles in the area. Upon impact, the following airbags deployed....steering wheel, driver…"
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"I brought my car in to my local mechanic and was told my rear suspension was corroded. He said it would cost around five thousand dollars to repair. I researched online and found mercedes did not have a recall but has…"
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"My passenger got 2 degree burns to his right buttocks and seat is melted ...he is a paralyzed patient i took him to the er and the burn center i have pictures and documentation....my guess the seat got to hot melted and…"
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"Driveshaft broke, peeling rims"
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"The seats on both the passenger and driver size has split at the seams. They began to appear in 2012. The battery failed and the car would not start. Periodically the car starts up slow. The car bucks in a hard motion…"
NHTSA crash ratings
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class 4 DR AWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
| 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class 4 DR 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
NHTSA complaints on 2013 and 2015 GLK filings are dominated by air bags. Recall 19V-010 covers certain GLK250 and GLK350 vehicles (among other Mercedes models) in humidity-based registration zones for passenger frontal Takata inflators that may explode from propellant degradation; the campaign lists about 288,779 vehicles across the covered population. Dealers replace the passenger frontal air bag module. Recall 17V-252 covers a small set of 2013-2015 GLK and 2013-2014 C-Class vehicles (168 units total across those nameplates) where the steering coupling bolt may have been incorrectly torqued; if the nut loosens, steering can be lost. Dealers inspect and re-torque the coupling as needed. Recall 16V-081 earlier covered certain 2010-2012 GLK models for driver-side Takata PSDI-5 inflators among a larger multi-model population of about 711,159 vehicles.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class reliable?
Owners have filed 171 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class over 15 years — 1 per year. That is more complaints per year than most GLK-Class years here — over the median of the other years, which is 0. NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.
What are common problems with a 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class?
The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (136 of 171), then Fuel and propulsion system (12) and Service brakes (6). The most filings arrived in 2017 (69 of 171). Those filings include 5 that report a crash and 3 that report an injury.
Is the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class more reliable than the years next to it?
The 2013 GLK-Class has 146 complaints, 4 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.
Has the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class been recalled?
NHTSA has no recalls on file for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class?
Owners have filed 171 complaints about the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class with NHTSA.
What oil does a Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 take?
0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-30, or 5W-40 MB-approved viscosities are listed for the GLK 350 — confirm the engine sticker.
What tire size does the US GLK 350 commonly use?
235/50R19 appears on US GLK 350 archive pages; confirm the door placard for your vehicle.
What does recall 19V-010 cover on the GLK?
Certain GLK250 and GLK350 vehicles (among other Mercedes models) in humidity-based registration zones for passenger frontal Takata inflators that may explode from propellant degradation.