Most common 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL450 problems
Share of the 15 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz GL450 complaints by model year
Best GL450 years: 2017, 2009, 2016. Years to avoid: 2007, 2011, 2012, 2008, 2010. Compare all years →
2009 Mercedes-Benz GL450 recalls (3)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML, GL, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake performance or brake failure.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML-Class, GL-Class, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake performance or brake failure.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 ML320 BlueTec 4Matic, GL320 BlueTec 4Matic and R320 CDI 4Matic, 2011 E350 Cabriolet and E550 Cabriolet, 2009-2011 ML350, ML350 4Matic, ML550 4Matic, ML63 AMG, and C63 AMG, 2010-2011 ML450 4Matic Hybrid, E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic, E550 Coupe, E550 4Matic,…
Remedy: MBUSA will their notify owners, and Fiat Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler owners. Dealers for the respective brands will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL450:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL450 owners say
Air bags
Takata recall a recall notice was issued for my vehicle's (2009 Benz GL450) airbags. However, Takata / Mercedes Benz do not have a remedy available for my vehicle despite the recall date being more than 1 year ago.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V081000 (air bags) and stated that the part was not available within a reasonable time frame to schedule the recall repair. The dealer did not give a specific date for when the part would become available. The manufacturer could not provide an estimated date for when the contact's vehicle would receive the recall repair. The contact was not experiencing a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Updated 05/10/17 updated 10/10/2017
Suspension
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.
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.
Brakes
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle started shuddering. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who informed the contact that the vehicle was not safe to drive. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) was completed; however, after the recall repair was completed, the vehicle failed to start. The dealer replaced the battery and completed other unknown repairs on the vehicle. The contact stated that he picked up and drove the vehicle to his residence; however, the vehicle failed to start the next day. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. …
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.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL450 a good car?
Based on 15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 GL450 rates better than average: 60% fewer complaints than a typical year of the GL450 at the same age. It is one of the best GL450 years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL450?
The air bags — 8 complaints, 53% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the suspension (3) and brakes (3).
How many recalls does the 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL450 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL450, the most recent from April 26, 2024 (vacuum). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz GL450?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2017, 2009 and 2016. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2007, 2011, 2012, 2008 and 2010. See the full Mercedes-Benz GL450 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL450 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 121,000 miles; 22% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.