Most common 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL450 problems
Share of the 42 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 →
2010 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 2010 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 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL450 owners say
Air bags all 21 →
The contact owns a 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the air bag warning light remained illuminated. Additionally, the ABS warning light remained activated. The contact stated there was also a grinding sound while depressing the brake pedal. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 150,000.
The contact owns a 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated while the vehicle started, the contact became aware that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted because the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V081000 (Air Bags) however, the dealer stated that the seat belt was malfunctioning. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 110,000.
Brakes
The contact owns a 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH and attempting to bring the vehicle of a complete stop, the vehicle slowed but failed to stop as expected. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard but was able to bring the vehicle to a stop by using the parking brake. The low brake fluid warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the front driver's side brake line, observing that the brake line was heavily corroded causing the line to rupture. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed an identical failure with the front passenger's side brake line. The contact was informed that excessive corrosion was observed throughout the entire braking system. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated upon parking the vehicle in the garage, the brake pedal was depressed and felt soft. The contact stated that the brake pedal went to floorboard. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the failure was associated with a recall. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted several times and informed the contact that the manufacturer had not been providing parts for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to obtain a rental for possible reimbursement. …
Suspension
Upon purchasing this car 4/8/2013 I have been burdened with replacing the front aromatic suspensions. Then the air comprosseror that supplies air to the suspensions, and now the back suspensions are giving up. I don't feel safe in this car, nor I think Mercedes Benz dealer in foothill ranch, ca cares as they know the poor production on these gl-450
The vehicle has begun to "dance" and sway, abnormally on common highway bumps. It can be scary.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL450 a good car?
Based on 42 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 GL450 rates use caution: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the GL450 at the same age. It is one of the GL450 years we suggest avoiding. 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 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL450?
The air bags — 21 complaints, 50% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the brakes (9) and suspension (5).
How many recalls does the 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL450 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2010 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 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL450 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 94,000 miles; 15% 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.