Most common 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL450 problems
Share of the 13 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 →
2016 Mercedes-Benz GL450 recalls (5)
Communication
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location.
Remedy: MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge.
Suspension › Front
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2012-2014 ML350 Bluetec 4Matic and ML550 4Matic, 2012-2015 ML63 AMG 4Matic and ML350 4Matic, 2013-2016 GL350 Bluetec 4Matic, GL550 4Matic and GL63 AMG 4Matic, 2017 GLS350d 4Matic, GLS450 4Matic, GLS550 4Matic and GLS63 AMG 4Matic, 2015 ML400 4Matic, 2016 GLE400 4Matic, GLE350…
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will correct the oil level as necessary and replace the reservoir sealing cap to prevent oil foam from leaking out, free of charge. The recall began August 30, 2018.
Steering › Electric power assist system
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 GLE300d 4Matic, E400 4Matic Coupe, GL63 AMG, GLE350, GLE350 4Matic, GLE350d 4Matic, GLE400 4Matic, GLE43 AMG Coupe 4Matic, GLE550e 4Matic, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLE63S AMG 4Matic and GLE63S AMG Coupe 4Matic vehicles, 2017 E300 4Matic and GLS63 AMG 4Matic vehicles, and…
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and inspect the electric power steering rack, replacing the rack as necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge.
Electrical system › Software
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 AMG GT-S, GLC300, CLA250 and GLE300d 4Matic vehicles, 2013 C250, E350 BlueTec and G63 AMG vehicles, 2008-2014 C300 vehicles, 2013-2014 C300 4Matic and ML350 4Matic vehicles, 2009 C350 vehicles, 2014 CLS550, E350 4Matic, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Wagon 4Matic, GLK350 and…
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update software in the affected control units, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Upper arm
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 GLE350 4Matic, GLE350, GLE350 4Matic Bluetec, GL450 4Matic, and GLE450 Coupe 4Matic vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that connects the upper control arm and the axle stub may not have been properly tightened.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tightness of the bolt connecting the upper control arm and the axle stub on the affected vehicles, replacing the upper control arm if necessary, free of charge.
What 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL450 owners say
Seats
My father and mother in-law recently purchased a 2016 Mercedes Benz GL450 as our family car. The headrests for the 2nd row seats with the "easy entry" option appear to pose a comfort and safety issue for both car seats and "shorter" people... I would say 5'-3" and shorter. With the "easy entry" option the 2nd row head rests are only 2 position, fully lowered or fully extended. Fully adjustable heights are not possible. Both positions pose a comfort and safety issue. At the fully lowered position, a child's car seat would not be flush with the seat as the head rest forces the car seat to lean forward in an unstable condition. Also for "shorter" people, the head rest at the fully lowered position forces a person's head to lean forward in a very uncomfortable and un-natural position. …
2nd row head rest unsafe and unuseable - the headrest is too low and too high for a child or small person to use. When in down position, seat pushes head forward; when it is up, it's too tall for the head. Also headrest is very difficult to pull up. Basically, this part is not useable by anyone except a very tall person. Should be replaced by Mercedes. Injuries can occur due to this design. No incident has occurred; only complaints about using the head rest.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL450 a good car?
Based on 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 GL450 rates better than average: 53% 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 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL450?
The seats — 3 complaints, 23% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (2) and steering (1).
How many recalls does the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL450 have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL450, the most recent from November 1, 2019 (communication). 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 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL450 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 5,000 miles; 100% 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.