Most common 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 problems
Share of the 133 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz GLK350 complaints by model year
Best GLK350 years: 2007, 2014. Years to avoid: 2010. Compare all years →
2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 recalls (4)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2014 C250, C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2014-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, GLK 350, GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, 2015-2017 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400…
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 C300 Sedan, C300 4matic Sedan, C350 Sedan, C63 AMG Sedan vehicles, 2010-2011 GLK350, GLK350 4-Matic and E350 Coupe vehicles, 2011 SLS AMG, E350 Convertible, E550 Coupe and E550 Convertible vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama,…
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag modules, free of charge. Owners were sent an interim notification October 2016.
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.
Fuel system, gasoline
Mercedes-Benz is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 S400, S550, S550 4Matic, S63 AMG, C300, C300 4Matic, E350, GLK350, GLK350 4Matic, CL550 4Matic, and CL63 AMG vehicles manufactured from April 18, 2011, through July 12, 2011.
Remedy: Mercedes-Benz will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel filter, free of charge. The recall campaign is expected to begin in February 2013. Owners may contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK350:
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 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 owners say
Air bags all 92 →
The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK350. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, she heard an abnormal noise. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road and saw the front driver's side headrest air bag had deployed independently. The contact stated that there was no injury sustained. The contact stated the instrument panel displayed an error message of the driver's and passenger's side Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) had malfunctioned. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with the seat wiring harness had malfunctioned causing the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) to be illuminated. The contact was not aware of the repair needed on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
"Takata recall". Reference # 11140309. Current info on report incorrect. Please update with below. Recall number 16V363 and 16V081. I purchased my pre-owned GLK350 on dec 24 2016. The dealer alm of duluth did not inform me of an open recall. I received a recall notification from mb dec 2017 stating parts would be available March 30, 2018. On March 2018, another notice stated it's delayed until June 30, 2018. As of today, still no notifications as to when the airbags will be replaced. This vehicle is a daily driver. Oct 2018, I went to mb of athens and asked about the Takata recall. The service mgr said they were replacing airbags on 2009 c-class. Mb headquarters said this is incorrect and that mb vehicles do not require the replacement because no mb vehicles have been involved in a Takata related incident. …
Fuel & propulsion system all 21 →
Fuel/Propulsion System - There is a gas leaking from somewhere above the gas tank. I did not have this fixed yet because I see a recall for this but my VIN wasn't included in the initial recall. There are 17 other complaints on here for the same issue but we haven't been included in the recall as of today 1/2/2023. The recall that fixed other 2011 GLK 350s is NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V557000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). My car is available for inspection upon request. I am very afraid of a fire because the tray underneath the car on the passenger side is full of gas & the tray is right over the exhaust. I stuck a large cotton swab in the tray to soak up the liquid & since it smelled like gas I tried to light it. It caught on fire immediately. This is definitely a safety hazard as it can ignite if a spark or lit cigarette would happen to bounce up in there. …
I'm having the same issues as described in Recall no. 12V557000. However when I called Mercedes they mentioned that my Vin wasn't part of that recall. I don't understand how can that be when my car is 2011-2012 glk350 model as described in recall and I smell gas, can see gas leaking and the flange where my fuel filter is cracked as well as the flange to the fuel pump side. This car as well as many other Mercedes have two separate flanges that are prone to crack and not just the fuel filter side but the fuel pump side as well. there's many forums where they all have complained about this issue. If you can smell gas, there's obviously fuel vapors leaking and not to the mentioned the physical leak that is landing everywhere you drive. This is a serious fire hazard and is extremely harmful to my kids and passengers.
Brakes
The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes Benz GLK350. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to immediately stop, causing the braking distance to be extended. Additionally, the brake pedal was spongy while depressed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and was diagnosed that the brake lines had failed due to severe rust and corrosion. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted regarding the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.
We have a Mercedes Benz GLK350 2011. While neither of its brake warning (which includes warning for low brake fluid level) and "check brake pad wear" display messages is on, and there is no abnormal noise from the brakes, its brakes can still fail for a short time, while work most of the time. In two cases, while I was waiting at a red light, the brake failed and the car moved forward, then stopped before it hit the car in front of it. At first I thought maybe I didn't pressure the brake pedal hard enough. After an accident happened, I am sure it was the brake's problem. In one case, while I was backing the car down the not-too-deep driveway in my home in a sunny, dry day, the car kept moving even when I pressed the brake pedal. I was pretty sure I pressed the brake pedal because I was able to move the transmission from "r" to "p" position. …
2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 7-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 a good car?
Based on 133 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 GLK350 rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the GLK350 at the same age. 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 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK350?
The air bags — 92 complaints, 69% of all complaints for this model year, most often about side/window › curtain. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (21) and brakes (6).
How many recalls does the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK350, the most recent from January 9, 2019 (inflator module). 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 GLK350?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2007 and 2014. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2010. See the full Mercedes-Benz GLK350 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 66,000 miles; 32% 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.