2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS450 Problems & Complaints

Average33% fewer complaints than a typical year of the GLS450 at the same age

Owners have filed 7 complaints about the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS450 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is about average for the GLS450 at the same age. The most reported problem area is the brakes (4 complaints). 5 recalls cover this model year.

7complaints
5recalls
0crashes
0fires
0injuries
0deaths

Most common 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS450 problems

  • Brakes
    457%
  • Engine & cooling
    343%
  • Driver assistance
    343%
  • Fuel & propulsion system~11,000 miles
    229%
  • Wheels & tires
    114%
  • Other / not specified
    114%
  • Electrical system
    114%

Share of the 7 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Mercedes-Benz GLS450 complaints by model year

201720182019202020212022202320242025202635142436311671572
Owner complaints per model year, Mercedes-Benz GLS450. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best GLS450 years: 2023, 2022. Years to avoid: 2020, 2024, 2021. Compare all years →

2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS450 recalls (5)

Electrical system › Wiring

NHTSA recall 24V-207 · Mar 15, 2024 · 116,020 vehicles

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023-2024 GLE 350, 2020-2024 GLE 450, 2020-2023 GLS 580, GLE 580, 2019-2023 GLS 450, 2021-2023 Maybach GLS 600, AMG GLS 63, 2021-2024 AMG GLE 53, AMG GLE 53 Coupe, and AMG GLE 63 S vehicles.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the 48-Volt ground connection as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 3, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Power train › Automatic transmission › Control module › Software

NHTSA recall 24V-118 · Feb 16, 2024 · 105,071 vehicles

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020-2023 GLE 450 and GLS 450 vehicles. The transmission may not fully downshift in certain conditions, causing the engine to stall.

Remedy: Dealers will update the transmission control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump

NHTSA recall 23V-880 · Dec 21, 2023 · 79,676 vehicles

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2024 GLE, GLS, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL, GLC, CLS, AMG GT, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle details. The fuel pump may shutdown, causing a loss of drive power.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 28, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on February 23, 2024, April 19, 2024, June 28, 2024,…

Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump

NHTSA recall 23V-445 · Jun 26, 2023 · 143,551 vehicles

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2023 C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS, SL, GT, GLC, GLE, GLS, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle details. The fuel pump may shutdown, which can result in a loss of drive power.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 14, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2023070012.

Structure › Body

NHTSA recall 23V-178 · Mar 17, 2023 · 70,225 vehicles

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2022-2023 GLE350, GLE450, GLE580, GLS450, GLS580, Maybach GLS600, AMG GLE53, AMG GLE63 S, and AMG GLS63 vehicles. The rear door window trim bars may detach from the vehicle while driving.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and secure the rear window trim bars, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 5, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

What 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS450 owners say

Brakes

The car recently underwent a software update at the dealership for a backup camera issue. When I was driving home on the highway, the car suddenly braked and the seat belts automatically tightened up. This happened 3 additional times on the highway about 5 days later. I had turned off the automatic braking system and it seemed to go away. Then, with the system off, we experienced this again yesterday while on the highway at 70mph. The braking lasts for 1-3 seconds. There is no audible alert or dashboard display. IT renders the car quite unstable as it feels as though the rear brakes are being activated before the front. I reported this to the dealership and they want to inspect the car.

Apr 2025

There have been 3 incidents where the car responded to unknown stimuli by braking hard. 3 months ago it happened while making a left turn through an intersection, driving about 10 mph the brakes unexpectedly locked up, luckily the person behind me took evasive action and didn't hit me; 2 weeks later it happened again, I was driving on I-45 attempting to pass slower drivers, the brakes dramatically engaged while I was driving over a slight hill, today it happened again when it mistook a vehicle in a different lane of traffic, and performed a hard brake evasive measure even though there was no chance of collision and nothing in front of the vehicle.

Oct 2024

Engine & cooling

I have a new GLS450 and on two separate occasions the car has shut down at a stop with no warning. First time was approximately mid July of 2023 with about 1,700miles. While at a stop the instrument panel displayed a text box with the words "Malfunction" across the screen, and proceeded to shut down. After a minute we were able to restart the car. Took it back to the dealership and they were not able to get any codes or reason why it happened. Now 3 weeks later it happened again, and back at the same dealership from where I purchased it. Again, same story that they are not able to get any codes as to what malfunctioned.

Aug 2023

when coming to a stop and applying the break, the transmission stalled. a warning was issued around lane keeping assist and a second warning. Then the transmission light was on. It was not at risk in the moment because no one was behind me and I was coming to a stop sign. If it prevented me from stopping I might have gone through the stop sign It is at the dealership today to service. no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms.

Aug 2024

Driver assistance

The car recently underwent a software update at the dealership for a backup camera issue. When I was driving home on the highway, the car suddenly braked and the seat belts automatically tightened up. This happened 3 additional times on the highway about 5 days later. I had turned off the automatic braking system and it seemed to go away. Then, with the system off, we experienced this again yesterday while on the highway at 70mph. The braking lasts for 1-3 seconds. There is no audible alert or dashboard display. IT renders the car quite unstable as it feels as though the rear brakes are being activated before the front. I reported this to the dealership and they want to inspect the car.

Automatic emergency braking · Apr 2025

There have been 3 incidents where the car responded to unknown stimuli by braking hard. 3 months ago it happened while making a left turn through an intersection, driving about 10 mph the brakes unexpectedly locked up, luckily the person behind me took evasive action and didn't hit me; 2 weeks later it happened again, I was driving on I-45 attempting to pass slower drivers, the brakes dramatically engaged while I was driving over a slight hill, today it happened again when it mistook a vehicle in a different lane of traffic, and performed a hard brake evasive measure even though there was no chance of collision and nothing in front of the vehicle.

Adaptive cruise control · Oct 2024

2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS450 engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
3.0L 6-cyl turbo hybrid9-speed automaticAWD18 / 23 / 20

EPA ratings. Class: SUV.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS450 a good car?

Based on 7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2023 GLS450 rates average: 33% fewer complaints than a typical year of the GLS450 at the same age. It is one of the best GLS450 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 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS450?

The brakes — 4 complaints, 57% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (3) and driver assistance (3).

How many recalls does the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS450 have?

There are 5 recalls for the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS450, the most recent from March 15, 2024 (wiring). 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 GLS450?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2023 and 2022. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2020, 2024 and 2021. See the full Mercedes-Benz GLS450 years comparison.

At what mileage do 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS450 problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 11,000 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.