IllustrationWater collects at the front row floor at driver and passenger sides
2018 MERCEDES-BENZ Gls 550
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Gls 550 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 5 of 6 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
Unknown Or Other complaints
2 reportsI WAS DRIVING IN A RURAL AREA WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. MY FIRST INSTINCT WAS THAT I HAD BLOWN A TIRE BECAUSE IT WAS SO LOUD. HOWEVER, THE CAR WAS HANDLING FINE AND NO WARNING MESSAGES CAME ON. MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH SAID "WHAT WAS THAT?" EVERYTHING ON SEEMED FINE MECHANICALLY SO WE KEPT DRIV…
Read full complaint
I WAS DRIVING IN A RURAL AREA WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. MY FIRST INSTINCT WAS THAT I HAD BLOWN A TIRE BECAUSE IT WAS SO LOUD. HOWEVER, THE CAR WAS HANDLING FINE AND NO WARNING MESSAGES CAME ON. MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH SAID "WHAT WAS THAT?" EVERYTHING ON SEEMED FINE MECHANICALLY SO WE KEPT DRIVING, BUT A BIT SHAKEN BY THE SUDDEN LOUD NOISE. I FEW HOURS LATER WE STOPPED FOR GAS. AS MY HUSBAND WENT TO CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD HE NOTICED THE SHATTER OF THE GLASS ROOF PANEL. WE THOUGHT BACK TO THE INCIDENT EARLIER AND REALIZED THAT MUST HAVE BEEN THE SOUND ME HEARD. THE WEIRD THING WAS AT THE TIME NO ONE WAS AROUND US. NO CAR HAD BEEN IN FRONT OF US TO BE THROWING UP ROCKS. WE WERE ON A RURAL HIGHWAY. THE SPEED LIMIT ON THAT STRETCH OF ROAD WAS 80 MPH. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65 DEGREES, SO NOT EXTREME. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT LOOKED IT SOMETHING HIT IT AT "THE SWEET SPOT" THAT CAUSED IT TO CRACK ALL THE WAY ACROSS AND THEN UP BOTH SIDES AND THEY REFUSED TO COVER IT. MIND YOU I ALREADY HAD TWO CHIPS IN MY WINDSHIELD FROM ROCKS FROM A GRAVEL TRUCK I WAS BEHIND A MONTH PRIOR AND THEY SOUNDED NOTHING LIKE THIS SOUND. THE WORRISOME PART WAS THAT THE SOUND WAS SO SHOCKING, IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING NEAR ANYONE IT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I WAS SO STARTLED AT THE TIME.
Official recalls
321V058000 · Communication: Auto Crash Notification; Electrical System:software
Feb 5, 2021
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 - 2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to the Part 573 report for specific vehicle model details. The software design of the communication module may fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (eCall) in the event of a crash.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020025.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Communication: Auto Crash Notification
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 - 2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to the Part 573 report for specific vehicle model details. The software design of the communication module may fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (eCall) in the event of a crash.
Consequence: Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020025.
Electrical System:software
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 - 2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to the Part 573 report for specific vehicle model details. The software design of the communication module may fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (eCall) in the event of a crash.
Consequence: Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020025.
18V539000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Aug 16, 2018
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE350 4Matic, GLE350, GLS450 4Matic, GLS550 4matic, GLE43 AMG 4Matic, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLE63S AMG 4Matic, and GLS63 AMG 4Matic vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may not have been correctly coated, causing gas to become temporarily released into the rear brake hydraulic circuit, reducing braking performance.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Reduced braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the rear axle brake system, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018080013.
17V816000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Dec 18, 2017
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017 GLE400 4Matic, GLE350 4Matic, GLE350, GLE550e 4Matic, GLE43 AMG 4Matic, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLS450, GLE63S 4Matic, GLS63 4Matic, S550e, S600, S63 AMG 4Matic, S65 AMG, S550, Mercedes-Maybach S600, Mercedes-Maybach S550 4Matic, GLE43 AMG 4Matic Coupe, GLE63S 4Matic Coupe, 2017-2018 GLS550 4Matic, S550 4Matic, 2018 S450, and S63 AMG 4Matic vehicles. The rear passenger door on the driver side may indicate that it is locked, when it may not be. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the door appears to be locked, the door may be unintentionally opened, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left rear door lock, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in January 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.