2012 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class problems and recalls

52% of owner complaints on the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class related to the Air Bags (40 of 77).

77
Complaints
0
Recalls
4
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
5
Injuries
69.5
Severity index

Severity index 69.5 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 69.5p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 53 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 59% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Air BagsAir Bags: 40 complaints (51.9%)40 52%Service BrakesService Brakes: 10 complaints (13.0%)10 13%SuspensionSuspension: 7 complaints (9.1%)7 9%HydraulicHydraulic: 6 complaints (7.8%)6 8%Power TrainPower Train: 5 complaints (6.5%)5 6%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 4 complaints (5.2%)4 5%EngineEngine: 4 complaints (5.2%)4 5%Seat BeltsSeat Belts: 3 complaints (3.9%)3 4%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
AIR BAGS4051.9%
SERVICE BRAKES1013.0%
SUSPENSION79.1%
HYDRAULIC67.8%
POWER TRAIN56.5%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER45.2%
ENGINE45.2%
SEAT BELTS33.9%

Complaints filed per year

012252013: 12015: 12016: 72017: 252018: 132019: 112020: 22022: 82023: 42024: 22025: 22026: 1 (partial year)13151617251819202223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20131
20151
20167
201725
201813
201911
20202
20228
20234
20242
20252
2026 (year to date)1
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.4x those in 2019 to 2022 (8 against 21).

Other Mercedes-Benz GL-Class model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 5 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-30. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.