2010 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Complaint Log

ABOUT A WEEK AGO I BOUGHT DIESEL FUEL FROM A TRUCK STOP IN LONG BEACH, NOT MY USUAL PURCHASE FROM MY LOCAL GAS STATION. ONE WEEK LATER I GET A MESSAGE TO CHANGE MY FUEL FILTER AND GOT A TROUBLE CODE INDICATING A LOW FUEL RAIL PRESSURE. I HAD THE FILTER CHANGED AND EXPERIENCED HARD STARTING LATER ON. THE OLD FILTER HAD WATER AND SOME ALGAE CONTAMINATION WHICH IS VERY COMMON IN DIESEL ENGINES. I SUSPECTED WATER FROM THE TRUCK STOP WHERE I GOT FUEL FROM AND TRIED TO REMOVE IT USING A DIESEL ADDITIVE, SEA FOAM. STARTING MY CAR GOT WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE IT WOULD NO LONGER START. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND THEY CLAIM I BOUGHT BAD FUEL AND THE ADDITIVE RUINED THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. NOW THE DEALER IS CLAIMING MY CAR NEEDS THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM REPLACED INCLUDING THE INJECTORS, HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, ALL THE FUEL LINES, FUEL FILTER, FUEL TANK, LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, AND FUEL SENSOR, WITH ESTIMATED COST OF $15,000+. NHTSA HAS IDENTIFIED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURES (HPFP) ON A MAJORITY OF GERMAN VEHICLES, INCLUDING VOLKSWAGEN, MERCEDES, AUDI, JUST TO NAME A FEW. THE FUEL QUALITY IS DIFFERENT IN THE US COMPARED TO EUROPEAN STANDARDS AS MOST OF THE US USES ULTRA-LOW SULFUR DIESEL. I BELIEVE THIS IS THE REASON WHY A LARGE NUMBER OF IMPORTED DIESELS ARE FAILING, COSTING THE AMERICAN TAXPAYERS INCREASED INSURANCE CLAIMS AND VEHICLE FAILURES. *TR

AFTER EXTENSIVE REVIEWS OF TDI FORUMS, COMMON RAIL FORUMS, DIESEL FORUMS I HAVE FOUND A COMMONALITY IN THE FAILURES IN THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP). MAINLY THOSE FAILURES WERE ATTRIBUTED TO METAL SHAVINGS/PARTICLES/RUST FOUND IN DIESEL FUEL SYSTEMS. THE FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNITS ARE USUALLY RUSTED IN EACH CASE AND MOST LIKELY IS THE SOURCE OF METAL/RUST CONTAMINATION AND ULTIMATELY CAUSE OF THE HPFP FAILURE. FAILURE OF THE HPFP CAUSES THE CR TO LOSE PRESSURE THEREFORE THE INJECTORS ARE STARVED OF FUEL OR WORSE CLOGGED WITH RUSTED METAL PARTICLES. THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF FUEL CAUSES THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN INSTANTLY ALONG WITH POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. DEPENDING ON THE RESERVE VACUUM VOLUME IN THE BOOSTER, CONSUMERS MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH VACUUM TO ADEQUATELY BRING THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOP. ALSO THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD FEEL VERY HEAVY AND THE CONSUMER MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO STEER CLEAR OF AN ACCIDENT. I WROTE TO MBUSA NOTING THIS CAUSE AND URGED THEM TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER SERIOUSLY BEFORE ANY INJURY OR DEATH HAPPENS, ALSO TO INSTITUTE A VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL OF ALL CR DIESELS TO DETERMINE IF RUST FROM THE FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT IS PRESENT. I PROPOSED A REMEDY TO MBUSA TO CHANGE OUT THE RUSTED UNITS FOR STAINLESS STEEL ONES. I ALSO REQUESTED THAT MBUSA PROVIDE UNLIMITED WARRANTY REPLACEMENT FREE OF CHARGE TO ALL BLUETEC OWNERS AND REIMBURSE ALL THOSE PRIOR TO THE RECALL, INCLUDING ANY RENTAL CAR USE. *TR

MY CAR WAS VERY LOW WHEN I SAW IT IN MY PARKING LOT AND IT WAS THE SUSPENSION,AND THE THINK IS THAT I ALREADY SAW A LOT OF MERCEDES BENZ WITH BAD SUSPENSION I ALREADY FIX MY CAR 2 TIMES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ GL350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWELVE TIMES PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. AFTER EACH FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,848. UPDATED 8/21/15*CN UPDATED 10/26/2017*CN

I HAVE BEEN NOTICING AN INCREASING SMALL LEAK IN ENGINE OIL ON MY GARAGE FLOOR. RECENTLY I SAW A VERY LARGE PUDDLE WHILE PARKED AT A LOT AND HAD THE CAR TAKEN TO NEAREST DEALER. DEALERSHIP ADVISED REPLACING OIL COOLER AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEM PARTS. I BELIEVE IF I HAD NOT NOTICED LEAK/PUDDLE, ENGINE MAY HAVE SEIZED WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, ON MANY MB FORUMS, THE OIL COOLER IS IMPLICATED AS THE CULPRIT FOR A LARGE OIL LEAK. *TR

UPON PURCHASING THIS CAR 4/8/2013 I HAVE BEEN BURDENED WITH REPLACING THE FRONT AROMATIC SUSPENSIONS. THEN THE AIR COMPROSSEROR THAT SUPPLIES AIR TO THE SUSPENSIONS, AND NOW THE BACK SUSPENSIONS ARE GIVING UP. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR, NOR I THINK MERCEDES BENZ DEALER IN FOOTHILL RANCH, CA CARES AS THEY KNOW THE POOR PRODUCTION ON THESE GL-450

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEAD-REST AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE WIRING SYSTEM. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIRING WITH A MORE STURDY TYPE OF WIRING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,696. *DT*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ GL350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ABS WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURE, THE BRAKES SEIZED AND PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT SPEED SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 24,226. UPDATED 08/28/12*LJ UPDATED 08/29/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ GL470. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS DURING A SNOW STORM WHEN SHE REALIZED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE EXTREMELY THIN AND COULD NOT REMOVE THE SNOW FROM THE WINDSHIELD DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE DEFROSTER WAS ALSO ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TOO CONTINUOUSLY STOP THE VEHICLE, EXIT AND CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD IN ORDER FOR HER TO HAVE CONTINUED VISIBILITY OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,000.

2010 MERCEDES BENZ GL 350. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A FRACTURED STEERING COLUMN, WATER PUMP LEAK AND ENGINE OIL LEAK. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AT 11,763 THE STEERING COLUMN JACKET TUBE COVERING MOUNT FRACTURED, WHICH CAUSED BINDING AND WEAR ON THE SURROUNDING TRIM. THE COVERING AND TRIM WERE REPLACED. AT 26,163 THE WATER PUMP AND GASKET WERE REPLACED. THEN AT 50,548 MILES, AN ENGINE OIL LEAKED DEVELOPED FROM THE OIL COOLER, R&R TURBO CHARGER, R&R LEFT AND RIGHT CHARGE AIR MANIFOLDS. ALL OF THE SEALS WERE REPLACED.

THIS IS A DIESEL-ENGINE 2010 MERCEDES GL350 PURCHASED IN AUGUST 2010 (8 MONTHS AGO). IT IS CURRENTLY INOPERABLE AND THE DEALER IS CITING COMPLETE FUEL SYSTEM CORROSION DUE TO WATER IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE FIRST INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WAS A CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE GOING TO "LIMP MODE" (WHERE THE COMPUTER KEEPS THE CAR AT 20 MILES PER HOUR WITH LOW POWER - A DANGER ON THE HIGHWAY AND ON HILLS). FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY DUE TO THE ONSET OF LIMP-MODE. BUT THE ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR IS $15,492.03 AND WARRANTY IS BEING DENIED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF THE ISSUE OF WATER IN THE FUEL PRIOR TO THE COMPLETE CORRUPTION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM AND THEREFORE NO OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ANY POTENTIAL CORRECTIVE ACTION TO MINIMIZE DAMAGE. ALL DIESEL USED IN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AT VARIOUS RETAIL LOCATIONS IN CALIFORNIA. THUS FAR NO DETAIL HAS BEEN GIVEN AS TO HOW MUCH WATER WAS IN THE FUEL, HOW LONG THIS CORROSION PROCESS MIGHT HAVE TAKEN, OR WHETHER THERE WERE ANY MALFUNCTIONS IN ANY PART OF THE SYSTEM (E.G., FUEL AND WATER FILTERS AND/OR WARNING NOTIFICATIONS) THAT LED TO THIS EXTREME OUTCOME. GIVEN THE EXTREME EXPENSE OF THE PROBLEM, AND THE MANY QUESTIONS STILL REMAINING AS TO THE CAUSE, WE THOUGHT IT IMPORTANT TO BRING THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE NHTSA.

TAKATA RECALL

TAKATA RECALL AIR BAG HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED YET

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ GL 550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAILGATE MOTION SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. WHEN CLOSING THE TAILGATE AND THERE WAS AN OBJECT IN THE PATH WAY OF IT AN ALARM WILL SOUND AND THE TAILGATE SHOULD REOPEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF CHILDREN WERE IN THE AREA OF THE TAILGATE CLOSING THE TAILGATE A SERIOUS INJURY COULD OCCUR. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE SUSPENSION WAS MAKING A CLANKING NOISE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A TURN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE LOWER BALL JOINT REPLACED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THAT REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHICH ALSO DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT STRUTS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FINAL ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE FAILURE WAS WHEN THE DEALER SPRAYED WAX ON THE SUSPENSION AND THE BALL JOINTS. THE CONTACT HAS CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE SUSPENSION AND TAILGATE BUT THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS IGNORING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

ENGINE ALMOST STALLS WHEN COLD. TOOK TO DEALER, DID A SOFTWARE UPDATE. IT IS BETTER BUT STILL NOT RESOLVED. *TR

TAKATA RECALL AIRBAG DEFECTIVE