2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450 Complaints

Panoramic sunroof spontaneously shattered at some time between 2/4/26 and 2/5/26. Car was fine when I drove on 2/4/26 and parked at home at approximately 4:30p (still light outside). I got in car next day 2/5/26 at approximately 5:45p (when dark outside). Heard slight air/wind noise as pulled out of driveway and started driving. Looked up and saw sunroof completely shattered (but still fully attached). No glass inside car until the next day when the sun came out and glass started to fall in and create a hole in the broken glass panel. I was the only one who drove the car. Dealer viewed on 2/9/26, and provided repair estimate of $4,500.30. Still waiting on insurance to authorize repair. I have attached photos from 2/5/26 when discovered and next day 2/6/26 after hole formed and glass started falling into car (blocked by sunshade).

Tailgate sometimes opens while driving. It sometimes takes many attempts to reclose it from the outside of car. It will not reclose using the electronic button on the door. The alert comes on on the dashboard and its extremely dangerous as luggage can fall out. This happened while highway driving last week, scary. Apparently after googling this, it is common issue. The tailgate is one big gate hinged at the top so stuff can fall out.

The contact owned a 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated when he parked the vehicle and went into a business, he returned within 5 minutes and the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The fire department was already notified and arrived on the scene, then extinguished the fire with water. The police arrived on the scene; however, a report was not filed. The vehicle melted from the front bottom to the windshield. The vehicle was towed to the towing company. There were no injuries. No medical treatments were received on the scene or required. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed yet; however, the contact believes it was a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 5,000.

Air Conditioner always make musty / moldy odor. Many forums says that is a common problem all across Mercedes models and it causes allergic reaction resulting in sneezing all the time when a/c is on. Problem is especially bad for my kids who have environmental allergy like mold/mildew. This horrible odor coming from a/c is due to mold/mildew forming on condenser. Please order a recall ASAP.

1. Transmission spontaneously disengaged park to allow the car to roll backwards 10 feet. No one was in the car at the time of the incident. I have a security system video of the incident. 2. Spontaneous runaway vehicle could have crashed children in the driveway or the street. 3. The dealer is not available to reproduce the problem. 4. No one performed any inspections at this time. 5. The vehicle did not present any warnings messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. I have a security system video that shows the vehicle parked and 20 minutes latter the vehicle spontaneously moving backwards a few feet and then stops. Please contact for a copy of this video.

WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN JULY 2019 AND IN ADDITION TO THE CAR HAVING WARRANTY UP TO 50,000 MILES, WE PURCHASED AN ADDITIONAL SERVICE/REPAIR PACKAGE FOR $1,800.00 RECENTLY WE NOTICED THAT WHEN WE FIRST START DRIVING THE CAR HAS A NOISE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THE NOISE IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE AND WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE. WE TOOK THE CAR TO MERCEDES BENZ OF VALENCIA AND TO SAY THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STAFF WAS UNWILLING TO HELP IS A GROSS UNDERSTATEMENT. THEY EVENTUALLY DID AGREE TO KEEP THE CAR GOVERNING AND TEST DRIVE IT IN THE MORNING, THEY CALLED THE FOLLOWING DAY ON DECEMBER 3RD AND TOLD US TO COME AND GET THE CAR. BILL THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THEY HEARD THE NOISE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE THE BRAKES ON THE CAR ARE NEW AND THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT COULD BE WRONG WITH THE CAR. WE ARE CONCERNED AND , WORRIED ABOUT OUR SAFETY, WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND THE ADDITIONAL REPAIR PACKAGE FOR PEACE OF MIND EXPECTING TO GET THE PROPER SERVICE TO ADDRESS ANY ISSUES BECAUSE THE CAR IS COVERED BY A 50,000 MILE WARRANTY AND WE PURCHASED ADDITIONAL SERVICE PACKAGE.

THE WINDSHIELD IS WEAK PRONE TO BREAK/CRACK EASILY. IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS 4 WINDSHIELDS HAVE BEEN REQUIRED. NOT NORMAL AND THIS IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS.

THE SUNROOF IN THIS VEHICLE SHATTERED OVERNIGHT WITHOUT ANY KNOWN CAUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AT MY HOME. NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THIS INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS LAST DRIVEN AT 10 P.M. ON 05/01/18 WITHOUT THE DAMAGE, AND AT 7:30 A.M. THIS MORNING, 05/02/18, WHEN I WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE MY HOME, I NOTICED THE MIDDLE OF THE SUNROOF WAS STICKING UP A LITTLE BIT...IT LOOKED LIKE A PUNCH FROM THE INSIDE. WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR, A BIG PIECE OF THE MIDDLE OF THE SUNROOF FELL DOWN ONTO THE SCREEN UNDERNEATH IT AND THE REST OF IT WAS SHATTERED BUT STILL IN PLACE. THIS WAS THE FIRST DAY OF REALLY WARM WEATHER WE HAVE HAD IN A WHILE AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT COULD BE RELATED TO THE CAUSE. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP AND THE REPRESENTATIVE THERE SAID HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING; HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY INCIDENTS REPORTED ON THE INTERNET OF THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE. I HOPE YOU CAN FORCE THEM TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE FOR SAFETY REASONS AND ALSO FOR THE MONETARY EXPENSE TO THE CONSUMER. IT SHOULD BE A WARRANTY REPAIR ITEM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V241000 (STEERING). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO AUTOHAUS OF PEORIA (2322 W VAN WINKLE WAY, PEORIA, IL 61615) WHO STATED THAT THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

2ND ROW HEAD REST UNSAFE AND UNUSEABLE - THE HEADREST IS TOO LOW AND TOO HIGH FOR A CHILD OR SMALL PERSON TO USE. WHEN IN DOWN POSITION, SEAT PUSHES HEAD FORWARD; WHEN IT IS UP, IT'S TOO TALL FOR THE HEAD. ALSO HEADREST IS VERY DIFFICULT TO PULL UP. BASICALLY, THIS PART IS NOT USEABLE BY ANYONE EXCEPT A VERY TALL PERSON. SHOULD BE REPLACED BY MERCEDES. INJURIES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THIS DESIGN. NO INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED; ONLY COMPLAINTS ABOUT USING THE HEAD REST.