Total Complaints
5 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ GL · model year
2011 MERCEDES-BENZ GL
5 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2011MERCEDES-BENZGL carries 5 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2011 GL is steering with 2 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (1) and electrical system (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 2011 GL. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
5
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STEERING | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20111010STEERING
IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS AND LESS THAN 1,500 MILES, THE BRAND NEW SUV'S STEERING WHEEL QUIT WORKING DURING THE TURN, THE BELT , THE PULLEY AND THE TENSIONER WERE BROKEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *KB
Mileage: 1,436
20111010ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS AND LESS THAN 1,500 MILES, THE BRAND NEW SUV'S STEERING WHEEL QUIT WORKING DURING THE TURN, THE BELT , THE PULLEY AND THE TENSIONER WERE BROKEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *KB
Mileage: 1,436
20111010STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS AND LESS THAN 1,500 MILES, THE BRAND NEW SUV'S STEERING WHEEL QUIT WORKING DURING THE TURN, THE BELT , THE PULLEY AND THE TENSIONER WERE BROKEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *KB
Mileage: 1,436
20110907STEERING
MY HUSBAND WAS GOING ON HIS THIRD DEPLOYMENT, HE DID NOT WANT ME TO HAVE ANY CAR PROBLEM, SO WE SPENT ALMOST 70K FOR A BRAND NEW 2011 MERCEDES GL BLUE TECH. HOWEVER, LESS THAN 30 DAYS AND 1460 MILES, THE STEERING WHEEL QUIT WORKING DURING A TURN, IT ALMOST KILLED ME. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER (VALLEY MOTOR MERCEDES, HUNT VALLEY , MD )AND THE MERCEDES, THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THIS HAPPENED, THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT MY SAFETY AND REFUSED TO REPLACE THE CAR. THEY DID NOT CARE THE FACT I WAS SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE THE CAR EITHER, THEY CHARGE SUCH HIGH PRICE FOR A JUNK CAR, AND REFUSED TO HOLD THE RESPONSIBILITY. SHAME ON THEM, MY HUSBAND PUT HIS LIFE ON THE LINE TO PROTECT THOSE KIND PEOPLE ! *TR
Mileage: 1,460
20110609VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ GLK350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AND THE TURN SIGNAL WERE BOTH LOCATED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL. WHENEVER HE ACTIVATED THE LEFT OF RIGHT TURN SIGNALS, HIS HAND WOULD HIT THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSING IT TO ENGAGE INSTEAD OF THE TURN SIGNAL WHICH WAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY AND COULD NOT BE CHANGED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ALSO STATED THAT SINCE THE SWITCH WAS DESIGNED ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL THEY COULD NOT BE CHANGED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.
Mileage: 4,000
Compare 2011MERCEDES-BENZGL to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ GL have?▼
The 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ GL has 5 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ GL?▼
The most-complained component for the 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ GL is STEERING with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ GL safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.