YearToAvoid

2010 Mercedes-Benz GL350 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

86/100

#2 most-complained of 8 GL350 years

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL350 has 16 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 86, and ranks 2nd worst of 8 model years, earning an Avoid verdict. Airbags are the top problem area at 38% of complaints, with two do-not-drive brake recalls also on file.

Complaints
16
Recalls
2
incl. Do Not Drive
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL350 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags6 (38%)
  2. Engine4 (25%)
  3. Fuel System3 (19%)
  4. Brakes2 (13%)
  5. Other2 (13%)
  6. Electrical System1 (6%)
  7. Steering1 (6%)
  8. Structure & Body1 (6%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain1 (6%)

What owners report

  • Airbags deployed in a front-end collision at highway speed, with injuries reported and the vehicle towed to salvage.
  • ABS warning lamp illuminated at low speed followed by brakes seizing and preventing the vehicle from moving, traced to a defective front speed sensor.
  • Engine oil cooler seals leaked oil onto the garage floor, in some cases triggering a check engine light after long drives.
  • Fuel system problems including water and algae contamination in the fuel filter causing hard starting, and suspected metal/rust contamination linked to high-pressure fuel pump wear.
  • Complete loss of power while driving around 50 mph, occurring repeatedly and diagnosed as a failed ABS sensor.
  • AdBlue tank reported as corroded early in the vehicle's life, triggering a check engine light.
2010 Mercedes-Benz GL350 complaints: complaints filed per month2Jun 2012Sep 2013Jun 2015Oct 2015Aug 2017Dec 2017May 2018
21 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2012 to Aug 2018; peak Jun 2013 (2).

2010 Mercedes-Benz GL350 recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 24V298000Apr 26, 2024Brakes15,604 vehiclesDo Not Drive

    Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML, GL, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake performance or brake failure.

    Risk: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MMUSA's number for this recall is 2024050001/2. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-315.

  2. NHTSA 22V315000May 9, 2022Brakes350,294 vehiclesDo Not Drive

    Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML-Class, GL-Class, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake performance or brake failure.

    Risk: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2022050014, 2022050015 2022090006, & 2022090007.

2010 compared with other GL350 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011201220132014201520162017
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid86162 !—
2011Caution71233 !—
2012Avoid100223 !—

All Mercedes-Benz GL350 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Should I avoid the 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL350?
Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2010 GL350 ranks 2nd worst of 8 model years with a complaint index of 86, earning an Avoid verdict relative to other GL350 years.
What is the biggest problem area for the 2010 GL350?
Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 38% of complaints (6 of 16), with a median failure mileage of 117,132 miles.
Does the 2010 GL350 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2010 GL350, both involving brakes and both marked do-not-drive due to moisture accumulation and corrosion in the brake system.
How does the 2010 GL350 compare to the 2012 GL350?
The 2010 GL350 has a complaint index of 86 and ranks 2nd worst, while the 2012 GL350 has the highest complaint index at 100 and ranks worst of the 8 model years.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.