YearToAvoid

2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

57/100

#4 most-complained of 8 GL450 years

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450 has a Complaint Index of 57 and ranks 4th-worst out of 8 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Top problem areas are Engine (24%) and Electrical System (22%), with 37 total complaints and 3 recalls.

Complaints
37
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
1 / 1
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
16
14 city / 19 hwy

Top 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450 problems

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

  1. Engine9 (24%)
  2. Electrical System8 (22%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (16%)
  4. Brakes5 (14%)
  5. Structure & Body5 (14%)
  6. Other4 (11%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain3 (8%)
  8. Airbags2 (5%)
  9. Seat Belts2 (5%)
  10. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (3%)

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy in a low-speed crash and instead ruptured and emitted smoke minutes later, injuring both front occupants.
  • Rear air suspension bounced violently and owners noticed an electrical burning smell along with a hot armrest.
  • Engine stalled suddenly while driving on the highway, requiring the vehicle to be pulled over and restarted.
  • Second-row headrests could not be adjusted beyond fully up or fully down, forcing children's heads and necks into unsafe positions.
  • Brake rotors warped repeatedly and were replaced multiple times, with continued vibration and shaking during braking.
  • Vehicle vibrated at various speeds and on different road surfaces even after tires and brake components were replaced multiple times.
2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450 complaints: complaints filed per month6Jun 2013May 2014May 2016May 2019Jun 2021Nov 2022Oct 2023May 2026
48 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2013 to May 2026; peak Jul 2019 (6).

2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450 recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V787000Nov 1, 2019Other24,226 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Communication

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf

    Risk: An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.

  2. NHTSA 18V272000Apr 27, 2018Suspension, Wheels & Tires9,725 vehicles

    Suspension:front

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2012-2014 ML350 Bluetec 4Matic and ML550 4Matic, 2012-2015 ML63 AMG 4Matic and ML350 4Matic, 2013-2016 GL350 Bluetec 4Matic, GL550 4Matic and GL63 AMG 4Matic, 2017 GLS350d 4Matic, GLS450 4Matic, GLS550 4Matic and GLS63 AMG 4Matic, 2015 ML400 4Matic, 2016 GLE400 4Matic, GLE350 4Matic, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLE63S AMG 4Matic, GLE450 4Matic Coupe and GLE63S AMG 4Matic Coupe, 2015-2016 GL450 4Matic and 2013-2014 GL450 4Matic vehicles equipped with the Active Curve System (ACS). In certain driving conditions, if the oil level in the ACS reservoir is below the minimum level, the oil may foam and leak out of the vent holes in the reservoir cap.

    Risk: The leaking oil in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will correct the oil level as necessary and replace the reservoir sealing cap to prevent oil foam from leaking out, free of charge. The recall began August 30, 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018070015.

  3. NHTSA 13V166000Apr 29, 2013Seat Belts256 vehicles

    Seat belts

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (Mercedes) is recalling certain model year 2013 GL350 BlueTEC, GL450 4MATIC, GL550 4MATIC, and GL63 AMG vehicles manufactured May 15, 2012 through October 4, 2012. The second row seat belt anchor fitting bolts may not be properly torqued.

    Risk: If the bolts are not properly torqued, the seat belt anchor bolts may continue to loosen and in the the event of a crash, the belted occupant may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Mercedes-Benz will notify owners and dealers will check, and tighten the bolts of the seat belt anchor fittings, as necessary, free of charge. The recall campaign began on May 24, 2013. Owners may contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.

2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14 MPG
Highway
19 MPG
Combined
16 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$5,000
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2013 compared with other GL450 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
2011Avoid100553 !15
2012Avoid86463 !15
2013Caution5737316
2014Good2921316
2015Good4318319

All Mercedes-Benz GL450 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2013 GL450 carries a Complaint Index of 57 and ranks 4th-worst among 8 model years tracked, placing it in the Caution category relative to other GL450 years.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 GL450?
NHTSA complaint data shows Engine issues make up 24% of complaints and Electrical System issues make up 22%, followed by Suspension, Wheels & Tires at 16% and Brakes at 14%.
Does the 2013 GL450 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2013 GL450, covering an eCall software date/time fault, a suspension oil reservoir sealing cap issue, and a second-row seat belt anchor bolt problem.
What year GL450 should I avoid instead?
Among other years, 2011 has the highest Complaint Index at 100 and is rated Avoid, while 2012 is also rated Avoid with an index of 86, both worse than the 2013 model.
Which GL450 year is the best choice?
The 2016 GL450 has the lowest Complaint Index at 14 and carries a Best verdict, making it the strongest choice among the years with data.

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.