YearToAvoid

2014 Mercedes-Benz GL450 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

29/100

#6 most-complained of 8 GL450 years

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz GL450 has a complaint index of 29, the 6th-worst of 8 model years, and carries a "Good" verdict. It has 21 complaints, 3 recalls, and no reported crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths.

Complaints
21
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
16
14 city / 19 hwy

Top 2014 Mercedes-Benz GL450 problems

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

  1. Engine7 (33%)
  2. Electrical System4 (19%)
  3. Other3 (14%)
  4. Structure & Body3 (14%)
  5. Visibility & Wipers3 (14%)
  6. Brakes2 (10%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (10%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain2 (10%)
  9. Lane Departure1 (5%)

What owners report

  • Transmission jerks and hesitates to shift, sometimes persisting even after dealers reprogram the software or replace the module.
  • Panoramic or standard sunroof glass has shattered or exploded while driving at highway or low speed with no apparent impact.
  • Main wiring harness corrosion has triggered multiple dashboard warnings at once, including parking brake, transmission, and vehicle-inoperable messages, along with other electrical malfunctions.
  • Four-wheel suspension has needed replacement after the vehicle bounced and pulled left and right with a warning light on.
  • Engine oil has leaked into camshaft position sensors and wiring, damaging the ECU and causing misfiring, a pattern owners describe as affecting the M278 engine broadly.
  • Water has entered the cabin through a faulty rear hatch seal during rain, with no leak found by an independent mechanic.
2014 Mercedes-Benz GL450 complaints: complaints filed per month4Dec 2014Nov 2017Sep 2020Oct 2021Jun 2023May 2024Apr 2025
27 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2014 to Apr 2025; peak Mar 2022 (4).

2014 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 14V158000Mar 31, 2014Other69 vehicles

    Child seat:latch strap

    Mercedes Benz USA, LLC (Mercedes) is recalling certain model year 2014 GL350 BlueTEC 4Matic, GL450 4Matic, GL550 4Matic, and GL63 AMG vehicles manufactured November 4, 2013, through November 15, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the foldable second row seat bottom may not fold down low enough to allow proper use of the child seat achors. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."

    Risk: Without the use of the lower anchor points, a child restraint may be insufficiently or improperly anchored to the seat, increasing the risk of injury to the child in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: Mercedes will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the seat pan of the second row seat, free of charge. The recall began on May 2, 2014. Owners may contact Mercedes at 1-800-367-6372.

2014 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.

2014 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
2012Avoid86463 !15
2013Caution5737316
2014Good2921316
2015Good4318319
2016Best1413519

All Mercedes-Benz GL450 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Mercedes-Benz GL450 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2014 GL450 ranks 6th-worst of 8 model years with a complaint index of 29 and a "Good" verdict relative to other GL450 years.
What are the most common problems with the 2014 GL450?
Engine complaints are the largest category at 7 complaints (33% share, median mileage 108,000), followed by Electrical System issues at 4 complaints (19% share, median mileage 57,000).
Does the 2014 GL450 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2014 GL450, covering an eCall software date/time fault, a rear seat pan inspection/replacement, and an oil-level/reservoir cap correction shared with related 2012-2016 models.
How does the 2014 GL450 compare to other years?
The 2014 model's complaint index of 29 is much lower than the 2011 (100, Avoid) and 2012 (86, Avoid) model years, but higher than the 2016 (14, Best) and 2015 (43, Good) 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.