2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the GL450 4matic, is EPA-rated at 19 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 20 complaints, most often about the seats.
Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL450 4matic | Gas | 4WD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 17 | 21 | 19 | $4,350 |
| GL550 4matic | Gas | 4WD | 4.7L 8-cyl turbo | 13 | 18 | 15 | $5,500 |
| AMG GL63 | Gas | 4WD | 5.5L 8-cyl turbo | 13 | 17 | 14 | $5,850 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36783, 36707, 36708.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMG GL63, GL450 4matic, GL550 4matic | 5–6 / 10 | Bin 5 / LEV-II ULEV | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.
The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.
Specifications filed with NHTSA
Source: NHTSA vPICDimensions Exterior
| Body style | Trailer |
| Doors | 5 |
| GVWR class | Class 2F: 7,001 - 8,000 lb (3,175 - 3,629 kg) |
Engine Basics
| Cylinders | 6 |
| Displacement | 3 L |
| Engine configuration | V-Shaped |
Engine Output
| Horsepower | 250 hp |
Fuel Economy
| Fuel | Diesel |
Transmission
| Drivetrain | AWD/All-Wheel Drive |
Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: GL350-4M, GL450-4M, GL550-4M, GL63 AMG). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.
Dimensions & weight
Source: Transport Canada| Length | 201.6–202.4 in |
| Width (body, without mirrors) | 76.0 in |
| Height | 72.4 in |
| Wheelbase | 121.3 in |
| Track, front | 66.1 in |
| Track, rear | 66.9 in |
| Curb weight | 5,390–5,688 lb |
| Weight distribution, front/rear | 50/50 |
Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 2 configurations: GL350 Bluetec/Gl450/Gl550 4Matic 4-door SUV, Gl 63 AMG 4-door SUV AWD. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.
What to check before you buy →Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
Recalls (7)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseSuspension
2018070015Steering
2017050013Air Bags
Suspension
Air Bags
2016120004Power Train
These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.
Whether any of this applies to one specific GL-Class
A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2016 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Mercedes-Benz publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.
Hear about a recall before the letter does
The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.
Find parts for this GL-Class →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported
11 per 10,000 built · Mercedes-Benz reported 17,707 GL-Class built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)
Filed per year: 2015: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 5 · 2018: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 1
Most-cited components
In owners' own words
Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.
water intrusion into the spare tire well compartment and the battery compartment affecting the battery and starter
Spontaneously exploding panoramic sunroof: I was driving northbound on I-5 in Everett, WA, on 27 January 2023 around 7pm. It was clear, the road was dry, it was around 45 degrees, and there was medium traffic. We were going about 65mph. Just myself and my 4 year old daughter were in the car.
The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz gl63w4. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17v241000 (steering); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
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.
Spontaneous shattering of anterior sunroof at highway speeds with no cars around and not near overpasses. Shattered glass rained all throughout the vehicle and passengers. Sounded like a gunshot and the glass appeared to be bowed 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.
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Reported by Mercedes-Benz itself: 7 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 12 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 40 per 100,000 built. Every GL-Class model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAPNHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications- 15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · Mercedes-Benz bulletin CL - EW M157Dear Mercedes-Benz Owner: In our continuing efforts to ensure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the satisfaction of our customers, Mercedes-Benz USA is extending the…
- 15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · Mercedes-Benz warranty extension EW - Vacuum Pump M157In our continuing efforts to ensure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the satisfaction of our customers, Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC is extending the warranty coverage on the…
- 15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · Mercedes-Benz warranty extension EW - Pressure Trans M157In our continuing efforts to ensure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the satisfaction of our customers, Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC is extending the warranty coverage on the…
The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Mercedes-Benz warranty extension (9) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →
Most often about: Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Engine, Equipment, Suspension.
- LI42.10-P-078779 Service bulletin2026-09-22 · Service Brakes
- Complaint Repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60MPH. NOTE: Although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is distinctly different if it happens at all times or only while braking. Cause Although the cause of the vibration is most likely due to excessive lateral runout on the rotor or hub/wheel bearing, the system as
- LI82.62-P-078631 Service bulletin2026-09-14 · Structure — Body
- Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. Cause Under analysis. Remedy To narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • If the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary, create a TIPS case with an informative video as an attachment. Note: Please refer to this document i
- LI46.35-P-067339 Service bulletin2026-08-28 · Steering
- Complaint During part of the steering movement, it feels heavier or more difficult to steer in the same spot every time. OR Rattling, humming, dry sliding/gravel noise from the electric steering system when steering (see attachment). Complaint does not impact the ability to safely steer or control the vehicle. Cause Ball screw drive (KGT) of electric steering damaged by: 1. External force due to:
- 11036999 Warranty extension2026-08-15 · Fuel/Propulsion System
- Dear Mercedes-Benz Owner: In our continuing efforts to ensure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the satisfaction of our customers, Mercedes-Benz USA is extending the warranty coverage for the Diagnostic Module for Tank Leakage Detection ("DMTL") on your vehicle from the original New Vehicle Limited Warranty of 4 years / 50,000 miles to 15 years/150,000 miles (whicheve
- LI82.85-P-079087 Service bulletin2026-08-06 · Electrical System
- Complaint A popup is seen on the HU with the message "data connection temporarily not available". Potentially affected functionalities in NTG4.5, NTG5 1.Weather 2.Local Search 3.IP Radio 4.Send2Car 5.Speech Detection Service 6.Navigation 7.iHeartRadio 8.Traffic Cams Cause MB Apps is sundowned for all vehicles with NTG4.5 and NTG5 Head Unit Variant. Remedy No support available for NTG4.5 and NTG5 H
- LI82.62-P-078631 Service bulletin2026-08-06 · Structure — Body
- Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. Cause Under analysis. Remedy To narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • If the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary, create a TIPS case with an informative video as an attachment. Information: Please refer to this doc
- LI35.30-P-058566 Service bulletin2026-07-14 · Power Train
- Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. Note: Sound file in attachment Cause If the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboard collar nut (by 1 turn), the problem is due to cracking of the microweld between the wheel bearing inner race
- LI33.20-P-078406 Service bulletin2026-07-08 · Suspension
- Complaint Creaking noise, in irregular sequence when driving slowly in combination with slight steering movements and/or Creaking/crackling noises from the area of the wheel bearing on the front axle when cornering/ maneuvering. Sound file attached for comparison. MUST match noise for proper diagnosis. NOTE: Steering functionality is not affected. Cause Contact area between wheel bearing and steer
A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.
At the New York inspection station
Source: New York State DMVIn New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class failed the emissions check on 3.9% of first inspections — close to the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.32% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%).
failed emissions
620 initial inspections of 599 vehicles.
| Measure | The 2016 GL-Class | Every 2016 vehicle | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed the emissions check | 3.9% | 4.2% | 617 |
| Failed the safety inspection | 0.32% | 2.2% | 620 |
| Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit | 0.32% | 0.27% | 620 |
| Miles driven a year | 9,916 | 10,028 | odometer at inspection |
| Average odometer | 101,696 | 103,109 | odometer at inspection |
New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2016 vehicle” is every 2016 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).
Compare the 2016 GL-Class with
Any vehicle, your weights →| Head-to-head | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 Toyota 4Runner · Large SUV · grade F | GL-Class +7.2 | |
| 2016 Honda Pilot · Large SUV · grade F | GL-Class +3 |
Common questions about the 2016 GL-Class
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsDoes the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 7 recall campaigns for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class. The most serious on file is 18V272000, covering Suspension. 1 of them was filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class?
NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it D (66/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class?
Across the 3 EPA-rated configurations of the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, the best EPA combined figure is 19 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What are the dimensions of the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class?
Transport Canada measured it at 201.6–202.4 in long, 76.0 in wide (body, without mirrors), 72.4 in tall, on a 121.3 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 5,390–5,688 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.
What do owners complain about on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class?
Owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, most often about unspecified, seats, engine. Of those, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.
How clean is the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class?
The EPA smog rating for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class runs 5 to 6 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — Bin 5, LEV-II ULEV — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class?
The manufacturer has filed 278 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, most often covering electrical system, exterior lighting, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-09-22. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.
How does the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class failed the emissions check on 3.9% of first inspections — close to the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.32% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.
Is the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class better than the 2016 Toyota 4Runner?
The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class wins clearly, 82.9 to 75.7, on safety. The Toyota 4Runner is ahead on fuel & range and performance. We publish a full side-by-side of the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class against the 2016 Toyota 4Runner — specifications by family, equipment feature by feature, safety record and ownership costs. You can re-weight what matters to you and the verdict recalculates.
What we hold, and what an empty row means
Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.
| Data | Held | Source | What it covers — or what empty means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy & configurations | 3 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 3 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | 7 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 20 | NHTSA complaint database | Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold. |
| Crash ratings | none | NHTSA NCAP | NHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe. |
| Service bulletins | 278 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | none | NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation | No defect investigation has been opened. |
| Driver-assist crash reports | none | NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 | No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like. |
| Specifications filed with NHTSA | 9 fields | NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns | What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder. |
| Measured dimensions | 7 fields | Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications | Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions. |
| Trims, pricing & equipment | none | Manufacturer press kit | We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind. |
Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.