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2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

Gas
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
F
Safety Signal
47 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls1 critical6
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA14
Crash ratingNHTSA overall—
Fuel economybest combined, EPA19 mpg
2016

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize or large SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the GL450 4matic, is EPA-rated at 19 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 14 complaints, most often about the seats.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
GL450 4maticGas4WD3.0L 6-cyl turbo172119$4,100
GL550 4maticGas4WD4.7L 8-cyl turbo131815$5,150
AMG GL63Gas4WD5.5L 8-cyl turbo131714$5,550

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36783, 36707, 36708.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (6)

Source: NHTSA recall database
●moderate

Communication

2019120008
24,226 vehicles
ProblemMercedes-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.pdfRiskAn inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.FixMBUSA 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.
NHTSA campaign 19V787000reported Nov 1, 2019Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
!critical

Suspension

2018070015
9,725 vehicles
ProblemMercedes-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.RiskThe leaking oil in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.FixMBUSA 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.
NHTSA campaign 18V272000reported Apr 27, 2018Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
▲high

Steering

2017050013
58,323 vehicles
ProblemMercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 GLE300d 4Matic, E400 4Matic Coupe, GL63 AMG, GLE350, GLE350 4Matic, GLE350d 4Matic, GLE400 4Matic, GLE43 AMG Coupe 4Matic, GLE550e 4Matic, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLE63S AMG 4Matic and GLE63S AMG Coupe 4Matic vehicles, 2017 E300 4Matic and GLS63 AMG 4Matic vehicles, and 2016-2017 GL350 4Matic BlueTec, GL450 4Matic, and GL550 4Matic vehicles. The affected vehicles have an electric power steering connector that may be insufficiently sealed, allowing water to enter the control unit.RiskIf water enters the power steering control unit, the power steering assist may be deactivated, increasing the risk of a crash.FixMBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and inspect the electric power steering rack, replacing the rack as necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed June 30, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA campaign 17V241000reported Apr 11, 2017Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
▲high

Air Bags

51 vehicles
ProblemMercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 AMG GT-S, GLC300, CLA250 and GLE300d 4Matic vehicles, 2013 C250, E350 BlueTec and G63 AMG vehicles, 2008-2014 C300 vehicles, 2013-2014 C300 4Matic and ML350 4Matic vehicles, 2009 C350 vehicles, 2014 CLS550, E350 4Matic, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Wagon 4Matic, GLK350 and SL550 vehicles, 2012 CLS550 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2016 E350 vehicles, 2016-2017 GL450 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2014 ML350 4Matic BlueTec vehicles, 2015 S550, S550 4Matic and C300 4Matic Sedan vehicles, 2015-2016 C300 Sedan vehicles, and 2017 SL63 AMG vehicles. Various control units on these vehicles may have been updated with incorrect software, potentially affecting the coRiskIf the air bags do not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, there would be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.FixMBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update software in the affected control units, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA campaign 17V177000reported Mar 14, 2017Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
▲high

Suspension

37 vehicles
ProblemMercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 GLE350 4Matic, GLE350, GLE350 4Matic Bluetec, GL450 4Matic, and GLE450 Coupe 4Matic vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that connects the upper control arm and the axle stub may not have been properly tightened.RiskThe loose bolt may cause improper wheel tracking, increasing the risk of a crash.FixMBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tightness of the bolt connecting the upper control arm and the axle stub on the affected vehicles, replacing the upper control arm if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA campaign 17V081000reported Feb 8, 2017Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.
▲high

Air Bags

2016120004
47,799 vehicles
ProblemMercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 GL350 4Matic Bluetec, GL550 4Matic, GLE350 4Matic, GLE43 AMG Coupe, GLE450 4Matic, 2016 GLE300d 4Matic, GLE350, GLE350d 4Matic, GLE400 4Matic, GLE550e 4Matic, GLE63 AMG, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLE63S AMG 4Matic Coupe, and 2017 GLS63 AMG vehicles manufactured April 23, 2014, to May 10, 2016. The front passenger seat Occupant Classification System (OCS) calibration may be incorrect, and as a result, the system can incorrectly classify the occupant as a child seat, deactivating the front passenger air bag.RiskIf the front passenger air bag does not deploy as necessary in the event of a crash, the front passenger has an increased risk of injury.FixMBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA campaign 16V903000reported Dec 15, 2016Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
14complaints filed

1 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2015: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 1

Most-cited components

Unspecified5
Seats3
Engine2
Steering1
Visibility1
Service Brakes1

What owners describe

“water intrusion into the spare tire well compartment and the battery compartment affecting the battery and starter.”Sep 9, 2025 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“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. Appa…”Mar 7, 2025 · Latches/Locks/Linkages · NHTSA owner report
“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. The police arrived on the s…”Aug 2, 2022 · Engine · NHTSA owner report

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.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

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). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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