2009 Mercedes Benz GL320 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
69,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data updated: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 6 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Braking behavior
1
16.7%
Steering behavior
1
16.7%
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
Category
Count
Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
1
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
2009
1
2011
1
2016
2
2017
2
Complaints over time data
Category
Count
2009
1
2011
1
2016
2
2017
2
2009: 1; 2011: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
MERCEDES BENZ GL320CDI BLUETEC> SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT THE SPEED OF 40 MPH. LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES AND WAS NEARLY STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AN EARLIER VERSION THE 2008 MODEL HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE ON THREE OCCASIONS. SUBSEQUENTLY TRADED VEHICLE IN FOR A 2009 MODEL. TOLD BY DEALER PART "CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR" IS THE CAUSE. PART IS BEING ORDERED FROM GERMANY AND WOULD TAKE AT LEAST A WEEK. I SUSPECT THE PART IS IN SHORT SUPPLY DUE TO FREQUENT OCCURRENCES OF THIS ISSUE. A DANGEROUS SITUATION IS LURKING WITH THIS …
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
6 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
66.7%Usable mileage4 / 6 records
100.0%Valid incident date6 / 6 records
100.0%Valid filing date6 / 6 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates6 / 6 records
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
Component complaint heatmap
Component
2006
2007
2008
2009
Steering
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
735.0%ODI 10393647 · 79,000 mi
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ GL320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE POWER STEERING STOPPED FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT OF RECALL 08V682000 (STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE AP…
WHILE DRIVING TURNED ON DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER. LESS THAN 1 MINUTE AFTER I FELT BURNING ON MY BACK. I PULLED TO THE SIDE AND JUMPED OUT OF VEHICLE. SMOKE WAS FILLING CAR AND JACKET WAS ON FIRE. PATTED JACKET OUT AND FOUND BURN HOLE THROUGH JACKET INTO SWEATER. AFTER SMOKE CLEARED I SAW DRIVER SEAT WAS BURNED THROUGH. I WAS LUCKY THIS OCCURRED ON A SIDE STREET AT 20MPH AND NOT ON A HIGHWAY WITH POSTED SPEED OF 65MPH. FACTORY TOLD ME REPAIR COST MAY NOT BE COVERED SINCE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, HOWEVER LOCAL DEALERSHIP MADE REPAIR AT NO COST. I …
THIRD ROW SEAT WOULD NOT LOCK IN POSITION, EITHER UP FOR SEATING OR DOWN FOR CARGO. THE LACK OF LOCKING EFFECTED THE MOTOR WHICH RAISES AND LOWERS THE SEAT TO LOCK POSITION. DEALER AND/OR MFG. CLAIMED THE SEAT FRAME IS PRONE TO BENDING. I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED. WHEN I NOTED THIS SOUNDS LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE THEY OFFERED TO PAY 75% FOR THE PART AND DISCOUNT ON LABOR. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON I10 WEST NEAR MOBILE, AL AT NIGHT. I HEARD A LOUD POP NEAR THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND FEEL IT LIFT INTO THE AIR AND START BOUNCING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE SEATBELT ENGAGED AND I WAS WORRIED FOR MY 10 MONTH OLD IN THE BACKSEAT. I HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO REGAIN CONTROL. A PASSERBY STOPPED AND SAID IT LOOKED LIKE THE CAR LIFTED 2 FEET IN THE AIR. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR MULTIPLE TIMES THE AIR SUSPENSION HAS NOT RECALLIBRATED. MY BACK AND NECK ARE SORE. I CALLED MY FIANCE TO MEET MYSELF AND THE BABY SO WE COULD GET HOME. I …
MERSEDES BENZ CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND BONITA SPRINGS DEALERSHIP FL REFUSED TO DEAL WITH RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 08V242000 MB CAMPAIGN 2008050004 BECAUSE RECALL WAS NOT LOGGED AGAINST VIN # AND REFUSED TO LOG AGAINST VIN DESPITE SEEING RECALL LETTER WHICH DESCRIBES PROCESS AND SEEING ENTIRE MB SERVICE BULLETIN. TRAILER HITCH HAD BEEN INSPECTED BY MB MECHANIC AND DETERMINED TO BE AFFECTED TRAILER HITCH AND THAT RECALL HAD NOT BEEN COMPLETED. THE RECALL WARNS THAT TRAILER HITCH SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR ANYTHING WHICH DESTROYS MY PURPOSE FOR PURCHAS…
TAKATA RECALL: MERCEDES BENZ HAS NO INFORMATION ON WHEN MY TAKATA AIRBAG WILL BE REPLACED. MEANWHILE I CANNOT SELL MY VEHICLE OR DO A TRADE-IN WITH AN OPEN RECALL ITEM. I NEED TO KNOW HOW I CAN GET MY AIRBAG REPLACED ASAP.
MY GL 320 ? 2007 LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER AND THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE POWER COMES BACK ON IN 10 TO 20 SECONDS AND THE CAR CAN BE RESTARTED. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES DURING THE FIRST 10 DAYS OF OCT 2009 WHEN THE MILEAGE WAS JUST UNDER 30,000. NOTE THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKE ASSIST GO OUT COMPLETELY AS DO THE HEADLIGHTS. ON ONE ACCESSION AT NIGHT ON A CURVE I WENT OFF THE ROAD BEFORE BEING ABLE TO STOP. ON ALL OCCASIONS THIS HAPPENED 15 TO 20 SECONDS AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES TO DEACTIVATE THE SPEED CONTROL AND AFTER COASTING…
WIRIING INSULATION IN HEADLIGHTS DETERIORATES RESULTING IN SUDDEN AND REPEATED FAILURE OF HEADLAMPS.INFORMATION SHARED WITH HELLA (ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY CHOOSE NOT TO RESPOND). FAILED PARTS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.
MERCEDES BENZ GL320CDI BLUETEC> SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT THE SPEED OF 40 MPH. LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES AND WAS NEARLY STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AN EARLIER VERSION THE 2008 MODEL HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE ON THREE OCCASIONS. SUBSEQUENTLY TRADED VEHICLE IN FOR A 2009 MODEL. TOLD BY DEALER PART "CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR" IS THE CAUSE. PART IS BEING ORDERED FROM GERMANY AND WOULD TAKE AT LEAST A WEEK. I SUSPECT THE PART IS IN SHORT SUPPLY DUE TO FREQUENT OCCURRENCES OF THIS ISSUE. A DANGEROUS SITUATION IS LURKING WITH THIS …
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ GL320. SHORTLY AFTER REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, WHITE SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED FIRE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000.
I WAS DRIVING ON I10 WEST NEAR MOBILE, AL AT NIGHT. I HEARD A LOUD POP NEAR THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND FEEL IT LIFT INTO THE AIR AND START BOUNCING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE SEATBELT ENGAGED AND I WAS WORRIED FOR MY 10 MONTH OLD IN THE BACKSEAT. I HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO REGAIN CONTROL. A PASSERBY STOPPED AND SAID IT LOOKED LIKE THE CAR LIFTED 2 FEET IN THE AIR. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR MULTIPLE TIMES THE AIR SUSPENSION HAS NOT RECALLIBRATED. MY BACK AND NECK ARE SORE. I CALLED MY FIANCE TO MEET MYSELF AND THE BABY SO WE COULD GET HOME. I …
OCT OF 2012 RIGHT FRONT AIR SUSPENSION COMPONENT WENT OUT - HAD TO REPLACE. NOVEMBER 2012 LEFT FRONT AIR SUSPENSION WENT OUT - HAD TO REPLACE THAT. *TR
MY GL 320 ? 2007 LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER AND THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE POWER COMES BACK ON IN 10 TO 20 SECONDS AND THE CAR CAN BE RESTARTED. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES DURING THE FIRST 10 DAYS OF OCT 2009 WHEN THE MILEAGE WAS JUST UNDER 30,000. NOTE THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKE ASSIST GO OUT COMPLETELY AS DO THE HEADLIGHTS. ON ONE ACCESSION AT NIGHT ON A CURVE I WENT OFF THE ROAD BEFORE BEING ABLE TO STOP. ON ALL OCCASIONS THIS HAPPENED 15 TO 20 SECONDS AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES TO DEACTIVATE THE SPEED CONTROL AND AFTER COASTING…
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
Component failure mileage distribution
Component
Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)
Median
Usable records
Examples
Air Bags
Too few reports for a range
89,000 mi
1 (sparse)
ODI 10910786 · 89,000 mi
TAKATA RECALL: MERCEDES BENZ HAS NO INFORMATION ON WHEN MY TAKATA AIRBAG WILL BE REPLACED. MEANWHILE I CANNOT SELL MY VEHICLE OR DO A TRADE-IN WITH AN OPEN RECALL ITEM. I NEED TO KNOW HOW I CAN GET MY AIRBAG REPLACED ASAP.
MERCEDES BENZ GL320CDI BLUETEC> SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT THE SPEED OF 40 MPH. LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES AND WAS NEARLY STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AN EARLIER VERSION THE 2008 MODEL HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE ON THREE OCCASIONS. SUBSEQUENTLY TRADED VEHICLE IN FOR A 2009 MODEL. TOLD BY DEALER PART "CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR" IS THE CAUSE. PART IS BEING ORDERED FROM GERMANY AND WOULD TAKE AT LEAST A WEEK. I SUSPECT THE PART IS IN SHORT SUPPLY DUE TO FREQUENT OCCURRENCES OF THIS ISSUE. A DANGEROUS SITUATION IS LURKING WITH THIS …
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ GL320. SHORTLY AFTER REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, WHITE SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED FIRE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000.
HITCHED AN AIRSTREAM TRAILER WEIGHING 7400 LBS (PER CAT SCALE) TO NEW MERCEDES BENZ GL320 (TOW RATING 7500 LBS). WITHIN 40 MILES, WELDS ON THE FACTORY-SUPPLIED TRAILER HITCH BROKE AND THE HITCH BENT SIDEWAYS. ONE WELD STAYED IN PLACE UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AT WHICH POINT THE HITCH FAILURE WAS DISCOVERED. *TR
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month
Complaints
Campaigns announced
Examples
2024-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2008: 0 complaints · 2009: 2 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
2008
0
0
0
2009
1
1
2
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
2008
20
0
0
2009
6
0
0
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
Component co-occurrence matrix
Component
Air Bags
Electrical System
Engine
Trailer Hitches
Air Bags
—
0
0
0
Electrical System
0
—
0
0
Engine
0
0
—
0
Trailer Hitches
0
0
0
—
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
2 patterns with matching reports.
Stalling or loss of power
1 mentions · 16.7% of complaints
Median mileage: 49,000 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10375151 · 49,000 mi
MERCEDES BENZ GL320CDI BLUETEC> SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT THE SPEED OF 40 MPH. LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES AND WAS NEARLY STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AN EARLIER VERSION THE 2008 MODEL HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE ON THREE OCCASIONS. SUBSEQUENTLY TRADED VEHICLE IN FOR A 2009 MODEL. TOLD BY DEALER PART "CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR" IS THE CAUSE. PART IS BEING ORDERED FROM GERMANY AND WOULD TAKE AT LEAST A WEEK. I SUSPECT THE PART IS IN SHORT SUPPLY DUE TO FREQUENT OCCURRENCES OF THIS ISSUE. A DANGEROUS SITUATION IS LURKING WITH THIS …
Matching rule\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b
Steering assistance concerns
1 mentions · 16.7% of complaints
Median mileage: 49,000 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10375151 · 49,000 mi
MERCEDES BENZ GL320CDI BLUETEC> SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT THE SPEED OF 40 MPH. LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES AND WAS NEARLY STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AN EARLIER VERSION THE 2008 MODEL HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE ON THREE OCCASIONS. SUBSEQUENTLY TRADED VEHICLE IN FOR A 2009 MODEL. TOLD BY DEALER PART "CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR" IS THE CAUSE. PART IS BEING ORDERED FROM GERMANY AND WOULD TAKE AT LEAST A WEEK. I SUSPECT THE PART IS IN SHORT SUPPLY DUE TO FREQUENT OCCURRENCES OF THIS ISSUE. A DANGEROUS SITUATION IS LURKING WITH THIS …