2021 Mercedes-Benz Gls450 Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz Gls450 has 12 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,548,267 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 41 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 24V207000 2024-03-15 116,020 affected
Defect

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023-2024 GLE 350, 2020-2024 GLE 450, 2020-2023 GLS 580, GLE 580, 2019-2023 GLS 450, 2021-2023 Maybach GLS 600, AMG GLS 63, 2021-2024 AMG GLE 53, AMG GLE 53 Coupe, and AMG GLE 63 S vehicles. A 48-Volt ground connection under the passenger seat may not be secured…

Consequence

An overheated ground connection can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and tighten the 48-Volt ground connection as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 3, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024040002.

POWER TRAIN 24V118000 2024-02-16 105,071 affected
Defect

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020-2023 GLE 450 and GLS 450 vehicles. The transmission may not fully downshift in certain conditions, causing the engine to stall.

Consequence

An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will update the transmission control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 23V445000 2023-06-26 143,551 affected
Defect

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2023 C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS, SL, GT, GLC, GLE, GLS, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle details. The fuel pump may shutdown, which can result in a loss of drive power.

Consequence

A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 14, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2023070012.

VISIBILITY 23V177000 2023-03-17 61,450 affected
Defect

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020-2021 GLE350, GLE450, GLS450, GLS580, 2021 AMG GLE53, AMG GLE63, Maybach GLS600, AMG GLS63, and 2020 GLE580 vehicles. The air conditioner drain hoses may have been incorrectly installed, causing water to drain into the passenger compartment.

Consequence

Water intrusion into the foot wells may cause corrosion and/or short circuits to electrical components, increasing the risk of fire. In addition, the emergency call (eCall) feature may be disabled and the doors may not unlock, increasing the risk of injury. Also, the engine may not start or may enter a limp-home…

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and reinstall the air conditioner drain hoses, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of recall numbers 21V-288 and 19V-587. MBUSA's numbers for this recall…

SEATS 22V732000 2022-09-30 59,574 affected
Defect

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 AMG GLS63, 2020-2022 GLS450 and GLS580 vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the locks on the third-row seatbacks may fail in the event of a crash.

Consequence

A seat with a seatback lock failure may not properly restrain occupants, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the third-row seatback, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022100011.

STRUCTURE 22V680000 2022-09-12 161,000 affected
Defect

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020-2022 GLE350, GLE450, GLS450, 2021-2022 AMG GLE53, 2020-2021 GLE580, GLS580, and 2021 GLE400e, AMG GLS63, AMG GLE63 S, and Maybach GLS600 vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the rear door window trim bars may detach.

Consequence

Detached trim bars may cause a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and secure the rear window trim bars, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 1, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022090010.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 22V365000 2022-05-20 242,722 affected
Defect

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2022 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, AMG GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL-Class, GLC-Class, CLS-Class, GLB-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. An error…

Consequence

A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting the emergency services call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

The communication module software will be updated through an Over-the-Air (OTA) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2022. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on July 8, 2022, May 17, 2024, July 29, 2024, and September 27, 2024. Owners may contact…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 22V231000 2022-04-08 21,306 affected
Defect

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020-2022 GLE450, GLS450, 2021-2022 AMG GLE53, 2020-2021 GLE580, GLS580, 2021 AMG GLE63, Maybach GLS600 and AMG GLS63 vehicles. A ground cable bolt for the 48V ground connection under the front passenger seat may not be secured properly, which can cause the…

Consequence

An overheated electrical cable can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and tighten the ground cable bolt, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022040017.

VISIBILITY 21V832000 2021-10-22 23 affected
Defect

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 GLE 350, GLE 580, GLS 450, GLS 580, AMG GLE 53, AMG GLE 63 S, and AMG GLS 63 S vehicles. The rear window may be insufficiently bonded to the tailgate, which could allow the rear glass to detach.

Consequence

Detached rear glass can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the rear window, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 8, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

BACK OVER PREVENTION 21V354000 2021-05-14 343,191 affected
Defect

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 CLA-Class, GLE/GLS-Class, A-Class, E-Class, E-Class Coupe and Convertible, GLA/GLB-Class, GLC-Class, CLS-Class, and AMG GT-Class 4-door Coupe vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The MBUX multimedia system…

Consequence

A backup camera that displays a blank image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy

The multimedia system software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning June 28, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6373. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021050012.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 21V058000 2021-02-05 1,292,258 affected
Defect

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 - 2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to the Part 573 report for specific vehicle model details. The…

Consequence

Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.

Remedy

MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020025.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 20V089000 2020-02-14 2,101 affected
Defect

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020 CLA250, CLA250 4MATIC and CLA35 AMG 4MATIC, 2020-2021 GLE350, GLE350 4MATIC, GLE450 4MATIC, GLS450 4MATIC and GLS580 4MATIC and 2021 GLE53 AMG Coupe, GLE63S AMG 4MATIC, GLS63 AMG 4MATIC and Maybach GLS600 4MATIC vehicles. The instrument cluster software may…

Consequence

If the interior switches are not illuminated, they may be more difficult to find and operate, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020030019.

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
13
2fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
8
1crashes1injuries
ENGINE
3
SEATS
2
2fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
1
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
1
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL:SOFTWARE
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
1
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
1
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
1
Total complaints41

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Both rear wheels on this vehicle have developed cracks which leads to tire pressure loss. Apparently, this is a common issue with mercedes' heavier vehicles like the gls and s series sedans. To be clear, I did not hit anything. I did not do any unusual driving. Both rear tires are fine. While you…”

WHEELS · reported 2025-10-06

“On [xxx], I was heading home from work traveling [xxx] on [xxx] through atlanta's usual heavy traffic. I smelled smoke inside my car and saw fire flames coming from under my passenger seat. My initial reaction was to try to put the fire out with my hat without burning myself. Also, I had to try to…”

SEATS · reported 2025-03-27

“On [xxx], I was heading home from work traveling [xxx] on [xxx] through atlanta's usual heavy traffic. I smelled smoke inside my car and saw fire flames coming from under my passenger seat. My initial reaction was to try to put the fire out with my hat without burning myself. Also, I had to try to…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2025-03-27

“System malfunctioned detail: 48v battery malfunction, 12v battery malfunction. Safety concern: I was driving on [xxx] , the battery malfunction warning suddenly pop up, and I couldn't accelerate my car beyond 30 mph, my whole family were on the car during that time. It's life threatening issue…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2025-01-04

“Vehicle has just over 31k miles. On multiple occasions, the vehicle randomly shuts off and displays a 48 volt battery error on the screen followed by a check engine light. This has happened in the middle of a busy intersection and at 75mph on the interstate. Each time it does this, I have taken it…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2024-10-15

“I was driving only 30mph through my suburban neighborhood bringing my kids to school in the morning when a loud shotgun sound hit my car causing me to be distracted and distraught. My entire sunroof had exploded on me for no reason. Mercedes is currently undergoing a class action lawsuit for this.…”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2024-09-25

“Vehicle was purchased pre-owned. Mercedes me is still associated with previous owner. Mercedes unable to remove association at dealership or on the phone. I can provide bill of sale and identification. Previous owner can remote start, track and control the vehicle I own. This presents a clear and…”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2024-09-09

“Vehicle was purchased pre-owned. Mercedes me is still associated with previous owner. Mercedes unable to remove association at dealership or on the phone. I can provide bill of sale and identification. Previous owner can remote start, track and control the vehicle I own. This presents a clear and…”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2024-09-09
Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz Gls450 as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.