The contact owns a 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the air bag warning light remained illuminated. Additionally, the ABS warning light remained activated. The contact stated there was also a grinding sound while depressing the brake pedal. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure,…
2010 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class brakes problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 10 brakes complaints filed for the 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 7 model years of Mercedes-Benz GL-Class in our records for brakes problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2010 GL-Class has documented brake system failures including corroded brake lines, booster failure, and complete loss of braking ability, all linked to manufacturer recall 22V315000. One crash occurred due to stuck brakes; multiple owners report dealer parts shortages and lack of support during recalls, making brake reliability a serious concern.
Owners of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class report multiple brake system failures across 10 complaints. The most critical issue involves corroded and ruptured brake lines—one owner's front driver's side line failed at 140,000 miles, then the passenger's side line failed shortly after, with mechanics noting excessive corrosion throughout the entire braking system. Several owners describe complete brake failure: one at 122,042 miles where the pedal went soft and collapsed to the floorboard, another at 135,000 miles where stuck brakes prevented stopping on a downhill grade, resulting in a crash into a house with injury to the driver and airbag deployment. Highway brake failure with 90% pressure loss is also reported. Brake booster failures appear at 90,000 miles and beyond, causing delayed pedal response or complete non-response. One owner noted ABS warning light followed by brake seizure at low mileage (24,226 miles) due to a defective speed sensor. A grinding sound during braking with illuminated ABS and airbag lights was reported at 150,000 miles. All failures tie to NHTSA recall 22V315000, but owners report severe delays in parts availability, with dealers unable to complete repairs for weeks. One owner received a "Do Not Drive" letter but the dealer remained unresponsive.
Same Mercedes-Benz GL-Class brakes reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Brake Line Corrosion and Rupture
Front brake lines develop severe corrosion leading to rupture, loss of brake fluid, and brake failure. Owners report corrosion throughout the entire braking system.
When: 140,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal depressed to floorboard with no stopping power; Low brake fluid warning light illuminated; Vehicle required parking brake to stop
Repairs/costs cited: Front driver's side brake line replaced; identical failure occurred on front passenger's side brake line shortly after. Excessive corrosion observed throughout entire braking system.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). Manufacturer notified but provided no assistance.
Soft Brake Pedal—Recall Parts Unavailable
Brake pedal becomes soft and collapses to floorboard with no warning light. Linked to recall 22V315000, but manufacturer did not supply parts for extended period.
When: 122,042 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Soft brake pedal feel; Brake pedal goes to floorboard when depressed; No warning light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Associated with NHTSA Campaign 22V315000 repair; parts not available from manufacturer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). Manufacturer advised renting a vehicle pending repair; parts distribution delayed significantly.
Brake Pedal Stuck—Complete Brake Failure
Brake pedal becomes stuck; vehicle fails to stop on downhill grade, goes airborne, and crashes into a house. Airbags deployed; occupant injured.
When: 135,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal stuck; Vehicle would not stop on downhill grade; Vehicle became airborne; Crash with airbag deployment
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle totaled by insurance. Not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer performed investigation and stated vehicle should not have failed in that manner. Cause not determined.
Brake Booster Failure
Brake booster fails, causing delayed brake response. Linked to recall 22V315000; replacement part unavailable from manufacturer for extended period.
When: 90,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal depressed but vehicle fails to respond; Requires harder depression of pedal for vehicle to respond; No warning light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed brake booster failure under recall 22V315000; replacement part not yet available.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). Manufacturer notified; vehicle not repaired due to parts unavailability.
ABS System Failure—Brake Seizure
ABS warning lamp illuminates followed by brake seizure that immobilizes the vehicle. Front speed sensor defective.
When: 24,226 miles
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning lamp illuminated; Brakes seized; Vehicle unable to move
Repairs/costs cited: Front speed sensor replaced.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified. Vehicle repaired.
Grinding Noise and ABS/Airbag Light Issues
Grinding sound when depressing brake pedal; ABS warning light and airbag warning light remain illuminated. Cause not determined.
When: 150,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light activated; Air bag warning light illuminated; Grinding sound while depressing brake pedal
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer and manufacturer notified; no assistance offered.
Brake Pressure Loss—Catastrophic Failure
Brakes fail at highway speed with 90% loss of braking pressure and complete loss of hydraulic pressure. Vehicle slowed due to distance from other traffic.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake failure at highway speed; 90% loss of braking pressure; Complete loss of hydraulic pressure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Related to recall campaign for brakes.
Brake Booster Failure—No Drive Letter
Owner received 'Do Not Drive' letter from manufacturer regarding brake booster failure. Dealer non-responsive to repair requests.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake booster failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer issued 'Do Not Drive' letter. Dealer contacted but has not initiated repair or follow-up.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
brake line corrison and leak, results in no braking.
The contact owns a 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated upon parking the vehicle in the garage, the brake pedal was depressed and felt soft. The contact stated that the brake pedal went to floorboard. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the failure was associated with a recall. The contact later received notification…
Had brakes trouble with your 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 110,211 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2010/Mercedes-Benz/GL-Class.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.