I am reporting a safety issue involving my Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 following repairs performed by an authorized dealership, Critz Mercedes-Benz in Savannah, Georgia. I brought the vehicle in due to persistent noise when shifting gears and steering-related symptoms. I asked the dealership to fully investigate the cause of the issue and not limit the diagnosis or repair to any single system, as I am…
2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class have filed 8 NHTSA complaints about the steering at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
8
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 GLK-Class | 8 |
| 2011 GLK-Class | 6 |
| 2012 GLK-Class | 3 |
| 2013 GLK-Class (this page) | 8 |
| 2014 GLK-Class | 5 |
| 2015 GLK-Class | 7 |
When does it fail?
Of the 8 steering complaints filed for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Of the 6 model years of Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class we track for steering problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 8.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
The sunroof on my 2013 Mercedes benz glk 350 spontaneously exploded with no warning. Nothing hit the roof or any other part of the car. The weather was about 36 degrees fahrenheit, not too cold, not too hot. There was a loud bang (like the sound of a gunshot) followed by 5 - 10 minutes of crackling as the sunroof glass broke into hundreds of pieces. It appears to be the top layer of…
When I'm driving the car, the car will automatically shifts from d(drive) to p(park). It happens especially when I hit the brake. I went to dealer for the same issue twice, and it seems they still cannot find the problem and fix it. This is a life-threatening issue. Just image the car stops immediately at the middle of highway. We are lucky not hit by the car behind us. It happened twice on…
Had steering trouble with your 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK-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 steering problem on the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 8 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 8 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 52,934 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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/2013/Mercedes-Benz/GLK-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.