2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class problems
Light NHTSA footprint — 20 owner complaints. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class has 20 NHTSA owner complaints on file (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 GL-Class | 52 | 0 |
| 2014 GL-Class | 38 | 0 |
| 2015 GL-Class | 34 | 0 |
| 2016 GL-Class (this page) | 20 | 0 |
Above-average reliability for the segment. Few systemic issues on file.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
- No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record
- Reliability score 8.6/10 — above the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Ask anything about your 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
We purchased the car in july 2019 and in addition to the car having warranty up to 50,000 miles, we purchased an additional service/repair package for $1,800.00 recently we noticed that when we first start driving the car has a noise on the right side, the noise is most…
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-benz gl350. While driving 65 MPH, the front passenger seat belt failed to retract after the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to edhicks Mercedes (3102 s padre island dr, corpus christi, tx 78415), but was not diagnosed or…
On september 6 2017 my Mercedes cluster panal (odemeter) stopped working while driving. Which then I made an appointment with the dealership and they replaced the odometer which then failed again hours after picking up the car. After replacing it 3 times under warranty I'm still…
water intrusion into the spare tire well compartment and the battery compartment affecting the battery and starter.
Common questions
Is the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.6 out of 10 based on 20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class?
On the NHTSA data, the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.6/10 — above the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What should I check before buying a used 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class?
There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class to flag a standout failure pattern. Run the VIN for open recalls — those are free to fix regardless of warranty — get a standard pre-purchase inspection, and ask the seller for service records.
Is the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class a good used car to buy?
It scores 8.6 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 20 owner complaints. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
What's the most common problem on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class?
No problem area has crossed our reporting threshold yet, which is a good sign for this vehicle.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
Major repair items haven't been flagged often enough on this vehicle to single one out.
How do I check if my Mercedes-Benz GL-Class has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 20 complaints on file, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.