Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class problems
Light NHTSA footprint — 38 owner complaints. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
- No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record
- Reliability score 8.2/10 — 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.
Top trouble spots 2 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
Vehicle would not start. 48v battery light came on. Waited 15 minutes, vehicle started, drove to dealership who did diagnosis. Battery replacement required $1800 + $1200 labor. 2020 vehicle with 61K miles. Bought certified vehicle from MBZ dealership, added a MBZ 3 year or 100K…
The vehicle warnign system displayed "48v Malfunction." Vehicke lost all acceleration in the middle of the highway. The vehicle was just returned3 days ago after undergoing a state inspection at the MB dealership. In looking at the issue on line this appears to be a known…
Upon starting the car, the screen of the 2020 Mercedes Benz GLS 450 remained blank. This includes the portion of the dashboard that reads speedometer, gas, temperature, RPM. The engine was running and truck could still be driven. The vehicle is available for inspection upon…
This incident occurred around 5:50pm on Wednesday, September 21, 2022. I was driving on a merge connector between two freeways in San Francisco at about 60mph, when the vehicle threw a series of error codes and warnings on its displays, culminating with “shut down engine…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.2 out of 10 based on 38 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS-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 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class?
On the NHTSA data, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS-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 8.2/10 — above the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is electrical, with 17 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 6,550 miles. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The electrical is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 6,550 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Mercedes-Benz GLS-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 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 38 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $850, 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.