MODELYEARINDEX

Which Mercedes-Benz GLK years to avoid

Across 5 scored model years, the 2015 and 2010 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Mercedes-Benz GLK Full report
F
Grade 2010–2015
2015 vs model median 2.7×
Model median3× median
Airbags & Restraints 47
Engine 4
Driver Assist 4
Avoid

2010 · 2015

Best

2012 · 2013

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
1.68× 25 D
2012
0.87× 16 B
2013
0.89× 21 B
2014
1.00× 17 B
2015
2.67× 72 F

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2010 D 25 reports · median 12,000 mi

  1. Speed Control 7

    The contact owns a 2010 mercedes benz glk350. Upon entering a parking space, the vehicle accelerated which caused her to crash into another vehicle. There were no injuries. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Body & Interior 5

    The rear passenger door behind the driver does not unlock. This condition is random at best, it may stay locked for a week and then unlock normally for a few days and then return to the locked state. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Lights & Visibility 3

    2010 glk-350 with ineffective driver's side windshield wiper --leaves a wedge-shaped pool of water in front of driver, from left (at about 9 in. Tall). owner complaint filed with NHTSA

13 crash · 6 injuries

2015 F 72 reports · median 17,168 mi

  1. Airbags & Restraints 47

    2015 glk mercedes benz. Consumer writes in regards to defective side curtain airbag. The consumer stated as a result from the accident, has suffered from hearing loss and chronic tinnitus. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Engine 4

    Message dashboard indicator (mdi) read "inoperative. See operator's manual" with other malfunction lights including check engine light (CEL). Turned car off an on and only the CEL remained. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Driver Assist 4

    For last 2 months and continuing on, the 'esp inoperative' message pops up frequently, even when the weather and road conditions are warm, dry and clear. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

7 crash · 6 fire · 8 injuries

The best year for the GLK

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2012 is the best-scoring GLK model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 74.9 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2012 0.87× 16 B
2013 0.89× 21 B
2014 1.00× 17 B

Recalls

No recall campaigns are on record for this model.

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2015 were reported at a median of 17,168 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Mercedes-Benz GLK years should you avoid?
2015, 2010 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Mercedes-Benz GLK model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Mercedes-Benz GLK?
2012 is the best-scoring Mercedes-Benz GLK model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 74.9 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Mercedes-Benz GLK have?
0 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Mercedes-Benz GLK model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2015 GLK
Complaints in window
72
Severity-weighted
104
Model median (weighted)
39
vs model median
2.67×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
0
Open investigations
1
Score 30 F