MODELYEARINDEX

Which Mercedes-Benz GLS years to avoid

Across 5 scored model years, the 2020 and 2021 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Mercedes-Benz GLS Full report
D
Grade 2017–2021
2020 vs model median 2.3×
Model median3× median
Electrical 12
Driver Assist 7
Fuel System 6
Avoid

2020 · 2021

Best

2018 · 2019

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
2017
1.00× 30 B
2018
0.66× 17 B
2019
0.63× 16 B
2020
2.28× 40 D
2021
1.83× 45 D

What owners report

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

2020 D 40 reports · median 4,200 mi

  1. Electrical 12

    While driving the vehicle, a series of electrical system warnings were displayed in rapid succession. Shortly thereafter, the vehicle lost power, the engine shut off, and the vehicle began to glide. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Driver Assist 7

    Today around 6:47pm. I was reversing my car and I noticed another car in my backup camera and tried shift the gear shift to drive but it didn't work and stayed stuck on reverse and would not moved and the brake pedal… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Fuel System 6

    The contact owns a 2020 mercedes-benz GLS450. The contact stated she noticed a fuel odor coming from the vehicle when the windows were open. The contact sought medical attention due to breathing problems. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

6 crash · 7 injuries

2021 D 45 reports · median 11,000 mi

  1. Electrical 15

    2021 mercedes benz GLS450. Consumer writes in regards to48-volt battery system failure. The consumer stated the has failed twice, a year apart. The dashboard displayed "48-volt battery failure" and "check engine". owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Driver Assist 6

    The contact owns a 2021 mercedes benz GLS450. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH with the cruise control engaged, the vehicle decelerated to 45 MPH than to 15 MPH. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Engine 4

    2021 gls 450 VIN # 4jgff5ke9ma404568 purch: nov 26, 2022 uag fairfield auto group cm, llc,dba mercedes benz of fairfield odometer date of purchase 10,084 odometer currently *13,700 (onboard notification) timeline: total… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

2 crash · 4 fire · 2 injuries

The best year for the GLS

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

2019 is the best-scoring GLS model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 84.2 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2019 0.63× 16 B
2018 0.66× 17 B
2017 1.00× 30 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 2020 were reported at a median of 4,200 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 GLS years should you avoid?
2020, 2021 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Mercedes-Benz GLS model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Mercedes-Benz GLS?
2019 is the best-scoring Mercedes-Benz GLS model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 84.2 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Mercedes-Benz GLS have?
0 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Mercedes-Benz GLS 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 2020 GLS
Complaints in window
40
Severity-weighted
90
Model median (weighted)
40
vs model median
2.28×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
0
Open investigations
0
Score 43.1 D