2020 Mercedes-Benz Gls 450: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Gls 450: 22 recalls, 36 owner complaints and up to 21 mpg combined.
Recalls
22 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Equipment Vehicle recall #19V587000 · 2019 · 18,392 vehicles
What's wrong: Mercedes-benz USA, LLC. (mbusa) is recalling certain 2020 gle350, gle350 4matic, gls450 4matic, and gle450 4matic vehicles. The air conditioner drain hoses May have been incorrectly installed, causing water to drain from the air conditioner into the passenger compartment.
Why it matters: If a significant volume of water enters the driver and passenger side foot wells, it might cause corrosion and/or short circuits to the electrical components in the area, increasing the risk of fire. In addition, the emergency call (ecall) feature May be disabled; the vehicle May not be able to be…
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the air conditioner drain hoses, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 6, 2019.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #19V709000 · 2019 · 13,799 vehicles
What's wrong: Mercedes-benz USA, LLC. (mbusa) is recalling certain 2020 gle350, gle350 4matic, gle450 4matic, gls450 4matic, and gls580 4matic vehicles. The rear door window trim May detach.
Why it matters: The detached trim can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and fasten the rear door window trim, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019.
Electrical Vehicle recall #20V089000 · 2020 · 2,101 vehicles
What's wrong: Mercedes-benz USA, LLC. (mbusa) is recalling certain 2020 cla250, cla250 4matic and cla35 amg 4matic, 2020-2021 gle350, gle350 4matic, gle450 4matic, gls450 4matic and gls580 4matic and 2021 gle53 amg coupe, gle63s amg 4matic, gls63 amg 4matic and maybach gls600 4matic vehicles. The instrument cluster software May deactivate the illumination of certain interior switches (switch bar, overhead control unit, steering…
Why it matters: If the interior switches are not illuminated, they May be more difficult to find and operate, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2020.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #20V172000 · 2020 · 224 vehicles
What's wrong: Mercedes-benz USA, LLC. (mbusa) is recalling certain 2020 gle350, gle450 and gls450 vehicles. The seams on the rear crossmember May have been insufficiently welded. This May allow cracks to form when towing, possibly causing the rear crossmember to detach from the vehicle.
Why it matters: If the rear crossmember detaches from the vehicle, it can become a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear crossmember, free of charge. The recall began July 17, 2020.
Suspension, Suspension Vehicle recall #20V329000 · 2020 · 38 vehicles
What's wrong: Mercedes-benz USA, LLC. (mbusa) is recalling certain 2020 gle450, gls450, and gls580 vehicles. The sealing of the piston assembly in the front struts and rear shock absorbers May leak and fail prematurely.
Why it matters: Premature wear of the front struts and rear shock absorbers can affect vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front strut assemblies and rear shock absorbers, free of charge. The recall began October 20, 2020.
Steering, Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #20V626000 · 2020 · 12,799 vehicles
What's wrong: Mercedes-benz USA, LLC. (mbusa) is recalling certain 2020 gle 350, gle 450, gle 580, gls 450, gls 580 vehicles equipped with an optional illuminated Mercedes-Benz star logo in the front grill. The star logo's electrical ground connection May not be installed properly, potentially affecting the function of other components that share the same ground connection, such as the power steering control unit, wiper motor,…
Why it matters: If the power steering, wiper motor, or left headlight malfunction there could be an increased risk of a crash.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will relocate the ground connection, free of charge. The recall began November 13, 2020.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #21V057000 · 2021 · 8 vehicles
What's wrong: The dashboard surface May not be properly secured to the base material.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash where the passenger air bag deploys, an unsecured dashboard could impair the inflation of the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will replace the dashboard, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021.
Communication, Electrical Vehicle recall #21V058000 · 2021 · 1,292,258 vehicles
What's wrong: Please refer to the part 573 report for specific vehicle model details. The software design of the communication module May fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (ecall) in the event of a crash.
Why it matters: Failure of the ecall system May result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (ota) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021.
Stability control Vehicle recall #21V071000 · 2021 · 41,838 vehicles
What's wrong: During certain evasive driving maneuvers, the electronic stability program (esp) software May apply torque to one of the front wheels, pulling the vehicle to one side. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 126, "electronic stability control systems."
Why it matters: If the vehicle unexpectedly pulls to one side during an evasive maneuver, it can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will update the esp software, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021.
Equipment Vehicle recall #21V288000 · 2021 · 6,331 vehicles
What's wrong: The air conditioner drain hoses May have been incorrectly installed, causing water to drain into the passenger compartment.
Why it matters: Water intrusion into the driver and passenger side foot wells May cause corrosion and/or short circuits to electrical components, increasing the risk of fire. In addition, the emergency call (ecall) feature May be disabled and the doors May not unlock, increasing the risk of injury. Also, the…
The fix: Dealers will inspect and correct the air conditioner drain hoses, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2021.
Backup camera, Electrical Vehicle recall #21V354000 · 2021 · 343,191 vehicles
What's wrong: Please refer to mbusa's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The mbux multimedia system software May cause the display to remain black, or reboot after startup. This could result in the rearview camera image not displaying properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 111, "rear visibility."
Why it matters: A backup camera that displays a blank image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: The multimedia system software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (ota) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning June 28, 2021.
Seats Vehicle recall #21V818000 · 2021 · 27 vehicles
What's wrong: The seats May have been assembled incorrectly.
Why it matters: Incorrectly assembled seats May not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the seats, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 8, 2021.
Fuel system, Fuel system Vehicle recall #21V961000 · 2021 · 139 vehicles
What's wrong: During the manufacturing process, particles May have been trapped between the fuel rail and injectors, which can cause a fuel leak.
Why it matters: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source, such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel rail and fuel injectors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 22, 2022.
Electrical Vehicle recall #22V231000 · 2022 · 21,306 vehicles
What's wrong: A ground cable bolt for the 48v ground connection under the front passenger seat May not be secured properly, which can cause the electrical cable to overheat.
Why it matters: An overheated electrical cable can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the ground cable bolt, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2022.
Backup camera Vehicle recall #22V232000 · 2022 · 126,443 vehicles
What's wrong: Please refer to mbusa's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The rearview camera May not display the rearview image due to a software error. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "rear visibility."
Why it matters: An inoperable rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 15, 2022.
Communication, Electrical Vehicle recall #22V365000 · 2022 · 242,722 vehicles
What's wrong: Please refer to mbusa's recall report for specific vehicle model details. An error in the communication module's sim card software can cause a mobile network connection failure, disabling the emergency call (ecall) system.
Why it matters: A disabled ecall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting the emergency services call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: The communication module software will be updated through an over-the-air (ota) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2022. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on July 8, 2022, May 17, 2024, July 29, 2024, and September 27, 2024.
Airbags Vehicle recall #22V466000 · 2022 · 81 vehicles
What's wrong: The front air bag wiring harness May be routed incorrectly, which can cause the air bag not to deploy properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "occupant crash protection."
Why it matters: An air bag that does not deploy properly can increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will correct the wiring harness routing, free of charge. Owners notification letters were mailed August 22, 2022.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #22V680000 · 2022 · 161,000 vehicles
What's wrong: Due to a manufacturing error, the rear door window trim bars May detach.
Why it matters: Detached trim bars May cause a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and secure the rear window trim bars, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 1, 2022.
Seats Vehicle recall #22V732000 · 2022 · 59,574 vehicles
What's wrong: Due to a manufacturing error, the locks on the third-row seatbacks May fail in the event of a crash.
Why it matters: A seat with a seatback lock failure May not properly restrain occupants, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the third-row seatback, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #23V177000 · 2023 · 61,450 vehicles
What's wrong: The air conditioner drain hoses May have been incorrectly installed, causing water to drain into the passenger compartment.
Why it matters: Water intrusion into the foot wells May cause corrosion and/or short circuits to electrical components, increasing the risk of fire. In addition, the emergency call (ecall) feature May be disabled and the doors May not unlock, increasing the risk of injury. Also, the engine May not start or May…
The fix: Dealers will inspect and reinstall the air conditioner drain hoses, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2023.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #24V118000 · 2024 · 105,071 vehicles
What's wrong: The transmission May not fully downshift in certain conditions, causing the engine to stall.
Why it matters: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the transmission control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024.
Electrical Vehicle recall #24V207000 · 2024 · 116,020 vehicles
What's wrong: A 48-volt ground connection under the passenger seat May not be secured properly, resulting in the ground connection overheating.
Why it matters: An overheated ground connection can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the 48-volt ground connection as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 3, 2024.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 3 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Electrical (18): the most common themes are electrical failure (13), stalls / loses power (7), warning light on (6).
- Engine (9): the most common themes are electrical failure (6), stalls / loses power (4), warning light on (4).
- Fuel & propulsion (7): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (4), warning light on (3), electrical failure (3).
- Forward collision avoidance (7): the most common themes are electrical failure (2).
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz Gls 450 has 36 owner complaints, ranking #1 of 3 Gls 450 model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 25). Complaints peaked in 2024 (8 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 4,200 miles. Neighboring years: 2019 (24 complaints, 3 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 L 6-cyl turbo hybrid | Automatic 9-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 19 | 23 | 21 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
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FAQ
Does the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Gls 450 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 22 vehicle recalls for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Gls 450. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2020 Mercedes-Benz Gls 450 problems?
Owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are electrical (18), engine (9), fuel & propulsion (7).
What gas mileage does the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Gls 450 get?
EPA ratings run up to 21 mpg combined (3.0 L, Automatic 9-spd), across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2020 Mercedes-Benz Gls 450 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.