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2009 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 5 recurring issue clusters, led by “Front strut and air suspension failure.” Mercedes-Benz alternates two service events: Service A (oil, filter, inspection) at roughly 10,000 miles or 1 year, then Service B (Service A plus brake fluid, cabin filter, and deeper checks) at roughly 20,000 miles or 2 years — the ASSYST Plus counter in the cluster tells you which is due. Oil must carry the MB-Approval number your engine specifies (commonly 229.5, or 229.71 for newer 0W-20 engines); 'meets or exceeds' marketing language is not an approval. Electric EQB and EQS models keep the A/B rhythm for inspections, brake fluid, and cabin filters — just without oil.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class.

Reported to NHTSA

Front strut and air suspension failure

SUSPENSION

5 NHTSA complaints · 2018-02 → 2026-03

“The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated that the ABS and check engine warning lights were illuminated, and the struts had failed”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11724677
“I PURCHASED MY MB GL450 IN 2010 AND AT THAT TIME IT WAS COVERED AS A PRE-OWNED MB VEHICLE. UNDER THE WARRANTY, I HAD THE AIR RIDE SUSPENSION FIXED TWICE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11074351
“I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH MY SUSPENSION. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE IT TWICE IN 1 YEAR. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED ON THIS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11152539

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Sunroof glass shattering while driving

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2 NHTSA complaints · 2017-02 → 2022-01

“I was driving 70 down an interstate a Saturday around 4:30 pm and heard a noise as if my sunroof opened a bit, then I heard a loud pop and a rush of air and looked in my rearview mirror and didn't see anything, I looked up seen the sunroof was gone”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11447646
“I WAS DRIVING ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK TODAY 2/3/2017 AND I WAS MERGING ONTO HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION. I THEN SAW THAT MY SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED AND WAS BOWED OUT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10949492

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Trailer hitch weld failure

TRAILER HITCHES

2 NHTSA complaints · 2009-06 → 2017-05

“HITCHED AN AIRSTREAM TRAILER WEIGHING 7400 LBS (PER CAT SCALE) TO NEW MERCEDES BENZ GL320 (TOW RATING 7500 LBS). WITHIN 40 MILES, WELDS ON THE FACTORY-SUPPLIED TRAILER HITCH BROKE AND THE HITCH BENT SIDEWAYS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10272984
“WE HAD TROUBLE TOWING OUR TRAVEL TRAILER, WE LOOKED UNDER OUR CAR AND THE WELD WAS BROKEN ON OUR HITCH. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEIR INSPECTION CONFIRMED IT WAS A "BAD WELD"”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10983420

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Takata airbag recall replacement delay

AIR BAGS

14 NHTSA complaints · 2016-09 → 2019-02

“TAKATA RECALL MY VEHICLE IS PART OF THE RECALL AND THERE IS STILL NO FIX FOR MY PROBLEM. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, WE ARE DRIVING WITH A TICKING TIME BOMB”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11045927
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10949241
“TAKATA RECALL A RECALL NOTICE WAS ISSUED FOR MY VEHICLE'S (2009 BENZ GL450) AIRBAGS. HOWEVER, TAKATA / MERCEDES BENZ DO NOT HAVE A REMEDY AVAILABLE FOR MY VEHICLE DESPITE THE RECALL DATE BEING MORE THAN 1 YEAR AGO”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11042257

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine stall and loss of power while driving

ENGINE

2 NHTSA complaints · 2011-01 → 2018-09

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ GL550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WITHOUT WARNING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11130048
“MERCEDES BENZ GL320CDI BLUETEC> SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT THE SPEED OF 40 MPH. LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES AND WAS NEARLY STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10375151

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Service A — Oil & Filter + Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Every 10,000 miles or 12 months: oil and filter with MB-Approved oil, fluid top-offs, tire check, and inspection. AMG models driven hard: many owners service at 5,000-7,500 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Service B — Major Inspection

Every 20,000 mi

Every 20,000 miles or 2 years, alternating with Service A: everything in A plus brake-fluid replacement, cabin filter, and a deeper multi-point inspection of brakes, suspension, and driveline.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free with any paid service. A flashlight and 10 minutes covers the basics yourself.

Tire Rotation

Every 10,000 mi

Rotate at every Service A where the tire sizes allow. Many AMG and 4MATIC+ models run staggered widths that can't rotate front-to-rear — check your spec before paying for a rotation.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Checked at every A/B service via electronic pad-wear sensors. Replace sensors with pads. Heavy EQS models wear pads slowly (regen braking) but rotors can corrode from disuse — an inspection catches that.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 20,000 mi

Replaced every 2 years as part of Service B — Mercedes schedules it on time, not miles, because DOT 4 fluid absorbs moisture regardless of driving.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission Fluid (7G / 9G-Tronic)

Every 70,000 mi

Mercedes specifies fluid and filter service around 70,000 miles on most 7G- and 9G-Tronic gearboxes — check your year's sheet. Use only the MB-spec fluid for your transmission code; independent specialists often service at 60,000 on hard-driven cars.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 60,000 mi

Most modern MB gas engines: plugs around 60,000 miles — AMG engines often sooner. Check your engine's sheet; twin-turbo V8 plug jobs are labor-heavy, so pair with other scheduled work.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Air Filter

Every 40,000 mi

Replace around every 40,000 miles (twin-filter setups on V6/V8 engines double the parts bill). Inspected at every Service B.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Combination / Dust Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replaced with every Service B. Models with the ENERGIZING air package use a higher-grade filter — priced accordingly.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Engine Coolant

On condition / lifetime

MB-spec coolant is long-life (typically ~10 years / 150,000 miles on the sheet). Refresh only with MB 325/326-spec coolant — the wrong chemistry attacks aluminum and head gaskets.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

12V & Auxiliary Battery

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Most modern Mercedes carry a second auxiliary battery; a weak one triggers cascading warning messages long before a no-start. EQ models also depend on the 12V system to boot.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

9 crashes 1990–2024

How the 9 occupant deaths break down

4

driver deaths

5

passenger deaths

9

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2017 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

2

complaints mentioning a crash

1

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class reflects Mercedes-Benz's published service intervals and the ASSYST Plus (Service A / Service B) system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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