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#BS-2020-MERGLS-6ED8

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 65 owners and 22 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
65
Crashes
9
Fires
3
Recalls
22
TSBs
270
🟡

Preliminary Verdict

Think Twice

Based on 65 complaints, 9 crashes, 3 fires, and 22 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

frequently downshifts harshly when coming to a stop

1 complaints • Severity 4/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the ElectricalHIGH

18 owners reported electrical issues — failures commonly reported around 4K miles.

!Inspect the EngineMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Electrical (18 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Electrical18 (28%)
Engine9 (14%)
Fuel System7 (11%)
Drivetrain4 (6%)
Other4 (6%)
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control3 (5%)
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking3 (5%)
Collision Avoidance3 (5%)

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 28% of all reports filed for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450, with 18 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 4,200 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 4K-mile mark.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 14% of all reports filed for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450, with 9 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Fuel System Issues

Fuel System complaints account for 11% of all reports filed for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450, with 7 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to fuel system-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Drivetrain Issues

Drivetrain complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450, with 4 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to drivetrain-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

3
20
12
21
10
22
5
23
13
24
7
25
15
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450. Recent trend: increasing.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (22 recalls)

19V587000Sep 2019

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

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.

19V709000Nov 2019

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

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.

20V089000Mar 2020

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

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 wheel) if the hazard lights are turned on and the ignition switch is in the 'off' position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Control and Displays."

20V172000Jul 2020

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

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.

20V329000Oct 2020

SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER

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.

+ 17 more recalls in the full report

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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The worst model year for the Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 is the 2024 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is brakes.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 65 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 22 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 21, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026.

Other Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 Model Years

202120202019201820172016
View all Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 years →

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 is related to the electrical, with 18 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 reliable?
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 has 65 complaints, 9 crash reports, and 3 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How much does it cost to fix 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 have any recalls?
Yes, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 has 22 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 problems start?
Based on 7 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 4,200 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 13, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 65 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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