The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is a vehicle built from 1999 to 2026 over 2 generations. Most were assembled in Germany — 100% of those on record. Between 2008 and 2026 it grew 16 cm longer and gained 153 kg. Worth buying? It depends heavily on which year you buy at 3.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the G-Class is
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is a vehicle that Mercedes-Benz built from 1999 to 2026 — 28 model years. Our measurements put it at 2 generations, the current one starting in 2019. Its closest siblings in the Mercedes-Benz range: Sprinter, C-Class, S-Class.
Where the G-Class is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 21 G-Classs on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | WDC | 2002-2017 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Mercedes-Benz VIN decide which of these 2 lines your G-Class belongs to. What every character in a G-Class VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Mercedes-Benz G-Class adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
G-Class generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the G-Class's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the G-Class that gives 2 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-2018 | 445 cm | 285 cm | 2417 kg | - | - |
| 2019-2026 | 461 cm | 289 cm | 2570 kg | +16 cm | +153 kg |
Between 2008 and 2026 the G-Class gained 16 cm in length (+3.6%) and 153 kg in weight (+6.3%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the G-Class that is 153 kg against 16 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Mercedes-Benz G-Class tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment G-Class owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Mercedes-Benz G-Class have? Power & range
Powertrain data warming… reload in a moment.
The G-Class by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | G-Class | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 75 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 49 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 3.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $2,731/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 364 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Mercedes-Benz G-Class?
The G-Class is a vehicle, built from 1999 to 2026 across 2 generations.
Where is the Mercedes-Benz G-Class made?
Across 21 cars in our records the split is: Germany (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the G-Class have?
2 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2019. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the G-Class grew 16 cm longer and gained 153 kg.
What is the Mercedes-Benz G-Class warranty?
New models carry 4 years / 50,000 miles basic cover and 4 years / 50,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the G-Class reliable?
It scores 3.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific G-Class?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Mercedes-Benz
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz Sprinter | 2010–2026 | 143 | — | 4.0/5 |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 1994–2026 | 213 | — | 4.0/5 |
| Mercedes-Benz S-Class | 1994–2026 | 176 | — | 3.5/5 |
| Mercedes-Benz 300 | 1981–1993 | 11 | 26 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Mercedes-Benz 350 | 1983–1991 | — | 21 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 1994–2026 | 246 | — | 4.0/5 |
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