The 2020 draws 3.08 complaints per run and the 2018 1.25, a 2.5-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age, so 60% land after the 4-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Electrical System, with 23 complaints, typically at 3 years.
Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 7 | 7 | too new | |
| 2022 | 8 | 6 | too new | |
| 2020 | 37 | 12 | yes | |
| 2019 | 19 | 12 | yes | |
| 2018 | 5 | 4 | yes |
Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2020 GLS-Class asks a median $29,295, against $37,975 for a 2021, the next model year: about 23% less, so sellers do price some of the trouble in.
Among the 3 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2020, 2019, 2018; the three worth hunting are 2018, 2019, 2020.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 5.3% | covered | |
| 1 year | 17.3% | covered | |
| 2 years | 28% | covered | |
| 3 years | 40% | covered | |
| 4 years | 58.7% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 78.7% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 89.3% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 98.7% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 4 years / 50,000 miles. Only 40% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 60% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (4 years / 50,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 33% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, the early trouble is Electrical System and Engine — reported at around 3 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Suspension at 5.9 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3 yrs | 2 | 1 | |
| Engine | 3.5 yrs | 1 | 2 | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 4 yrs | 2 | 1 | |
| Unknown Or Other | 3.5 yrs | 1 | 1 | |
| Service Brakes | 3.6 yrs | 2 | 1 | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2.8 yrs | 1 | 1 | |
| Suspension | 5.9 yrs | — | — | |
| Power Train | 2.8 yrs | 2 | — |
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
Is the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.85 against 3.73 for the average car.
Which GLS-Class years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2020, 2019, 2018. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2018, 2019, 2020. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do GLS-Class problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age. The most reported system is Electrical System, typically at 3 years, followed by Engine.
Will the warranty cover GLS-Class problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 4 years / 50,000 miles, and only 40% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 33% of the complaints here.
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