jedebenz

April delivery this year of a 2013 GL-450.
3,000 Miles and front brake rotors are warped.
Mountain drive mileage about 500 total. Dealer to replace tomorrow.
Any one else having rotor issues ?

terp97

Had the same problem at 2500 with rotors where replaced due to defective rotors. Odd

jedebenz

How many miles are at now ?

terp97

Had them replaced at 2500 miles. So all is going smooth right now. Road trip on Sunday from va to nc. Hopefully all will go well.

sraza

happened to mine and my brothers ride around 8-9k miles..
both of us had fronts changed- i've been in contact with MBUSA- they are very understanding of this situation and willing to change rears early if needed.. i'm going back this week for a re-inspection as I feel a very slight vibration and my rear rotors when touched are clearly badly warped...
hopefully these new ones dont- though i believe this has recurred for a couple members on this forum

JimBarnhart

Lot's of discussions on this thread with this issue. Seems like it was a run of contaminated rotors. Fabris, a thread contributor with links to the factory would suggest to make sure you get the pads (even though they have plenty of wear left) and the rotors replaced. The pads can carry the contamination.

Dalema

Hi. If I could suggest you add the above to the thread I had started previously on this forum - so we can keep track of all these instances.

https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-...ke-rotors.html

https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-x166/501344-brake-rotors.html

LeicaMan

2,900 highway miles and I can officially add warped brakes to my growing list of issues
with my May delivered MY13 GL550.

ERC4

Sorry to hear about your problems. Please list your issues as I am soon to make a decision on a 2014 550. My AMG is flawless and I wouldn't look forward to switching to a responsible family vehicle and having reliability issues. One is bad enough. Please comment on your dealer service too since I'm in So Cal also. Thanks.

fabbrisd1

There is a know contamination issue on somer GL and SL front rotors - however if BOTH rotors and pads are replaced I have not seen the problem reoccur.

You have to be diligent about this - since old-school techs with a low mileage GL/SL will not normally request new pads (due to mileage) but MB will HEARTILY apporve BOTH toro and pad replacement on this problem.

By the wya - it "feels" like a warping, but really is some type of contamination that gets bonded to both the rotor and pad by driving.

MB/the-real-guys suspect it has to do with rotor contamination between German factory - shipping - sit time before production - however the metallurgical analysis/final settlement hasn't come back from Germany yet - although they do already have parts-manuf-shipping-production tighter controls in place already.

Keep the beat !

cbutz

I had rotors replaced at around 5k and need new ones again at 11.5k miles on 2013 GL 450.

fabbrisd1

cbutz - please review the service invoice you received at 5K - I "expect" it shows front rotors replaced - however I also "expect" it does not show pads being replaced - on this 11.5K issue make sure you are clear with the dealer you fully expect rotors and pads BOTH replaced - which in this situation will be easily/quickly/no-problem approved by MB.

This is NOT a rotor "warping" problem - this is a contamination problem from rotor-to-pad - and BOTH require replacement to resolve the problem.

I have not personally seen the "problem" reoccur of BOTH the rotors and pads are replaced at the same time.

I have not seen any report here where BOTH rotors/pads were repalced where the problem has yet to reoccur.

The reports I have seen here where the problem has reoccurred where ONLY the rotors were replaced.

We will see what we will see - keep the beat !

cbutz

You are correct. Only rotors were replaced.

Car is scheduled for service on Friday. Will try to convince dealer to replace pads/rotors.

Thanks for the info.

andrea_tarr

I am on my THIRD round of warped rotors and new brake pads
Very disappointed
Notice problem exacerbates when driving in the mountains on a downward slope

Dealer has replaced twice already - this week will be third time

aeggroup

Wow....that really sucks.
My front rotors were changed 2 weeks ago (about 7K miles on odo)...still smooth braking..keep my fingers crossed

andrea_tarr

Hi
Vehicle now at 16,000 miles and same problem again. Seem to last about 5-6000 miles and then same problem. Back into the dealer again tomorrow.

I bought one of the first 2013 GL450s (delivered end of September 2012) so don't know if newer production models have been fixed or if same problem keeps recurring. My current rotors were drilled and that did not stop it from happening again.

Dealer so far has been good about fixing but it is a hassle

Will keep ya posted

jedebenz

DONT THINK THE PRODUCTION date has anything to do with it. I received my Gl-450 in April 2103 and have had rotors and pads replaced at 3000. currently at 5000. No problem yet,mountains coming up soon.

UAG1

just the front or both?

jedebenz

just the fronts so far....but from what I've read here the rears are going to act up eventually.

Dog hauler

I took delivery on my 2014 GL350 three weeks ago and now have about 1300 miles on it. No brake issues yet, although when stopping very gradually and at low speed, there is just a tiny bit of what I'll call surging. The car just doesn't stop very smoothly that last few miles per hour. I'm not ready to call this a brake problem, but I'm curious to know if it exists in other GLs and I may ask the dealer to take one of theirs for a test drive to check it out.

Anyway, I had the car into the dealer today because the rear camera is out and I asked the service writer if he's seen many rotor problems. The guy looked at me like I was from Mars and said that he's only seen one instance of warped rotors and it was because the owner abused the car by driving with the Distronic on too much. Huh? Apparently, the service writer thinks that the Distronic braking action is too hard on the brakes. Yipes.

I use Distronic quite a lot and while it certainly isn't the smoothest way to brake the car, it sure as heck doesn't brake in any manner that could be considered abusive on the brakes. And how the heck can using a factory option as intended lead to an accusation of being abusive to the car? Holy cow.

BTW, the service writer didn't actually say the owner was abusive to the car, but by blaming the owner's use of Distronic for the problem that's the effect of it.

blittle

Can't explain what is happening ....but, I thought it only fair to say, after slightly over 12k on the meter..... no brake problems whatsoever! I talked with the head mech. at my dealer today.....he said thier dealership has had no problems with GL brake rotors , BUTTTTT.... have had issues with E class brake rotors! In those cases, they are finding that the rotors are susceptible to "contamination" from substances used in commercial car washes! And it seemed to be vehicles that were repeatedly processed through "pressure spray" washes with "wheel blaster" options and leaving some sort of residue on the rotors and making them "squeal !"

terp97

I'm back. Almost 4200 miles and vibration is back just like it was at 2500 miles. Below 50 mph vibration when braking. What is the deal. Drove it all week due to my other car in need of a replacement tire. This is my 3rd GL and brakes have never really been a problem before. Making another appointment to take in for I'm sure will be another set of rotors and pads. Really? It can't be my driving?

cookstar

its not your driving, this is a well documented issue which even Car and Driver had with the long term Gl450.

terp97

Appointment tomorrow. Stay tuned.

terp97

Pads and rotors again. The service advisor said they have been doing a ton on GL AND ML. The pads where the problem which warped the rotors. New pad design so all should be good. So we will see. But I think they got it right this time.