2020 GLS 450 Front Axel Issue
Has anyone had any similar issues? If so, what was the fix?
Vehicle currently has 48.5k miles. Service advisor said they would keep the ticket open until the issue is resolved being that I’m so close to being out of warranty.
Has anyone had any similar issues? If so, what was the fix?
Vehicle currently has 48.5k miles. Service advisor said they would keep the ticket open until the issue is resolved being that I’m so close to being out of warranty.




One interesting note: everything was covered under warranty, but since replacing the front diff didn’t fix the problem, they took the new part off and replaced it with the old one. I thought that was interesting.
One interesting note: everything was covered under warranty, but since replacing the front diff didn’t fix the problem, they took the new part off and replaced it with the old one. I thought that was interesting.
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I'm the original owner of a 2020 GLS450 and now at 49k miles (just a gnat's *** from the warranty's end) the dealer is telling me that the front diff has given up the ghost. Exact same symptoms as Jmac26 described: popping sound from while turning at very low speed although I can't be sure it's coming from the front-end and not more centralized (i.e. transfer case). At higher speed I could detect some bearing noise at various points throughout the throttle range.
The dealer says they diagnosed this with the vehicle in the air and could clearly tell the noise was from the front-end. To make matters more interesting, they just happened to have ANOTHER vehicle in the shop with the same symptoms.
So far they have had my GLS for 4 weeks while diagnosing and awaiting the replacement front diff. They think they will have the job done in a few more days, so we shall see if the front diff is actually to blame on my car.
I'm the original owner of a 2020 GLS450 and now at 49k miles (just a gnat's *** from the warranty's end) the dealer is telling me that the front diff has given up the ghost. Exact same symptoms as Jmac26 described: popping sound from while turning at very low speed although I can't be sure it's coming from the front-end and not more centralized (i.e. transfer case). At higher speed I could detect some bearing noise at various points throughout the throttle range.
The dealer says they diagnosed this with the vehicle in the air and could clearly tell the noise was from the front-end. To make matters more interesting, they just happened to have ANOTHER vehicle in the shop with the same symptoms.
So far they have had my GLS for 4 weeks while diagnosing and awaiting the replacement front diff. They think they will have the job done in a few more days, so we shall see if the front diff is actually to blame on my car.
Yesterday morning, my wife takes the car for its first drive and it clearly still exhibits the same symptoms as before. So we had it towed back to the dealer and now they are evaluating the transfer case. I can't believe they let this car leave the shop in this condition.
I also got more info about the other vehicle they had in the shop with same symptoms. That car was a GLE63 and the service tech told me that they swapped the front diff but that didn't fix the problem either. Worth noting that I confirmed in EPC that my GLS450 shares the same front diff part number as a GLE63.
Yesterday morning, my wife takes the car for its first drive and it clearly still exhibits the same symptoms as before. So we had it towed back to the dealer and now they are evaluating the transfer case. I can't believe they let this car leave the shop in this condition.
I also got more info about the other vehicle they had in the shop with same symptoms. That car was a GLE63 and the service tech told me that they swapped the front diff but that didn't fix the problem either. Worth noting that I confirmed in EPC that my GLS450 shares the same front diff part number as a GLE63.
I'm the original owner of a 2020 GLS450 and now at 49k miles (just a gnat's *** from the warranty's end) the dealer is telling me that the front diff has given up the ghost. Exact same symptoms as Jmac26 described: popping sound from while turning at very low speed although I can't be sure it's coming from the front-end and not more centralized (i.e. transfer case). At higher speed I could detect some bearing noise at various points throughout the throttle range.
The dealer says they diagnosed this with the vehicle in the air and could clearly tell the noise was from the front-end. To make matters more interesting, they just happened to have ANOTHER vehicle in the shop with the same symptoms.
So far they have had my GLS for 4 weeks while diagnosing and awaiting the replacement front diff. They think they will have the job done in a few more days, so we shall see if the front diff is actually to blame on my car.



It'd be good to know the source of this issue so we can anticipate it with whichever GLS we end up buying.
My service advisor was aware of this problem and he immediately said, we will take care of it. It appears to be an updated part for this issue which they ordered and replaced in a day. Hope this helps.




What was the cost of the repair? Did you have an Extended Warranty or Service Policy? Mileage?
Unlike you, I abuse my AWD at the track and off road, and I'll be facing a "Keep, with Service Policy or Replace" decision when my warranty expires next March. I'm watching 2020 & 2021 issues as the cars gain miles.
Last edited by mikapen; Dec 11, 2024 at 05:42 PM.
What was the cost of the repair? Did you have an Extended Warranty or Service Policy? Mileage?
Unlike you, I abuse my AWD at the track and off road, and I'll be facing a "Keep, with Service Policy or Replace" decision when my warranty expires next March. I'm watching 2020 & 2021 issues as the cars gain miles.


