TheAce

Mercedes GLS450 is the worst vehicle I have ever owned. I had a 2023 GLS450 with multiple problems. 1) Gas cap door was replaced at the factory due to paint problems (they left the original piece in the car when I picked it up). 2) Transmission would clunk as it upshifted and downshifted. After 2 months of diagnosis and repairs, they were able to resolve this. 3) There was a bubble in the drivers seat cover that they replaced. The leather was still loose on the replacement seat cover. I got a refund based on a the state lemon law.

I purchased a new 2024 GLS450 and this car also had multiple issues. 1) Door was repainted. After a few months of ownership, I noted that there was a 3 inch square discoloration on the quarter panel. This was clearly repainted at the factory, as I had a body shop assess the paint thickness. It was inconsistent in this area. 2) Transmission was clunking as it upshifted and surged when it downshifted. This was repaired by reprogramming. 3) Seat cushion was still loose and had a bubble in it.

These cars are poorly built and have many problems endemic in their design. The quality is poor and Mercedes and their dealerships fail to provide the service expected of a luxury brand. I opted to trade this in for a different brand, despite the monetary loss. It was not worth the angst to keep this vehicle and will hopefully provide peace of mind. Never again will I purchase a Mercedes and suggest that everyone else also avoid this brand.

mikapen

Yes, you've had some problems.

I was curious about your rear bumper cover.
Did you need to replace it because you crashed it, or because of a defect?

When you reported it, you were trying to cheap out on the replacement part. Did that work?

Hope you find a dealer you can work with.

chassis

Thanks for sharing your experience. There is a steady and growing stream of former customers leaving the MB brand. Stalwarts (prolific posters here) are among the people saying “nein danke” to MB.

TheAce

That part was scraped when someone hit and skipped in a parking lot. For clarification, that part is identical (with different prices) across all of those part numbers. The most expensive being the 2024 GLS. It's the 2024 GLS tax compared to the GLE or even 2023 GLS. I had the body shop replace it with the identical part from the 2023 GLS. Having said that, I'm not sure how that is relevant to the poor quality Mercedes GLSs.

wildta

What did you replace the GLS with?

albtsang

Do you guys know if anyone has figured out what the deal with Mercedes transmission is?

streborx

My first experience with MB is my '19 G550. Aside from its half dozen NHTSA safety recalls, I haven't experienced any problems with it, and I've disabled the auto start/stop and lane keeping "features" that IMO made it undriveable. I do all my own periodic maintenance, and I plan to keep it for as long as it remains problem free.

I owned two LX570s -- a '13 that I traded for a '17. Two years ago, when I decided to trade the '17, Toyota's supply chain was still hosed, and LX600s were mostly non-existent. Buying one required standing in line indefinitely.

I never considered a GLS. There was nothing about MB as a company, MB as a car manufacturer, or MB dealerships that induced me to buy another Mercedes. I found a BMW X7M50 that suited me, and I've been OK with it except for the single software update I was encouraged to install. All it did was hose up all my custom settings, some of which I'm still trying to return to original. I've since disabled updates so I'm not being constantly hounded by update notices each time I start the car.

Choosing a new luxe ride is not easy, even when price isn't a factor. All manufacturers seem caught up in the vortex of self driving technology while ignoring the quality and reliability of what they're selling today. Nothing is convincing me to press that "hands free" button.

Splaktar

Were the two bubbly seats MB-Tex, leather, or Nappa leather? What color?

EWL5

What specific issue are you having?

nc211

We like our 2020, but it’s mostly my wife’s car. I do agree that MB has some growing issues these days in quality, which is exactly why I didn’t buy another one recently as a replacement to my 2014 E350 that I enjoyed for 7 years. Our current 2020 will be our last MB in general most likely.

MB needs to get out of the transmission business. They just can’t seem to make a smooth transmission, and this current version is not very good for smooth shifting. It doesn’t take a $100k to get a smooth, comfortable, reliable vehicle..

mikapen

I guess that would be you, no?🙂

darlop

Ok so what you are replacing it with?

W205C43PFL

Ya exactly OP, if you don't suggest people purchasing Mercedes-Benz at least let us know what do you think we should purchase. What options are you looking at?

EWL5

OP has 4 posts and decides to create a "Goodbye Mercedes" thread. Not suspicious at all!

TheAce

New Lexus LX600 is what I replaced it with. For those that think it’s suspicious, I’m not sure what my motivation would be. I’m just trying to save others from the same fate. Read the other messages and you’ll see similar problems.

I had the normal leather. It was a bulge in the leather, as if it were stretched to much.

wildta

Congratulations on your new Lexus.

Besides your grievances from above, how do they both compare thus far?

Within a day of each other, we have one GLS owner moving onto the Lexus LX600 and @dgi skipping the LX600 and getting the GLS. The world in balance.
​​​

mikapen

Regarding the leather, I've never seen a car that didn't need a little bit of massaging on the seams, to relieve tension and get the seams to lay flatter. Even my friend's Bentley.
It's worthwhile, will reduce or eliminate wear, and you get to know your interior.🙂

I'll bet your Lexus could benefit also.
Good luck.

EWL5

Apologies then! Was hoping to have seen you post in the beginning as well as the end (can't have it all!).
FWIW, there is a known issue w/the seat covers but not sure if that is only w/MB-TEX or if applies to leather seats too.

Best of luck in your new Lexus! Toyota makes great cars!

W205C43PFL

Good advice on massaging it, a little help certainly goes a long way.

SW20S

Problem with the LX600 is that its a truck...drives like a truck etc

TheAce

The LX600 drives so smoothly. It's truly is like driving on a cloud. The seats are so plush and the suspension is so compliant. I've only had it for a few weeks, but it continues to impress.

I'm not sure why I need to massage the seat. This is a material defect in the design of the seat and seat cushion. You may evaluate your own leather seat cover and it may not be tight to the seat cushion.

Two other issues that bothered me of the GLS450: 1) electronic nannies kept alarming and disabling themselves "Active Brake Assist Functions Currently Limited See Operator's Manual" and 2) the gas cap tether kept getting tangled up in the hinge and jamming the refueling door. Sometimes it would jam the hinge, other times I noticed that it would cause the door to bulge outwards and not sit flush with the quarter panel. This happened on the 2023 and 2024. These type of problems, no matter how small or large, needed to lead to some kind of redesign. It seems as if MB didn't care to improve their product. Per Albert Einstein: "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over against and expecting different results."

EWL5

You are the first to my knowledge with this gas cap issue. You had a bad car (it happens). Enjoy your Lexus and riding on clouds!

mdeeds71

The ‘Nannie’s’ exist in your Lexus and will eventually happen. Particularly when a camera comes blinded by light/dirt/humidity. Just saw it happen on a rental from early morning sun.

Grass is always greener….but rarely is.

SW20S

The LX being a BOF truck does ride very well and isolates very well. Issue is the vehicle lacks any dynamism or handling ability and that’s the big difference from something like a GLS. On the surface they look similar but they really are very different vehicles.

nc211

I agree with SW. I’ve had a couple of Lexus sedans, and two Toyota SUV’s. I cannot trash talk either in terms of quality and ride smoothness. Yes I had some expensive repairs to both Lexus sedans (LS400, GS430), but all suspension bushing and mount related as they approached the 70k+ milage mark. No big deal. My LS did have a bad ECU design flaw that was replaced. Nothing is perfect, but they are solid cars. My two Toyota SUV’s were insanely good! Only had one problem, my 4Runner’s front brake caliber seized from three years of Chicago road salt right as SW was helping me find a house in DC!

My only complaint about either Toyota or Lexus is the numbness and absolute lack of communication to the driver of what’s happening. I absolutely hated driving all 4 of them in the rain, and you had no idea if you were close to hydroplaning. Completely numb. My GS430, which I owned in Chicago, would throw the rear end out without warning on a damp cloverleaf at 30mph, even with new tires. Was snug as a glove inside and truly comfortable, but that V8 was useless except for going straight on dry pavement. For me, I need a little bit more raw driving dynamics, more communication to the steering wheel and butt instincts. Germans are the best at that, and they should be when you consider how they drive in Germany!

OP I hear your frustrations over your MB experience. They’re far from “the best or nothing at all”. Anyone who doubts that, probably hasn't been in one with the windshield wipers going…

Enjoy the new wheels! Its a nice ride for sure!