The rear seat control button and the heated seat button both fell out of the door recently (actually, they fall into the door). This being the third time. So, I decided to handle it myself today and save myself the ha$$le. It's extremely easy to remove the door panels. Took me all of 10 minutes. If you all think the quality here is top notch, I'm here to tell you it's not anymore. The reason these break is because they're extremely cheap plastic, like KIA cheap. They clip into the panel, and the clip is a very thin piece of plastic that breaks with very little force. Something bumps the switch, and you're lucky if the clip doesn't break. I circled the areas were we still have the clip, and parts where the clip broke. We've lost so many of them now that I'll have to order a new switch and start over. But for now, our luxury Mercedes Benz now has some superglue and old-fashion duct tape holding the seat controller in place in the door. I didn't even attempt to get to the seat and phone charger control in the back 3rd row, that are broken (again) from taking the dog to the vet a few months ago. This will be the third attempt to fix those, but said screw it.

So frustrating. There are many things about the car that impress me, like brake pads that last a 100k miles! Or how smooth and powerful the i6 engine is. I can live with the clunky transmission when slowing down. But these little paper cut things where they clearly have cut corners, just start to add up here and there and taint the opinion of MB quality. I know they don't make them like they used to pre-Chrysler, but come on MB. How is the synthetic leather in our 11 year old VW flawless, yet MB Tex has split open on both of our MB cars over the years? I've never once had a door switch break loose from the door before in any vehicle ever. The paint on the stalks is wearing off, the headliner is basically just sitting the pillar pieces, etc. It's these little things that makes you ask......

The Best or Nothing at all?

 

Yeah, I agree with you, but at least it is an SUV built for families, so I had that lower expectations for quality already in mind and am supper happy with it.

Wait until you experience the new/current S-class gen (W223). That’s where those quality concerns become unacceptable and a complete disappointment at that point. Plastics everywhere around the seat. Rattles and creaks. Mbenz needs to go back to the drawing board. At least the GLS has always been like that (marginally acceptable quality), but the S-class went from great to marginally-trashy interior quality.

 

Lots of truth in this thread. The gist I am getting is: MB is junk.

 

In my opinion, it certainly brings the brand down a few notches to the point of considering other brands that perhaps don’t (or shouldn’t) present the same or better quality for less money, in both acquisition and maintenance/repair costs.

When this is over a decade old, and still looks like this with absolutely no issues whatsoever, it begs the question of why and how. I took this photo a few weeks ago, my son’s 2014 VW. A vehicle that cost less than a 1/3 new when compared to a MB. Wiped it down with a damp cloth and cleaned the windows. The seat isn’t even deformed on the bolster. Ours, on its 3rd MBTex seat cover in 5 years, doesn’t look nearly as good,

 

BMW is no better. Things are getting so cheap. Everyone is literally doing the bare minimum these days!

Stupid stuff like removing data capability from the center console or removing multichannel FLAC capability and hiding it in the upgraded audio is really annoying!

 

I agree. The only difference is that the GLS is still a better car than the X7. The GLS is more reliable, especially with the inline-6, has a larger cabin, better off-roading, and has similar build quality (good or bad). The difference lies in the rest of the lineup. The majority of the Mbenz lineup is embarrassing compared to BMW. A good example is the W223, which has no chance against the 7 series. It is likely the most disappointing S-class generation after the W220. There is a plasticky parts everywhere, along with creaks and rattles, and poor technology (not even phone as key in 2026, is just wow). Mbenz needs to find cost-cutting measures elsewhere without compromising build quality and interior materials. E-class right now is the only mbenz that can save the face for Mbenz.

 

You must not have heard how poorly the new X3 is doing (G45). It got so cheap that it's only the 2nd most sold BMW in NA after 3Q of 2025 (X5 holds the top spot)! There is no reason that the X3 is not the top seller other than they completely fumbled the redesign. They're only close to the X5 sold now because of heavy recent incentives and much regret, I'm sure!

 

Sad and true. G01 X3 when introduced in 2018 was a good seller. We had one and it was an excellent car, flawless, until the plastic cooling system parts started failing without notice causing near-instant total coolant loss and overheating. The X3 is gone now, sadly. When it worked it was excellent.

When German cars hit a certain mileage point, they grenade and crumble into dust. As designed and intended by the manufacturers.

 

I have no experience with modern BWM's, but the X5 is insanely popular in my area (white in particular). I've just never really been a fan of BMW. Nothing against them, just "meh" on the interiors.

There is so much about this GLS that was just slapped together with cheap plastic, it's really disappointing. Like the housing for the exterior cabin filter (up against the firewall on the passenger side). it's just such flimsy plastics. Same with the windshield cowl along the bottom. It literally just lifts off the glass. It's not failed, so I can't say it's a fault, but does make one wonder if they went that cheap on certain items, what's to come with the bigger ticket stuff. We're rounding 90k miles and no fluid leaks, nothing mechanical to complain about, and what I am complaining about is really superficial in the bigger picture arena. But for $100k....damn... We all know the lovely MB windshield wipers...

I think my German exposure is going to stay with VW / Audi going forward. At least for new cars. Not ruling out an older MB SL or something like that one day as a toy. But never buying a new MB again.

Neighbor has a 2022 GLA for his daughter. 2.0t engine, maybe 30k miles? It's very nice. Recently spent 2 weeks at the dealership for an oil change, of which the check engine light came on, and they "found something on one of the cylinders". Haven't a clue what it was, car is back home, but....

 

My GLS hatch release switch in the driver’s door also broke and sunk into the door despite almost never using it.


My F-150’s interior door handle broke off. They switched from a regular pull lever to a squeeze paddle handle on the 2015 generation because so many handles broke off.

The Ford’s rear center cupholder also broke completely off. I am not rough with my vehicles.

The Ford’s exterior door keypad also broke its mounting clips.

The Ford lugnuts rust on the inside of the 2 layers, swelling until the original hex socket no longer fits and you can’t change a tire on the side of the road.

The best selling vehicle in the country has problems with cheap plastics, it’s an industry-wide issue.

 

The S-class and GLS both should have at least one OPTIONAL interior package that eliminates ALL plastic surfaces on the seats, dash, doors and consoles. Jeep has that option that even the seat side trim panels are covered with leather. BMW doesn’t specifically have that but you get 95% close to that with the Full Merino. Mbenz should offer a package that covers those parts. Some customers will pay. At least it should be made available. Also, I think the W223 and GLS both should have less plastic even with the standard interior packages. The amount of plastic trim parts is becoming embarrassing in Mbenz cars from the 2020-present era.

 

Agreed. They saved it for the Maybach or well, looks like the facelift is much improved if the spyshots are any indication. Let's see...

 

Op, So reading through that it looks like the dog is doing a bunch of damage to the car… are you really upset that your dog keeps knocking off some buttons or has this happened completely randomly with nobody, touching or knocking it?

 

They do. It's called “AMG Exclusive Nappa Leather Package," cost about $4,800, and covers almost all touch surfaces with upgraded leather.
In non-AMG models, it's priced differently, but still extensive leather.
Mine still smells like leather after 4 1/2 years and 48,000 miles.
It's also a bit more comfy than standard leather. The feel is what sold me on the option.

 

The dog only knocked out the USB and middle row seat controller for the 3rd row seats (back on the passenger/rear wheel well hump). Dog has ridden in the car maybe 5 times. It's a dog, in an SUV. That should probably be close to the top of the list at MB engineer HQ to withstand, especially if they're going to make the car hop up and down via its own suspension system.... :-)

The pictures are from the rear passenger door. The dog has never ridden in the middle row (bench, not captain chairs). It's just our daughter's spot. No, no real "hits" to the switches, but a few door slams over the years by accident. I've also had other repair the motorized window shade that has jumped off of it's guide pin on that door as well many times. It just falls out of the guide pin if the door is closed too hard. It's an easy, but very annoying fix. But again, this is a family car, advertised as a rugged SUV, so long as you don't slam the doors or have the blow-up beach ball in the second row....

I know I'm whining, and in reality it's all pretty trivial. But it's the easy things here that shouldn't be a problem for a manufacture like Mercedes Benz. I mean, the MBTex splitting on a 2020, after god only knows how many complaints about the exact same thing on the E series sedans from a decade prior? That's just damn stubborn crap from MB refusing to learn from their mistakes....or an engineered revenue maker... Either way, only car to ever suffer from these types of annoyances in my life, are my two Mercedes Benz vehicles. I know all cars have their little quirks and annoyances. None are perfect....

 

My 2016 GL was way sturdier and closer to "quality parts" compared to my current MY23 GLS.

 

I don’t have one of these newfangled vehicles, but I can say with the three modern Mercedes I’ve had, I’ve never had any sort of button switches break, or any creaking trim, or any seating surface issues…literally no issues like that.

Mercedes only makes one rugged truck-like vehicle and that is for the parts outside of the vehicle and under the vehicle and the drivetrain. The interior is luxury and would never stand up to the ruggedness that the actual mechanical vehicle can. The typical Mercedes driver is not jumping into their seat wearing car hearts with a knife in the back pocket, they are normally wearing nice clothing and or business attire. Many of us can remember in the “olden days” that a parent would never let a child or a dog or a drink into the back of a Mercedes, especially anything with an S in the name.

if you want a rugged truck, you’re going to have to look towards a different brand. Mercedes tried the truck thing, which arrived as a failure ultimately. And I’ll add, the jumping feature (which has been removed) is for the oil barons that get stuck in the sand, not the US drivers that want to jump around in the middle of an intersection… or use their summer 22 inch tires in the snow. Those oil barons could also leave their truck in the middle of the desert and set it on fire and go buy a new one later that day so they’re not exactly looking at the durability of this car.

I guess some people are easily swayed by marketing especially when the reality we can all see around us is that materials are evolving to be cheap and throw away.

 

The military inspired or actually, actual military built G-Wagen might satisfies those requirements.

 

I won't say MB is head and shoulders above the rest, but all manufacturers have cheap bits and use plastic everywhere. A long time ago I used to install custom stereos and alarms. Then I worked at a dealership for 4 years in the service department working on cars. I still work on many of my cars and some of my friends and families occasionally. Several of my friends still work on cars for a living. If MB annoys you, you might be shocked at what other manufacturers have. Do I wish that MB did a better job with some things? Absolutely. However, I would say they are well above the average in build quality. It's just the way things are these days. I will also say that having loaners can be eye opening. I am currently in a pretty base model GLS while the dealership repairs damage they did to mine. There are a few little things about it that make it feel cheaper and less quality even though it really isn't.

 

I guess I'm guilty of wearing carhartts with a knife in my back pocket.
And driving on challenging off-road trails like Engineer Pass near Ouray CO, embarrassing Jeep clubs by "playing through" as they strategize their next obstacle, which is somewhat easy for a MB SUV.
And towing a 27' RV.
With my W164, W166, and now V167.
In short, I use the "Utility" aspect of my SUV consistently.

I've never had parts fall off. My most egregious flaw was the spark plug wiring harness (replaced under warranty), but I attribute that to Germany's requirements for fully recyclable components, which, although admirable, can decrease service life. It's a German thing - and EU to a certain extent.

 

I think you will find this is an issue with all new cars. Even Lexus, I have taken interiors apart in my last few cars to fix rattles and my LS460s had the same type of clips etc, the LS500 you can literally disassemble the interior with one hand.


My W223 in comparison absolutely is assembled with screws and bolts and not just clips like that.

Having had both the W222 and the W223 you are way overstating the issues with the W223. Its absolutely true that there is cheap plastic in places that should not be the case, most notably around the base of the seats which creates creaking and such that is annoying. There are too many creaks and such inside but they are solvable. I also chased creaks in my W222 and in my LS460s. The new 7 Series is put together inside better without a doubt, but the styling of the car is polarizing and in the ICE versions the car are not as refined as the W223. The i7 is incredibly refined but that brings with it the EV tradeoffs not everybody wants.

I would not want to go back to the 222 from the 223, overall the 223 is a better car.

 

The main rugged SUV they make, is actually based on the Puch military vehicle. Puch makes them, MB finishes them in their own luxury style.

Our GLS is basically a family anti-minivan minivan. It's a Costco Cruiser, school runner, road trip to NC hauler. The most "off roading" it has ever seen was a wet field parking lot for a HS cross-country race. It doesn't even see the sand when we're back in NC on the coast. Additionally, it barely sees 2,500 RPM on a routine basis, it just glides around from suburban spot to suburban spot, lives in the garage of a gated golf community and is pampered more than I am. As long as it continues to operate as well at it has over the last 5 years / 90k miles, we'll certainly see a decade and 150k-200k+ out of it.

But.... I won't be discounting other SUV's that cost less because they're not a Mercedes Benz the next time around. Yes, it's a very good car, perhaps the best rear seating room of any on the market and can cruise with the best of them. But the cheap plastics behind the laminate, are disappointing to say the least for (1) the brand itself, and (2) for the price point of admissions. Especially in today's dollars. Ours (2020) was $88k 5 years ago. Would be over $100k today.

They just need to spend a little less on EV investment, and invest a little more in refinement of the finishing touches, especially on the vehicles that are likely selling the most (SUV's). Not that they're any worse than anyone else, but certainly not miles ahead of anyone else either. In fact, I would argue they're falling behind the other German manufactures in that regard, despite having the nicest interior designs. No argument our GLS is perhaps the most beautiful vehicle we've ever owned (midnight blue / beige / open pore walnut / 21's). Just sucks when something repeatedly breaks because of cheap plastics hidden in the background.

 

nc211, the EV costs have to be hurting the brand. Maybe the aluminum battery will turn around the EV losses, that are being subsidized by the rest of the non EV lineup.

 

It could be worse, glad they didn't use soy.

 

I’d also pick the W223 over the W222 if I am forced to choose one, but I’m unsure if it’s superior in all areas. It’s not as good in some, better in a few, and just as good in most. Also, even though I wouldn’t choose the W222 over the W223 today, I was more enthusiastic about the W222 in its time because it didn’t have the issues discussed above as the W223. That’s why I owned two W222s, pre- and post-LCI, but didn’t feel inclined to own the W223. The core issue is that Mbenz missed the mark with the W223. The problems shouldn’t be in a car like this for owners to chase and fix themselves. It’s also disappointing that Mbenz could have addressed these issues by replacing plastic with more premium materials for minimal 1-3% additional cost…given the S-class heritage they should have done it. It’s clearly bothering many owners, and there are more creaks/rattle threads/complaints about the W223 than any other luxury sedan in the 100-200K range. I hope Mbenz is listening.

In the end it is about the balance between accepting a car’s imperfections and appreciating it, while also acknowledging its inferior quality. I’m doing the same for my GLS. I love it for how it is, but I know it should be better. I’m fine with that because it’s a family car. However, I wouldn’t accept that for my daily or luxury ride. The same way, I loved Tesla S, but I wish they’d offer premium cabin options and less road noise. And it’s interesting that Tesla has less plastic touch surfaces in the Model S than the W223, even though the Model S is more inferior to the S-class all around. But at least they covered those areas with vinyl materials emulating leather. I’d prefer vinyl material around the seats instead of plastic trim all day long.