GLS Class (X167) Produced 2020 to present

Rear Inner Door Panel Loose/Not Clipped in

Old Apr 23, 2026 | 12:01 AM
  #1  
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Rear Inner Door Panel Loose/Not Clipped in

Hi All,

I have a 2020 GLS with the sunshades and on my driver side rear door, the interior door panel trim is not tight fitted. You can see the comparison between the two photos that there is a gap on the left door, but if the panel is tight fitted on the right side door. I have extended warranty, but the last time I went in they said that interior trim is not covered under the extended warranty and was asking for a 3 hour diagnostic fee + any additional time/repair costs. I feel like this is going to cost me over $1k to fix at the dealer where it probably is a trim clip that might be broken or something that I can do myself.

I really need to get this fixed as my toddler is putting stuff inside and is starting to jam the sunshade. I've gotten the items out and it works properly for now, but I am curious if anybody would know for sure if this is covered under extended warranty. If not, does anyone have any instructions from WIS or have any idea how i can take the door panel off and hopefully replace a clip or something? Any insight would help.

Thank you!!




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Old Apr 23, 2026 | 05:36 AM
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Common issue, I have the exact same setup with the sun shade too. If you’ve not done this before or not terribly mechanically inclined or just not confident about it, an easier way to fix it is to just go by a body shop or window tint place instead of dealership. Along the top there, the panel has a narrow slide piece that runs the entire length of the panel and sit right under the window. It has popped out of the rail. You can try pushing on it to see if it’ll clip back in.

this is the front door procedure, but is basically the exact same for the rear, minus the need to remove a piece under the handle (look, you’ll see the screw hole already exposed. There is a second screw hidden under the top corner of the handle, you have to pop off the same little piece as the front door in the video to access it. Around the lower and side parameter of the door are the clips. Get a trim remover tool from Amazon, slide it in between the panel and metal door and go around the parameter to pop the clips. Do not use a metal screw driver!!! Get the nylon trim tool, won’t scratch up the paint.

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Old Apr 23, 2026 | 05:38 AM
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PS-you may want to call the dealer to see if there was a recall for this actually. I want to say that there was for some of the 2020’s, but I can’t recall exactly. Something about the rear door panel.
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Old Apr 23, 2026 | 09:04 AM
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Originally Posted by nc211
PS-you may want to call the dealer to see if there was a recall for this actually. I want to say that there was for some of the 2020’s, but I can’t recall exactly. Something about the rear door panel.
Can anyone find a TSB on this? I gave a search for this on here and NHTSA but couldn't find this.
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Old Apr 23, 2026 | 10:01 AM
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Originally Posted by nc211
Common issue, I have the exact same setup with the sun shade too.
..........................
Why do you say it's a "Common Issue?"
It's not, unless you can provide some references from owners.
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Old Apr 23, 2026 | 10:36 AM
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Originally Posted by mikapen
Why do you say it's a "Common Issue?"
It's not, unless you can provide some references from owners.
MB issued some type of recall notice for the 2020’s that pertained to the rear door panel not being properly secured. It was coming loose around the door lock knob I think. I can’t remember all the details, but it was a common enough for MB to either issue a recall or a TSB for it. I do remember seeing it. Something about a misaligned clip or the window sweep piece I think.

Either way, this isn’t a major repair process. OP
can either try as DIY, or take it to basically anywhere that would take a door card off as part of their process (tinting stereo, body shop, etc). No need for a an exuberant MB price tag visit and a 10 day wait. Thing can be reattached in about 30 minutes.

Last edited by nc211; Apr 23, 2026 at 10:40 AM.
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Old Apr 23, 2026 | 01:06 PM
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Ours does that as well. I thought it was the kids slamming the door but they actually listened and stopped. It still pops loose even from normal door closing forces. I can push it back in but it does not seem to latch onto anything particularly well.
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Old Apr 24, 2026 | 03:33 AM
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Originally Posted by jkaetz
Ours does that as well. I thought it was the kids slamming the door but they actually listened and stopped. It still pops loose even from normal door closing forces. I can push it back in but it does not seem to latch onto anything particularly well.
Do you have rear sunshades too? My rear passenger side is doing something similar and I thought it was my kid too.
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Old Apr 24, 2026 | 07:51 PM
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Originally Posted by nc211
Common issue, I have the exact same setup with the sun shade too.
Originally Posted by mikapen
Why do you say it's a "Common Issue?"
It's not, unless you can provide some references from owners.
It is 100% VERY common issue. Mine also had that done even though it's a newer one and not a 2020. There is even a TSB about it for how common it is

Last edited by S_W222; Apr 24, 2026 at 07:53 PM.
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Old Apr 25, 2026 | 07:02 PM
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Originally Posted by S_W222
It is 100% VERY common issue. Mine also had that done even though it's a newer one and not a 2020. There is even a TSB about it for how common it is
That's what I was asking for. Link or number?
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Old Apr 25, 2026 | 07:10 PM
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Originally Posted by S_W222
It is 100% VERY common issue. Mine also had that done even though it's a newer one and not a 2020. There is even a TSB about it for how common it is
Is there a permanent fix or do they just snap it in better than from the factory?

Anyone have any luck finding the TSB?
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Old Apr 25, 2026 | 07:57 PM
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Originally Posted by mikapen
That's what I was asking for. Link or number?
If you are asking for the TSB, I don't have it saved on my files unfortunately.

Originally Posted by wildta
Is there a permanent fix or do they just snap it in better than from the factory?
Anyone have any luck finding the TSB?
No, it's been fine since them, but the other door needed the same exact thing a few months later and it was fixed the same way. Just mention it to them during an oil change, both service advisors I talked to were aware of it and found the TSB and attached it to my oil service visit request as I remember.

Last edited by S_W222; Apr 25, 2026 at 07:59 PM.
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Old Apr 26, 2026 | 12:59 AM
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Originally Posted by nc211
Common issue, I have the exact same setup with the sun shade too. If you’ve not done this before or not terribly mechanically inclined or just not confident about it, an easier way to fix it is to just go by a body shop or window tint place instead of dealership. Along the top there, the panel has a narrow slide piece that runs the entire length of the panel and sit right under the window. It has popped out of the rail. You can try pushing on it to see if it’ll clip back in.

this is the front door procedure, but is basically the exact same for the rear, minus the need to remove a piece under the handle (look, you’ll see the screw hole already exposed. There is a second screw hidden under the top corner of the handle, you have to pop off the same little piece as the front door in the video to access it. Around the lower and side parameter of the door are the clips. Get a trim remover tool from Amazon, slide it in between the panel and metal door and go around the parameter to pop the clips. Do not use a metal screw driver!!! Get the nylon trim tool, won’t scratch up the paint.

https://youtu.be/9Awe_q5OEhM?si=4dxkEBaDSQijbVmJ
Thanks for the info, I will definitely try this out and see if I can get this fixed. So to confirm, I will need to take the panel off before I try to push the narrow slide piece back on the rail right?

I was just worried it wasn't a DIYable thing, but this seems simple enough. It would be nice if someone can locate the TSB related to this though, as I have also had no luck with finding one as well.
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Old Apr 26, 2026 | 02:01 AM
  #14  
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Well I did take off the door panel and the slide clips are going inside the rail, but its not really latching onto anything like someone above mentioned as well. It seems my door is warped (curving towards the inside of car near the middle of the panel), and it wont engage any thing. Since there's no real purple clip at that location, I think it's just going to be like this unless I replace the door panel unfortunately. If anybody have any further insights with a TSB or something, I think they will not cover me a door panel under extended warranty.



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Old Apr 26, 2026 | 01:42 PM
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Originally Posted by alanme123
Well I did take off the door panel and the slide clips are going inside the rail, but its not really latching onto anything like someone above mentioned as well. It seems my door is warped (curving towards the inside of car near the middle of the panel), and it wont engage any thing. Since there's no real purple clip at that location, I think it's just going to be like this unless I replace the door panel unfortunately. If anybody have any further insights with a TSB or something, I think they will not cover me a door panel under extended warranty.
For things that has a TSB, usually the warranty is a bit more forgiving with it even when it seems like a user-caused issue. If your service advisor can find the TSB, they will cover it just like mine. However, if the entire door panel in your case is damaged and need to be replaced, the warranty may not cover it (or at least they may only cover the labor part of it).

The key is to get it fixed as soon as you notice the issue, and before the door panel gets permanently warped/curved. One season of summer followed by winter, and the door panel will just assume that curved shape. I caught it immediately so the fix was to likely just put it back in place with new clips or whatever; as it wasn't clear to me what they did exactly, but it's been fully addressed on both doors now.. 1 full year and no issues at all.
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Old Apr 30, 2026 | 01:50 AM
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I brought the car in to another dealer that doesn't charge a diagnostic fee if my car has a ELW. Turns out it was an issue with the sunshade roller. Apparently there's a clip in the sunshade assembly that the door latches onto. They replaced it and so far it has not popped back out. Hopefully this fixes the issue and maybe it can help others with the same issue. Replaced for free under ELW.
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