NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The 48-Volt ground connection under the passenger seat may not be properly secured, which can cause it to overheat.
The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS580 has 11 recalls, the most serious involving a fuel pump that can shut down without warning and cut drive power entirely, and a 48-volt electrical ground connection under the front passenger seat that can overheat and start a fire.
The fire risk from that ground connection has been filed across overlapping model years, and prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the issue. A separate concern involves the air conditioning drain hoses, which can route water into the front foot wells and cause electrical short circuits that also raise the risk of fire. On the structural side, third-row seatback locks can fail in a crash, leaving rear occupants without proper restraint, and the rear window may not be adequately bonded to the tailgate and can shed onto the road. Rear door window trim bars can also detach and become road hazards. Two recalls cover the emergency call system, which can either become disabled entirely or send responders to the wrong location after a crash. The multimedia system software can cause the backup camera display to go black or reboot, reducing rear visibility when reversing. Switch illumination in the instrument cluster can also fail, making interior controls harder to locate while driving.
At a glance
What can fail
The 48-Volt ground connection under the passenger seat may not be properly secured, which can cause it to overheat.
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What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and tighten the 48-Volt ground connection as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel pump may shut down unexpectedly, causing a loss of engine power while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel pump at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Air conditioner drain hoses may be incorrectly installed, allowing water to drain into the passenger compartment instead of outside the vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the air conditioner drain hoses and reinstall them correctly at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The locks securing the third-row seatbacks may fail during a crash due to a manufacturing error, potentially allowing the seatbacks to move unexpectedly.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the third-row seatback as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The trim bars around the rear door windows may come loose and detach due to a manufacturing error.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the rear window trim bars and secure them as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error in the communication module's SIM card can prevent mobile network connection, which disables the emergency call (eCall) system.
What the fix does
The communication module software will be updated at no cost through an over-the-air update or by a dealer.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The ground cable bolt for the 48V electrical connection under the front passenger seat may not be properly tightened, which can cause the cable to overheat.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and tighten the ground cable bolt as needed at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear window may not be properly bonded to the tailgate, which could cause the rear glass to detach.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the rear window at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The MBUX multimedia system software may cause the display to go black or restart after startup, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying properly.
What the fix does
A dealer will update the multimedia system software, or you can receive the update over-the-air, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The communication module software may fail to send your vehicle's correct location to emergency services when the eCall system activates during a crash.
What the fix does
A dealer will update the communication module software, or the update will be sent over-the-air, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The instrument cluster software may turn off the lights on certain interior switches (switch bar, overhead controls, steering wheel) when hazard lights are on and the ignition is off.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the instrument cluster software at no cost to restore proper switch illumination.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.