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2013 Mercedes-Benz G-Class problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2013 Mercedes-Benz G-Class has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 0safety recalls
- 6owner complaints
- 1crash report
- 1fire report
- 12%fail the UK MOT
6 complaints, against an average of 5 for the other 8 Mercedes-Benz G-Class model years.
Every Mercedes-Benz G-Class model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2013 Mercedes-Benz G-Class?
The components named most often in the 6 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
Has the 2013 Mercedes-Benz G-Class been recalled?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz G-Class as of October 25, 2026. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN before you rely on this.
Is the 2013 Mercedes-Benz G-Class recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSASmall cracks may appear in the brake pipes
Risk: Cracks may develop in the brake pipes to the ABS unit.
Fix: Modified brake pipes with an optimized routing will be fitted.
UK DVSASteering column coupling may not be tight
Risk: Insufficient tightening of the steering column coupling could lead to wear of the steering coupling during use. In case of excessive wear of the steering coupling the coupling eventually may not transfer the effort the driver inputs to the steering to the steering gear in which case the steering control would be lost.
Fix: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and replace the steering column coupling.
EU Safety GateThe oil supply to the drive shaft bearing in the rear axle differential may be inadequate, which could lead to that the car suddenly loses…The oil supply to the drive shaft bearing in the rear axle differential may be inadequate, which could lead to that the car suddenly loses speed, creating a risk of an accident. Moreover, the rear wheels may lock, resulting in a loss of vehicle control and/or transmission oil may leak or vehicle parts may fall onto the road, endangering other road users.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateFaulty configurations of the control units (traction systems, signal recording triggering modules, engine control units and headlights)…Faulty configurations of the control units (traction systems, signal recording triggering modules, engine control units and headlights) could cause one or more control units to malfunction, which could increase the risk of an accident. The exhaust emissions exceed the legal limits, posing a risk to the environment.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe universal joint gear may be subject to excessive wear due to insufficient torque in the screw connection of the steering coupling.As a result, the transfer of the desired steering torque might no longer be assured. This could result in the loss of rotational torque transfer between the steering wheel and the steering box which would make it impossible to steer the vehicle.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateFollowing the update of the control unit coding, the coding parameters of the control unit could be defective.This could give rise to various unplanned reactions in the vehicle: the wrong airbag could be triggered in the event of an accident, the airbag control unit may not recognise the belt buckle status, the engine control unit could be coded with a false maximum speed or various assistance systems may not function.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
How often does the 2013 Mercedes-Benz G-Class fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2013, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2013 Mercedes-Benz G-Class owners report?
6 of the 6 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
I was driving on XXX in [XXX] on my way home from picking up my son from [XXX], when I noticed smoke coming from the dash while my suspension light came on. The right side of my car went down. A large amount of smoke started filling the car. I immediately tried to pull over, and as the car slowed, I told my son to get out of the truck and run far away. Once I made a stop, I was able to exit the car as well. I called Mercedes-Benz roadside assistance and the fire department. The fire department came and put out the fire and stated that the dash, console, and driver visor mirror were melted. I…
On February 8, 2023, I was driving the vehicle when the driver's side front door swung open while I was driving. The door would not close - the locking mechanism in the driver's front door completely failed and would not engage the door latch. My safety was put at extreme risk - the door flew open as I was taking a turn and I was forced to try to hold the door closed while driving the car. The local Mercedes Benz dealer confirmed the problem noting that the door locking mechanism was "defective"; however, Mercedes Benz did not assume responsibility for the failed door mechanism claiming that…
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz G550. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle started drifting to the right. The contact attempted to turn left and the steering wheel failed to operate as designed. The vehicle then struck the curb. The service EPS warning light was illuminated. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was diagnosed with a stripped steering link. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 62,275.
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz G550. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, there was a grinding sound coming from the steering column. The contact stated that the steering wheel was not responding while turning to the left or the right. The contact pulled over and after a short stop resumed driving. The contact stated that the EPS malfunction warning light was illuminated and the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stopped the vehicle and the vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched the failure online and related the…
WHILE DRIVING ON NEW YORK CITY'S WEST SIDE HIGHWAY MY HOOD STARTED TO VIBRATE AND SUDDENLY POPPED OPEN COMPLETELY OBSCURING MY VISION. FORTUNATELY I MANAGED TO PULL OVER WITHOUT INJURY. I SUBSEQUENTLY BROUGHT THE CAR IN EVERY TIME THE HOOD WOULD START TO RATTLE. AFTER A DOZEN ATTEMPTS I GAVE UP AND RECENTLY SOLD THE CAR. I HAVE THE REPAIR ORDERS THAT SHOW THE DOZENS OF TIMES THIS CAR WAS IN REPAIR OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS..
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ G63. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 8 MPH, CHANGING LANES TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED AND CAUSED THE FRONT PASSENGER EDGE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CORAL GABLE MERCEDES-BENZ, LOCATED ON 300 ALMERIA AVE, CORAL GABLE, FL, 33134. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO A COLLISION CENTER LOCATED ON 19191 SW 108 AVE, MIAMI, FL 33157, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE…
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2013 Mercedes-Benz G-Class: questions owners ask
Is the 2013 Mercedes-Benz G-Class reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Mercedes-Benz G-Class; the most common categories were steering (3, 50%), structure (2, 33.3%), suspension (1, 16.7%). There are no safety recalls listed for this model year. 1 complaint mentions a crash, 1 mentions a fire.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Mercedes-Benz G-Class?
Across 6 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are steering (50% of complaints), structure (33.3% of complaints), suspension (16.7% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2013 Mercedes-Benz G-Class have any recalls?
As of October 2026, NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz G-Class. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check your own G-Class
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2013 only.