Used Mercedes-Benz GLS Buying Guide (2017 and Later)

For most families, the used Mercedes-Benz GLS worth buying is a 2020-or-newer GLS450, the second generation, with the fuel pump, 48-volt ground cable and third-row seatback recalls all closed on the VIN. The 2017-2019 trucks are cheaper and still drive well, but they come from an older platform with an older recall list. And on any GLS, a missing service history is the expensive part, because the air suspension is standard.

If you are torn between this and the next size down, our used Mercedes GLE buying guide covers the mid-size truck one rung down. The GLS is the one with a third row an adult can actually use. Car and Driver's current GLS review says the third row "can accommodate an adult without too much complaining," something it says you can't say about the BMW X7. The tradeoff is cargo: C/D lists 17 to 85 cubic feet and fit only four carry-ons behind the third row.

Which GLS is which

Before 2017 this truck was called the GL-Class. C/D's 2017 review says Mercedes renamed it GLS for 2017 and offered three engines: the GLS350d turbodiesel with 255 hp, the GLS450 with a 362-hp twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6, and the GLS550 with a 449-hp twin-turbo 4.7-liter V8. All had a nine-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. C/D liked the way it drove and grumbled that leather, ventilated seats and three-zone climate were extra-cost options at that price, so a "base" 2017 can feel bare inside.

The current generation arrived for 2020. Per C/D's 2020 review, the GLS450 switched to a 3.0-liter inline-six with electric assist, rated at 362 hp, and the GLS580 got a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 at 483 hp. Air suspension was standard, and Mercedes offered E-Active Body Control, a camera-guided system C/D called "cool but expensive." For 2024 the truck got a facelift with a new grille, new LED taillights and a new steering wheel, and output rose to 375 hp for the GLS450 and 510 hp for the GLS580. The AMG GLS63 and Maybach GLS600 are separate, pricier animals with their own recall lists.

Warranty is four years or 50,000 miles, which C/D calls "far from the best in this class." So a 2022 with average mileage is probably out of factory coverage already. Fuel use is not small either: the EPA rates the GLS580 at 16 mpg combined, per C/D.

GLS recalls I checked on October 17, 2026

NHTSA files these trucks under several names (GLS450, GLS580, AMG GLS63, GLS 450 4MATIC), and for the 2024 and 2026 model years the recalls API returned nothing under any name I tried. That does not mean those years are clean. It means you should run the actual VIN. Here is what showed up for the other years:

• 23V445 and 23V880, 2021-2023: the fuel pump may shut down, causing a loss of drive power. The first NHTSA record covers 143,551 Mercedes vehicles across many models; dealers replace the pump.
• 22V231 and 24V207, 2020-2023: a 48-volt ground connection under the front passenger seat may not be secured and can overheat. The 24V207 record lists 116,020 vehicles and a fire risk.
• 22V732, 2020-2022: third-row seatback locks may fail in a crash. If you are buying this truck for kids in the back row, this one matters most.
• 24V118, 2020-2023 GLS450: the transmission may not fully downshift and the engine can stall. Dealers update the software.
• 23V177, 2020-2021: A/C drain hoses may be installed wrong and drain water into the cabin. Lift the floor mats and smell for mildew.
• Body items: rear door window trim bars that can detach (19V709, 22V680, 23V178) and, on 2021 trucks, a rear window that may not be bonded well enough to the tailgate (21V832).
• 2017-2018: a center console that can unlatch in a crash (17V077), a left rear door that may show locked when it isn't (17V816), an Active Curve System reservoir leak (18V272) and rear brake calipers that needed bleeding (18V539).

Every one of those lists a free dealer remedy, so an open campaign mostly means booking a dealer visit before you take delivery. Our Mercedes-Benz recall check by VIN guide shows how to confirm what is still open.

What to look at in person

Start with the air suspension. Raise and lower it, let the truck sit for a while, and check that it sits level. Run both screens through a cold start and back up a few times, since a 2021 campaign covered MBUX displays that went black and took the camera with them. Fold and lock the third row yourself. Look at the tires too; these trucks wear big wheels, and a mismatched set says the last owner was cutting corners.

Decode the VIN with NHTSA's vPIC decoder and our Mercedes VIN decoder post to confirm it is a 450 or 580 and not a rebadged lesser trim. If you are still cross-shopping, the used Cadillac Escalade buying guide covers the body-on-frame American alternative.

The history report on a GLS

Read the full history for accidents, odometer readings, owner count and how often the truck saw a dealer. Check the title on NMVTIS first. A seller-supplied PDF is not proof; they are trivially easy to edit, and we have seen buyers lose real money trusting one. CarVins is a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller and is not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, Experian or Mercedes-Benz. In October 2026 a report through us ran close to $5.50 as a guest, nearer $4.50 for members, and about $6.75 for the two-brand bundle, against roughly $39.99 to $44.99 direct. The checkout total is the one to believe.

Sources

• Car and Driver: 2017 GLS-Class review
• Car and Driver: 2020 GLS-Class review
• Car and Driver: 2026 GLS-Class review
• NHTSA: recall 23V445
• NHTSA: recall 24V207
• NMVTIS