Front Seat Head Restraint Problems of Mercedes Benz GL450

To the best of my knowledge - certain high end gl model have optional easy third row entry. The second row in such models folds with a touch of a button. However when fully deployed - the second row seat's head rest in such models prevent proper installation of kid's carseat � such that the upper part of the carseat is projected forward. I am 6 feet and can easily put the whole of my forarm behind my kid's carseat after installation. The result is � a very uncomfortable forward positioning of the kid's carseat. My kid has reported neck sprain multiple times. The issue does not resolve with using a booster only (without backrest) or with car's headrest not deployed � as in all situations the car's head rest still pushes my kid's head forward. I believe that it's a potential safety issue as well. This issue has been widely reported online. I guess mercedes took note of it and as per the local dealer - they have fixed it in the newer models (2016 onwards). In order to fix mine - my first plan was to remove the second row headrest (the one on which I install my kid's carseat). Dealer told me that it's not possible - and instead recommended a retrofit. Quote was $1300. Given that it's primarily a manufacturing defect I called mercedes USA - they replied promptly. Basically acknowledged that there is an issue and offered me $350 in service credit, but expected me to shell out the remaining $ 950 out of my pocket. When I told them that it's unfair to do so � as it's primarily a manufacturing defect � the agent basically told me that I should instead be happy that there's a remedy available and that also at my local mercedes dealer. He tried to use my current mileage (62k) as a justification for not picking up the cost - even though this has nothing to do with mileage and my vehicle has an unlimited mileage warranty until 08/2020.

See all problems of the 2014 Mercedes Benz GL450 🔎.

2nd row head rest unsafe and unuseable - the headrest is too low and too high for a child or small person to use. When in down position, seat pushes head forward; when it is up, it's too tall for the head. Also headrest is very difficult to pull up. Basically, this part is not useable by anyone except a very tall person. Should be replaced by mercedes. Injuries can occur due to this design. No incident has occurred; only complaints about using the head rest.

See all problems of the 2016 Mercedes Benz GL450 🔎.

The second row seat headrest is unusable for my children. It hits them in the head and they are totally uncomfortable. I see now that this is a major source of problems for this vehicle. Many parents are complaining. Mercedes has no cure for it. Not ok.

My father and mother in-law recently purchased a 2016 Mercedes Benz Gl450 as our family car. The headrests for the 2nd row seats with the "easy entry" option appear to pose a comfort and safety issue for both car seats and "shorter" people. . . I would say 5'-3" and shorter. With the "easy entry" option the 2nd row head rests are only 2 position, fully lowered or fully extended. Fully adjustable heights are not possible. Both positions pose a comfort and safety issue. At the fully lowered position, a child's car seat would not be flush with the seat as the head rest forces the car seat to lean forward in an unstable condition. Also for "shorter" people, the head rest at the fully lowered position forces a person's head to lean forward in a very uncomfortable and un-natural position. With the headrests at the fully extended position, the car seat back doesn't quite rest on the the seat as the head rest still protrudes from the vertical plane of the seat. Therefore the car seat is once again in an unstable condition even though secured by the seat belt restraint system. For the "shorter" people, the headrest at the fully extended position is extremely uncomfortable as the headrest protrudes, as indicated above, and so the person's head is resting on an edge of the headrest, in a leaned forward position. Please review this issue further as I'm sure there have been other complaints on what is perceived to be a manufacturer's design issue.

Headrests on second row with easy entry option cannot be removed. Therefore, proper installation of a child safety seat (convertible car seat) is impossible. This family vehicle is unusable safely for a child.

See all problems of the 2013 Mercedes Benz GL450 🔎.

Tried to install child safety seats in 2nd row seats. The 2nd row headrests prevent the proper installation of the child safety seats. The headrests cannot be removed, or moved out of the way so that the child safety seats can be installed properly. I have reported to our mercedes-benz dealer. They are working on a response.

See all problems of the 2015 Mercedes Benz GL450 🔎.

The 2nd row headrests do not fully extend/retract upward and also cannot be removed! we are being told by mbusa that this is because of the "easy entry 2nd row option" and that those headrests have limited capabilities as far as raising/lowering/removing. As a result children sitting in the 2nd row have their heads pushed forward (because of the headrests) which is causing major neck discomfort and is a real hazard for children. This also cannot be cured by raising the headrest because children of a certain size, probably ages 10-16, aren't short enough to fit "under" the headrest and aren't tall enough to have their head/neck fit properly on the headrest. There needs to be an option where these vehicles, equipped with the "easy entry 2nd row option", can have their 2nd row headrests removed when children of a certain height will be sitting there. This is really a big problem and a dangerous problem that mbusa needs to address immediately. I am not sure how they missed this in their safety tests.

This vehicle was purchased new- the headrests in the second row are not adjustable. They only have two positions: fully up or fully down. In either of these positions, my 11 year old child's head is in a clearly unsafe position. In the down position, his back is pushed forward and his neck pushed down on the seatbelt. In the up position, the bottom of the headrest hits the very top of the back of his head and, again, pushes his head forward at a sever angle. I have tried to resolve this with the dealer and Mercedes Benz USA but they have stopped replying to me. This seems to be a serious safety hazard for anyone who is approximately the size of my son (4' 9"). I would like to send you pictures of my son seated with the two headrest positions.