Selling a broken or junk Mercedes-Benz G-Class

So if your G is parked with a fault, check the recall list before you pay for a repair. If it's past saving, we buy whole non-running and junk cars. You sell the whole car as it sits, with free pickup anywhere in the US.

Recalls and complaints by generation

Wikipedia dates the W463 from 1990 to 2018, a second-generation W463 from 2018 to 2024, and the W465 from 2024 on. EPA's G-Class data starts at 2002, so the groups below follow those years.

2002-2018: the first W463

These years hold 38 complaints, and no single year tops 7. The 2003 leads, naming structure, hydraulic brakes and steering. On the 2013, 3 of 6 complaints name steering.

That lines up with recall 17V250000. The steering coupling on 2013-2016 G550 and G63 AMG trucks and the 2016 G65 AMG may have been left too loose, and that joint can wear. Dealers replace the coupling. The campaign covers 10,832 vehicles. Recall 17V713000 covers 2016-2017 G550 4Matic, G63 AMG and G65 AMG trucks, where the stability program can malfunction while Distronic Plus is on. The fix is new ESP software.

2019-2024: the second W463

This stretch has 27 complaints and most of the recalls. The 2021 has the most complaints of any G-Class year, 9, and those 9 reports list 15 people injured. Four name the electrical system.

Several recalls name only the G550 and G63:

• 20V090000 (2019-2020): a resistor in the differential locking module can cut communication with the control unit. 6,300 vehicles.
• 21V353000 (2019-2021): the rear doors may not latch or open properly. 17,800 vehicles.
• 23V097000 (2019-2021): the front axle wiring harness can rub against an oil cooler, which can cause a loss of anti-lock brakes. 26,116 vehicles.
• 22V937000 and 23V851000 (2022-2023 AMG G63 4x4 squared): do not drive. The rear axle differential housing may crack and leak oil. 278 and 590 vehicles.

On the 2022, 3 of 4 complaints name the gasoline fuel system. Two fuel pump recalls, 23V445000 and 23V880000, include 2021-2023 G-Class trucks, and dealers replace the pump. Those campaigns reach well beyond the G, into C-, E- and S-Class cars among others, so their 143,551 and 79,676 vehicle counts are not G-Class counts.

2025: the W465

The 2025 has 5 complaints so far, 2 naming the wheels. Recall 26V198000 says some 2025 G580s may have the wrong wheel bolts (3,734 vehicles). Recall 25V254000 covers 2025 G 550, G 580 and AMG G 63 trucks whose stability system may show the wrong warning light when it fails. The W465 G-Class came out most recently, so owners have filed on it for the fewest years.

Complaints and recall campaigns by model year

Many G-Class campaigns touch several years and appear under each one, so this column comes to far more than 37.

Fix it or sell it?

1. Run the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup. Every fix listed above is free at a dealer.
2. ABS light on a 2019-2021? Ask about 23V097000 before paying for wiring work. Our electrical problems guide covers the rest.
3. A 4x4 squared with the axle recall? Don't drive it. Have it towed to a dealer.
4. Big quote on an older truck? Compare it with what the G would sell for once fixed. Our repair-versus-value guide walks through it.

Selling a G-Class whole

1. Find the VIN, the odometer reading, any recall letters, and a note on what's wrong.
2. Get an offer online, or call (877) 421-6008.
3. Tell us the spot it's in (driveway, garage, shop lot) and if the wheels turn. A G with a stuck differential lock or a cracked rear axle may need a flatbed, so mention it.
4. Leave it complete, wheels included. Missing parts change the offer.
5. At G-Class pickup, the driver gets the signed title and checks your photo ID. The plate rules by state are in after you sell.

Looking at another Mercedes SUV? See the GLS-Class, GL-Class and GLE-Class.