Carsieve

Mercedes GLK X204 (2008-2015): known problems and buying guide

Built
2008–2012
Median price
€8,999
Listings
630
Running cost per month
€554–€638
Power
170–231 PS (125–170 kW)
Reliability
3/5
DIY
1/5

Reasonably reliable by ADAC figures, but check the diesel timing chain, the M276 tensioner and the 4MATIC transfer case before you buy.

All versions

VariantRunning cost per monthMedian priceListingsFuelEngine codesGearboxProduction years
GLK 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, 170 PS, 7-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive Research€554€8,998213Diesel 651916Automatic (7)2009–2012
GLK 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, 170 PS, 7-speed automatic, all-wheel drive Research€564€8,998213Diesel 651912Automatic (7)2008–2012
GLK 320 CDI, 224 PS, 7-speed automatic, all-wheel drive Research€617€8,250137Diesel 642961Automatic (7)2008–2010
GLK 350 CDI, 231 PS, 7-speed automatic, all-wheel drive Research€638€8,99077Diesel 642832Automatic (7)2010–2012

At a glance

  • What it is: the Mercedes GLK compact SUV, built 2008-2015 on the C-Class platform, with a facelift in 2012. Diesels are the OM651 and OM642. Petrols are the M272, M276 and M274. Gearbox is the 7G-Tronic automatic or a 6-speed manual. Drive is 4MATIC all-wheel or rear-wheel.
  • Main faults: the OM651 timing chain and early piezo injectors, the M276 chain tensioner oil supply, the 4MATIC transfer case, and jerky 7G-Tronic shifts.
  • Reliability: 3/5. ADAC's breakdown index falls from 42.7 for 2009 cars to 7.7 for 2013 cars, and TÜV rates the car well. The chain, injector and transfer case faults are real, though.
  • DIY: 1/5. The chain, tensioner and transfer case jobs are workshop work. Za Rulem calls the chain repair labour-intensive.
  • Prefer: a 2012 facelift or later car. The ADAC breakdown index is 11.8 for 2012 cars and 7.7 for 2013 cars, against 22.3 for 2011 cars. Ask for the chain and injector history.
  • Avoid: an early diesel with no proof of injector work, a 4MATIC car that shudders or grinds, and an M276 with a rattle on start-up or no tensioner record.

Engines and gearboxes

  • OM651 2.1 diesel (200, 220 and 250 CDI): chain and injector faults are in the OM651 guide. DPF and EGR clogging is in the table below.
  • OM642 3.0 V6 diesel (320 and 350 CDI): the oil cooler seals leak with age, see the table below.
  • M272 3.0 and 3.5 V6 petrol: balance shaft gear wear, see the table below. Za Rulem and Kolesa also report cylinder scoring after about 100,000 km. Za Rulem, Kfz-Dietrich and a DRIVE2 garage blog report intake flap breakage. Za Rulem and the DRIVE2 garage blog report chain stretch.
  • M276 3.5 V6 petrol (306 PS): the chain tensioner can starve of oil and damage the engine, see the table below.
  • M274 2.0 petrol (250, 2013-2015): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
  • 7G-Tronic automatic: jerky shifts and torque converter wear, see the 7G-Tronic guide.
  • 6-speed manual: no fault confirmed in the sources read.

Known issues

Issue Affects Typical km Repair cost
Timing chain stretch and cold-start rattle OM651 2.1 diesel (651912, 651916) From about 150,000 km See the OM651 guide
Piezo injector failures OM651 2.1 diesel, cars with piezo injectors fitted until 2011 (651912, 651916) Up to about 100,000 km No confirmed price
M276 chain tensioner oil supply M276 3.5 V6 petrol (276957) About 100,000 km No confirmed price
4MATIC transfer case and front shaft wear 4MATIC all-wheel drive 100,000-150,000 km No confirmed price
M272 balance shaft gear wear M272 V6 petrol (272948, 272971) 70,000-100,000 km No confirmed price
Jerky shifts and torque converter wear 7G-Tronic automatic From about 50,000 km No confirmed price
OM642 oil cooler seal leaks OM642 3.0 V6 diesel (642961, 642832, 642835) With age No confirmed price
DPF and EGR clogging OM651 2.1 diesel (651912, 651916) About 100,000 km (EGR) No confirmed price

Before you buy

  1. Timing chain (scanner needed). Start the engine cold and listen for a metallic rattle. Ask a Mercedes workshop to read the fault codes with a Mercedes-capable scanner. Bad: a rattle, or stored timing codes. A jumped chain can destroy the engine.
  2. M276 chain tensioner (scanner needed). Ask for records of tensioner or chain work. Start the engine cold and listen for noise from the timing area. Bad: a rattle, or no record of the work.
  3. 4MATIC transfer case (no tools). On a test drive, listen for a shudder when accelerating and a grinding noise. Look under the car for oil at the transfer case. Bad: a grinding noise, a shudder or oil on the case.
  4. Piezo injectors on cars built until 2011 (scanner needed). Ask whether the injectors were replaced with electromagnetic units, and read the fault codes. Bad: a fault code, or piezo injectors with no service record.
  5. 7G-Tronic shifts (scanner needed). Test drive the car from cold. Note jerks on reverse and when shifting from 2 to 3 or from 5 to 6. Ask for the oil change record. Bad: jerks, or no fluid change record.
  6. DPF and EGR (scanner needed). Ask whether the DPF or EGR was removed or tuned. Read the DPF and EGR data with a scanner. Bad: a tuned car, a warning light, or limp mode on the test drive.
  7. M272 balance shaft (no tools). Ask for proof of balance shaft or engine work. Bad: no proof of the work on a car with 70,000 km or more.
  8. OM642 oil cooler (no tools). Look into the engine V and at the back of the engine for oil. Bad: wet oil traces, or oil in the coolant.
  9. Recall VIN check (no tools). Ask a Mercedes dealer to check the VIN for three campaigns: the power steering pressure line, the diesel fuel filter and the OM651 chain tensioner seal. Bad: any open campaign.

Running costs

Operational€213
Workshop€164
Fixed costs (tax, insurance)€185
Total per month€562
New-car depreciation (not included)€96

ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months

Market

Listings on mobile.de priced up to 50,000 EUR, 29 October 2026.

Find offers on mobile.de

Listings
630
25th percentile
€7,000
Median price
€8,999
75th percentile
€11,400
Median mileage
220,000 km
Median first registration
2010
Dealer share
52.4%
Price at 100,000 km
€14,048

To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.

In detail

M276 chain tensioner oil supply

  • Symptoms: a rattle from the timing area, and in the worst cases engine damage. A DRIVE2 garage blog puts the first noise near 100,000 km.
  • Cause: the chain tensioner gets too little oil, so the chain can loosen. CarWiki and gebrauchtwagenberater both name this.
  • Which cars: M276 3.5 V6 petrol (276957).
  • Fix: replace the chain set together with the hydraulic tensioners. Kolesa advises replacing two hydraulic tensioners and checking the phases.
  • Cost: No confirmed price.

Sources: CarWiki, GLK problems, Kolesa, how to buy the GLK X204, Za Rulem, used GLK, DRIVE2 garage, buying a used GLK

4MATIC transfer case and front shaft wear

  • Symptoms: a slight shudder when accelerating, and grinding noises when the bearings fail.
  • Cause: the transfer case output cross shaft wears and gets play. The clutch plates wear when the oil is never changed. The front driveshaft bearing in the sump wears after 60,000-100,000 km and can damage the aluminium sump.
  • Which cars: 4MATIC all-wheel drive.
  • Fix: Za Rulem says the output shaft assembly is replaced. The factory route is a full transfer case or gearbox replacement.
  • Oil: change the transfer case oil. Kfz-Dietrich advises about every 60,000 km, because Mercedes gives no official interval.
  • Cost: No confirmed price.

Sources: Za Rulem, GLK X204 faults, Kfz-Dietrich, GLK X204 typical problems, gebrauchtwagenberater, GLK problems, DRIVE2 garage, buying a used GLK

M272 balance shaft gear wear

  • Symptoms: the wear gives no clear warning and is hard to detect.
  • Cause: the balance shaft drive gear wears. Wear can stretch the timing chain and make it jump.
  • Which cars: M272 V6 petrol (272948, 272971).
  • Typical km: 70,000-100,000 km.
  • Fix: engine rebuild.
  • Cost: No confirmed price.

Sources: Za Rulem, GLK X204 faults, DRIVE2 garage, buying a used GLK

OM642 oil cooler seal leaks

  • Symptoms: oil in the engine V and at the back of the engine. Oil can also get into the coolant.
  • Cause: the oil cooler seals harden and leak with age. Kfz-Dietrich and gebrauchtwagenberater both name this on the OM642.
  • Which cars: OM642 3.0 V6 diesel (642961, 642832, 642835).
  • Fix: new seals. Gebrauchtwagenberater says the job is labour-intensive, because the intake section has to come off.
  • Cost: No confirmed price.

Sources: Kfz-Dietrich, OM642 V6 diesel problems, gebrauchtwagenberater.de, W164 problems (OM642)

DPF and EGR clogging

  • Symptoms: a blocked DPF can overheat and damage the turbo blades. A leaking EGR cooler leaves soot under the heat exchanger and gives an unstable idle at low revs.
  • Cause: the EGR valve coats up after about 100,000 km. The DPF clogs when most trips are short.
  • Which cars: OM651 2.1 diesel.
  • Fix: not stated in the sources.
  • Cost: No confirmed price.

Sources: Kfz-Dietrich, GLK X204 typical problems, Za Rulem, GLK X204 faults, Kolesa, how to buy the GLK X204

Recalls

Country Code Years or build range What is done
Germany not given Not stated Power steering pump pressure line tightened with too little torque. It leaks and can cause loss of power steering. Dealers retighten it to spec and replace the O-ring if oil leaked. Free.
Germany not given Not stated Diesel fuel filter may leak at the drain cap. Dealers fit a modified filter.
Germany not given Not stated OM651: the chain tensioner seal may leak, so the chain can loosen and jump. Dealers replace the seal with an improved version.

Check open campaigns by VIN with a Mercedes dealer before you buy.

Maintenance

  • 7G-Tronic fluid: change it every 50,000-80,000 km. Sources differ on the exact interval.
  • Transfer case oil: change it. Workshop advice is about every 60,000 km.
  • Parking brake: use it regularly. It can seize if it is never used.
  • Diesel driving: longer runs help. Many short trips clog the DPF.

Sources

English

None used for this page. The English threads found are owner posts about other cars.

German

Russian