Mercedes G Wagon years to avoid — most common problems | REREV (2024)

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is one of the most renowned models in automotive history, and it always stood for a status-symbol car. Celebrities have it, and it’s perhaps a good thing that the exterior design hadn’t changed much over the years. Not that we encourage you to do so, but some drivers simply re-pack the exterior to fit the latest generation, while it’s essentially a G-Wagon from the early 2000s.

Besides the standardized design and the class that comes with owning one of these, there’s also a small problem – some G-Wagon models are made worse than others. To help you cope with that, we’ve assembled all the key information in this guide on G Wagon years to avoid as a buying guide.

Why you can trust REREV’s advice on which car model years to avoid: Our car experts look at official data, ask real drivers what they think, and talk to experienced mechanics to make sure our list is useful. This reliable info can make buying a car easier for you. Want to know how we do it? Find out more about our research methodology.

Most common G Wagon problems

The G-Wagon is essentially a good car both mechanically and when it comes to the quality of materials used. It’s no wonder since it’s a premium-segment car, but it still had a few issues that are worth discussing. Among the worst problems of this model, we can point out the bothersome fuel leakage on the 2009 model.

There’s also the failing crankshaft position sensor that frequently caused the “check engine” light to illuminate on the dash along with misfires and vibrations. The brake switch issue also affected driving safety and the visibility of other drivers while driving behind the G-Wagon, and it even affected the cruise control system.

One common issue that’s mostly specific to high-performance versions of the G-Wagon is the oil leak that could even cause a fire hazard. So, there weren’t many reported issues over the years by G-Wagon owners, but it’s still worth investigating a bit more to help you understand the nature of these problems.

Fuel delivery system leaks

One of the main low fuel pressure symptoms for the 2009′ G-Wagon is the fuel leak from the fuel lines and the fuel line quick connectors. In case of frontal damage to the car, these bad connections could even lead to a complete fuel pump stalling. However, the leaks are dangerous enough alone since they lead to reduced fuel pressure and even cause fire hazards.

The proximity of the fuel lines to the hot engine may result in a burning smell and fire hazards, so it’s crucial to have the fuel lines inspected if you’ve got your eye on the 2009′ G-Wagon.

Problem with the faulty crankshaft position sensor

One of the most common problems for the G-Class is the failing crankshaft position sensor. This sensor is crucial for proper engine timing and managing fuel injection and ignition. It measures the rotational speed of the crankshaft and accordingly submits information to the engine control unit which then uses it to control the fuel injectors accordingly.

If it fails on the G-Class, you’ll inevitably see some bad crankshaft position sensor symptoms like problems starting the vehicle, check engine light and poor or sluggish acceleration. It’s also a cause behind rough idling which is common for some G-Wagon models.

Faulty brake switch

The brake light switch problem is pretty common for G-Wagon drivers and it prematurely fails before the car even reaches 80,000 miles. While this wasn’t a big deal mechanically, it caused a big issue since other drivers couldn’t see the braking lights engaging while braking.

It also affects the usage of the cruise control function, since you can’t disengage the cruise control function. The good thing is – this isn’t an expensive fix and it mostly costs around $150 to replace the brake switch.

Engine oil leaks

Last but not least important is the problem with engine oil leaks. Not only is this dangerous since it reduces the lubrication of the engine parts, and it even serves a role in engine cooling. This problem was mostly present with high-performing variants like the G55 AMG and G63 AMG.

The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 has a problem with the oil feed line, and that’s the source of the leak. While it’s easy to fix since you mostly know the leak source location, it’s a problem that can set you back around $1500.

Which G-Wagon years to avoid?

The famous G-Wagon had a predecessor with a similar body type and it was the W460 model. The “modern” G-Class started in 1990, and the design was pretty much the same up to the 2018 model year, so that’s considered the second generation of the famous SUV.

Because of this, we’ll break down the years to avoid into two generations and state the known issues of both to help you get the most reliable one out there.

First-generation G-Wagon (1999 and 2003-2006 model years)

The biggest problem with the first-gen G-Wagon is the overall quality of the interior materials which was considered poor at the time. On top of that, there were some problems with door latches and linkages, as well as deteriorating power window buttons and door handles.

We’ve also seen a fair share of driver complaints about water leaking into the car’s passenger side due to windows and sunroof leaks. These were some of the main problems during the mentioned production years, along with the fuel leakage problem that made the 2009 model year yet another model to avoid.

While this may seem like a bad thing, look at it from the bright side – there were only a few reports about engine failures and transmission rebuilds that needed to be done on the first-gen G-Wagon. Perhaps that’s the reason why many consumers that can’t afford the latest model go for a used first-gen one, but you should, either way, steer away from the listed model years.

Second-generation G-Wagon (2019 and 2020 model years)

Before the introduction of the proper second generation of the G-Wagon, there were four facelift versions. However, the second generation brought the much-needed interior refreshment as well as some other cosmetic changes. Along with those, there also came a few bad production years.

These were mainly the 2019 and 2020 issues including oil leaks that were common for high-performing models. When it comes to the basic G-Wagon models (if there’s even such a thing), premature engine wear is the worst problem that could occur.

This often happened within the first 100,000 miles, and it often started with the signs of a bad crankshaft position sensor. However, even the slightest engine-related problem costs between $1500 and $3000 to repair, while engine rebuilds can be extremely expensive. So, make sure to check the engine condition and compression before buying a used G-Wagon, Out of all the engines, the M 113 5.0-liter V8 of the G500 proved the be the most reliable, but it sadly wasn’t available for the second-gen model.

Best G-Wagon years

We wanted you to grasp the true reliability of the G-Wagon as a model by giving you an overview of the most common problems. However, these were not present in all the production years and some G-Wagon models are made much more durable and reliable than others. So, here’s a list of the best G-Class models by year:

• 1997 G-Wagon
• 1998 G-Wagon
• 2000 G-Wagon
• 2001 G-Wagon
• 2002 G-Wagon
• 2007 G-Wagon
• 2008 G-Wagon
• 2009 G-Wagon
• 2010 G-Wagon
• 2011 G-Wagon
• 2012 G-Wagon
• 2013 G-Wagon
• 2014 G-Wagon
• 2017 G-Wagon
• 2018 G-Wagon
• 2021 G-Wagon

The most reliable G-Wagon models are the 2001-2002 model and the 2010-2014 model. Both the 2003 G-Class and the 2015 G-Class which were the successors of these proved to have known faults for drivers. So, if you are looking for the best option to get that will serve you for years, it’s essential to get one of these.

You can also go for the 2018 and 2021 models and it’s only important to skip the 2019 and 2020 ones. It all depends on your budget and how much you are willing to spend, but at least you’ll now have an idea of the best picks.

Is the G-Wagon worth buying?

All things considered, the G-Wagon is much more than just a status symbol car – it’s one of the most durable SUVs ever made by the German automotive giant. However, the model years to avoid made things worse for the reputation of the car and this made many interested buyers stand down from the purchase.

Now, you can make use of the guide made by our experts to easily avoid such problematic editions and only go for the best G-Wagon models. If you make a wise choice, the G-Wagon will definitely be worth it and will bring a smile to your face every time you take a drive.