Best and worst Mercedes G Wagon years — which to avoid

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is one of the most renowned models in automotive history, and it always stood for a status-symbol car, but buying one is a whole other story. Regardless of the remarkable build quality and reliability, there have been some Mercedes G Wagon years to avoid.

We’ll explain everything about these and their common problems in this guide to save you from going over the limit in servicing spending. Our team will elaborate on NHTSA records and complaints as we go through the model years one by one and rank them from best to worst.

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.

How we rated the best and worst G Wagon years

While evaluating the best and worst G Wagon years, our team stuck with reliable sources like NHTSA, IIHS, and others for vehicle reliability scores and details on safety ratings. We also considered driver reviews and ownership feedback left by other drivers on sites like Edmunds, KBB, and Consumer Reports.

Besides these, we also scoured through forum threads and databases of other driving safety organizations of authority like EuroNCAP, so here are the results:

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 has 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.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

Worst 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. But first, the answer to the question you’ve been waiting to hear – what are the worst G Wagon years?

The worst G Wagon years are 1999 and 2003, but here’s a complete list:

• 1999
• 2003
• 2004
• 2005
• 2006
• 2019
• 2020

Among all these, we’ll discuss the ones that had the most complaints and reliability issues through generations, as you will be able to see below:

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.

What are the best G Wagon years to buy?

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

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 that will serve you for years, it’s essential to get one of these.

2001 Mercedes G Wagon

The 2001 G Wagon is not only among the best first-gen models but also one of the best models overall. It’s very popular among tuners that add an optic kit of more recent model years on the 2001 model to make it look and feel exactly like the latest G Wagon.

However, you don’t have to do that to enjoy the benefits of this model as it also excels in engine reliability for both diesel and petrol variants, as well as automatic transmission functionality. There weren’t any steering or oil leak issues on this one as there were on some other first-gen models, making 2001 the most desirable option.

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.

Delving into the world of high-end SUVs? Look at our guides like the Porsche Cayenne years to avoid, Land Rover LR3 years to avoid, or Lexus GX 460 years to avoid. Our comprehensive analysis helps you identify the model years to pursue and those to steer clear of.