2008 Mercedes Benz GL550 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other GL550 years
- More complaints than other years 2nd of 10 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Mercedes Benz GL550. That ranks 2nd out of 10 GL550 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is steering (7 complaints, 58%), typically at around 111,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 12owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2008 Mercedes Benz GL550 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 7 | 58% | 111,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 2 | 17% | 111,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 17% | 111,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 8% | 121,667 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 8% | 111,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 8% | 121,667 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 8% | 21,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 8% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 8% | 30,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2008 Mercedes Benz GL550 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuumDo not drive
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML, GL, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake performance or brake failure.
Risk: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MMUSA's number for this recall is 2024050001/2. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-315.
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuumDo not drive
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML-Class, GL-Class, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake performance or brake failure.
Risk: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2022050014, 2022050015 2022090006, & 2022090007.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL 550. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard and the vehicle stopped. The brake failure and front passenger air bag warning…
When you are driving the car it shakes the entire car. It drives normal for a while and then it shakes again. It has not stopped. *tr
Power steering went out 2014 charged me for it. Claimed no recalls. Front right headlamp had to be replaced two times. This was the whole headlamp assembly. Due to water getting control box wet. Claimed it's how the headlamp is made. Claimed no warranty or recall on it. 2016 & 2019
At low speeds like backing up or pulling into driveway the steering becomes very hard to turn.
Vehicle malfunctioned for the 5th time since june 2017 while driving on the surface street. Suv completely shut down while driving, loss of steering and dashboard illuminates every warning signal including a beeping sound; gears shut down and suv completely stops was driving. In looking at the…
Other Mercedes Benz GL550 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 GL550 | 0 | 2 |
| 2016 GL550 | 1 | 4 |
| 2015 GL550 | 8 | 3 |
| 2014 GL550 | 10 | 3 |
| 2013 GL550 | 6 | 3 |
| 2012 GL550 | 8 | 3 |
| 2011 GL550 | 15 | 3 |
| 2010 GL550 | 3 | 3 |
| 2009 GL550 | 6 | 3 |
| 2008 | 12 | 2 |
See all Mercedes Benz GL550 problems by year, every Mercedes Benz model, or the Mercedes Benz VIN decoder.
Similar Mercedes Benz models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Mercedes Benz GL550?
Owners most often report steering, electrical system, engine problems. The top one, steering, accounts for 7 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2008 Mercedes Benz GL550?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2008 Mercedes Benz GL550 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other GL550 model years, the 2008 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.