IllustrationSMOKE STARTED SPEWING FROM FRONT OF CAR - COULD NOT SEE AND PULLED OFF. OIL CAP DEFECTIVE - SHORTED OUT ALTERNATOR. *TR
2008 Mercedes Benz GL320
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all GL320 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 16 of 20 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Steering. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seats. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
20 reportsCOMING HOME FROM WORK STEERING STARTED ACTING FUNNY AND MAKING WEIRD NOISES. PULLED IN GARAGE AND FLUIDS ALL OVER FLOOR. TOOK TO DEALER - HAD TO REPLACE RACK AND PINION STEERING UNIT FOR THE SECOND TIME. *TR
STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. CAR STALLED AND WAS ALMOST REAR- ENDED. GOT TO SIDE OF ROAD SOME FLUID, RESTARTED AFTER 20 MINUTES. WHEN RESTARTED WEIRD NOISE WHEN TURNING BUT CLOSE TO DEALER. *TR
DIESEL FUEL LEAKING ON ROADWAY FROM FILTER. SIMILAR TO MODEL YEARS 2010-2012 RECALL. FUEL IS FOUND WHEN PARKED DRIPPING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DIESEL SMELL IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *TR
THIRD ROW SEAT WOULD NOT LOCK IN POSITION, EITHER UP FOR SEATING OR DOWN FOR CARGO. THE LACK OF LOCKING EFFECTED THE MOTOR WHICH RAISES AND LOWERS THE SEAT TO LOCK POSITION. DEALER AND/OR MFG. CLAIMED THE SEAT FRAME IS PRONE TO BENDING. I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED. WHEN I NOTED THIS SOUNDS LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE THEY OFFERED TO P…
Read full complaint
THIRD ROW SEAT WOULD NOT LOCK IN POSITION, EITHER UP FOR SEATING OR DOWN FOR CARGO. THE LACK OF LOCKING EFFECTED THE MOTOR WHICH RAISES AND LOWERS THE SEAT TO LOCK POSITION. DEALER AND/OR MFG. CLAIMED THE SEAT FRAME IS PRONE TO BENDING. I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED. WHEN I NOTED THIS SOUNDS LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE THEY OFFERED TO PAY 75% FOR THE PART AND DISCOUNT ON LABOR. *TR
THERE IS A FUEL LEAK AROUND THE FILTER NEAR THE HEATING ELEMENT. SOUNDS LIKE THE DESCRIPTION OF A RECALL WITH THE 2011 AND 2012 MODELS. *TR
I FOUND FLUID UNDER MY VEHICLE ON THE FLOOR OF MY GARAGE. I AM SENDING THIS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER THAT THIS IS THE RESULT OF A DEFECT. I CHECKED AND THERE WERE RECALLS BUT MY VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THERE WERE ALSO SERVICE BULLETINS WHICH WERE NOT CALLED TO MY ATTENTION MBUSA REP…
Read full complaint
I FOUND FLUID UNDER MY VEHICLE ON THE FLOOR OF MY GARAGE. I AM SENDING THIS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER THAT THIS IS THE RESULT OF A DEFECT. I CHECKED AND THERE WERE RECALLS BUT MY VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THERE WERE ALSO SERVICE BULLETINS WHICH WERE NOT CALLED TO MY ATTENTION MBUSA REP ADMITTED DEFECT ,WAS SYMPATHETIC BUT SAID HE WOULD MAKE A NOTE OF IT, BUT THAT WAS ALL. DEALER DID GRANT ME A "GOOD WILL" DISCOUNT,BUT MY COST WAS $600.00 FOR A REPAIR THAT HAS BEEN ENDEMIC.MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AFTER 48 MONTHS , BUT ONLY 25817 MILES. *TR
POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK. WAS TOLD IT WAS A LEAK AT THE RACK AND WOULD COST OVER $1000 TO REPLACE. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A STEERING RACK LEAKING AFTER LESS THAN 65000 MILES. SOUNDS LIKE MANUFACTURING ERROR AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TT
2008 MERCEDES BENZ GL320. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A DEFECTIVE TRACTION CONTROL MODULE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE PART IN QUESTION IS FOR THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES MADE IN THE U.S. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE PART HAS BEEN REVISED SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY HAVE ISSUES WITH THE UNIT FAILING. EVEN THOUGH THE PART IS FAULTY…
Read full complaint
2008 MERCEDES BENZ GL320. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A DEFECTIVE TRACTION CONTROL MODULE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE PART IN QUESTION IS FOR THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES MADE IN THE U.S. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE PART HAS BEEN REVISED SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY HAVE ISSUES WITH THE UNIT FAILING. EVEN THOUGH THE PART IS FAULTY NEW, IT IS BEING REPLACED OFTEN. MERCEDES HAS GIVEN THE CONSUMER DIFFERENT STORIES ABOUT THE PART AND DENIED THE PART NUMBER HAS ONE OF THE DIGITS CODES SHOWING THE NUMBER OF CHANGES. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ GL320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE POWER STEERING STOPPED FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN IND…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ GL320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE POWER STEERING STOPPED FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT OF RECALL 08V682000 (STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
Official recalls
224V298000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
Apr 26, 2024
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
22V315000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
May 9, 2022
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.