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2008 Mercedes Benz GL550

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 9 of 11 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 →
  • Electrical System. Review the 2 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 →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Engine complaints

2 reports
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111,000 miles · Dec 5, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

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 HISTORY (I'M THE 3RD OWNER), THE WO…

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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 HISTORY (I'M THE 3RD OWNER), THE WORK PERFORMED FOR THE DEFECTIVE CAMSHAFT WAS COMPLETED 2 YEARS AFTER THE 2009 MERCEDES BULLETIN AND ANOTHER REPLACEMENT TO THE BALANCE SHAFT AND CAMSHAFT WAS PERFORMED 1 YEAR AFTER THE 2012 BULLETIN. IN ITS REPORT, MERCEDES ISSUED A CAUTION AND STATED, "NEW TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER MUST BE INSTALLED AND ONLY AFTER THE ENGINE HEAD COVERS (VALVE COVERS) ARE INSTALLED/BOTTLED ON. FAILURE TO OBSERVE THAT WILL RESULT IN THE OVER TIGHTENING THE TIMING CHAIN WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY LEAD TO ENGINE HEAD DAMAGE." IN THE CAR FAX REPORT, I SEE AFTER EACH REPAIR, THE OWNER SOLD THE VEHICLE. IN LOOKING AT MY RECEIPTS, I SEE MY REPORTS OF SMOKE FROM THE DASHBOARD (FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO MY VEHICLE WHILE IN ROUTE TO MY SON'S SCHOOL TO ENSURE MY SUV WOULD NOT CATCH FIRE). I ALSO SEE REQUESTS TO REPLACE LIGHT BULBS FOR BLOWN FUSE, THE BATTERY, WIRING ISSUE UNDER THE SEAT, NOW A NEW PROBLEM RELATED TO THE CAN TECHNOLOGY. ANOTHER RECEIPT WORK DONE ON THE CAMSHAFT. BASED ON MY RESEARCH, THE RECALL RELATES TO THE DEGRADING OF POOR MATERIALS USED TO MANUFACTURE THE 1ST GEN SUVS. I DON'T BELIEVE THERE ARE ANY REPORTED DEATHS BUT IT PUTS MANY PEOPLE AT RISK AS I WAS RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE LOOKING FOR MY RECEIPTS, I CAME ACROSS ANOTHER RECEIPT FOR THE ML500 2006 I SOLD BEFORE I PURCHASED MY CURRENT VEHICLE. THE RECEIPT SHOWS I WAS SEEKING SERVICE FOR THE ENGINE STOPPING WHILE DRIVING. READ: HTTP://WWW.MERCEDESDEFECTS.COM HTTP://WWW.BUSINESSKOREA.CO.KR/ENGLISH/NEWS/INDUSTRY/13381-MERCEDES-INSOLENCE-MERCEDES-BENZ-NEGLECTS-KOREAN-CONSUMERS-DESPITE-RECORD-HIGH

NHTSA ODI #11052636

111,000 miles · Nov 25, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

STATUS ' 4TH TIME TRYING TO REPAIR THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN ISSUE 'VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED DURING DRIVING FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITH KIDS IN THE CAR ' COMPLETE SHUTDOWN WHILE DRIVING, LOSS OF STEERING AND DASHBOARD ILLUMINATES EVERY WARNING SIGNAL (SEE PICTURE BELOW) 'MERCEDES IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES FIXED THE CAR (SEE RECEIPT $4…

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STATUS ' 4TH TIME TRYING TO REPAIR THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN ISSUE 'VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED DURING DRIVING FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITH KIDS IN THE CAR ' COMPLETE SHUTDOWN WHILE DRIVING, LOSS OF STEERING AND DASHBOARD ILLUMINATES EVERY WARNING SIGNAL (SEE PICTURE BELOW) 'MERCEDES IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES FIXED THE CAR (SEE RECEIPT $4,600 IN REPAIRS) AND SUV CONTINUES TO STOP. SINCE THE 1ST INCIDENT, THE DEALERSHIP HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE ISSUE THREE TIMES AND HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP OVER 60 DAYS THIS YEAR. I CONTACTED THE CEO'S OFFICE AND A REPRESENTATIVE HAS STEPPED IN TO ASSIST WITH THE ISSUE. THEY HAVE BROUGHT IN A SPECIAL ENGINEER TO RESEARCH THE ISSUE BUT THAT STILL DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. ON 10/20/17 ALMOST TWO MONTHS AFTER HAVING MY CAR IN THE SHOP, I PICKED UP THE SUV. ON 11/18/17, THE CAR STOPPED ON ME AGAIN WITH MY SON IN THE BACK SEAT. AFTER BEING STRANDED FOR NEARLY TWO HOURS. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR SINCE 11/18/17. ON 11/22/17, I RECEIVED ANOTHER UPDATE STATING THE CAR IS CLOSE TO $3000 TO FIX. SINCE JUNE 2017, I HAVE REPEATEDLY BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. I HAVE REPEATEDLY ASKED MERCEDES TO DECLARE THE CAR A LEMON SINCE OVER $7000 OR MORE HAS BEEN PUT INTO THE VEHICLE FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASE THE CAR. MERCEDES KNEW ABOUT THE ISSUES WITH THE 1ST GENERATION SUV RATHER THAN TAKE THE OLDER MODEL SUV OUT OF PRODUCTION, THE DEALERSHIP CONTINUES TO PROFIT AND PUT SON AND OTHER KIDS IN HARM'S WAY---THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE CHALLENGES WITH THE ENGINE, THE WIRING AND THE OLDER TECHNOLOGY IS A KNOWN ISSUE'THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND THE STEERING COLUMN IS LOCKED AND YOU CAN'T PUT THE SUV IN ANY GEAR'THIS IS THE 4TH TIME I HAVE BEEN STRANDED WHILE DRIVING THE ROAD AND FREEWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11048387

Official recalls

2

24V298000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.