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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

Steering complaints

7 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Feb 29, 2020
Exterior LightingSteering

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

NHTSA ODI #11315333

74,110 miles · Oct 11, 2018
Steering

AT LOW SPEEDS LIKE BACKING UP OR PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY THE STEERING BECOMES VERY HARD TO TURN.

NHTSA ODI #11139733

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

129,000 miles · Aug 14, 2017
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GL550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF HOUSTON GREENWAY WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC (LAN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GL550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF HOUSTON GREENWAY WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC (LANG'S AUTO REPAIR SHOP) WHO ALSO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V682000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

NHTSA ODI #11015064

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2017
Steering

THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING RACK. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL LIST.

NHTSA ODI #11011426

129,000 miles · Jun 8, 2017
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GL550. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AT PATRICK'S IMPORTS IN LAWRENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED THREE MONTHS AGO. T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GL550. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AT PATRICK'S IMPORTS IN LAWRENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED THREE MONTHS AGO. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

NHTSA ODI #10993966

32,000 miles · Aug 12, 2015
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ GL550. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID ONTO THE BOTTOM BRACKET. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE HIMSELF BY REPLACING THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING FLUID HOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ GL550. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID ONTO THE BOTTOM BRACKET. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE HIMSELF BY REPLACING THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING FLUID HOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

NHTSA ODI #10748150

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.