Mercedes Benz GL550 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
17 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
83,200 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 to 2009 model years. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 17 complaints (35.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 8 | 47.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 11.8% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 5.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 6 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
Steering: 6; Air Bags: 3; Engine: 3; Electrical System: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Service Brakes, Air: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 4 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2010: 1; 2015: 3; 2016: 2; 2017: 5; 2018: 3; 2020: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10748150 · 2015-08-12 (August 12, 2015)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10748150 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10993966 · 2017-06-08 (June 8, 2017)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 129,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10993966 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11048387 · 2017-11-25 (November 25, 2017)
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 REPRESENTA…
Owner-reported narrative. 111,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11048387 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11052636 · 2017-12-05 (December 5, 2017)
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, MERCED…
Owner-reported narrative. 111,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11052636 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11613416 · 2024-09-09 (September 9, 2024)
The contact owned a 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL 550.The contact stated that while driving at 15- 20 MPH, the driver in front of him was attempting to turn but swerved to the left in his lane, the brake pedal was applied but delayed to respond. The contact crashed into an unknown minivan. There were no warning lights illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. There was no reported fire. A police report was filed. The passenger occupant sustained injuries to her back and shoulder and medical attention was provided. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. Th…
Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11613416 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
2008: 2; 2009: 3