2008 Mercedes Benz GL550: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
11 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 11 complaints (54.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 8 | 72.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 18.2% |
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 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
Steering: 6; Electrical System: 2; Engine: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 1; Suspension: 1; Unknown Or Other: 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 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 2 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 | 2 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
2010: 1; 2015: 2; 2017: 5; 2018: 1; 2020: 2
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10365445 · 2010-11-12 (November 12, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GL550. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE WAS TURNED ON WITH THE GEAR SELECTOR PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION WHEN AN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION OCCURRED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JUMP OVER TWO CURBS AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND THEN CRASHED INTO TWO UNOCCUPIED VEHICLES. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGES AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR EXTERIOR BODY REPAIR AND DIAGNOSIS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000. …
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10365445 at NHTSA ↗
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 10749087 · 2015-08-17 (August 17, 2015)
GL550 SUSPENSION DROPS - MALFUNCTIONS EVERY YEAR (SUMMER TIME IN TEXAS) MY GL550-2008 WAS ABOUT 1 YEAR OLD IN AUGUST 2008) WITH 21K MILES. I WAS PARKED IN THE LOCAL LOWE'S PARKING LOT. WHEN I CAME BACK FROM THE STORE, THE CAR BODY WAS SITTING DIRECTLY ON THE TIRES. IN ORDER TO GET HOME, I USED THE FLOOD LIFT. THE CAR REMAINED LIFTED AFTER USING THE FLOOD LIFT FOR ABOUT A MONTH. A MONTH LATER WE WERE ON A ROAD TRIP AND WE PULLED OVER TO GET GAS AND IT DROPPED AGAIN. AGAIN WE USED THE FLOOD LIFT UNTIL WE COULD GET HOME. WHEN WE GOT BACK WE SCHED…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10749087 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 11011426 · 2017-07-29 (July 29, 2017)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11011426 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11015064 · 2017-08-14 (August 14, 2017)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 129,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11015064 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 ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
22V315000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum
Reported: 2022-05-09 (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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V298000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum
Reported: 2024-04-26 (April 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗