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U.S. public vehicle records

2008 Mercedes-Benz R350: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

35 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

90,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 35 complaints (34.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior1028.6%
Braking behavior514.3%
Electrical and battery issues25.7%
Transmission and shifting12.9%

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.

Suspension
12
Steering
10
Electrical System
5
Engine
5
Service Brakes
5
Air Bags
2
Unknown Or Other
2
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Suspension12
Steering10
Electrical System5
Engine5
Service Brakes5
Air Bags2
Unknown Or Other2
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)1

Suspension: 12; Steering: 10; Electrical System: 5; Engine: 5; Service Brakes: 5; Air Bags: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
7
75,000 to 99,999
4
100,000 to 149,999
6
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0001
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9997
75,000 to 99,9994
100,000 to 149,9996
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 2

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 14 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.

2010
2
2012
1
2013
5
2014
3
2015
5
2016
2
2017
2
2018
2
2019
4
2020
1
2021
1
2022
6
2025
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20102
20121
20135
20143
20155
20162
20172
20182
20194
20201
20211
20226
20251

2010: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 5; 2014: 3; 2015: 5; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 4; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 6; 2025: 1

Pattern summary

Suspension leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 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 10299060 · 2010-01-11 (January 11, 2010)

06 APRIL 2008 ' VEHICLE LEASED FROM HOEHN MOTORS, CARLSBAD, CA ROUGHLY JANUARY 2009 TO PRESENT ' TRANSMISSION SLIPS (CHANGES GEARS UNEXPECTEDLY) ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. UNABLE TO REPRODUCE RELIABLY, SO WE DID NOT BRING THE CAR IN OR REPORT. 10 APRIL 2009 ' (MILEAGE 17533) VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSES POWER UNDER OPERATION. ESP LIGHT IS ON. VEHICLE COASTS TO A STOP. VEHICLE TOWED TO MERCEDES BENZ OF LAGUNA NIGUEL. DEALERSHIP CANNOT REPRODUCE PROBLEM, BUT FINDS ESP SOFTWARE IS OLD. DEALER UPDATES ESP SOFTWARE. 29 JULY 2009 ' (MILEAGE 22399) LO…

Owner-reported narrative. 17,533 miles reported. Look up ODI 10299060 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10330216 · 2010-05-12 (May 12, 2010)

SAFETY CONCERN WITH MERCEDES BENZ R350 2008. CHILD SAFETY LOCKS IN THE REAR SEAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE TWO CHILD 4 & 2 YEAR. THERE WERE PLAYING WITH THE DOOR HANDLE AND THE DOOR LOCK AND OPENED THE DOOR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN USED. NO CRASH. THIS RISK CAN BE DANGEROUS FOR MY KIDS. SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE I THOUGHT THAT THIS FEATURE WAS AVAILABLE AND THAT IT WAS AUTOMATIC BUT NO. THE DEALER SAID NO SOLUTION . *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10330216 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10475739 · 2012-09-17 (September 17, 2012)

THIS VEHICLE HAS A BALANCE SHAFT AND INTAKE MANIFOLD ISSUE AS WELL AS A AIR SUSPENSION PROBLEM. BOTH PROBLEMS ARE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT THAT IS COMMON IN OTHER MB R350 VEHICLES. MB ACCEPTS THAT THIS VEHICLE MODEL HAVE A CONGLOMERATE OF PROBLEMS AND IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY TO CREATE A RECALL. THIS VEHICLE IS ALWAYS MAINTAIN AND SERVICE BY AN AUTHORIZED MB DEALER AND THEY INSURE THAT IN ANY OF THE PREVIOUS SERVICES THE DIAGNOSIS WAS NEVER IDENTIFIED OR MENTION. THE LOW SUSPENSION IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT MAY CAUSE THE WHEELS TO RUB AGAINST THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 107,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10475739 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10492541 · 2013-01-08 (January 8, 2013)

I HAVE AN MERCEDES R350 MODEL YEAR 2008. IT HAS 60,050 MILES NOW BUT I HAVE JUST BEEN TOLD THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING RACK - $4000 QUOTED FROM MERCEDES-BENZ VALENCIA IN CALIFORNIA. IT HAS A FLUID LEAK FROM THE STEERING RACK. I KNOW THAT THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN (ID NUMBER 08V682000) FOR CERTAIN 2008 MERCEDES GL, ML AND R-CLASS VEHICLES. I WONDER MERCEDES-BENZ WILL REPLACE THE STEERING GEARS FOR MY CAR WITH FREE OF CHARGE.

Owner-reported narrative. 58,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10492541 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10524153 · 2013-07-10 (July 10, 2013)

IT WAS DIAGNOSED BY MERCEDES MECHANIC THAT MY REAR SUSPENSION REAR AIR BAGS ARE LEAKING AIR. I HAVE PURCHASED COMPATIBLE PARTS FROM AIRBAGIT.COM IN MESA AZ. THE AIRBAGS FAILED AND THE COMPANY DID NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY OR RETURN AGREEMENTS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 67,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10524153 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10537091 · 2013-08-24 (August 24, 2013)

GROANING SOUND FROM STEERING WHILE TURNING , LEAKAGE OF POWER STEERING FLUID REQUIRING COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING BOX ASSEMBLY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10537091 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10542010 · 2013-09-05 (September 5, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ R350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SEIZE AND BECOME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT LISTED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V682000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80000.

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10542010 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10557401 · 2013-12-27 (December 27, 2013)

REAR SUSPENSION HAS FAILED. AFTER VIEWING NUMEROUS OF SITES THIS SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM.MERCEDES HAS NOT RECALLED THIS PROBLEM AND IT SHOULD.CAR LOWERS TO THE GROUND AND THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN THIS HAPPENS. CHANGES THE CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10557401 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 ↗