2008 Mercedes-Benz GL recalls and problems

The 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL has 3 recalls and 1 owner complaint on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is tires.

How the 2008 compares

Low

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Low complaint count among 5 GL model years — 4th most.

3recalls

1complaints

0crashes

0fires

0injuries

—median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

3 recalls

Steering

Dec 19, 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V682000 · 577 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz is recalling 577 my 2008 gl-class, m-class, and r-class vehicles. A defect May exist in the driving pin used to control the oil pressure of the power steering.

Original NHTSA wording

MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING 577 MY 2008 GL-CLASS, M-CLASS, AND R-CLASS VEHICLES. A DEFECT MAY EXIST IN THE DRIVING PIN USED TO CONTROL THE OIL PRESSURE OF THE POWER STEERING.

Risk: If a defective driving pin exists in a vehicle and the pin breaks during normal vehicle turning, the normally available hydraulic support function will no longer function and steering wheel operation will be limited.

Original NHTSA wording

IF A DEFECTIVE DRIVING PIN EXISTS IN A VEHICLE AND THE PIN BREAKS DURING NORMAL VEHICLE TURNING, THE NORMALLY AVAILABLE HYDRAULIC SUPPORT FUNCTION WILL NO LONGER FUNCTION AND STEERING WHEEL OPERATION WILL BE LIMITED.

Remedy & notes

Mercedes-Benz will replace the steering gears. The recall began on January 28, 2009. Owner May contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.

Mercedes-Benz recall no. 2008120011.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Trailer Hitches

Jun 2, 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V242000 · 52,740 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz is recalling 52,740 my 2006-2008 gl and ml class vehicles equipped with flex-n-gate trailer hitch. Some of the weld seams connecting the trailer hitch receiver to the attachment bar used to secure the trailer hitch to the body frame do not meet performance specifications.

Original NHTSA wording

MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING 52,740 MY 2006-2008 GL AND ML CLASS VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FLEX-N-GATE TRAILER HITCH. SOME OF THE WELD SEAMS CONNECTING THE TRAILER HITCH RECEIVER TO THE ATTACHMENT BAR USED TO SECURE THE TRAILER HITCH TO THE BODY FRAME DO NOT MEET PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS.

Risk: This May result in the traile rhitch receiver separating from the attachment bar, creating a road hazard which May lead to a vehicle crash. The trailer hitch must not be used for any purpose until it has been repaired.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS MAY RESULT IN THE TRAILE RHITCH RECEIVER SEPARATING FROM THE ATTACHMENT BAR, CREATING A ROAD HAZARD WHICH MAY LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH. THE TRAILER HITCH MUST NOT BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE UNTIL IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will repair the trailer hitch. The recall began on June 16, 2008. Owenrs May contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.

Mercedes-Benz recall no. 2008050004.customers May contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Engine

Jan 9, 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V006000 · 9,004 vehicles

Problem: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with diesel engines, the crankshaft sensor could fail due to separation of bond wires from the lead frame in the sensor. This results in an interruption in the electrical connection in the chip housing of the sensor.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DIESEL ENGINES, THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR COULD FAIL DUE TO SEPARATION OF BOND WIRES FROM THE LEAD FRAME IN THE SENSOR. THIS RESULTS IN AN INTERRUPTION IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IN THE CHIP HOUSING OF THE SENSOR.

Risk: When this happens, the vehicle May lose power rather than enter a limp-home mode. In addition, the vehicle cannot be restarted after failure of the electrical connection in the sensor, increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE VEHICLE MAY LOSE POWER RATHER THAN ENTER A LIMP-HOME MODE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE RESTARTED AFTER FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IN THE SENSOR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the crankshaft sensor. The recall began on February 4, 2008. Owners May contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.

Mercedes recall no. 2008010005.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Tires1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

2008 vs. other Mercedes-Benz GL years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2008. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns covering the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL, the latest from Dec 19, 2008 (steering). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention tires (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.