2008 Mercedes Benz GL

Routine

Owners filed 1 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the tires. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Tires1
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System08V682000
Filed Dec 19, 2008577 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc.

Defect. 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.

Remedy. MERCEDES-BENZ WILL REPLACE THE STEERING GEARS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2009. OWNER MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

Trailer Hitches08V242000
Filed Jun 2, 200852,740 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc.

Defect. 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.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE TRAILER HITCH. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 16, 2008. OWENRS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Diesel08V006000
Filed Jan 9, 20089,004 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc.

Defect. 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.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Tires
Filed Jan 30, 2008OR

THE CONTINENTAL 275/55VR19 4X4 CONTACT EXTRA COST TIRES FURNISHED WITH MY 2008 M-B GL320 CDI HAVE A STRONG TENDENCY TO HYDROPLANE UNEXPECTEDLY, DANGEROUSLY AND AT LOW SPEEDS IN VERY SHALLOW WATER (WEAR GROOVES IN I-5 FREEWAY @ 55 MPH OR LESS). VIRTUALLY THE SAME CAR, (2007 M-B GL320 CDI) WITH STOCK MICHELIN LATITUDE 265/60HR18 TIRES NEVER DID HYDROPLANE EVEN IN HEAVY RAIN @ 70 MPH. THIS ATTRIBUTE IS UNSAFE, COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL, ACCIDENT AND INJURY, AND IS AVOIDABLE BY FITTING A PROPER TIRE. *TR

1 of 1 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2010
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20113200Routine
20104000Routine
20091000Routine
2008 — this page1300Routine
20073200Routine
20060200Routine

Compare every GL year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Dec 19, 2008. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.