2008 Mercedes Benz M Class

Routine

Owners filed 1 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the steering. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Steering1
000

2 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.

Electrical System08V303000
Filed Jul 7, 2008404 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc.

Defect. MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING MY 2006-2008 M-CLASS, R-CLASS, MY 2005-2009 SLK-CLASS, MY 2005-2008 C-CLASS, MY 2003-2004 AND 2006-2008 CLK-CLASS, MY 2003-2008 E-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2008 CL-CLASS, MY 2008 CLS-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2007-2008 S-CLASS, MY 2003 G-CLASS, AND MY 2003-2004, 2006 AND 2009 SL-CLASS VEHICLES. A SOFTWARE CALIBRATION NUMBER (SCN) CODING RECEIVED ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES DURING A RECENT WORKSHOP VISIT WAS INCORRECT. DEPENDING ON THE MODEL YEAR AND MODEL AFFECTED, THE RESULTS OF AN INCORRECT SCN CODING CAN AFFECT A NUMBER OF VEHICLE SAFETY AND EMISSION FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF FUNCTIONS: (1) THE FUEL GAUGE READINGS MAY BE INCORRECT; (2) A STUCK FUEL-LEVEL SENSOR MAY NOT BE DISPLAYED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER; (3) THE OBD SYSTEM MAY CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE INCORRECTLY; AND, (4) THE SPEEDOMETER MAY BE OUT OF TOLERANCE.

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE ELECTRICAL FUEL PUMP MAY NOT RECEIVE A CRASH SIGNAL THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THE FUEL PUMP TO DISCONNECT AND PREVENT FUTURE FUEL DELIVERY AS DESIGNED.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL RECODE THE SCN FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Steering
Filed May 16, 201246,600 milesOR

THE POWER STEERING RACK DEVELOPED A LEAK CAUSING THE OIL PRESSURE TO THE UNIT TO FAIL RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING FUNCTION. THIS VEHICLE DOSE NOT HAVE A WARNING SYSTEM TO ALERT THE DRIVER OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. A PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL WAS ISSUED JANUARY 2009 (SAFETY RECALL #2008-120011) FOR 2008 ML 320'S FOR A DEFECT SUCH AS THIS. HOWEVER, THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THAT RECALL. WE FEEL THIS PART SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT FAILURE.

1 of 1 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2000
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20091100Routine
2008 — this page1200Routine
20072220Routine
200614200Routine
20040100Routine
200310310Routine
20025500Routine
20015400Routine
200025500Routine
199918410Routine
19985400Routine

Compare every M Class 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.