2008 Mercedes Benz Gl450 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (17) · Suspension (11) · Wheels (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mercedes Benz Gl450 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
38 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum 2024-04-26 · campaign 24V298000 · 15,604 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: 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.
Risk: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum 2022-05-09 · campaign 22V315000 · 350,294 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: 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.
Risk: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (62)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Service Brakes 2026-09-22 · LI42.10-P-078779 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60mph. note: although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is distinctly different if it happens at all times or only while braking. cause although the cause of the vibra
Structure:body 2026-09-14 · LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. cause under analysis. remedy to narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • if the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary,
Structure:body 2026-08-06 · LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. cause under analysis. remedy to narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • if the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary,
Power Train 2026-07-14 · LI35.30-P-058566 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). the noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. note: sound file in attachment cause if the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboard collar n
Exterior Lighting 2026-04-16 · LI82.10-P-078301 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged. cause fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. it does not lead to any technical impairment of the headlamp. if a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in the housing cover, then the l
Exterior Lighting 2026-03-09 · LI82.10-P-078301 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged cause fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. it does not lead to any technical impairment of the headlamp. if a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in the housing cover, then the la
Showing the 6 most recent of 62 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-02 · Unknown Or Other · 229,000 mi“driving on the 99 freeway when out of no where a loud explosion hit my car from behind or on top of my car it scared me so bad, i pulled over to emergency lane but i did not find or know what hit me so i continued home slowly afraid to drive. when i got home i was. checking my car and on top of my car there is a section that has. electrical or comp…”
2025-08-19 · Steering · 196,000 mi“the contact owns a 2008 mercedes-benz gl450. the contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal shaking coming from the engine while attempting to steer the vehicle. no warning lights were illuminated. the vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the power steering re…”
2024-07-12 · Exterior Lighting“a flash from the right headlight had occured. i thought it was the bulb, but turns out the ballist was shorted out. i removed the assembly from the vehicle to change the ballist and because i want to also change the lens on the assembly. when i got the old lens off, i found most of the wiring has heat distress, causing the casings to flake off. …”
2023-12-28 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic“the contact owns a 2008 mercedes-benz gl450. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 22v315000 (service brakes, hydraulic) and the contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer. the contact was informed by the dealer that the recall repair could not be performed until the rear brake lines and a transmission diagnostic test was…”
2023-06-15 · Unknown Or Other · 💥 crash“last wednesday morning june 06, 2023 i started vehicle up to move it closer to my apartment. once i shifted into "drive", immediately the engine revved up and vehicle accelerated in high rate of speed across the parking lot, i was applying the brakes, but they were not stopping the vehicle, it then slammed into wooded area and crashed head first in…”
2022-08-22 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic“the contact owns a 2008 mercedes-benz gl450. the contact stated that the vehicle had been at the dealer for almost two months. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 22v315000 (service brakes, hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable…”
2022-05-17 · Seat Belts“the contact owns a 2008 mercedes benz gl450. the contact stated their vehicle had a warning light that stated the seat belt on the passenger side had failed. the vehicle was included in a recall nhtsa campaign number: 22v315000 (service brakes, hydraulic) could cause additional issues with the vehicle's seat belt. the contact took the vehicle to a …”
2022-04-30 · Steering“at slow speed it’s hard to turn. steering fluid is fine …”
2022-04-21 · Engine · 115,000 mi“the contact owns a 2008 mercedes-benz gl450. the contact stated while driving approximately 10 mph and approaching a stop light, an unknown "malfunction" warning light illuminated. the contact attempted to veer to the side of the road but noticed that the steering wheel had lost power steering functionality. the contact then forcefully steered the …”
2021-12-20 · Electrical System · 🔥 fire“vehicle caught fire in my garage. vehicle was running fine 2 hrs prior. my husband entered the vehicle to run an errand and the vehicle would not start. tons of light came on the dash, including the airbag had deployed, though the airbag had not deployed. vehicle was off but still sounded like it was running. windows or nothing would work. we rais…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.