2008 Mercedes-Benz R350 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Suspension (11) · Steering (9) · Service Brakes (4)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mercedes-Benz R350 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
21 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 (68)
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 2026-02-25 · LI82.10-P-078307 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint headlamps leaking or fogged cause the fogging of the headlamp is a natural phenomenon which can occur under certain climatic conditions. in contrast to a leaky headlamp, physical fogging does not result in a technical impairment of the headlamp. a leak test must be performed to determine i
Showing the 6 most recent of 68 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-07-09 · Service Brakes“the brake fluid lines are corroding much faster than in other models, and without actual corrosion under the car. it happened to my car, and i have been reading forums of mb owners of this same r model, as well as c, e, glk, and ml models all reporting the same issues. the lines corroding earlier to due to the brake boost system failure and other f…”
2022-09-06 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic“the contact owns a 2008 mercedes-benz r350. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 22v315000 (service brakes, hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the dealer was made aware of the issue. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair…”
2022-08-20 · Service Brakes“hi i received a letter from mercedes for a stop drive recall (nhtsa #22v315, mbusa id: 2022050014 & 2022050015), so i bought my mercedes r350 to the shop for repair on july 15, 2022. mercedes benz of pleasanton (925463-2525) claimed that brake booster parts were not available at that time and i couldn't drive the car, so they left the car at the …”
2022-06-08 · Service Brakes“every time i braked, car not stop until very close to the car in front of me. couples time i hit the car in front of me. sometime i have to slam the brakes very hard, but the car still move forward.…”
2022-05-23 · Suspension“i drove to work with no problems. however; returning i started car and could hear a slight sound. i immediately noticed that the car rising sign was illuminated and i waited for car to rise. the car failed to rise and was sitting so low to tires that i could not drive and had to be towed home. at home i tried again to see if car would rise and…”
2022-05-13 · Service Brakes“i have tried, since 730 this morning to find out what can be done with regard to the recall of my car. i contacted my dealer - faulkner mercedes in doylestown.... who explained that they couldn't do anything, as they have neither the tools nor the parts to address this issue, and won't have for quite some time, and that i needed to call the mercede…”
2022-04-25 · Unknown Or Other“the very heavy trunk comes down fast but does not close. instead the trunk reopens automatically. the problem is one could get hit in the face as the trunk reverses and starts to reopen on its own. also the trunk could open on its own while driving. that is why this is a real safety haphzard…”
2021-01-14 · Fuel/Propulsion System“the fuel doesn't read what is actually in my car.…”
2020-06-15 · Suspension“i see i have recalls for the back hatch door and some suspension recalls electrical also air rising system for a 2008 are 350 mercedes i call the syracuse new york dealer and they said it is not up for recalls but this is how i found out it was up for recalls. *tr…”
2019-11-14 · Steering · 54,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2008 mercedes-benz r350v2. the contact stated that the automatic leveling became defective while traveling 30 mph. in addition, the leveling warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle became difficult to steer. the dealer had not been notified of the failure. the manufacturer was notified. the contact associated the failur…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.