Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Tires1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
In the Netherlands
95 first registered in 2008 are on Dutch roads; 83% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €140,056.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde49
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen33
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld18
- Band beschadigd13
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm12
- Band onvoldoende profiel11
- Remslang beschadigd, wapeningsmateriaal zichtbaar11
- Schokdemper aanwezig die lekkage vertoont9
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
164 cars built in 2008 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 118 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 289 of these cars first registered in 2008 took their annual MOT test. 74% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2008 the figure was 57%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2008 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 11.8% | 19.8% |
| Brakes | 10.4% | 11.3% |
| Suspension | 4.2% | 17.2% |
| Tyres | 4.2% | 7.6% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 3.5% | 7.3% |
| Visibility | 3.5% | 6.7% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In New Zealand
21 2008 cars are on the New Zealand register; 33% arrived as used imports, 62% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 3 variants: combined 11.6–16.3 L/100 km (about 14–20 mpg US), CO₂ 313–375 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL 320 CDI 4MATIC Turbo · Sport utility vehicle · Diesel | 13.0 | 9.8 | 11.6 |
| GL 450 4MATC · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 17.6 | 13.0 | 15.5 |
| GL 550 4MATIC · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 18.4 | 13.7 | 16.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mercedes-Benz told its dealers about the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10039256 | MERCEDES-BENZ: THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS ON WITH MULTIPLE POSSIBLE TROUBLE CODES STORED. THERE COULD BE A PROBLEM WITH THE CAMSHAFT AND/OR SCORING OF A PISTON. *RM |
| 10037408 | MERCEDES-BENZ: SHOCK ABSORBER PROCEDURE. *RM |
| 10034566 | MERCEDES BENZ: REPROGRAM MBRACE (N123/4) DIALED NUMBERS TO HUGHES. THIS ACTION APPLIES TO NEW VEHICLE INVENTORY ONLY. *PE |
| 10030940 | MERCEDES: UNEVEN STEERING FORCES WHEN STEERING FROM LOCK TO LOCK. INCREASED STEERING FORCES IN CERTAIN POSITIONS. APPROXIMATELY EVERY 90 DEGREES A PRESSURE POINT CAN BE FELT WHICH MUST BE OVERCOME BY INCREASED FORCE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. UNIVERSAL JOINT IN STEERING COUPLING, (STEER COUPLING) HAS EXCESSIVE RESISTANCE. REPLACE STEERING COUPLING (STEER COUPLING). NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE |
| 10025648 | RATTLING/THUMPING NOISE ON ROUGH ROADS AND/OR KNOCKING NOISE WHEN MOVING STEERING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS ON ALL MODEL 164 AND 251 VEHICLES. MODEL YEARS UNKNOWN. *PE |
| 10025647 | WATER ENTRY INTO VEHICLE INTERIOR FOR ALL MODEL 164 VEHICLES. *PE |
| 10022893 | CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON / FAULT CODES FC1200 / FC1208 STORED IN ME-SFI CONTROL UNIT. MERCEDES-BENZ MODEL C230, C280, C350, SLK280, SLK350, CLK350, CLK550, E350, E550, CLS550, S600, AND SL550. EQUIPPED WITH M272 ENGINE OR M273 ENGINE. *NJ UPDATED 8/28/08. *PE |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)