POWERING STEERING LOCKS,SUSPENSION AIR STRUTS LOSING AIR CAN HEAR WHEN DRIVING
2008 Mercedes Benz GL450
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all GL450 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
37 reports with mileage · 17 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Steering. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Suspension complaints
15 reportsTHE AIRMATIC SUSPENSION HAS FAILED, THE TRUCK IS SITTING LOW THE AIR COMPRESSOR BLEW INTO PIECES FROM WORKING TO HARD. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES AIRMATIC SHOCKS ON MANY DIFFERENT MODEL... PLEASE HELP US ,THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL.. I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 45000 MILES ON MY TRUCK.
VEHICLE KEEPS LOSING AIR, STEERING WHEEL HARD TO TURN, CAR LEANING TO RIGHT SIDE, AIRBAG LIGHTS KEEPS COMING ON, THE CAR LOOSES POWER WHEN TURNING. DURING THE NIGHT CAR WILL LOWER IT SELF. ABS WILL COME ONE, SMELL SMOKE. WAS TOLD BY DEALER I HAVE LEAKS IN THE ENGINE, HAD TO REPAIR SUSPENSION, AND DIFFERENT STRUTS AND PARTS WHILE…
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VEHICLE KEEPS LOSING AIR, STEERING WHEEL HARD TO TURN, CAR LEANING TO RIGHT SIDE, AIRBAG LIGHTS KEEPS COMING ON, THE CAR LOOSES POWER WHEN TURNING. DURING THE NIGHT CAR WILL LOWER IT SELF. ABS WILL COME ONE, SMELL SMOKE. WAS TOLD BY DEALER I HAVE LEAKS IN THE ENGINE, HAD TO REPAIR SUSPENSION, AND DIFFERENT STRUTS AND PARTS WHILE DURING WARRANTY AND AFTER SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. I NOTIFIED MBUSA, AND APPARENTLY THIS CAR HAS BEEN HAVING AIRBAGS AND SUSPENSION ISSUES REPAIRED BEFORE I BOUGHT IT, THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAS BEEN DOING THE SAME REPAIRS. WITHIN A MONTH OF REPAIRING ON THING, THE CAR STARTS TO LEAN TO RIGHT, MAKE NOISE, LEAK FLUIDS FROM WHO KNOWS WHERE.
8/30/16 REPLACED RIGHT FRONT AIRMATIC STRUT.SUSPENSION KEPT DROPPING. 8/1717 AT TIMES,AFTER CLOSING DOOR,AIR ESCAPES AND SUSPENSION DROPS. DEALER CHECKED CODES AND NOTHING. SUSPENSION CONTINUES TO DROP WHEN DOOR CLOSES. CAN HEAR AIR ESCAPING. NOT EVERY TIME, BUT 3 OUT OF 4 TIMES
VEHICLE GOES ON ONE SIDE, DEALER BLAMES AND REPAIRS STRUTS, SAME ISSUE HAPPEN AFTER 5 MONTHS, AND DEALER BLAMES AIR SUSPENSION BELLOWS. STIFF AND NOISY STEERING MAY ALSO BE RELATED TO TAKATA RECALL.
AIRMATIC SUSPENSION COMPONENTS CONTINUE TO FAIL ON THIS VEHICLE. AIRMATIC AIR PUMP WAS FIRST REPLACED DEC 2013 AT 71,000MI. FRONT SUSPENSION AIR SPRINGS FAILED AND SUSPENSION STRUTS HAVE BOTH BEEN REPLACED, OCT 2014 AT 85,000 MI. REAR SUSPENSION AIR SPRINGS FAILED AND HAVE WERE REPLACED, JULY 2015 AT 101,600MI. AIRMATIC AIR PUMP…
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AIRMATIC SUSPENSION COMPONENTS CONTINUE TO FAIL ON THIS VEHICLE. AIRMATIC AIR PUMP WAS FIRST REPLACED DEC 2013 AT 71,000MI. FRONT SUSPENSION AIR SPRINGS FAILED AND SUSPENSION STRUTS HAVE BOTH BEEN REPLACED, OCT 2014 AT 85,000 MI. REAR SUSPENSION AIR SPRINGS FAILED AND HAVE WERE REPLACED, JULY 2015 AT 101,600MI. AIRMATIC AIR PUMP WAS REPLACED AGAIN ALONG WITH THE SUSPENSION VALVE BLOCK WAS REPLACED , NOV 2015 AT 107,300MI. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH DEALERSHIP THEY ONLY WARRANT REPAIR FOR 12 MOS AND INFORMED US THAT MERCEDES DOES NOT HAVE RECALL OR PROVIDE CUSTOMER SUPPORT TO REPLACE THESE ITEMS UNLESS PAID FOR BY CUSTOMERS. FRONT AIR SPRINGS DEFLATED DURING TRIP DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED , SUSPENSION DROPPED DOWN AND HAD TO PULL OVER. HAD TO DRIVE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP WITH SUSPENSION DROPPED DOWN ON FRAME STOPS. BECAUSE OF HIGH COST GETTING REPAIR AT MERCEDES DEALERSHIP, REPAIRS WERE MADE BY OTHER SHOPS AS THEY CHARGE HIGHER PRICES FOR REPAIRS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A POTHOLE AND BECAME INOPERABLE. THE COMPRESSOR OVERHEATING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT AXLE, HUBS, AND SUSPENSION WERE CORRODED AND THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING. AL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A POTHOLE AND BECAME INOPERABLE. THE COMPRESSOR OVERHEATING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT AXLE, HUBS, AND SUSPENSION WERE CORRODED AND THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING. ALL THE PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,876. UPDATED 09/10/15*LJ
I BELIEVE THIS IS A FAULTY PART. I HAD 31,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FRONT AIRMATIC WENT OUT. NOW THE BACK IS GOING OUT AT 50,000 MILES. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN THEY SAID IT'S NOT IF IT WILL GO OUT IT'S WHEN. SO I BELIEVE MERCEDES BENZ KNOWS THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS AND WE ARE PAYING FOR BAD PARTS. I BELIEVE THIS …
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I BELIEVE THIS IS A FAULTY PART. I HAD 31,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FRONT AIRMATIC WENT OUT. NOW THE BACK IS GOING OUT AT 50,000 MILES. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN THEY SAID IT'S NOT IF IT WILL GO OUT IT'S WHEN. SO I BELIEVE MERCEDES BENZ KNOWS THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS AND WE ARE PAYING FOR BAD PARTS. I BELIEVE THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEIR IS A PROBLEM.
I PURCHASED A VEHICLE FROM AUTO WORLD USA IN BEDFORD, OHIO. I HAVE EXPERIENCED ISSUED WITH THE CAR FROM THE DAY I TOOK THE CAR TO TRY AND GET INSPECTED IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKES AND TIRES WERE GOOD TO PASS INSPECTION; HOWEVER WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO GET INSPECTED I HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES, BRAKES…
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I PURCHASED A VEHICLE FROM AUTO WORLD USA IN BEDFORD, OHIO. I HAVE EXPERIENCED ISSUED WITH THE CAR FROM THE DAY I TOOK THE CAR TO TRY AND GET INSPECTED IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKES AND TIRES WERE GOOD TO PASS INSPECTION; HOWEVER WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO GET INSPECTED I HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES, BRAKES AND ROTORS. I TOOK THE CAR TO MERCEDES BENZ TO GET LOOKED AT DUE TO THE BURNING SMELL THAT KEEPS COMING THROUGH THE VENTS WHEN THE HEAT IS ON. I WAS TOLD THE MY OIL SEPARATOR WAS LEAKING' THAT MY AIR SPRINGS ARE LEAKING AND THAT MY REAR AIR SUSPENSIONS WERE BAD. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR I WAS OFFERED A WARRANTY THAT I WAS TOLD WOULD COVER THOSE TYPES OF REPAIRS. WELL IT TURNS OUT THE SUSPENSION IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND I CANNOT GET THE OIL SEPARATOR FIXED BECAUSE THERE IS A DEDUCTIBLE (THAT I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF.) I HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR TO AUTO WORLD USA IN OHIO TO GET REPAIRS DONE AND I LIVE IN PITTSBURGH, PA. I WAS TOLD BY THE WARRANTY COMPANY THAT THE DEALERSHIP COULD CALL AND THEY WOULD WAIVE THE DEDUCTIBLE. TERRY DOBBINS AT AUTO WORLD, WAS VERY RUDE AND SAID THAT SHE WOULD NOT CALL THE WARRANTY AFTER SHE KEPT EXPRESSING SHE WAS GOING HOME SHE JUST HAPPENED TO ANSWER MY CALL. WHAT TYPE OF COMPANY TREATS A CUSTOMER LIKE THAT? I WAS GIVEN FALSIFIED INFORMATION ON MANY LEVELS AND WAS TREAT LIKE I COMMITTED A CRIME. AUTO WORLD USA SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED THEIR SALES PRACTICES ARE FRAUDULENT. THEY HAVE PUT THE LIFE OF ME AND MY CHILDREN IN JEOPARDY BY SELLING ME A CAR THAT HAD SAFETY ISSUES AND IT IS THEIR DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CAR DID NOT HAVE SAFETY ISSUES BEFORE IT WAS SOLD TO A CONSUMER WITH AN "AS-IS" WARRANTY OR NOT. ME AND MY KIDS COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BECAUSE I WAS SOLD A CAR WITH A SAFETY HAZARD. SOMEBODY ELSE MAY NOT BE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEIR CAR BEFORE IT'S TO LATE. *TR
TODAY I WAS SHOPPING IN A STORE WHILE MY TEENAGE SON WAITED IN THE CAR FOR ME. HE CAME RUNNING IN THE STORE ACCOMPANIED BY A WITNESS THAT WAS IN THE PARKING LOT TO TELL ME THAT SOMETHING ON MY CAR EXPLODED OUTSIDE. THE ADULT WITNESS EXPLAINED THAT THE NOISE WAS SO LOUD AND SO ABRASIVE THAT THEY THOUGHT A BOMB WENT OFF. IT SHO…
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TODAY I WAS SHOPPING IN A STORE WHILE MY TEENAGE SON WAITED IN THE CAR FOR ME. HE CAME RUNNING IN THE STORE ACCOMPANIED BY A WITNESS THAT WAS IN THE PARKING LOT TO TELL ME THAT SOMETHING ON MY CAR EXPLODED OUTSIDE. THE ADULT WITNESS EXPLAINED THAT THE NOISE WAS SO LOUD AND SO ABRASIVE THAT THEY THOUGHT A BOMB WENT OFF. IT SHOOK THE ENTIRE CAR. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS HURT. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS INCIDENT TOOK PLACE WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR? IT HAS TO HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE AIR SUSPENSION. I'M HAVING IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC TOMORROW. I'VE SPENT LOTS OF MONEY FIXING MANY THINGS ON THIS CAR. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW MUCH THIS ISSUE COSTS ME (SARCASM). I'VE ALREADY REPLACED ONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE AIR SUSPENSION ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. WHEN THOSE AIRBAGS GO OUT, THE VEHICLE CAN'T BE SAFE TO DRIVE. IT STARTS SLIPPING, IT HAS DIFFICULTY STOPPING, IT SHAKES AGGRESSIVELY WHEN DRIVEN, YET WHEN ALL THAT HAPPENED IT DIDN'T TELL ME THAT THE CAR NEEDED SERVICE. IT TELLS ME EVERYTHING ELSE CONSTANTLY LIKE TIRE PRESSURE IS OFF, A REAR LAMP IS OUT, ETC. BUT DOESN'T TELL ME THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE? MERCEDES IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SAFEST CAR ON THE ROAD, AND IT SHOULD BE FOR THE PRICE THEY CHARGE. HOWEVER, MY FAMILY CERTAINLY WAS NOT SAFE TODAY WHEN I WAS DRIVING THIS CAR. IT IS HARD TO TELL HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN IN JEOPARDY AS THIS PART WAS WAITING TO EXPLODE. PRINCESS [XXX] IN A MERCEDES. I HAVE TO WONDER IF HER CAR HAD AIR SUSPENSION THAT WENT BAD. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Official recalls
224V298000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
Apr 26, 2024
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
22V315000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
May 9, 2022
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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