Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
90–25K
625–50K
750–75K
675–100K
6100–150K
3150K+
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.
5 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
54 reports
1,500 miles · May 10, 2010
Latches/locks/linkagesStructureVisibility
PASSENGER DOOR OPENED UP ITSELF; CHILD ALMOST FELL OFF THE CAR; HAPPENS EVERY TIME UNTIL WE SLAM THE DOOR. AUTOMATIC TRUNK OPENED UP ITSELF AND HIT THE GARAGE. HAPPENS EVERY TIME UNTIL WE MANUALLY PUSH TO CLOSE. WHEN A/C IS RUNNING; BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW GETS FOGGY CAUSING 0 VISIBILITY TO THE SIDE…
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PASSENGER DOOR OPENED UP ITSELF; CHILD ALMOST FELL OFF THE CAR; HAPPENS EVERY TIME UNTIL WE SLAM THE DOOR. AUTOMATIC TRUNK OPENED UP ITSELF AND HIT THE GARAGE. HAPPENS EVERY TIME UNTIL WE MANUALLY PUSH TO CLOSE. WHEN A/C IS RUNNING; BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW GETS FOGGY CAUSING 0 VISIBILITY TO THE SIDE MIRRORS. BRAKE PEDAL BROKE. CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER MANY TIMES; DEALER FAILED TO REPAIRED AND MANUFACTURER FAILED TO RESPOND TO VARIOUS COMPLAINTS FILED WITH THEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10329792
23,000 miles · Jul 7, 2009
Power TrainSuspensionCrashInjury
ON APRIL 30TH 2009 WHILE DRIVING CAR SLIPPED INTO LOW GEAR ON ITS OWN. ON MAY 1ST WHILE PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND GOING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ON A MAJOR ROAD THE CAR AGAIN SLIPPED INTO LOW GEAR. TEN MINUTES LATER WHILE EASING INTO A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING SPOT THE CAR SHOT FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE PILLAR. I WAS D…
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ON APRIL 30TH 2009 WHILE DRIVING CAR SLIPPED INTO LOW GEAR ON ITS OWN. ON MAY 1ST WHILE PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND GOING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ON A MAJOR ROAD THE CAR AGAIN SLIPPED INTO LOW GEAR. TEN MINUTES LATER WHILE EASING INTO A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING SPOT THE CAR SHOT FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE PILLAR. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND INJURED MY WRIST AND MY MOTHER WHO WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT INJURED HER ANKLE. THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. CAR WAS SENT TO AUTHORIZED MERCEDES AUTO BODY SHOP REPAIRED THEN SENT TO MERCEDES DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY CHECKED THE CAR AND SAID NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND WITH THE CAR. ON JULY 7TH WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AT RAILROAD TRACKS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR DIDN'T MOVE I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS THE MATTER AND WHEN I LOOKED AT THE GEAR INDICATOR THE CAR WAS IN LOW GEAR WHICH HAPPENED AGAIN ON ITS OWN. ALSO IN APRIL 2008 THE VEHICLE FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILED AND MERCEDES REPLACED SUSPENSION SYSTEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10276031
18,000 miles · Apr 6, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentSeats
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING EVER SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. WHEN THE STALLING OCCURS, THERE IS NO POWER THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WILL RESTART SECONDS LA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING EVER SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. WHEN THE STALLING OCCURS, THERE IS NO POWER THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WILL RESTART SECONDS LATER. IN ADDITION TO THIS FAILURE, THE SIDEVIEW MIRROR IS MOLDED, THE TIRE LUG NUTS ARE RUSTED, THE POWER SEAT AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM ARE MALFUNCTIONING, THE ENGINE VALVE COVER IS CRACKED, AND THE COMPRESSORS FOR THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM HAS FAILED. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN HIS VEHICLE BACK TO BE REPAIRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
NHTSA ODI #10264264
12,000 miles · Sep 5, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A MERCEDES BENZ GL 450. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN JUNE OF 2008 REGARDING THE COMPRESSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS PROMISED THAT IT WOULD BE REPAIRED BY THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AS PROMISED; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE FROM…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A MERCEDES BENZ GL 450. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN JUNE OF 2008 REGARDING THE COMPRESSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS PROMISED THAT IT WOULD BE REPAIRED BY THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AS PROMISED; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER. OTHER RECALLS WERE ALSO FOUND FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
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.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2008 Mercedes Benz GL450 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year