AI Damage2008 Mercedes-Benz GL320: common problems
Owners of the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL320 filed 20 complaints with NHTSA, most often about steering and engine. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 20
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Steering 35% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 10% of all complaints
- 3 Seats 10% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 10% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 5% of all complaints
- 6 Exterior lighting 5% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel/propulsion system 5% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel system 5% of all complaints
- Steering: 7 complaints (35% of all).
- Engine: 2 complaints (10% of all).
- Seats: 2 complaints (10% of all).
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (10% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (5% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 20 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 4 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Wiriing insulation in headlights deteriorates resulting in sudden and repeated failure of headlamps.information shared with hella (original manufacturer, but they choose not to respond). Failed parts available for inspection.
The contact received recall notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The local dealer was contacted and informed the contact that they could only repair the vehicle after a month.
The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) which stated that the tow was free of charge. The contact stated that he has contacted Mercedes-Benz roadside assistance to arrange for the tow and was redirected to call the Mercedes-Benz recall hotline.
The contact noticed oil leaking from the vehicle while it was parked. While driving 60 mph and making a turn, an abnormal noise was heard from the steering wheel. The failure occurred constantly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced.
The car broke in the middle of the 45 mph road in a very dangerous intersection. Towed the car to dealer and they told me the engine is completely damaged and need to be replaced. They told me the timing chain got loose and will cost ~$15k to replace the damaged engine.
I was making left hand turn, suddenly the power steering assist failed and it was impossible to steer the vehicle to bring it to safety. This happened just prior to us entering the freeway. If we were to enter the freeway and this failure would occur on the freeway, we would end up in a crash. We contacted mercedes.
I was parked in a parking lot getting into the car and the passenger side adaptive head rest released. This is designed to prevent whiplash but depending on the force it released at (it's mechanical not an airbag) it could cause injury. The vehicle smelled as if an electrical component had melted.
Smoke started spewing from front of car - could not see and pulled off. Oil cap defective - shorted out alternator.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 8,261 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 23% most complained about).
On average one model year of the GL320 has 7 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 20, above average.
What to check before buying
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Seats. Occupant sensor, power adjustment, seat mounts.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL320?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: steering, engine, seats. Total complaints: 20. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: steering or power steering problems (15%), fuel system, fuel smell (10%), headlights and tail lights (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL320?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL320 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2008 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.