AI Damage2008 Mercedes-Benz R350: common problems
Owners of the 2008 Mercedes-Benz R350 filed 35 complaints with NHTSA, most often about suspension and steering. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 35
What fails most often
- 1 Suspension 34% of all complaints
- 2 Steering 29% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 17% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 14% of all complaints
- 5 Engine 14% of all complaints
- 6 Air bags 6% of all complaints
- 7 Electronic stability control 3% of all complaints
- 8 Exterior lighting 3% of all complaints
- Suspension: 12 complaints (34% of all).
- Steering: 10 complaints (29% of all).
- Service brakes: 6 complaints (17% of all).
- Electrical system: 5 complaints (14% of all).
- Engine: 5 complaints (14% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 35 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 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.
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 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.
Hi I received a letter from Mercedes for a stop drive recall (NHTSA #22V315, MBUSA ID: [phone] & [phone]), so I bought my Mercedes R350 to the shop for repair on July 15, 2022.
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.
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.
Took car to a dealership and they said it was the power steering, hydraulics, rack and pinion and reservoir (had the same symptoms of a recall from 2008 for the same make and vehicle). Nhtsa campaign no. 08v682000
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 mercedes-benz r350. While driving approximately 45 mph, the engine made a loud noise and the vehicle shut off. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced due to a faulty balance shaft.
The contact stated that the vehicle began experiencing engine failures after the dealer (silver star motors, 36-[address], long island city, [ZIP], [phone]) serviced it due to a failure with the sun roof not properly closing.
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 6,335 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 17% most complained about).
On average one model year of the R350 has 34 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 35, about average.
What to check before buying
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Mercedes-Benz R350?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: suspension, steering, service brakes. Total complaints: 35. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: steering or power steering problems (14%), airbag warning light (3%), door locks, latches, handles (3%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz R350?
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 R350 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.