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2008 Mercedes-Benz GL450 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL450, and owners have filed 55 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.

2
safety recalls
55
owner complaints to NHTSA
5 / 1
complaints citing a crash / fire

2 safety recalls for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL450

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Vacuum (service brakes) Do not drive

    NHTSA 24V298000 Reported 15,604 vehicles potentially affected Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

    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.

    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…

  2. Vacuum (service brakes) Do not drive

    NHTSA 22V315000 Reported 350,294 vehicles potentially affected Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

    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.

    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…

55 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL450 have filed 55 complaints with NHTSA; 5 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 6 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 73,351 miles. Complaints peaked in 2013 with 8 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Driving on the 99 freeway when out of no where a loud explosion hit my car from behind or on top of my car it scared me so bad, I pulled over to emergency lane but I did not find or know what hit me s”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 2, 2026 · Electrical system

“The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal shaking coming from the engine while attempting to steer the vehicle. No warning l”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 19, 2025 · Steering

Compare Mercedes-Benz GL450 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Mercedes-Benz GL450 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2007 Mercedes-Benz GL4502115
2008 Mercedes-Benz GL450255
2009 Mercedes-Benz GL450315
2010 Mercedes-Benz GL450342
2011 Mercedes-Benz GL450355
2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450347
2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450337
2014 Mercedes-Benz GL450321
2015 Mercedes-Benz GL450318
2016 Mercedes-Benz GL450513
2017 Mercedes-Benz GL45021

Checking a specific 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL450

How do I know if my 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL450 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL450; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Mercedes-Benz dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 22V315000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Mercedes-Benz models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.