Total Complaints
23 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ GL320 · model year
23 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2008MERCEDES-BENZGL320 carries 23 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2008 GL320 is steering with 7 filings, followed by unknown or other (3) and seats (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 2008 GL320. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
23 filings
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STEERING | 7 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 3 |
| SEATS | 2 |
| ENGINE | 2 |
| TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL | 1 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL320. 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 stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time to complete the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL 320. 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 stated that he was told to contact several other numbers to arrange for tow the dealer. The contact stated the was unable to arrange the tow to the dealer. The contact was upset that he was given a no-drive recall, and has contacted the manufacturer and the dealer with no results. The contact stated he has not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL 320. 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 stated that he was told to contact several other numbers to arrange for tow the dealer. The contact stated the was unable to arrange the tow to the dealer. The contact was upset that he was given a no-drive recall, and has contacted the manufacturer and the dealer with no results. The contact stated he has not experienced a failure.
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.
Mileage: 195,000
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.
Mileage: 195,000
THE TRAILER HITCH HAS BEEN RECALLED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 08V242000 : MB RECALL # 2008-050004 MB TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN # 2008050004C. MERCEDES BENZ (CHRISTIAN TREIBER VP CUSTOMER SERVICE THRU ERICK [LAST NAME REFUSED] EXECUTIVE REFERRAL MANAGER) HAVE IN WRITING DENIED MY REQUEST TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO REPAIR MY TRAILER HITCH ACCORDING TO THEIR RECALL AND TSB DENYING THAT THERE IS A RECALL.
Mileage: 127,000
MERSEDES BENZ CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND BONITA SPRINGS DEALERSHIP FL REFUSED TO DEAL WITH RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 08V242000 MB CAMPAIGN 2008050004 BECAUSE RECALL WAS NOT LOGGED AGAINST VIN # AND REFUSED TO LOG AGAINST VIN DESPITE SEEING RECALL LETTER WHICH DESCRIBES PROCESS AND SEEING ENTIRE MB SERVICE BULLETIN. TRAILER HITCH HAD BEEN INSPECTED BY MB MECHANIC AND DETERMINED TO BE AFFECTED TRAILER HITCH AND THAT RECALL HAD NOT BEEN COMPLETED. THE RECALL WARNS THAT TRAILER HITCH SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR ANYTHING WHICH DESTROYS MY PURPOSE FOR PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE SOME COMPENSATION FOR THIS AND THE RECALL COMPLETED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Mileage: 126,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ GL320. 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 VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V682000 (STEERING) THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.
Mileage: 136,000
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.
Mileage: 90,000
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. THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BEVERLY HILLS MERCEDES. WE CONTACTED MERCEDES USA TO INFORM THEM OF THE INCIDENT. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE CALLED US BACK AND STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE POWER STEERING FAILED WE SHOULD HAD BEEN ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO SAFETY ( WHICH WE WERE NOT ABLE TO DO). MB REPRESENTATIVE DID NOT GIVE US ANY ASSURANCES THAT THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM OF THE VEHICLE BEING UNSAFE IN CASE OF POWER STEERING FAILURE WILL OR CAN BE ADDRESSED SINCE THIS WAS THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED. WE HAVE 4 LITTLE KIDS AND WE FEEL IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THIS TYPE OF THE VEHICLE WITH THIS STEERING DESIGN DEFECT. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF MERCE
Mileage: 53,000
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. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE WIRING IN THE FRONT SEAT THAT TRIGGERED THE MALFUNCTION. THE SEAT HAS TO BE REMOVED AND THE HEAD REST HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1980. THE SEAT IS A 10 WAY POWER SEAT BUT IT SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO MOVE WITHOUT SHORTING THE ELECTRONICS. HAD THIS GONE OFF WHILE UNDERWAY WITH A PASSENGER RESTING THEIR HEAD AGAINST THE SEAT IT COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURY. *TR
Mileage: 90,000
STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. CAR STALLED AND WAS ALMOST REAR- ENDED. GOT TO SIDE OF ROAD SOME FLUID, RESTARTED AFTER 20 MINUTES. WHEN RESTARTED WEIRD NOISE WHEN TURNING BUT CLOSE TO DEALER. *TR
Mileage: 74,545
COMING HOME FROM WORK STEERING STARTED ACTING FUNNY AND MAKING WEIRD NOISES. PULLED IN GARAGE AND FLUIDS ALL OVER FLOOR. TOOK TO DEALER - HAD TO REPLACE RACK AND PINION STEERING UNIT FOR THE SECOND TIME. *TR
Mileage: 81,981
OCT OF 2012 RIGHT FRONT AIR SUSPENSION COMPONENT WENT OUT - HAD TO REPLACE. NOVEMBER 2012 LEFT FRONT AIR SUSPENSION WENT OUT - HAD TO REPLACE THAT. *TR
Mileage: 73,900
SMOKE STARTED SPEWING FROM FRONT OF CAR - COULD NOT SEE AND PULLED OFF. OIL CAP DEFECTIVE - SHORTED OUT ALTERNATOR. *TR
Mileage: 96,562
SMOKE STARTED SPEWING FROM FRONT OF CAR - COULD NOT SEE AND PULLED OFF. OIL CAP DEFECTIVE - SHORTED OUT ALTERNATOR. *TR
Mileage: 96,562
DIESEL FUEL LEAKING ON ROADWAY FROM FILTER. SIMILAR TO MODEL YEARS 2010-2012 RECALL. FUEL IS FOUND WHEN PARKED DRIPPING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DIESEL SMELL IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *TR
Mileage: 32,100
THIRD ROW SEAT WOULD NOT LOCK IN POSITION, EITHER UP FOR SEATING OR DOWN FOR CARGO. THE LACK OF LOCKING EFFECTED THE MOTOR WHICH RAISES AND LOWERS THE SEAT TO LOCK POSITION. DEALER AND/OR MFG. CLAIMED THE SEAT FRAME IS PRONE TO BENDING. I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED. WHEN I NOTED THIS SOUNDS LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE THEY OFFERED TO PAY 75% FOR THE PART AND DISCOUNT ON LABOR. *TR
Mileage: 77,500
THERE IS A FUEL LEAK AROUND THE FILTER NEAR THE HEATING ELEMENT. SOUNDS LIKE THE DESCRIPTION OF A RECALL WITH THE 2011 AND 2012 MODELS. *TR
I FOUND FLUID UNDER MY VEHICLE ON THE FLOOR OF MY GARAGE. I AM SENDING THIS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER THAT THIS IS THE RESULT OF A DEFECT. I CHECKED AND THERE WERE RECALLS BUT MY VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THERE WERE ALSO SERVICE BULLETINS WHICH WERE NOT CALLED TO MY ATTENTION MBUSA REP ADMITTED DEFECT ,WAS SYMPATHETIC BUT SAID HE WOULD MAKE A NOTE OF IT, BUT THAT WAS ALL. DEALER DID GRANT ME A "GOOD WILL" DISCOUNT,BUT MY COST WAS $600.00 FOR A REPAIR THAT HAS BEEN ENDEMIC.MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AFTER 48 MONTHS , BUT ONLY 25817 MILES. *TR
Mileage: 25,820
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.