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Mercedes-Benz E550Model year report

2008 Mercedes-Benz E550 Problems

Complaints
15filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
67,174miles, 9 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
17 mpgcombined, 5.5L 8-cyl RWD · 15 city / 22 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E550 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E550. The part named most often is fuel system, with 8 complaints (53% of the total), followed by visibility (2) and wheels (2). 9 of the complaints include a mileage, and 22% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 67,174 miles. Of all complaints, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 83 technical service bulletins for this model year. Fuel system complaints overlap with 4 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Visibility complaints overlap with 3 recall campaigns and 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Fuel system: “Related to case# ea13003 I recently purchased a pre-owned 2008 E550 with 59k miles in december 2014. After fill-up, I noticed a faint fuel smell on the drivers rear area near the rear wheel. I have also opened up the access hatch and noticed fuel seeping from the sending unit. This seems to be the exact issues I have seen in regards to case #ea13003. This smell goes away after the tank level goes below 3/4.”

NHTSA complaint #10670070, filed 2015-01, 60,213 miles

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “The panaramic sunroof had gotten stuck open and gears or something are not engaging at times, sounds like motor grinds and the sunroof slips off track and closed unevenly. Will not open back up.”

NHTSA complaint #11641332, filed 2025-02

Wheels: “2008 mercedes E550 rim problem. I have owned this vehicle for 8 months and have had two front tire blowouts on 2 different occasions from hitting small pot hole. The rim gets bent then the tire blows out. The latest incident, a police officer and I watched many vehicles driving over the pot hole with no problems. The rims are the 12 spoke that comes stock on the E550's.”

NHTSA complaint #10284653, filed 2009-09, 14,441 miles

Brakes: “In the fall of 2021 the car started to received errors related to the ABS control unit that failed preventing 1) antilock braking, control of ESP (limiting poor handling), and cruise control. At the time of the failure, the car only had 31,552 miles and was properly maintained. MB has extended a warranty for several models and years...but even though my 2008 E-Class is not included in the warranty extension, several models (thru 2012) had their warranty extended for 25 years. I have not been able to get a answer why the E-Class after 2006 was excluded. …”

NHTSA complaint #11447585, filed 2022-01

Mileage when problems were reported

22% of the 9 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 56,000 and 112,018 miles.

11%0–1011%10–250%25–5033%50–7511%75–10022%100–15011%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (9 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 67,174 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

2009201332015201920222025
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E550. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
E-Class · wagon 4 dr w/sab RWD/AWDnot rated4 / 4——5 · 10.1% risk
E-Class · sedan (side air bags) RWD/AWDnot rated4 / 4——5 · 10.1% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2008 model year: forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning not available, automatic emergency braking not available.

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2008 Mercedes-Benz E550 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
E550 RWD5.5L 8-cyl7-speed automatic152217$4,850
E550 4matic 4WD/AWD5.5L 8-cyl7-speed automatic131916$5,150

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E550 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 83 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 83 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz E550

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20141661,0954421—Falling
20131622,4625—21—Stable
20121752,5004—21—Rising
20116170,5003—18Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling
20106869,0003—18Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling
20081567,1743—17—Rising
20073764,6254—16Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Mercedes-Benz E550 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E550 have?

NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E550 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E550 is reported most often?

Fuel system is named most often, in 8 complaints (53% of the total), followed by visibility with 2.

Has the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E550 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E550 get?

The EPA rates the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E550 (E550, 5.5L 8-cyl) at 17 mpg combined, 15 city and 22 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,850 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E550 reported?

Among the 9 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 67,174 miles and the middle half falls between 56,000 and 112,018 miles; 22% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.