2008 Mercedes-Benz GL320 Problems
- Complaints
- 20filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 80,490miles, 16 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 22 do-not-drive
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 20 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl · diesel 4WD/AWD · 18 city / 24 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL320 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL320. The part named most often is steering, with 7 complaints (35% of the total), followed by other or unknown (4) and brakes (2). 16 of the complaints include a mileage, and 13% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 80,490 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns (2 marked do-not-drive) and 63 technical service bulletins for this model year. Steering complaints overlap with 4 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 2 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.
- Steering7 35%
- Other or unknown4 20%
- Brakes2 10%
- Engine2 10%
- Fuel system2 10%
- Seats2 10%
- Electrical system1 5.0%
- Exterior lighting1 5.0%
- Suspension1 5.0%
Example complaints
Steering: “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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10677044, filed 2015-01, 53,000 milesOther or unknown: “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. …”
NHTSA complaint #11475718, filed 2022-07Brakes: “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.”
NHTSA complaint #11479622, filed 2022-08Engine: “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.”
NHTSA complaint #10787401, filed 2015-10, 90,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
13% of the 16 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 73,900 and 96,562 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL320 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL320 CDI 4matic 4WD/AWD | 3.0L 6-cyl · diesel | 7-speed automatic | 18 | 24 | 20 | $4,800 |
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
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › VacuumCovers: Mercedes-Benz GL320 2007–2009, R350 2006–2012, ML350 2006–2011 +10 more
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…
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › VacuumCovers: Mercedes-Benz GL320 2007–2009, R350 2006–2012, ML350 2006–2011 +10 more
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…
Recall details for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL320 → · 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. 63 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11038186Sep 22, 2026Brakes. Complaint Repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60MPH. NOTE: Although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is…
- 11038217Sep 14, 2026Body and structure. Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. Cause Under analysis. Remedy To narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • If the noise continues to occur even…
- 11036101Aug 6, 2026Body and structure. Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. Cause Under analysis. Remedy To narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • If the noise continues to occur even…
- 11035005Jul 14, 2026Transmission and drivetrain. Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. Note: Sound…
- 11031580Apr 16, 2026Exterior lighting. Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged. Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. It does not lead to any technical…
- 11029062Feb 25, 2026Exterior lighting. Complaint Headlamps leaking or fogged Cause The fogging of the headlamp is a natural phenomenon which can occur under certain climatic conditions. In contrast to a leaky headlamp, physical fogging…
- 11029025Feb 24, 2026Exterior lighting. Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. It does not lead to any technical…
- 11028989Feb 24, 2026Exterior lighting. Complaint Headlamps leaking or fogged Cause The fogging of the headlamp is a natural phenomenon which can occur under certain climatic conditions. In contrast to a leaky headlamp, physical fogging…
- 11019018May 21, 2025Transmission and drivetrain. Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The clunk is heard once when changing from forward to reverse (and vice versa)…
- 11017500Apr 28, 2025Exterior lighting. Complaint Headlamps leaking or fogged Cause The fogging of the headlamp is a natural phenomenon which can occur under certain climatic conditions. In contrast to a leaky headlamp, physical fogging…
Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz GL320
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 6 | 69,000 | 3 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2008 | 20 | 80,490 | 2 | — | 20 | — | Falling |
| 2007 | 5 | 57,453 | 2 | — | 20 | — | Not enough data |
All Mercedes-Benz GL320 model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL320 have?
NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL320 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL320 is reported most often?
Steering is named most often, in 7 complaints (35% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 4.
Has the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL320 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 of them with a do-not-drive advisory. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL320 get?
The EPA rates the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL320 (GL320 CDI 4matic, 3.0L 6-cyl · diesel) at 20 mpg combined, 18 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,800 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL320 reported?
Among the 16 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 80,490 miles and the middle half falls between 73,900 and 96,562 miles; 13% 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. 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.