2008 Mercedes-Benz CL550 Problems & Complaints

Average1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the CL550 at the same age

Owners have filed 7 complaints about the 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL550 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is about average for the CL550 at the same age. The most reported problem area is the seat belts (2 complaints, typically around 68,000 miles).

7complaints
0recalls
0crashes
0fires
0injuries
0deaths

Most common 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL550 problems

  • Seat belts~68,000 miles
    229%
  • Transmission & drivetrain~112,000 miles
    229%
  • Brakes~4,000 miles
    114%
  • Fuel & propulsion system~79,000 miles
    114%
  • Other / not specified~59,000 miles
    114%
  • Body & structure~96,000 miles
    114%

Share of the 7 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Mercedes-Benz CL550 complaints by model year

200720082011775
Owner complaints per model year, Mercedes-Benz CL550. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best CL550 years: 2011. Compare all years →

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL550:

Loss of rear lighting assembly

NHTSA investigation EA13008 · opened Dec 20, 2013 · closed May 12, 2014 · led to recall 14V-177

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of loss of rear lighting in model year (MY) 2008-2011 Mercedes Benz C-Class vehicles.Complainants alleged that one or both rear lighting assemblies fail to illuminate (i.e., all lights housed within the assembly extinguish, including the stop, tail, and turn signal functions) or illuminate dimly.In some reports,…

2008 Mercedes-Benz CL550 engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
5.5L 8-cyl7-speed automaticRWD14 / 21 / 17

EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL550 a good car?

Based on 7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 CL550 rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the CL550 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL550?

The seat belts — 2 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (2) and brakes (1).

How many recalls does the 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL550 have?

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL550. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz CL550?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011. See the full Mercedes-Benz CL550 years comparison.

At what mileage do 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL550 problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 68,000 miles; 29% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.