Most common 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 problems
Share of the 17 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz CLS550 complaints by model year
Best CLS550 years: 2006, 2010, 2015. Years to avoid: 2007, 2012. Compare all years →
2008 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 recalls (3)
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLS550:
Loss of rear lighting assembly
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,…
What 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 owners say
Fuel & propulsion system
The failed component of the car was the drivers side fuel transfer pump. After noticing the faint smell of gas in my car i checked under the rear driver side passenger seat. I was shocked to find more than 16 fluid ounces of gas floating freely around the well of the gas pump.the insulation under the rear passenger seat is soaked in gas. I can only imagine what could've happened if there was an accident or if someone even sparked a cigarette in my car. Not only is this extremely dangerous, there are negative consequences that result from inhaling gas constantly while driving. Gas contains cancerous properties, people should not be subject to unknowingly driving around a car that is manufactured to the defect of releasing cancerous vapors. Who knows what damage inhaling gas fumes for the past months has done to me or my passengers. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz 550 cls. The contact stated that fuel could be smelled inside the vehicle while driving and while the vehicle was sitting in park. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer for a diagnostic test. The test results showed that a vent inside the fuel tank was defective and needed to be replaced. The contact did not have the vent replaced. The contact called the manufacturer. The manufacturer advised that the failure had become a common problem for the particular year, make and model but a recall had not been issued. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 30,000.
Air bags
My airbags deployed after on day of driving home from a day babysitting my niece and nephew I got home parked my car in the garage and that whole night from 11 at night untill about 330 in the morning the loudest sound I've ever herd the equivalent of a bomb detonation explosion went off and im 10 15 feet away painting my garage and next thing I know I look at my Mercedes-Benz CLS550 2008. All the airbags in the roof and by the back window detonating! I cant understand why to this day the car was locked keys where in my room in the house. And I have no idea how this could of happened. ! Please get ahold of me at your earliest convenience because this is absolutely insane sometimes like this could happen in a high end luxury car. Again it's a 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLS550. VIN# [redacted]. You can reach me if you have any questions at [redacted]. Or my email [redacted]. Thank-you. …
Have gotten airbag code b9223. Drivers side iginition squib resisted center is high r12/9 message. Took it to.local.mb dealer and they want $1800 to fix a airbag problem, which is something that should be defect free regardless of warranty. This is an ongoing issues with mb and it honestly seems that this is done deliberately to generate revenue by selling service for almost $2000 to replace a $50 connector they know is manufactured in a subpar fashion, expecting it to fail. Mb has failed myself and countless others with this one simple problem. There needs to be a recall and they should be forced to fix this problem for their customers. Peoples lives are at steak.
Electrical system
I see there was a recall on instrument clusters on my vehicle in 2001. My instrument cluster is completely black and I can't see speed or any thing at night. You cant replace the bulb or cluster unless mercedes reprogram it which the price is rediculous. I did some research and seen that Mercedes did some recalls for my vehicle but it doesn't show up. I was told to contact you guys in regards to this.
My doors will open without the keyfob being in close proximity to the vehicle. My car has been stolen d/t this feature. Also the electrical lighting system malfunctions causing dimmer lights especially when driving at night
2008 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5L 8-cyl | 7-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 21 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 a good car?
Based on 17 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 CLS550 rates average: 1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the CLS550 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 CLS550?
The fuel & propulsion system — 5 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the air bags (3) and electrical system (3).
How many recalls does the 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLS550, the most recent from November 19, 2024 (sun/moon roof assembly). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz CLS550?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2006, 2010 and 2015. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2007 and 2012. See the full Mercedes-Benz CLS550 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 80,000 miles; 15% 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.