Most common 2008 Mercedes-Benz R350 problems
Share of the 35 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz R350 complaints by model year
Best R350 years: 2012, 2010, 2009. Years to avoid: 2006, 2007. Compare all years →
2008 Mercedes-Benz R350 recalls (2)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
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 result in reduced brake performance or brake failure.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
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, which can result in reduced brake performance or brake failure.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster.
What 2008 Mercedes-Benz R350 owners say
Suspension
1. Air suspension bag rt side needed replaced. Car was setting low and leaning to right rear- while this was in for repair had mechanic check recent "check engine " light code came up with very serious and expensive issue: 2.balance shaft gear defective apparently Mercedes has been aware of this problem, class action suits have been filed- no recall yet. I plan to call Mercedes dealer tomorrow- do not anticipate any help on their part - if that's the case will try to join class action suit as this is a known and very costly -(thousands of dollars) problem for numerous mb vehicles- many classes from 2007 -2011. Mercedes Benz was apparently aware of this defect when I purchased my vehicle (used) from local mb dealer here in central pa on dec. 3, 2012.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Mercedes Benz R350. The contact stated that the vehicle was inclining on the passenger side. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 97,513.
Steering
My Mercedes R350 sporadically becomes very difficult to steer. I noticed that this happens after a few minutes of city street driving. The steering gets so tight that it requires both hands and a lot of effort to just steer the wheel particularly when parking. Because of this constant battle with the steering wheel I started feeling pain on my shoulder. The steering wheel fluid level is fine and the car has never been in any accident. I called Mercedes Benz after finding out that there has been a recall on the 2008 r350s for the same problem but I was told that my car is not part of the recalled batch based on my VIN#. Maybe there is just not enough complaints yet for my 'batch' that they refuse to fix the very same problem that they issued a recall for. My car is the same model, manufactured in the same year and is exhibiting the same symptoms as the defect identified in the recall. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz r350v2. The contact stated that the automatic leveling became defective while traveling 30 MPH. In addition, the leveling warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle became difficult to steer. The dealer had not been notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 08V682000 (steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 54,000.
Brakes
Hi I received a letter from Mercedes for a stop drive recall (NHTSA #22V315, MBUSA ID: 2022050014 & 2022050015), so I bought my Mercedes R350 to the shop for repair on July 15, 2022. Mercedes Benz of Pleasanton [phone]) claimed that brake booster parts were not available at that time and I couldn't drive the car, so they left the car at the shop waiting for the parts to become available. Later on when I called, the service rep claimed the parts had been ordered so kept my car in their lot (since July 15, 2022) Since then, I have been on the rental car (that I am still paying for) and I reached out to them multiple times and couldn't get a status update from them, nor schedule for my car return. I Hope NHTSA can help me to receive an update of my recalled vehicle, and their solution. I don't know how long do I need to use rental car. …
I have tried, since 730 this morning to find out what can be done with regard to the recall of my car. I contacted my dealer - Faulkner Mercedes in Doylestown.... who explained that they couldn't do anything, as they have neither the tools nor the parts to address this issue, and won't have for quite some time, and that I needed to call the Mercedes recall hotline. Which, I did. While on hold for about 40 minutes to get through to someone, they took my information and told me that there was nothing that could be done, because the "Recall hadn't been launched yet" and that it would be a few weeks before I'd get a letter in the mail telling me what I needed to do. This is absurd. First off, most people will give up and not wait on hold and keep driving, and second, I need my car, as do the other 292,000 drivers - and these people can't wait weeks to get a letter. …
2008 Mercedes-Benz R350 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 7-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Mercedes-Benz R350 a good car?
Based on 35 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 R350 rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the R350 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 R350?
The suspension — 12 complaints, 34% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the steering (10) and brakes (6).
How many recalls does the 2008 Mercedes-Benz R350 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz R350, the most recent from April 26, 2024 (vacuum). 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 R350?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2010 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2006 and 2007. See the full Mercedes-Benz R350 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 Mercedes-Benz R350 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 90,000 miles; 10% 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.