2008 Mercedes-Benz CL550 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL550, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Powertrain (other)228.6%
- Seat belts228.6%
- Body & structure114.3%
- Brakes114.3%
- Fuel system114.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CL550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A U-TURN GOING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE ONCE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF PEMBROKE PINES (14199 PINES BOULEVARD, PEMBROKE PINES, FL 33027, (954) 644-5035) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 112,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TRANSMISSION COOLER WHICH IS IN RADIATOR CRACKED AND ALLOWED TRANSMISSION FLUID TO ENTER MOTOR COOLING SYSTEM AND COOLANT TO ENTER TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY RUINING THE TRANSMISSION ALL COMPONENTS AND COMPUTER TALKED TO MERCEDES THEY WOULD DO OOHING ABOUT TOTAL COST TO REPAIR $5000.00
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL550. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, as she attempted to buckle the driver's seat belt, the belt was not able to be locked into the buckle. The contact attempted several times to latch the seat belt however, the contact stated that it felt like there was an obstruction in the buckle. The contact checked but saw no blockage. The contact stated that the seat belt warning light was not illuminated while seated in the driver seat with the vehicle turned on. The contact was unable to latch the seat belt. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the seat belt buckle and wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.
I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU OF A VERY TROUBLING INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED RECENTLY. I OWN A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ CL550 WITH 31,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. ON JUNE 16, 2014, THE SEATBELT ON MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE SEAT, LEAVING ME UNABLE TO BUCKLE MY SEAT. ON TOP OF THE OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, ILLEGALITY OF DRIVING WITHOUT A SEAT BELT, CONSTANT DINGING FROM THE VEHICLE TO REMIND ME THAT I WAS NOT BUCKLED, WHICH DID NOT ALLOW ME TO SPEAK WITH MY CLIENTS BY PHONE IN THE VEHICLE, I HAD TO DEAL WITH VERY POOR HANDLING OF THIS MATTER BY MBUSA. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THE CAR INTO FLETCHER JONES MERCEDES BENZ IN NEWPORT BEACH AND HAD MY SERVICE ADVISOR TAKE THE CAR IN TO CHECK OUT THE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION AND CALLED ME TO TELL ME IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT MERCEDES BENZ USA (MBUSA) WOULD BE COVERING 75% OF THE COST OF THE PART AS A GESTURE OF 'GOODWILL', LEAVING ME WITH ABOUT $400 OF COSTS FOR LABOR AND 25% OF THE PART. WHILE I WAS APPRECIATIVE OF THIS GESTURE, I WAS NOT HAPPY ABOUT HAVING TO PAY ANYTHING DUE TO THE FAILURE OF A BASIC VEHICLE SAFETY FEATURE. HE SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THIS UP WITH MBUSA DIRECTLY. I BROUGHT THE ISSUE TO THEIR ATTENTION OF MBUSA AND THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING FURTHER. THE FACT THAT A COMPANY LIKE MBUSA WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE SUCH AS A SEAT BELT FAILURE IS QUITE DISTURBING. HIDING BEHIND A WARRANTY WHEN PEOPLES LIVES ARE AT STAKE IS AN IRRESPONSIBLE COMPANY LINE TO TAKE. I WOULD LIKE TO BRING THIS ISSUE TO THE ATTENTION OF THE NHTSA IN HOPES THAT THIS FAILURE IS DOCUMENTED AND READILY VERIFIABLE, SHOULD ANY UNFORTUNATE CONSUMER BE INJURED OR KILLED BY THIS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT IN THE FUTURE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CL550. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH OVER A SPEED BUMP, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT GRILL ASSEMBLY WAS DETACHED AND THE PLASTIC PIECE FRACTURED INTO PIECES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STEVEN MERCEDES BENZ DEALER OF SAN JOSE, CA WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT A KNOWN ISSUE AND NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL OR WARRANTY COVERAGE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY 2008 MERCEDES BENZ CL550 IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH BRAKE. THERE IS A THUG-THUG SOUND WHEN I PRESS DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT GOES AWAY ~2 SECONDS AFTER THE GEAR IS PUT INTO PARKING OR NEUTRAL POSITION. MERCEDES BENZ KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS ANOTHER CAR, A S CLASS, THAT IS HAVING A SAME PROBLEM. S CLASS IS 4 DOOR VERSION OF CL CLASS. MB TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON A NEW PART OVER 3 MONTHS AGO AND NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON A SOFTWARE TO FIX A PRESSURE PROBLEM IN A VALVE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE DETAILS BUT IT SURE SOUNDS LIKE AN ENGINEERING ISSUE MEANING A DEFECT. MB SAID THE ISSUE IS LIMITED TO A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF VEHICLES BUT I AM NOT SURE IF THAT IS THE CASE. NOISE WAS NOT READILY NOTICEABLE BUT GOT LOUDER SO PEOPLE MIGHT NOT NOTICE IT UNTIL LATER. I AM VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE MY BRAKE PEDAL ALSO FEELS MUCH SOFTER AND WEAKER (NEED TO PRESS DOWN FURTHER). I HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR ~4 MONTHS. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
STRONG ODOR OF GAS AFTER FILL THE TANK UP. THE ODOR WAS OUTSIDE, AND IT EVENTUALLY DISAPPEARED WHEN THE LEVEL OF GAS IS LOWER. THERE WAS ALSO GAS LEAKING UNDERNEATH (DRIVER'S REAR SIDE). I WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE FUEL GASKET, AFTER DOING THAT, THE ODOR IS NOW INSIDE THE CAR, CONSTANT FUEL ODOR, IT NEVER DISAPPEAR. DRIVING THE CAR IS IMPOSSIBLE, AND GAS LEAKING UNDERNEATH CONTINUES, SAME SPOT. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .