2008 Mercedes-Benz R350 Owner Complaints

The brake fluid lines are corroding much faster than in other models, and without actual corrosion under the car. It happened to my car, and I have been reading forums of MB owners of this same R model, as well as C, E, GLK, and ML models all reporting the same issues. The lines corroding earlier to due to the brake boost system failure and other fluids/air entering the system is the most consistent cause of brake line failure I was able to get off the internet, as well as MB not using lines with proper material. The only thing I know is that the lines are not supposed to fail this early and this bad. It happened while driving north on [XXX] in NY INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11672152

Incident

Jun 26, 2025

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz R350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11483064

Incident

Jul 27, 2022

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 (925463-2525) 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 would like to file an official complaint to Mercedes Benz USA. They don't seem to know how to handle their own recall. Thank you in advance. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11480317

Incident

Jul 15, 2022

Every time I braked, car not stop until very close to the car in front of me. Couples time I hit the car in front of me. Sometime I have to slam the brakes very hard, but the car still move forward.

NHTSA ID

11468335

Incident

Jun 8, 2019

I DROVE TO WORK WITH NO PROBLEMS. HOWEVER; RETURNING I STARTED CAR AND COULD HEAR A SLIGHT SOUND. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THE CAR RISING SIGN WAS ILLUMINATED AND I WAITED FOR CAR TO RISE. THE CAR FAILED TO RISE AND WAS SITTING SO LOW TO TIRES THAT I COULD NOT DRIVE AND HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. AT HOME I TRIED AGAIN TO SEE IF CAR WOULD RISE AND AGAIN IT FAILED. IN ADDITION TO THE ABS BREAK SIGN BEING ILLUMINATED AS WELL. THE MESSAGE ON DASH STATED TO CONTACT DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. MY MILEAGE IS AT132,051.

NHTSA ID

11465851

Incident

May 9, 2022

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. Most will have no alternative but to drive them while waiting for Mercedes to address this problem. Mercedes needs to provide loaner cars, and needs to do so, immediately.

NHTSA ID

11464470

Incident

May 13, 2022

THE VERY HEAVY TRUNK COMES DOWN FAST BUT DOES NOT CLOSE. INSTEAD THE TRUNK REOPENS AUTOMATICALLY. THE PROBLEM IS ONE COULD GET HIT IN THE FACE AS THE TRUNK REVERSES AND STARTS TO REOPEN ON ITS OWN. ALSO THE TRUNK COULD OPEN ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING. THAT IS WHY THIS IS A REAL SAFETY HAPHZARD

NHTSA ID

11462099

Incident

Mar 1, 2022

THE FUEL DOESN'T READ WHAT IS ACTUALLY IN MY CAR.

NHTSA ID

11388226

Incident

Apr 20, 2020

I SEE I HAVE RECALLS FOR THE BACK HATCH DOOR AND SOME SUSPENSION RECALLS ELECTRICAL ALSO AIR RISING SYSTEM FOR A 2008 ARE 350 MERCEDES I CALL THE SYRACUSE NEW YORK DEALER AND THEY SAID IT IS NOT UP FOR RECALLS BUT THIS IS HOW I FOUND OUT IT WAS UP FOR RECALLS. *TR

NHTSA ID

11328883

Incident

Apr 3, 2020

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.

NHTSA ID

11280158

Incident

Nov 13, 2019

Mileage

54,000 mi

DROVE CAR TO A STORE IN CITY AND IT WORKED FINE, CAME BACK OUTSIDE TO START THE CAR AND IT BECAME HARD TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. TOOK CAR TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE POWER STEERING, HYDRAULICS, RACK AND PINION AND RESERVOIR (HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS OF A RECALL FROM 2008 FOR THE SAME MAKE AND VEHICLE). NHTSA CAMPAIGN NO. 08V682000

NHTSA ID

11205855

Incident

May 1, 2019

Mileage

145,000 mi

REAR TRUNK LATCH HAS MECHANICAL ISSUES. AIR SUSPENSION DAMAGED WITH HOLES.

NHTSA ID

11204554

Incident

Apr 3, 2017

Mileage

58,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ R350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A FAULTY BALANCE SHAFT. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER MERCEDES-BENZ MECHANIC WHERE THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AGAIN, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED A THIRD TIME. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

NHTSA ID

11166265

Incident

Jun 30, 2018

Mileage

158,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ R350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN EXPERIENCING ENGINE FAILURES AFTER THE DEALER (SILVER STAR MOTORS, 36-11 NORTHERN BLVD, LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101, (855) 216-2452) SERVICED IT DUE TO A FAILURE WITH THE SUN ROOF NOT PROPERLY CLOSING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SUN ROOF CLIP AND OIL CAM COVER, THE TRANS OIL LEAK WAS SEALED, AND THE OIL FILTER, HOSES, AND DRIVE BELT WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE FURTHER DIAGNOSED TO SERVICE THE ENGINE. THE DEALER SERVICED THE ENGINE AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE DROVE ROUGHLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER THEN INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V006000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11119827

Incident

Mar 21, 2018

BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND WAS GREAT ON THE HIGHWAY. BUT WHEN DRIVING IN THE CITY, IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN CORNERS. AND TAKES AWHILE TO PARK. VEHICLE WAS LOW ON POWER STEERING FLUID, BUT AFTER FILLING TO THE MAX LINE IN THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR, THE VEHICLE HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM TURNING.

NHTSA ID

11098028

Incident

May 20, 2018

Mileage

239,500 mi

ELECTRICAL WIRING AROUND HEADLAMPS IS CRUMBLING AND EXPOSING LARGE LENGTHS OF BARE WIRES, WITH UP TO ABOUT 6" OF COPPER WIRING EXPOSED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I REPLACED A BURNED OUT HALOGEN HEADLAMP IN JUNE, THE OTHER ONE IN AUGUST, AND THE FIRST ONE WENT OUT AGAIN ABOUT A WEEK AGO (AND THIS RATE OF HEADLAMP REPLACEMENT IS MORE OR LESS TYPICAL; I KEEP TWO SPARES IN MY CAR AT ALL TIMES, AS BURNOUTS ARE SO FREQUENT). THE BARE WIRES MAY BE CONTRIBUTING TO THE EXTREMELY SHORT BULB LIFE AND COULD ALSO CAUSE ARCING AND POTENTIALLY AN ENGINE FIRE. ALTHOUGH AN ENGINE FIRE HAS NOT HAPPENED YET, THE ARCING IS EXTREMELY LIKELY. HOWEVER, THE AREA WHERE THIS OCCURS IS SO HAS EXTREMELY RESTRICTED ACCESS AND DIRECT VISION INTO AND AROUND THE HEADLAMP MOUNT IS NOT POSSIBLE. ONLY UPON INSERTING MY IPHONE INTO THE AVAILABLE SPACE WAS I ABLE TO SEE THE EXTENT OF THE WIRING INSULATION DETERIORATION.VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE SEGMENTED INSULATION ON THE BROWN WIRE FLAKED OFF ON MY FINGERS WHEN I INSTALLED THE NEW HEADLAMP. ALTHOUGH THE BROWN WIRE WAS MOST AFFECTED, THE YELLOW WIRE ALSO SHOWS SIGNIFICANT SIGNS OF DETERIORATION. I WORKED IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY FOR OVER TEN YEARS AS AN OEM SUPPLIER AND VEHICLE MANUFACTURER AND SUCH DEFECTS AS THIS TEND TO INDICATE INFERIOR MATERIALS OR MANUFACTURING PROCESSES. MATERIALS THIS FRAGILE SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN THE QA PROCESS AND RETURNED TO THE SUPPLIER BEFORE INSTALLATION ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE.

NHTSA ID

11023728

Incident

Sep 15, 2017

Mileage

115,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE THAN MY AIRSHOCKS BLEW UP AND VEHICLE WENT DOWN.

NHTSA ID

11012003

Incident

Jun 4, 2017

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. WHAT CAN I DO TO HAVE MY CAR INCLUDED IN THE RECALL?

NHTSA ID

10894939

Incident

Aug 9, 2016

Mileage

118,000 mi

CAR OCCASIONALLY DIFFICULT TO STEER AFTER DRIVING FOR DISTANCE IN MOUNTAINS. FLUID LEVELS APPEAR TO BE OK BUT PASSERBY'S TELL ME THEY CAN HEAR STEERING NOISE THAT I DO NOT HEAR INSIDE WHEN DRIVING. I SAW THAT THERE IS RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE AND STEERING RACK PIN- WONDERING IF MY VEHICLE IS PART OF RECALL TO BE REPAIRED BY MERCEDES.

NHTSA ID

10894239

Incident

Aug 8, 2016

Mileage

105,000 mi

I HAD TO REPLACE THE RIGHT AIR BAG SUSPENSION AND 6 MONTHS LATER HAD TO REPLACE THE LEFT AIR BAG SUSPENSION.

NHTSA ID

10779359

Incident

Feb 9, 2015

THE RIGHT AIR BAG SUSPENSION WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE CAR TO BECOME UNDRIVEABLE BECAUSE IT SAT ON THE BACK RIGHT WHEEL.

NHTSA ID

10779358

Incident

Aug 4, 2014

Mileage

90,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10775389

Incident

Sep 7, 2015

Mileage

97,513 mi

MANIFOLD ISSUES.

NHTSA ID

10726973

Incident

Jul 25, 2014

Mileage

108,976 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10702368

Incident

Mar 23, 2015

Mileage

91,801 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ R350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED AS THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXTREME FORCE IN ORDER TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING OIL PRESSURE DRIVING PIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ID

10659663

Incident

Nov 16, 2014

Mileage

68,000 mi