2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CL-Class Problems

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Complaints Reported

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Complaints by Component

SEAT BELTS

2 complaints

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.

May 04, 2023

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

Jun 23, 2014

POWER TRAIN

1 complaint

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.

Nov 06, 2020

STRUCTURE

1 complaint

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.

May 24, 2017

POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

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

May 18, 2015

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

1 complaint

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

Dec 15, 2014

WHEELS

1 complaint

REF: COMPLAINT 10549686 I AM ENTERING A SECOND COMPLAINT REGARDING CASTING DEFECTS IN ORDER TO SIMPLIFY IT AND TO PRESENT INFORMATION THAT PROVES MERCEDES-BENZ MUST REPLACE ONE WHEEL ON MY VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THE USA CONSUMER ACTION HANDBOOK CONTACTING NHTSA IS SUGGESTED. THE HANDBOOK MADE ON THING CLEAR, ?IF A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS, THE MAKER MUST FIX IT AT NO COST TO YOU ? EVEN IF YOUR WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. P.10? I NOW KNOW THAT TWO OF THE WHEELS HAVE THE DEFECT, BUT ONLY ONE IS CRACKED. THE CRACK RUNS DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE DEFECT. IT INITIATED AT THE LOCATION OF THE DEFECT AND CONTINUES TO GROW BY MEANS OF FATIGUE (REPETITIVE LOADING AND UNLOADING). THE ARE NO INDICATIONS THAT AN IMPACT INITIATED THE CRACK. TO BE FAIR, I AM ONLY ASKING MERCEDES-BENZ REPLACE THE UNSAFE WHEEL WITH A REFURBISHED USED ONE COSTING $450, RATHER THAN A NEW ONE COSTING $1200. A STUDY OF NHTSA COMPLAINTS FROM 2000 THROUGH 2011 REVEALS THAT FOR MANUFACTURING DEFECTS IN WHEELS: AUDI HAD 1 COMPLAINT CADILLAC HAD 2 BMW HAD 14, INCLUDING A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR DEFECTIVE WHEELS (00V383000) MERCEDES-BENZ HAD 47 MB REPLACED A NUMBER OF THESE WHEELS THAT WERE OUT OF WARRANTY. AS DEFINED IN THE USA CONSUMER ACTION HANDBOOK THIS COMPRISES A ?SECRET? WARRANTY, THEREFORE MY WHEEL IS COVERED ALSO. MB HAS A 1 YEAR / 12,000 MILE WARRANTY ON WHEELS. WHEELS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE BASIC BUMPER ? TO ? BUMPER WARRANTY AS ARE BY AUDI, BMW, GM, FORD, CHRYSLER, TOYOTA, HONDA, AND HUNDAI. THE WHEELS WERE INSPECTED BY A MB DEALER SERVICE MANAGER ?[XXX] OF GRAND BLANC MOTOR CARS (810-695-4400). HE AGREED THAT TWO WHEELS HAD DEFECTS IN THEM AND ONE WAS CRACKED. IN LIGHT OF ALL OF THIS EVIDENCE, AND THE LAW, PLEASE HAVE MB REIMBURSE ME $450. (MERCEDES-BENZ CUSTOMER SUPPORT, 3 MERCEDES-BENZ DRIVE, MONTVALE, NJ, 07645). *TR

Nov 09, 2013

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, THE SOS, TELEAID LIT UP AND FLASHING. THE HEADLIGHT, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, RADIO WERE INOPERABLE. THE REASON IS THE CENTRAL GATE WAS BURNED, DEALER DID NOT DISCLOSE THE CAUSE OF IT. *TR

Jan 08, 2013

SUSPENSION,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

1 complaint

WENT OUT THIS MORNING DRIVING. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING SAW WHITE SMOKE IN REAR VIEW MIRROR. THEN I SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED OVER RAISED HOOD AND SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES. *TR

Oct 15, 2012

Fire: 1

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

1 complaint

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

Feb 18, 2010

4.5/5.0

24 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CL-Class have?

The 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CL-Class currently has 10 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CL-Class?

The most common problems reported for the 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CL-Class are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CL-Class problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CL-Class comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.