2008 MERCEDES BENZ GL450 Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal shaking coming from the engine while attempting to steer the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the power steering reservoir and the power steering lines were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 196,000.

Mileage: 196,000

At slow speed it’s hard to turn. Steering fluid is fine

The vehicle has a steering problem resulting from the pin.

STEERING WHEEL DON'T WORK PROPER WAY HOW SHOULD BE. STEERING WHEEL GETTING FROZEN WHEN IS VEHICLE DRIVING.NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 08V682000

Mileage: 156,000

POWERING STEERING LOCKS,SUSPENSION AIR STRUTS LOSING AIR CAN HEAR WHEN DRIVING

VEHICLE KEEPS LOSING AIR, STEERING WHEEL HARD TO TURN, CAR LEANING TO RIGHT SIDE, AIRBAG LIGHTS KEEPS COMING ON, THE CAR LOOSES POWER WHEN TURNING. DURING THE NIGHT CAR WILL LOWER IT SELF. ABS WILL COME ONE, SMELL SMOKE. WAS TOLD BY DEALER I HAVE LEAKS IN THE ENGINE, HAD TO REPAIR SUSPENSION, AND DIFFERENT STRUTS AND PARTS WHILE DURING WARRANTY AND AFTER SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. I NOTIFIED MBUSA, AND APPARENTLY THIS CAR HAS BEEN HAVING AIRBAGS AND SUSPENSION ISSUES REPAIRED BEFORE I BOUGHT IT, THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAS BEEN DOING THE SAME REPAIRS. WITHIN A MONTH OF REPAIRING ON THING, THE CAR STARTS TO LEAN TO RIGHT, MAKE NOISE, LEAK FLUIDS FROM WHO KNOWS WHERE.

SINCE DEC 2017 THE CAR PRESENTED STEERING PROBLEMS AT SLOW SPEEDS, LOSS OF POWER AND HARD TO TURN. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT INFORMED ME THAT THERE WERE NO ISSUES. I DID FIND IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT A RECEIPT FROM A PREVIOUS OWNER IN WHICH THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING COMPONENTS IN LATE 2016. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE WITH THE CAR BASED ON THE MANY REPORTED INSTANCES ON THIS WEBSITE.

Mileage: 110,000

ME AND MY WIFE OWN A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GL-450. IT STARTED GENERATED POWER STEERING PROBLEM ON US SINCE JULY 2017. DURING ANY DRIVING TIME, WHEN WE STEP THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN SPEED, THE POWER STEER BECOMES VERY HARD TO TURN REGARDLESS ITS ON FREEWAY OR LOCAL STREET. THE STEER TAKES TREMENDOUS EFFORT TO CONTROL ON LOWER SPEED AND MAKES IT SPECIALLY HARD TO PARK. WE TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A CHECK UP SINCE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL WAS FINE AND IT MIGHT ENCOUNTER A POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC. DUE TO THE MECHANIC'S RESEARCH LATER ON, HE DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE A HUGE NUMBERS OF RECALL FOR THE SAME POWER STEERING PROBLEMS ON THE SAME MODEL, SAME YEAR OF OUR CAR. WITH THE SUGGESTION OF THE MECHANIC, WE CHECKED THE RECALL INFORMATION ON MERCEDES-BENZ OFFICIAL WEBSITE WITH THE VIN. IT CAME OUT OUR CAR IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. THEN ON FEB 6, 2018, I CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ RECALL HOT LINE. THE PERSON WHO I SPOKE TO REFUSED TO GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION BUT A "NO" ANSWER. THE SAME DAY WHEN I SPOKE TO MERCEDES-BENZ CUSTOMER SERVICE, THE GENTLEMAN NAMED "WILL"(IF I REMEMBERED RIGHT) WAS VERY NICE. HE TOLD ME THAT HE WILL WRITE A REPORT OF MY COMPLAINT BUT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO GUARANTEE ME ANYTHING. WE ARE WRITING TO YOUR DEPARTMENT TO FIND OUT IF WE STILL HAVE ANY JUSTIFIABLE LEGAL RIGHT WITH OUR VEHICLE.

Mileage: 74,000

I HAVE A 2008 GL450 WHEN YOU MAKE A TURN YOU'LL HEAR A SOUND AND IT IS SO HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I TOOK IT TO A MERCEDES BENZ MECHANIC AND THEY FLUSHED AND REPLACED THE POWER STEERING FLUID, THE WHEEL WORKED FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND THE NOISE IS NOT AS LOUD BUT 2 WEEKS LATER THE STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN AGAIN AND THE NOISE IS LOUD AGAIN.

Mileage: 80,000

VEHICLE GOES ON ONE SIDE, DEALER BLAMES AND REPAIRS STRUTS, SAME ISSUE HAPPEN AFTER 5 MONTHS, AND DEALER BLAMES AIR SUSPENSION BELLOWS. STIFF AND NOISY STEERING MAY ALSO BE RELATED TO TAKATA RECALL.

Mileage: 111,000

POWER STEERING FLUID IS LEAKING AT TOP SEAL AT INPUT SHAFT ON POWER STEERING GEAR. IT LEAKS ONTO BOTTOM OF CHASSIS FRAME AND CONCERNED ABOUT CATCHING FIRE DUE TO EXHAUST PIPE NEARBY. THIS IS NOTICEABLE WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED OVERNIGHT AS IT LEAVES PUDDLE OF FLUID UNDERNEATH. POWER STEERING RESERVOIR WAS ALSO LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED AT 74,000 MI.

Mileage: 108,000

WAS NOTIFIED BY MERCEDES DEALERSHIP THAT THE CAR HAD "POSSIBLE STEERING RACK CONTROL HEAD LEAKING. FLUID COULD BE SPATTER FROM RESERVOIR LEAKING." I WAS TOLD TO "REPLACE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR AND SEAL RING," WHICH I DID. LESS THAN 20,000 MILES LATER, THE CAR BECAME INTERMITTENTLY HARD TO STEER. WITHIN A SHORT TIME PERIOD, THE CAR BECAME WORSE AND, BECAUSE IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE UNEXPECTED INABILITY TO STEER, I DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT NOW I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING RACK, AND REPLACE POWER STEERING PUMP AND RESERVOIR. AN ONLINE SEARCH BRINGS UP HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH THE 2008 (AND SIMILAR YEARS) GL450 POWER STEERING.

Mileage: 92,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN RIGHT OR LEFT. THE FAILURE RECURRED EVERYTIME WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V682000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

Mileage: 94,000

PURCHASED 2008 CPO GL-450. UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS INCIDENTAL/CONSEQUENTIAL REPAIRS WHICH DOES NOT COINCIDE WITH THE MARKETING SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE CURRENT REPAIRS: CRACK IN REAR BUMPER 10/22/12, FAULTY REAR HATCH 11/01/12, FAULTY DOOR 2/4/13, ENGINE PISTON LEAK 3/5-19/13, , SYSTEM STEREO/NAVIGATION FAILURE 5/13, FUEL SMELLS 7/6/13, STEERING WHEEL REPLACEMENT 3/14, GARNISH MOLDING REPLACEMENT, AIR PRESSURE SHOCKS MALFUNCTION 3/14, AND SEAT BELT FAILURE 6/14. AND I AM TO BELIEVE MY VEHICLE PASSED A CPO INSPECTION WITH ALL THESE NOTICEABLE FAILURES. AS A CONSUMER, I WAS WILLING TO SACRIFICE EXTRA COSTS FOR QUALITY AND REASSURANCE; INSTEAD I EXPERIENCED A DEFECT IN ??TRUTH-IN-ADVERTISEMENT. I HAVE 4 MONTHS LEFT ON MY EXTENDED WARRANTY(YOU CAN ONLY PURCHASE MERCEDES BENZ WARRANTY IF YOU BUY A CPO MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLE ;WHICH ARE EXTRA ADDED FEES TO THE COST/PRICE OF THE VEHICLE.), IF NOT PROPERLY ADDRESSED, I BELIEVE THIS TYPE OF EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCE OF AUTO SALES/PERFORMANCE AND BUSINESS PRACTICE WILL GROW AND TRANSFER SEVERE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP ON ANY/ AND ALL CONSUMERS. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE. DEALER RESEALED RACK HEAD ASSEMBLY AND REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP. IT'S UNCLEAR TO ME HOW A SEALED RESERVOIR AND RELATED PARTS ARE LEAKING WHEN IT WAS DESIGNED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS PART NOT SUBJECT TO WEAR-AND-TEAR DETERIORATION. MY RESEARCH REVEALED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V682000 BUT DEALER SAID IT DID NOT APPLY TO MY VIN. *TR

Mileage: 68,000

POWER STEERING FAILURE. DEALER RESEALED RACK HEAD ASSEMBLY AND REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP. IT'S UNCLEAR TO ME HOW A SEALED RESERVOIR AND RELATED PARTS ARE LEAKING WHEN IT WAS DESIGNED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS PART NOT SUBJECT TO WEAR-AND-TEAR DETERIORATION. MY RESEARCH REVEALED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V682000 BUT DEALER SAID IT DID NOT APPLY TO MY VIN. *TR

Mileage: 68,000

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. WHEN WE INSERTED THE KEY IN IGNITION; VEHICLE STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD ITSELF. LUCKILY, THERE WERE NOT ANY CARS IN THE FRONT AND WE WERE ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH FOOT BRAKE. *TR

Mileage: 23,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD THE DEALER INSPECT THE VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V682000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

Mileage: 70,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING CONTINUOUSLY ONTO THE GROUND. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V682000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM); ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS INELIGIBLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

Mileage: 48,000

2008 MERCEDES GL 450 STEERING SPORADICALLY LOCKS UP AND CAUSES LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. BROUGHT INTO DEALERSHIP. WAS NOT OCCURRING WHEN DEALERSHIP EVALUATED AND THEY FAILED TO DIAGNOSE ANY PROBLEM. NO PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 3-WEEKS AFTER DEALERSHIP VISIT. STEERING NOW LOCKING UP AGAIN. OCCURS AT SLOW, MEDIUM AND FAST SPEEDS. VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND STEERING WHEEL DIFFICULT TO TURN. ALMOST FEELS AS IF THERE IS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL. WHEN STEERING LOCKS UP THE STEERING WHEEL TURNS WITH EXTREME FORCE AND JUMPS FROM ONE POSITION TO ANOTHER. *TR

Mileage: 37,500

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED WHILE HE WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A FIRE HYDRANT AND THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE POWER STEERING UNIT WAS REPLACED AND FLUIDS CHANGED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 54,000.

Mileage: 45,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ GL450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED WHILE HE WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A FIRE HYDRANT AND THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE POWER STEERING UNIT WAS REPLACED AND FLUIDS CHANGED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 54,000. UPDATED 11/03/10 *BF UPDATED 11/04/10

Mileage: 54,000