Is the 2008 Mercedes-Benz R350 reliable?

Compared to other R350 years, 2008 is rated Caution with a complaint index of 67, ranking 3rd worst out of 7 model years tracked.

What are the most common problems on the 2008 R350?

Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints lead at 34% of reports, followed by Steering at 29% and Brakes at 20%, based on NHTSA owner complaints.

Does the 2008 R350 have any recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2008 R350, both do-not-drive brake recalls (campaigns 24V298000 and 22V315000) related to moisture-caused corrosion in brake components.

At what mileage do suspension problems appear on the 2008 R350?

The median mileage at failure for Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints is 90,000 miles, according to NHTSA data.

How does the 2008 R350 compare to other years?

2006 and 2007 rank worse with complaint indexes of 100 and 83 and Avoid verdicts, while 2009-2012 all score lower than 2008's 67 and carry Caution verdicts.

2008 Mercedes-Benz R350 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2008 Mercedes-Benz R350 has a complaint index of 67, ranks 3rd worst of 7 model years, and carries a Caution verdict with 35 complaints and 2 do-not-drive brake recalls tied to corrosion.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index: 67/100; #3 of 7 R350 years
Verdict: Caution; vs. other years of this model
Complaints: 35; unique NHTSA reports
Recalls: 2; 2 Do Not Drive
Crashes: 0; reported in complaints
Fires: 0
Injuries: 0
Top issue: Suspension, Wheels & Tires
Best nearby year: 2009; lowest-risk (no Good/Best year)

NHTSA overall rating: Not rated
EPA combined MPG: 16.5; 15 city / 19.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths: 0 / 0

2008 Mercedes-Benz R350 recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

NHTSA 24V298000Apr 26, 2024Brakes15,604 vehiclesDo Not Drive
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.
Risk: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.
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. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MMUSA's number for this recall is 2024050001/2. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-315.
NHTSA 22V315000May 9, 2022Brakes350,294 vehiclesDo Not Drive
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.
Risk: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.
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. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2022050014, 2022050015 2022090006, & 2022090007.

2008 Mercedes-Benz R350 fuel economy and fuel cost

City: 15 MPG
Highway: 19.5 MPG
Combined: 16.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA): $4,850; 15,000 mi/yr
Fuel: Premium
Current regular gas: $4.32/gal; national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2008 compared with other R350 years

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Year	Verdict	Index	Complaints	Recalls	MPG
2006	Avoid	100	99	2 !	16
2007	Avoid	83	47	2 !	16
2008	Caution	67	35	2 !	16.5
2009	Caution	33	15	3 !	16
2010	Caution	17	13	3 !	16

All Mercedes-Benz R350 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Mercedes-Benz R350 reliable?: Compared to other R350 years, 2008 is rated Caution with a complaint index of 67, ranking 3rd worst out of 7 model years tracked.
What are the most common problems on the 2008 R350?: Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints lead at 34% of reports, followed by Steering at 29% and Brakes at 20%, based on NHTSA owner complaints.
Does the 2008 R350 have any recalls?: NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2008 R350, both do-not-drive brake recalls (campaigns 24V298000 and 22V315000) related to moisture-caused corrosion in brake components.
At what mileage do suspension problems appear on the 2008 R350?: The median mileage at failure for Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints is 90,000 miles, according to NHTSA data.
How does the 2008 R350 compare to other years?: 2006 and 2007 rank worse with complaint indexes of 100 and 83 and Avoid verdicts, while 2009-2012 all score lower than 2008's 67 and carry Caution verdicts.