2008 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Transmission & Drivetrain
Transmission & Drivetrain leads by volume: 2 of 10 complaints (20%) mention it.
Complaints filed rose from 9 in 2007 to 10 in 2008.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | vs. 2008 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 4,550–5,550 | 4,850–5,550 | 4,550–5,950 | 4,550–5,950 | 4,550–5,950 | |
| Combined MPG | 14–17 | 14–16 | 13–17 | 13–17 | 13–17 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 11–14 / 17–22 | 12–14 / 18–21 | 11–14 / 17–21 | 11–14 / 17–21 | 11–14 / 17–21 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 523–635 | 555–635 | 523–684 | 523–684 | 523–684 | |
| Complaints filed | 9 | 9 | 10 | 2 | 2 | |
| Recalls issued | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class?
Transmission & Drivetrain: 2 of 10 NHTSA complaints (20%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class get?
EPA rates it 13–17 MPG combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class?
EPA estimates $4,550–$5,950 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S7) | 8 | 6.2L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 11 mpg (low) | 18 mpg | 14 mpg | $5,550 | 635 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 7-spd | 8 | 5.5L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 14 mpg (high) | 21 mpg (high) | 17 mpg (high) | $4,550 (low) | 523 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 5-spd | 12 | 5.5L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 11 mpg (low) | 17 mpg (low) | 13 mpg (low) | $5,950 (high) | 684 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S5) | 12 | 5.5L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 11 mpg (low) | 17 mpg (low) | 13 mpg (low) | $5,950 (high) | 684 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
SUSPENSION · Campaign 08V405000 · Aug 19, 2008
Defect: MERCEDES BENZ IS RECALLING 4,564 MY 2001-2006 CL-CLASS (MODEL 215), MY 2002-2006 S-CLASS (MODEL 220), MY 2003-2007 SL-CLASS (MODEL 230), MY 2007-2008 CL-CLASS (MODEL 216), AND MY 2007 S-CLASS (MODEL 221)PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (ABC) ACCELERATION SENSORS ON THE FRONT STRUTS. THESE SENSORS MEASURE ACCELERATION AROUND THE Z-AXIS OF THE VEHICLE AND ASSURE AN AUTOMATIC ADAPTATION OF THE FRONT STRUTS TO MAINTAIN A RELATIVELY LEVEL BODY POSITION. VARIATIONS IN THE SOLDERING PROCESS RESULTED IN SOLDERING POINTS ON THE BOARD OF THE ABC SENSORS WHICH MAY NOT BE WITHIN DESIGN TOLERANCES. SIGNALS FROM THE AFFECTED SENSORS MEASURING THE ACCELERATION MAY NOT BE ACCURATELY TRANSMITTED TO THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT.
Consequence: A VARIATION IN THE TRANSMITTED VALUES BETWEEN AFFECTED AND UNAFFECTED SENSORS CAN RESULT IN ONE FRONT STRUT ADJUSTING TO A VALUE INDICATING BODY MOVEMENT WHILE ANOTHER STRUT DOES NOT ADJUST PRESENTING THE DRIVER WITH AN UNEVEN FRONT SUSPENSION. THIS CONDITION MAY LEAD TO UNEXPECTED BODY MOVEMENTS AT THE FRONT AXLE WHICH CAN ADVERSELY INFLUENCE THE VEHICLE'S DIRECTIONAL STABILITY AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, THE FRONT ABC SENSORS IN ALL POTENTIALLY AFFECTED VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.