2008 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Suspension, Wheels & Tires
Suspension, Wheels & Tires leads by volume: 13 of 38 complaints (34%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 67 in 2007 to 38 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 Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 4,850–5,550 | 4,250–6,450 | 4,250–4,850 | 4,850 | 4,850 | |
| Combined MPG | 14–16 | 12–21 | 16–21 | 16 | 16 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 12–15 / 17–20 | 11–19 / 15–26 | 15–18 / 19–24 | 15 / 19 | 14 / 19 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 555–635 | 485–741 | 485–555 | 555 | 555 | |
| Complaints filed | 128 | 67 | 38 | 17 | 13 | |
| Recalls issued | 6 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
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 R-Class have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns 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 R-Class?
Suspension, Wheels & Tires: 13 of 38 NHTSA complaints (34%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2008 Mercedes-Benz R-Class get?
EPA rates it 16–21 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2008 Mercedes-Benz R-Class?
EPA estimates $4,250–$4,850 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (3)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 7-spd | 6 | 3.5L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 15 mpg (low) | 20 mpg | 17 mpg | $4,550 | 523 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 7-spd | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Diesel | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 18 mpg (high) | 24 mpg (high) | 21 mpg (high) | $4,250 (low) | 485 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 7-spd | 6 | 3.5L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 15 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | 16 mpg (low) | $4,850 (high) | 555 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 13 | 0 | 0 | 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 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 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 (2)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM · Campaign 24V298000 · Apr 29, 2024
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM · Campaign 22V315000 · May 10, 2022
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.