The airmatic suspension has failed, the truck is sitting low the air compressor blew into pieces from working to hard. This is a big problem with Mercedes airmatic shocks on many different model... Please help us ,this should be a recall.. I only have about 45000 miles on my truck.
2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class suspension problems
severe 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
1crash
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 14 suspension complaints filed for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 8 model years of Mercedes-Benz GL-Class we track for suspension problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 14.
No new NHTSA suspension complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2008 Mercedes GL-Class suspension—specifically the Airmatic system—shows a pattern of failures that recur across this vehicle population. Owners report air springs leaking and deflating at mileages ranging from 21,000 to over 100,000 miles, causing the vehicle body to drop onto the tires or sag unevenly. Some owners hear hissing sounds when the leaks occur; one describes an explosion-like noise from the suspension that was loud enough that bystanders thought a bomb had detonated.
The air compressor also fails prematurely, sometimes working excessively hard before burning out or overheating—one owner reports it "blew into pieces." Front and rear struts require replacement, and in one detailed case, a single vehicle had the air pump replaced twice, front struts replaced twice, rear springs replaced, and the valve block replaced between 71,000 and 107,000 miles.
One owner experienced suspension drops nearly every summer in Texas heat and believes the hydraulic seals soften or melt in high temperatures. Another owner took the vehicle to the dealer eight times over four years complaining of suspension noise and a bumpy ride, was told four times to replace tires, and only after the warranty expired did the dealer identify a bad strut—by then, repair was the owner's responsibility. Dealerships are unable to duplicate the problem on some visits despite the recurring nature of failures. Mercedes warranty covers 12 months on repairs only; there is no recall, and the manufacturer provides no extended support.
Same Mercedes-Benz GL-Class suspension reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Airmatic Air Spring Leaks and Deflation
The Airmatic suspension air springs develop leaks, causing the vehicle body to drop onto the tires or sag. Owners report hearing hissing sounds from the suspension and observing the vehicle sitting abnormally low. This failure occurs repeatedly across multiple owner reports and happens at varying mileages.
When: Reported at 21K, 33K, 49K, 54K, 85K, 101.6K, and 31K–50K miles; some owners report the problem recurring annually, particularly in summer heat.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle body drops onto tires or suspension compresses excessively; Hissing sound from suspension area; Vehicle sits low or sags; Difficulty controlling vehicle when suspension fails during driving; Vehicle becomes unsafe to drive with difficulty stopping
Repairs/costs cited: Owners had air springs, strut assemblies, and suspension components replaced by Mercedes dealerships. One owner reported using the vehicle's 'flood lift' feature (emergency height adjustment) to temporarily raise the car. Repairs were performed multiple times per vehicle over warranty and out-of-warranty periods.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mercedes dealership warranty covers 12 months only on suspension repairs; manufacturer does not provide recall or extended customer support for Airmatic component failures unless customer pays out-of-pocket. One owner notes that suspension is not covered under certain aftermarket warranties purchased at point of sale.
Airmatic Air Compressor Failure
The Airmatic suspension air compressor fails, becomes overheated, or in one case exploded. Owners report the compressor working too hard and failing prematurely, sometimes accompanied by a 'compressor overheating' warning light. One owner describes a loud explosion-like sound from the suspension.
When: First compressor replacement reported at 71K miles (Dec 2013); second replacement at 107.3K miles (Nov 2015); overheating warning occurred at 92.8K miles; failures cited at 18K and 45K miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Air compressor fails or overheats; Compressor overheating warning light illuminates; Loud explosion-like noise from suspension area; Compressor blows apart internally
Repairs/costs cited: Compressor was replaced at the dealership in at least two documented cases. One owner noted Mercedes dealership charged higher prices than independent shops for repairs. Compressor replacement done at 71K miles and again at 107.3K miles in one vehicle.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific manufacturer response or recall issued. Mercedes warranty covers 12 months on repairs; no extended support provided.
Suspension Strut and Valve Block Failure
Individual suspension struts fail and require replacement. In one detailed case, the front left air suspension strut was replaced in April 2010, and the right front was replaced twice (October 2010 and subsequently). One owner reports the suspension valve block also required replacement.
When: April 2010 at 49K miles (left front strut); October 2010 at 54K miles (right front strut); November 2015 at 107.3K miles (valve block replaced along with air pump). August 2016 and August 2017 reports of right front and ongoing problems.
Symptoms owners cite: Suspension drops unexpectedly; Hissing noise from suspension; Vehicle sits low or uneven; Noise from left front side of vehicle (reported as 'weird noise'); Bumpy ride quality
Repairs/costs cited: Left front strut replacement cost estimated at $1,800 by one Mercedes dealer. Entire strut assemblies were replaced. Suspension valve block replaced at dealership.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued. One owner was told by dealership that the vehicle was unsafe to drive due to failed left-front strut.
Suspension Noise and Bumpy Ride with Misdiagnosis
Owners report persistent noise from the front-left suspension and a bumpy or rough ride quality. Dealership service was unable to diagnose or fix the problem despite multiple visits. The dealer incorrectly suggested tire replacement four times without resolving the underlying suspension issue.
When: Complaints filed across multiple service visits over a 4-year period; one vehicle taken to dealer 8+ times before the actual problem (bad left-front strut) was finally identified.
Symptoms owners cite: Weird noise from left front side of vehicle; Bumpy or rough ride; Persistent problem across multiple service visits
Repairs/costs cited: Tires replaced four times over 4 years without fixing the problem. After warranty expiration, Mercedes dealer identified a bad left-front strut and estimated repair cost at approximately $1,800. The vehicle remained in dealer service with repair pending.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No warranty coverage or recall. Dealership service failed to diagnose the problem until after the warranty had expired.
Air Spring Seal Degradation in High Heat
One owner theorizes that the hydraulic seals used in the Airmatic system soften or melt in high heat (Texas summer temperatures), causing premature failures and leaks. This owner experienced the suspension drop failure nearly every summer over multiple years.
When: Failures reported annually during summer months in Texas; initially at 21K miles (August 2008), recurred May 2009 (33K miles), April 2010 (49K miles), October 2010 (54K miles).
Symptoms owners cite: Annual summer-time suspension drops; Vehicle body sitting on tires; Hissing leak sounds from suspension; Vehicle left stranded multiple times with children in vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Air suspension compressor replaced in August 2008 (first occurrence). Entire left front strut assembly replaced in April 2010. Right front suspension replaced in October 2010. Problem persisted despite multiple repairs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall or acknowledgment of heat-related seal failure. Dealership was unable to duplicate the problem during some service visits despite the recurring nature of failures.
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Today I was shopping in a store while my teenage son waited in the car for me. He came running in the store accompanied by a witness that was in the parking lot to tell me that something on my car exploded outside. The adult witness explained that the noise was so loud and so abrasive that they thought a bomb went off. It shook the entire car. Luckily nobody was hurt. What would have…
We have taken this vehicle to the dealer service numerous time complaining some weird noise coming from the left front side of the vehicle and a bumpy ride. Left vehicle with dealer service at least 8 times for the same problem but never fixed. Right before my warranty expired in december 2012; I took it back to the dealer for the same issue and asked them to completely inspect the vehicle for…
Had suspension trouble with your 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the suspension problem on the 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $900.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 23,000 and 92,876 miles, with the median around 63,315. A quarter of owners report trouble before 23,000; a quarter make it past 92,876. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Mercedes-Benz/GL-Class.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.