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2004 Mercedes Benz ML350

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Mercedes Benz ML350 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 51.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
35Owner complaints

Model-year median: 51

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2004 Mercedes Benz ML350

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 35 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Steering: 6 reports
  • Air Bags: 5 reports
  • Electrical System: 4 reports
  • Seats: 4 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 3 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    1
    2001    25
    2003    35
    2004    23
    2005    172
    2006    83
    2007
    Compare all ML350 years →

    Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

    What owners reported most

    Steering
    6    Air Bags
    5    Electrical System
    4    Seats
    4    Engine And Engine Cooling
    3
    All reported categories
    Engine
    2    Exterior Lighting
    2    Fuel System, Gasoline
    2    Fuel/propulsion System
    2    Service Brakes
    2    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    2    Structure
    2    Unknown Or Other
    2    Equipment
    1    Power Train
    1    Tires
    1    Visibility
    1

    Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

    When problems were reported

    Mileage at the reported incident

    28 reports with mileage · 7 unknown

    NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

    What to inspect

    Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

    • Steering. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Air Bags. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

    NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

    3 crash reports3 fire reports3 injury reports

    Engine complaints

    2 reports
    Clear category filter
    90,000 miles · Dec 21, 2016
    EngineSteering

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE STEERING FLUID HAD TO BE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN IT WAS TURNED AND POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKE…

    Read full complaint

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE STEERING FLUID HAD TO BE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN IT WAS TURNED AND POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED FROM THE COLUMN. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

    NHTSA ODI #10936803

    117,000 miles · Feb 19, 2015
    EngineFire

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE CONTACT NOTICED FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. TH…

    Read full complaint

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE CONTACT NOTICED FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

    NHTSA ODI #10684301

    Recall campaigns

    0

    No recalls in this snapshot.

    Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.