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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

    Service Brakes complaints

    2 reports
    Clear category filter
    10,040 miles · Sep 15, 2015
    Service Brakes

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY SLOWING DOWN ON A CURB. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MAD…

    Read full complaint

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY SLOWING DOWN ON A CURB. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,040.

    NHTSA ODI #10763996

    50,000 miles · Jul 17, 2013
    Service Brakes

    WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL STREET, I NOTICED THAT BRAKES HAD STOPPED WORKING. AFTER INVESTIGATION, I NOTICED THAT A CORRODED BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. I HAD CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ CUSTOMER SERVICE. I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT A DEALER, WHO CONFIRMED THAT ALL BRAKE LINES ARE CORRODING IN THE AREA CLOSE TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMEN…

    Read full complaint

    WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL STREET, I NOTICED THAT BRAKES HAD STOPPED WORKING. AFTER INVESTIGATION, I NOTICED THAT A CORRODED BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. I HAD CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ CUSTOMER SERVICE. I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT A DEALER, WHO CONFIRMED THAT ALL BRAKE LINES ARE CORRODING IN THE AREA CLOSE TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE SUBJECT TO A RECALL. I WAS FURTHER TOLD THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR BRAKE LINES TO CORRODE AND LEAK. I HAVE NOT NOTICED CORROSION ON ANY OTHER PART OF THE CAR, EXCEPT THE BRAKE LINES. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10525310

    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.