← New search

2005 Mercedes Benz ML350

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Mercedes Benz ML350 are lower than the model-year median of 51.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all ML350 years →

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

20 reports with mileage · 3 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 →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports3 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

23 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2025
Latches/locks/linkagesSteering

I had went to a car wash & when I was leaving & turned right at the light my door flew open & few days later my steering wheel started to get hard to turn & it had started leaking bad .i had my kids in the car when both incident happened. Didn’t notify my insurance or police .

NHTSA ODI #11641011

200,000 miles · Jul 20, 2023
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

The contact owns a 2005 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the service brake warning light illuminated. The contact then stated that her husband depressed the brake pedal to slow the vehicle and had to apply added pressure to the brake pedal, with the brake pedal e…

Read full complaint

The contact owns a 2005 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the service brake warning light illuminated. The contact then stated that her husband depressed the brake pedal to slow the vehicle and had to apply added pressure to the brake pedal, with the brake pedal extending to the floorboard. The contact stated that the brake pedal remained stuck on the floorboard. The contact’s husband shifted into park(P) and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

NHTSA ODI #11533491

48,000 miles · Aug 14, 2017
Power Train

OCCASSIONALLY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT STALLS IN GEAR,THAT IS THE GEAR SHIFT DOESN'T WORK AND THE VEHICLESTAYS IN ONE GEAR EVEN WHILE MOVING.USUALLY THE DRIVER HAS TO STOP BRIEFLY SHIFTS THE GEAR TO ANOTHER GEAR AND THEN STARTS AGAIN.IN A FEW SECONDS WWE CAN DRIVE AGAIN.UNTIL THE SAME THING HAPPENS AGAIN PERHAPS IN A FEW MO…

Read full complaint

OCCASSIONALLY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT STALLS IN GEAR,THAT IS THE GEAR SHIFT DOESN'T WORK AND THE VEHICLESTAYS IN ONE GEAR EVEN WHILE MOVING.USUALLY THE DRIVER HAS TO STOP BRIEFLY SHIFTS THE GEAR TO ANOTHER GEAR AND THEN STARTS AGAIN.IN A FEW SECONDS WWE CAN DRIVE AGAIN.UNTIL THE SAME THING HAPPENS AGAIN PERHAPS IN A FEW MONTHS OR SO.THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION MORE GENERALLY ON CITY STREET.THIS BEGAN TO HAPPEN FROM THE VERY MOMENT I PURCHASED THE CAR AND WITHIN TWO HOURS OF DRIVING AND HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN SINCE

NHTSA ODI #11015199

95,000 miles · Jun 10, 2016
EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ODOR OF SMOKE WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND DARK SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE TO EXTINGUISH FLAMES THAT CAME FROM THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTRO…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ODOR OF SMOKE WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND DARK SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE TO EXTINGUISH FLAMES THAT CAME FROM THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ODI #10873704

65,000 miles · Jul 31, 2015
Structure

COMMERCIAL MACK TRUCK DOT #[XXX] DRIVER NAME [XXX] MD TAG [XXX]TRUCK VIN #[XXX] COMMERCIAL ENTERED MD RT FIVE NORTH AT 1:30 PM AND HEAVY AMOUNTS OF ROCKS WERE FALLING FROM LOWER EDGE BETWEEN TAILGATE AND BODY OF TRUCK BED. MAJOR FALLING DEBRIS CAUSED HEAVY DAMAGE TO OUR WINDSHIELD AND FRONT PAINT ON HOOD AND BUMPER. WE NOW HAVE…

Read full complaint

COMMERCIAL MACK TRUCK DOT #[XXX] DRIVER NAME [XXX] MD TAG [XXX]TRUCK VIN #[XXX] COMMERCIAL ENTERED MD RT FIVE NORTH AT 1:30 PM AND HEAVY AMOUNTS OF ROCKS WERE FALLING FROM LOWER EDGE BETWEEN TAILGATE AND BODY OF TRUCK BED. MAJOR FALLING DEBRIS CAUSED HEAVY DAMAGE TO OUR WINDSHIELD AND FRONT PAINT ON HOOD AND BUMPER. WE NOW HAVE NUMEROUS CRACKS IN WINDSHIELD AND DAMAGE TO FRONT END BODY AND PAINT. WE ATTEMPTED TO CATCH UP TO TRUCK TO NOTIFY DRIVER BUT THE EXTREMELY HEAVY AMOUNT OF FALLING ROCKS PREVENTED BEING ABLE TO CATCH UP TO DRIVER SAFELY. EXTREMELY UPSET DRIVER FAILED TO SAFELY SECURE LOAD CAUSING EXTREMELY UNSAFE ROAD CONDITIONS AND DAMAGE TO OTHER FOLLOWING VEHICLES. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE WITH THE AMOUNT OF ROCKS FALLING FROM THIS TRUCK FOR THE DRIVER TO NOT BE AWARE OF IT, MY TWO CENTS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10745375

84,792 miles · Mar 18, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System

WHILE DRIVING ON 3/14/15 THE CAR HAD TROUBLE STARTING. I MANAGED TO REACH HOME. NEXT MORNING ON 3/15/15 I BACKED CAR OUT OF GARAGE - HAD THE SAME PROBLEM STARTING CAR. AFTER PARKING CAR IN GARAGE, I SUDDENLY NOTICED THAT GASOLINE WAS LEAKING FROM UNDER THE LEFT PASSENGER SEAT TO THE GARAGE FLOOR. ON 3/16/15 MORNING I CALLED UP M…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING ON 3/14/15 THE CAR HAD TROUBLE STARTING. I MANAGED TO REACH HOME. NEXT MORNING ON 3/15/15 I BACKED CAR OUT OF GARAGE - HAD THE SAME PROBLEM STARTING CAR. AFTER PARKING CAR IN GARAGE, I SUDDENLY NOTICED THAT GASOLINE WAS LEAKING FROM UNDER THE LEFT PASSENGER SEAT TO THE GARAGE FLOOR. ON 3/16/15 MORNING I CALLED UP MERCEDES BENZ ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THE FUEL LINE FROM THE FUEL FILTER TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAD COME PARTIALLY OFF THE FUEL FILTER. IT WAS RECONNECTED BUT I WAS TOLD IT COULD COME OFF. THIS IS A CAR MY SPOUSE DRIVES AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. I HAVE DRIVE VARIOUS AUTOMOBILES SINCE I FIRST CAME TO THE USA IN DECEMBER 1974 AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. WHAT SHOULD I BE DOING? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10695162

90,000 miles · Mar 25, 2013
SeatsFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, SHE NOTICED A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT WARMER HAD OVERHEATED AND BURNED A HOLE IN THE LEATHER. AS A RESULT, THE SEAT ELEMENT WARMER AND THE SEAT PAD NEEDED TO…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, SHE NOTICED A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT WARMER HAD OVERHEATED AND BURNED A HOLE IN THE LEATHER. AS A RESULT, THE SEAT ELEMENT WARMER AND THE SEAT PAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10504357

78,650 miles · Dec 26, 2011
Seats

DRIVER HEATED SEAT BURNING UNDERSIDE OF LEFT THIGH ON BOTH LOW AND HIGH SETTINGS. ON 12/26/11, IT FELT HOTTER THAN NORMAL (EVEN ON A VERY SHORT 6-7 MINUTE JOURNEY) BURNING INDEX FINGER WHEN SEAT LEATHER WAS BEING FELT. THERE IS ALSO SMELL OF BURNING. I SWITCHED HEATED SEAT OFF IMMEDIATELY. A "HOT SPOT" IS VISIBLE ON THE LEAT…

Read full complaint

DRIVER HEATED SEAT BURNING UNDERSIDE OF LEFT THIGH ON BOTH LOW AND HIGH SETTINGS. ON 12/26/11, IT FELT HOTTER THAN NORMAL (EVEN ON A VERY SHORT 6-7 MINUTE JOURNEY) BURNING INDEX FINGER WHEN SEAT LEATHER WAS BEING FELT. THERE IS ALSO SMELL OF BURNING. I SWITCHED HEATED SEAT OFF IMMEDIATELY. A "HOT SPOT" IS VISIBLE ON THE LEATHER SEAT WHERE THE ELEMENT SEEMS TO HAVE OVERHEATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10441271

32,000 miles · Sep 15, 2011
SeatsFireInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN REVERSE, THE DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT WAS ACTIVATED AND SUDDENLY THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A SEVERE BURNING SENSATION DIRECTLY TO THE SKIN FROM THE LOWER PORTION OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE CONTACT EXIT THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED SMOKE AND FLAMES EMI…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN REVERSE, THE DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT WAS ACTIVATED AND SUDDENLY THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A SEVERE BURNING SENSATION DIRECTLY TO THE SKIN FROM THE LOWER PORTION OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE CONTACT EXIT THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED SMOKE AND FLAMES EMITTING FROM THE TOP OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. IMMEDIATELY, ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED AND THE FLAMES WERE SMOTHERED BY AND INDIVIDUAL WHO USED THEIR HANDS TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR BURNS TO HIS BACK AND THE OTHER PERSON SUSTAINED MINOR BURNS TO BOTH HANDS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE TECHNICIAN TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

NHTSA ODI #10425557

60,000 miles · Sep 10, 2011
Power TrainSteering

BOUGHT THE 2005 ML350 USED LAST SUMMER (2010). IN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE WHILE SLOWING DOWN OR STOPPED, THE ACCELERATION SEEMED TO DROP LOW ENOUGH TO MAKE THE VEHICLE STALL. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, BUT TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. SINCE THEN, IT HAS HAPPENED MUL…

Read full complaint

BOUGHT THE 2005 ML350 USED LAST SUMMER (2010). IN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE WHILE SLOWING DOWN OR STOPPED, THE ACCELERATION SEEMED TO DROP LOW ENOUGH TO MAKE THE VEHICLE STALL. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, BUT TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. SINCE THEN, IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE YEAR. ALSO, WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE IT WILL STALL AND I WILL HAVE TO KEEP RETRYING TO START IT AND PRESS THE ACCELERATION PEDAL TO GET IT TO FINALLY START. (ONLY USE THE RECOMMENDED OCTANE SUGGESTIONS FROM THE MERCEDES BOOKLET, AND FOLLOW ALL DIRECTIONS DURING FUELING) FINALLY, SEEMS TO POSSIBLY HAVE A STEERING FLUID LEAK. (ONLY USE MERCEDES POWER STEERING FLUID FROM DEALERSHIP). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10424590

Official recalls

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.