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2006 Mercedes Benz ML350

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most ML350 years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Mercedes Benz ML350 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 51.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

137 reports with mileage · 35 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports19 fire reports10 injury reports

Engine complaints

36 reports
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71,865 miles · Feb 21, 2014
Engine

BALANCE SHAFT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED $6500 FROM MERCEDES BENZ DEALER QUOTE ORIGINAL OWNER OIL CHANGED 8 TIMES IN 72000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10565223

89,924 miles · Jan 21, 2014
Engine

TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. MY REGISTRATION IS UP NEXT MONTH AND NEED TO SMOG. IT WON'T PASS WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. DEALERSHIP SAYS ITS TIMING GEAR/CAMSHAFT ISSUE AND IT WILL BE $7500.00 TO REPAIR AND ITS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID MERCEDES WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY 25% OF PARTS FO…

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TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. MY REGISTRATION IS UP NEXT MONTH AND NEED TO SMOG. IT WON'T PASS WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. DEALERSHIP SAYS ITS TIMING GEAR/CAMSHAFT ISSUE AND IT WILL BE $7500.00 TO REPAIR AND ITS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID MERCEDES WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY 25% OF PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WHICH WOULD BE AROUND $500.00. THIS I THOUGHT WAS STRANGE SO I LOOKED IT UP ONLINE AND THEIR ARE HUNDREDS OF STORIES AND A COUPLE CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE FOR THIS ENGINE. MERCEDES BENZ OBVIOUSLY KNOWS ABOUT IT AND SHOULD RECALL IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560878

73,357 miles · Jan 21, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MAN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,357. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560808

80,000 miles · Sep 24, 2013
EngineSteering

I WAS ON MY WAY TO PICK UP MY SPOUSE FROM THE AIRPORT ONE NIGHT WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A ROCKING MOTION AND THE ORANGE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND EXITED THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG, I RE-ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO RE-START THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT STAR…

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I WAS ON MY WAY TO PICK UP MY SPOUSE FROM THE AIRPORT ONE NIGHT WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A ROCKING MOTION AND THE ORANGE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND EXITED THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG, I RE-ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO RE-START THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT START. I CALLED MERCEDES BENZ AND THEY PROCEEDED TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE SHOP. I WAITED 4 MONTHS FOR THEM TO ASSIST ME IN FIXING MY VEHICLE SINCE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND I HAVE NO EXTENDED, THEY REFUSED TO ASSIST ME EVEN THOUGH THEY TOLD ME THAT THE MANIFOLD HAD BROKEN OFF AND MAY GET INTO THE ENGINE AND THAT I MAY NEED A NEW ENGINE OF WHICH I ENDED UP PURCHASING A LOW MILEAGE ENGINE. PRIOR TO THIS I PAID $1500. FOR THEM TO FIX 2 LEAKS ON MY POWER STEERING AND AS OF NOW MY VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL AND MAKING THAT SAME LOUD NOISE AS BEFORE THEY FIXED THE LEAKS. I HAVE BEEN VERY VERY UPSET WITH THEM, MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN GIVING ME TOO MUCH TROUBLE FOR NOT HAVING 100 THOUSAND MILES. PLEASE HELP. I CALL THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE AND EVEN WROTE A LETTER TO THEM AND ALL THEY OFFERED ME WAS $2000 TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE, YOU MAY THINK THAT A MERCEDES BENZ WILL BE ABLE TO DO BETTER THAT FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. I WAS LIED TO BY THEM PERTAINING TO THE ENGINE, ONCE I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE WAS BAD THEN I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT BAD. I TOOK MY CAR FROM THEM AND TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT CAR REPAIRING. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10545199

143,000 miles · Sep 20, 2013
Engine

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER, AND THE TECH TOLD ME THAT THE BALANCE SHAFT WAS THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT WILL COST ME ABOUT $8000.00 TO FIX IT. HE ALSO SAID THAT THERE WAS NO MANUFACTURER WARRANTY TO FIX IT. IT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH A…

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MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER, AND THE TECH TOLD ME THAT THE BALANCE SHAFT WAS THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT WILL COST ME ABOUT $8000.00 TO FIX IT. HE ALSO SAID THAT THERE WAS NO MANUFACTURER WARRANTY TO FIX IT. IT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH ABOUT $7200.00. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT THAT IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MAKE AND MODEL, AND THERE IS A PENDING CLASS ACTION SUIT IN NJ AGAINST MERCEDES USA. I CONTACTED MERCEDES USA IN AUGUST 2013 ABOUT REIMBURSING ME THE COST OF REPAIR, BUT THE MANAGER I SPOKE TO DENIED THE REQUEST. ACTION REQUESTED: I AM SEEKING THE HELP OF NHTSA IN RECOVERING MY COST OF REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10544620

109,458 miles · Jul 3, 2013
EngineSteering

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT 24 JUNE 2013 OR SO. I CONTACTED ATLANTA CLASSIC CARS, MY LOCAL MB DEALERSHIP TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. MY VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED ON 2 JULY, AND THE REPORT INDICATED MY BALANCE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ($5,100), MY POWER STEERING COMPONENTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ($3,067.50), AND MY TRANSMISSION V…

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MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT 24 JUNE 2013 OR SO. I CONTACTED ATLANTA CLASSIC CARS, MY LOCAL MB DEALERSHIP TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. MY VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED ON 2 JULY, AND THE REPORT INDICATED MY BALANCE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ($5,100), MY POWER STEERING COMPONENTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ($3,067.50), AND MY TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ($1,812.95). I HAVE BEEN THE SOLE OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE, AND HAVE HAD IT SERVICED REGULARLY AT MB DEALERSHIPS (CRITZ - SAVANNAH, GA AND ATLANTA CLASSIC CARS - DULUTH, GA). PREVIOUSLY, THIS VEHICLE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, WHICH OCCURRED JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. AT FIRST, ATLANTA CLASSIC CARS DID NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ISSUE, SINCE THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. AFTER MY HUSBAND GOT INVOLVED, THEY AGREED TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR NO CHARGE. ANOTHER MINOR PROBLEM INVOLVED THE LOCKING MECHANISM ON THE VEHICLE'S HATCH -- IT HAD TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES BEFORE IT FINALLY WORKED PROPERLY. I AM VERY DISMAYED THAT AFTER SEVEN YEARS AND 109K MILES, MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING SUCH EXPENSIVE PROBLEMS AS THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10523113

Official recalls

2

24V298000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum

Apr 26, 2024

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 & remedy

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.

22V315000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum

May 9, 2022

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 & remedy

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.

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.