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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

172 reports
42,689 miles · Nov 9, 2012
Power TrainCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND EXITED THE VEHICLE FOR THIRTY SECONDS. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO RE-ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY LUNGED FORWARD, DRAGGING THE DRIVER AS SHE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DRI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND EXITED THE VEHICLE FOR THIRTY SECONDS. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO RE-ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY LUNGED FORWARD, DRAGGING THE DRIVER AS SHE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER HAD ABNORMALLY SHIFTED OUT OF PARK. BEFORE THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO FULLY ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A RESIDENTIAL GATE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR ABRASIONS TO THE HEAD BUT DID NOT SEEK ANY MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 42,689.

NHTSA ODI #10483845

124,125 miles · Nov 2, 2012
SeatsFireInjury

I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND AS IT WAS A COLD MORNING I PUT MY DRIVERS SEAT HEATER ON. SHORTLY AFTER PUTTING IT ON I FELT A BURNING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BACK, I PULLED THE CAR OVER AND NOTICED A FIRE ON THE LOWER PORTION OF THE DRIVERS SEAT(BACK WING). THE FIRE BURNED THROUGH MY JACKET AND BURNED MY LOWER BACK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10482957

75,000 miles · Sep 21, 2012
Power Train

2006 MERCEDES ML350 75K NO WARNING LIGHT OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT/UNABLE TO DRIVE,VEHICLE RUNNING. DRIVE GEARS NOT MOVING OR REVERSE NOT WORKING/TOWED TO MERCEDES DEALER/SERVICE ADVISORY NEED REPLACE COMPLETE TRANSMISSION WILL COST 6.5K TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. AFTER RESEARCH. MERCEDES U.S.A HAVE A CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT. DEFECTIVE…

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2006 MERCEDES ML350 75K NO WARNING LIGHT OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT/UNABLE TO DRIVE,VEHICLE RUNNING. DRIVE GEARS NOT MOVING OR REVERSE NOT WORKING/TOWED TO MERCEDES DEALER/SERVICE ADVISORY NEED REPLACE COMPLETE TRANSMISSION WILL COST 6.5K TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. AFTER RESEARCH. MERCEDES U.S.A HAVE A CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT. DEFECTIVE IDLE GEARS/THESE DEFECTIVE GEARS WEAR OUT PREMATURELY,EXCESSIVELY, AND WITHOUT WARNING,CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MALFUNCTION, THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE TO MISFIRE AND /OR STORE DRIVING. MERCEDES ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND INTENTIONAL CONCEALMENT OF THE DEFECT DUE TO COMPANY REPUTATION DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW AND MAY HURT THE COMPANY IMAGE. I WAS SHOCK AFTER WHAT I WAS EXPLAINED BY MERCEDES ADVISORY NOT TAKING ANY RESPONSIBLE FOR DEFECTED GEARS AND WANTED TO CHARGE ME. VERY BAD EXPERIENCE WITH MERCEDES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10476618

49,000 miles · Sep 17, 2012
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FUEL STATION AND LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THER…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FUEL STATION AND LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V303000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

NHTSA ODI #10475614

63,000 miles · Jul 11, 2012
Power Train

I RECENTLY STARTED NOTICING A SLIGHT HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF MY SUV. I TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL NEEDS TO BE REPLACE AT A COST OF $3668.00. I WAS TOLD THEY JUST GO BAD AND ALSO THEY JUST REPLACED TWO MORE HERE LATELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10465305

101,000 miles · May 1, 2012
Power Train

I BOUGHT A 2006 MERCEDES 3 YEARS AGO THINKING I WOULD HAVE A CAR FOR A LIFETIME BOY DID I GO WRONG. IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS I HAVE HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS AND MERCEDES DOESN'T CARE. THE FIRST ISSUE I HAD TO REPLACE THE CRANK SHAFT $6000 PLUS FOR REPAIR I ALMOST WENT CRAZY SO I STARTED RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS …

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I BOUGHT A 2006 MERCEDES 3 YEARS AGO THINKING I WOULD HAVE A CAR FOR A LIFETIME BOY DID I GO WRONG. IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS I HAVE HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS AND MERCEDES DOESN'T CARE. THE FIRST ISSUE I HAD TO REPLACE THE CRANK SHAFT $6000 PLUS FOR REPAIR I ALMOST WENT CRAZY SO I STARTED RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT FOR THIS ISSUE SO I PHONED MERCEDES AND THEY AGREE TO PICK UP HALF OF THE REPAIR. ONE MONTH LATER CAR STARTS MAKING WINDING NOISE TAKE IT BACK TO THEM AND NOW THEY SAY IT IS THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL $5500 TO REPAIR I START TO RESEARCH THAT ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS FOR MY SAME ISSUE ON THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL SO I GO BACK TO MERCEDES HOWEVER THIS TIME NOT WILLING TO HELP. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE TO SUCH A POWERFUL COMPANY LIKE MERCEDES. I TRULY DO NOT THINK THIS IS FAIR AND US THE CONSUMERS ARE BEING RIPPED OFF. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10457025

40,941 miles · Mar 28, 2012
Power Train

CAR DOES NOT DOWN SHIFT WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO STOP. THEN WHEN YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE IT BARELY MOVES. ONE HAS TO PLACE THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK, THEN TURN ENGINE OFF AND THEN RESTART ENGINE TO RESET TRANSMISSION. FAULT CODES IN THE ONBOARD COMPUTER ALL POINT TO VALVE BODY CONDUCTOR PLATE ON TRANSMISSION. MERCEDES WILL NOT SELL …

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CAR DOES NOT DOWN SHIFT WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO STOP. THEN WHEN YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE IT BARELY MOVES. ONE HAS TO PLACE THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK, THEN TURN ENGINE OFF AND THEN RESTART ENGINE TO RESET TRANSMISSION. FAULT CODES IN THE ONBOARD COMPUTER ALL POINT TO VALVE BODY CONDUCTOR PLATE ON TRANSMISSION. MERCEDES WILL NOT SELL OR REPLACE PART TO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS. THEY WILL ONLY SELL IT TO DEALERS WHICH I BELIEVE ARE TOLD TO DIAGNOSE A DIFFERENT PROBLEM. IN OTHER WORDS WORK AROUND THE PROBLEM TO GENERATE INCOME BEFORE ACTUALLY TRYING TO FIX THE ACTUAL PROBLEM. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM AMONGST ML 350 OWNERS WITH SOME PAYING THOUSANDS AND STILL NOT HAVING THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE THIS CAN BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY AT A BUSY TRAFFIC LIGHT.

NHTSA ODI #10453347

100,000 miles · Feb 28, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 10 MPH. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE TRANSM…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 10 MPH. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ODI #10449604

86,770 miles · Feb 4, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

OWNER OF 2006 ML350 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TOOK IN FOR DIAGNOSIS WITH CAM SHAFT FAILURE, MB DOES NOT OFFER ANY HELP AND KNEW OF THIS ISSUE. CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN NJ ALREADY STARTED, HOPING ONE WILL GET STARTED IN SC. COST TO REPAIR IS $6,000 TO THE CUSTOMER. THIS IS USURY, AND DECEPTION BY THE WONDERFUL AUTOMAKERS OF TH…

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OWNER OF 2006 ML350 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TOOK IN FOR DIAGNOSIS WITH CAM SHAFT FAILURE, MB DOES NOT OFFER ANY HELP AND KNEW OF THIS ISSUE. CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN NJ ALREADY STARTED, HOPING ONE WILL GET STARTED IN SC. COST TO REPAIR IS $6,000 TO THE CUSTOMER. THIS IS USURY, AND DECEPTION BY THE WONDERFUL AUTOMAKERS OF THIS GREAT FOREIGN CAR MAKER WITH AN OFFICE IN THE USA. WHEN YOU CALL MB USA THEY ADVISE YOU TO SPEAK WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT OFFERS NO HELP. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10446687

70,000 miles · Nov 14, 2011
Power Train

AT APPROXIMATELY 70K MILES, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A LOW-FREQUENCY WHINING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF MY ML-350 AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH. THE NOISE BECAME MORE PREVALENT WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR AT HIGHER SPEEDS. FIRST, REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH MICHELIN "LATITUDE TOUR HP" - $1,300 (INCLUDING ALIGNMENT). THE NOISE…

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AT APPROXIMATELY 70K MILES, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A LOW-FREQUENCY WHINING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF MY ML-350 AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH. THE NOISE BECAME MORE PREVALENT WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR AT HIGHER SPEEDS. FIRST, REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH MICHELIN "LATITUDE TOUR HP" - $1,300 (INCLUDING ALIGNMENT). THE NOISE STILL OCCURRED. NEXT, TOOK TO MB SPECIALIST, WHO RECOMMENDED BOTH WHEEL BEARING BE REPLACED - COST $425/SIDE. THE BEARINGS WERE REPLACED AND NOISE STILL OCCURRED. MB SPECIALIST RECOMMENDED CHECKING DIFFERENTIAL OIL FOR METAL - FOUND LOTS OF METAL FRAGMENTS IN DIFFERENTIAL OIL. INSTALLATION OF NEW DIFFERENTIAL WAS ~$3,500. MB SPECIALIST STATED THAT HIS PARTS DISTRIBUTOR SAID THAT THEY SELL AT LEAST ONE-TO-TWO LATE MODEL ML-350 FRONT END DIFFERENTIALS PER MONTH. IN MY OPINION, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE IS A FLAW IN THE DIFFERENTIAL'S DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING PROCESS, AS I SEEN SEVERAL REPORTS OF THE SAME DIFFERENTIAL ISSUES WITH [RELATIVELY]-LOW-MILEAGE/LATE-MODEL MB ML-350 SUVS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MB RESEARCH THIS ISSUE, AND POSSIBLY INSTATE A RECALL OR REIMBURSE MB OWNERS WHO'VE ALREADY AFFECTED COSTLY REPAIRS ON THEIR LOW-MILEAGE ML-350'S FRONT END DIFFERENTIALS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10435499

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.