NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
172 reports49,000 miles · Sep 17, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
2006 ML350 MERCEDES BENZ - BALANCE SHAFT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IN A CAR WITH UNDER 50,00 MILES ON IT. THEY WANT 8,000 TO DO THE JOB AND I AM FINDING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. I WAS DIRECTED TO YOU BY A FACEBOOK SITE THAT IS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR MERCEDES. I THINK …
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2006 ML350 MERCEDES BENZ - BALANCE SHAFT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IN A CAR WITH UNDER 50,00 MILES ON IT. THEY WANT 8,000 TO DO THE JOB AND I AM FINDING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. I WAS DIRECTED TO YOU BY A FACEBOOK SITE THAT IS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR MERCEDES. I THINK THIS IS A FLAW IN THE CAR AND THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10356196
103,000 miles · Aug 11, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO HER IT BEGAN TO LUNGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS DRAGGING. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO CAUSE THE VE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO HER IT BEGAN TO LUNGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS DRAGGING. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO EXHIBIT THE JERKING MOTION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE STATING THAT THE MANIFOLD WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE HAD RECURRED. THERE HAVE BEEN NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116247.
NHTSA ODI #10348811
50,000 miles · May 25, 2010
Electrical SystemFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE RESTARTED FOR A PERIOD OF TWO SECONDS AND THE AUTOMATED WINDOWS BEGAN TO OPERATE WITHOUT ASSIS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE RESTARTED FOR A PERIOD OF TWO SECONDS AND THE AUTOMATED WINDOWS BEGAN TO OPERATE WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE HORN SOUNDED AND THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLYT ACTIVATED . THE "BRAKE FLUID LOW" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR DOOR AREA. THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECOMMENED LEVEL OF BRAKE FLUID WAS IN THE RESERVOIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A BUILD UP OF MOISTURE FROM AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF LIQUID SPILLED UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OR POSSIBLY THE DRIVER SEAT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS LIFE THREATENING AND THAT THE INTERIOR CARPET SHOULD BE DESIGNED WITH A WATERPROOF PROTECTOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.
NHTSA ODI #10332144
59,000 miles · May 21, 2010
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY STIFF RESISTANT TO THE CONTACTS ATTEMPTS TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE (NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V224000: STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSISTS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY STIFF RESISTANT TO THE CONTACTS ATTEMPTS TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE (NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V224000: STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSISTS SYSTEM) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 59,000.
NHTSA ODI #10331543
62,500 miles · Apr 18, 2010
Power Train
BALANCE SHAFT ON MY MERCEDES ML350 HAS WORN CAM CAUSING CHECKING ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON AND THE TIMING TO BE OFF. MERCEDES SERVICE BULLETIN STATES THAT THE BALANCE SHAFT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE MATERIAL OF NEW REPLACEMENT SHAFT HAS BEEN UPDATED. THIS HAS HAPPENING TO NEARLY ALL MERCEDES BENZ EQUIPPED WITH M272 ENGIN…
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BALANCE SHAFT ON MY MERCEDES ML350 HAS WORN CAM CAUSING CHECKING ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON AND THE TIMING TO BE OFF. MERCEDES SERVICE BULLETIN STATES THAT THE BALANCE SHAFT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE MATERIAL OF NEW REPLACEMENT SHAFT HAS BEEN UPDATED. THIS HAS HAPPENING TO NEARLY ALL MERCEDES BENZ EQUIPPED WITH M272 ENGINE UP TO SERIAL NO. 2729..30 468993 OR M273 ENGINE UP TO SERIAL NO. 2739..30 088611 AND OCCURS AFTER 55,000 MILES. MERCEDES WANTS $4,000 - $6,000 TO REPLACE DEFECT PART. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10326267
50,800 miles · Apr 9, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ON N.Y. STATE THRUWAY,ON CRUISE CONTROL,BRAKES SUDDENLY APPLIED THEMSELVES. ABS AND SLS FLASHED ON DASH.CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATED. TURNED OFF CRUISE CONTROL AND PULLED OFF. ATTEMPT TO START AGAIN AND BRAKES APPLIED THEMSELVES. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES ,@20 MIN. WAS ABLE TO GET CAR MOVING. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER WHO SAID SOME KIND OF BR…
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ON N.Y. STATE THRUWAY,ON CRUISE CONTROL,BRAKES SUDDENLY APPLIED THEMSELVES. ABS AND SLS FLASHED ON DASH.CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATED. TURNED OFF CRUISE CONTROL AND PULLED OFF. ATTEMPT TO START AGAIN AND BRAKES APPLIED THEMSELVES. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES ,@20 MIN. WAS ABLE TO GET CAR MOVING. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER WHO SAID SOME KIND OF BRAKE SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. CHARGED FOR REPLACEMENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10324673
28,593 miles · Mar 1, 2010
Air Bags
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES ML350. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE DEALER NEEDED TO REPAIR IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY RECALIBRATED THE SYSTEM BUT THE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. A…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES ML350. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE DEALER NEEDED TO REPAIR IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY RECALIBRATED THE SYSTEM BUT THE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE AIR BAG LIGHT FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,593.
NHTSA ODI #10315131
63,888 miles · Feb 22, 2010
Service Brakes, Electric
MY ABS SYSTEM IS BROKE IN MY ML 350 MERCEDES BENZ 2006, IT ONLY 3 YEARS OLD I PURCHASE IT IN 5/2006. ITS NOT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT HAS 64,000 MILES, THIS IS STILL A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE ABS SYSTEM I WAS TOLD BY A MERCEDES SERVICE MANAGER THIS RARELY GOES OUT ON A CAR, BUT WHY NO ONE WANTS TO FIX IT. IT COSTS 3300 DOLLARS T…
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MY ABS SYSTEM IS BROKE IN MY ML 350 MERCEDES BENZ 2006, IT ONLY 3 YEARS OLD I PURCHASE IT IN 5/2006. ITS NOT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT HAS 64,000 MILES, THIS IS STILL A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE ABS SYSTEM I WAS TOLD BY A MERCEDES SERVICE MANAGER THIS RARELY GOES OUT ON A CAR, BUT WHY NO ONE WANTS TO FIX IT. IT COSTS 3300 DOLLARS TO FIX. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10312649
28,000 miles · Jan 20, 2010
Fuel System, Other
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES ML350. WHENEVER THE CONTACT MADE A SHARP LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED EMPTY AND THEN FULL REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED DRIVEN. WHEN THE CONTACT ADDED FUEL TO IT'S CAPACITY, THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED 3/4 INSTEAD OF FULL. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CON…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES ML350. WHENEVER THE CONTACT MADE A SHARP LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED EMPTY AND THEN FULL REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED DRIVEN. WHEN THE CONTACT ADDED FUEL TO IT'S CAPACITY, THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED 3/4 INSTEAD OF FULL. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CONTACT IS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 02/02/10 *BF UPDATED 02/02/10
NHTSA ODI #10300441
61,000 miles · Dec 21, 2009
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 61,000. UPDATED 01/20/10. *LJ UPDATED 01/21/10.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10296614