NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
83 reports96,000 miles · Dec 1, 2016
SeatsFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. AFTER ACTIVATING THE SEAT WARMERS, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BECAME VERY HOT AND THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE SEAT WAS BURNED ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE SEAT WAS UNPLUGGED, BUT THE DETAILS OF …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. AFTER ACTIVATING THE SEAT WARMERS, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BECAME VERY HOT AND THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE SEAT WAS BURNED ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE SEAT WAS UNPLUGGED, BUT THE DETAILS OF THE DIAGNOSIS COULD NOT BE PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
NHTSA ODI #10929390
44,415 miles · Nov 10, 2016
Service BrakesCrash
REVERSE PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AT SLOW SPEED THEN STOPPED. ON DRIVE POSITION, VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD WHEN GAS PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE AT SAME SITUATION ABOUT SAME TIME.THEN AT THE FREEWAY, IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC VEHICLE BRAKES FAILED AND HIT A BIG-RIG TRUCK. NO WARNING LIGHT THAT CAME ON. I PRESSED FOOT PEDAL HAR…
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REVERSE PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AT SLOW SPEED THEN STOPPED. ON DRIVE POSITION, VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD WHEN GAS PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE AT SAME SITUATION ABOUT SAME TIME.THEN AT THE FREEWAY, IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC VEHICLE BRAKES FAILED AND HIT A BIG-RIG TRUCK. NO WARNING LIGHT THAT CAME ON. I PRESSED FOOT PEDAL HARD BUT VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND CONTINUED ROLLING UNTIL IT REAR ENDED THE TRUCK. LUCKILY OUR SPEED WAS 0-5 MPH AND NO INJURY TO MY 2 PASSENGERS. CHP ASSISTED US. VEHICLE WAS NORMAL WHEN PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. I HAD IT TOWED TO NEAREST MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP. PER SERVICE MINDER, VEHICLE UNDERGO REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND IS SERVICED BY SAME DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA ODI #10925447
107,000 miles · Nov 7, 2016
EnginePower TrainSteering
SERPENTINE BELT SYSTEM. WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD AT THE HIGHWAY SPEED, ONE OF THE IDLER PULLEYS LOCKED UP DUE TO THE FAILED BEARING, LEADING TO DAMAGING/BRAKING SERPENTINE BELT. THAT LED TO LOSS OF STEERING (LOSS OF POWER STEERING) AND OVERHEATING THE ENGINE. CREATED A VERY DANGER SITUATION AND LEFT MY FAMILY STRANDED MANY MILES A…
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SERPENTINE BELT SYSTEM. WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD AT THE HIGHWAY SPEED, ONE OF THE IDLER PULLEYS LOCKED UP DUE TO THE FAILED BEARING, LEADING TO DAMAGING/BRAKING SERPENTINE BELT. THAT LED TO LOSS OF STEERING (LOSS OF POWER STEERING) AND OVERHEATING THE ENGINE. CREATED A VERY DANGER SITUATION AND LEFT MY FAMILY STRANDED MANY MILES AWAY FROM HOME. VERY COSTLY TOWING SERVICE AND REPAIR.
NHTSA ODI #10924806
105,502 miles · Oct 31, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHTING HARNESS BURNED THE BULBS WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND REQUIRED THE CONTACT TO MANUALLY DISCONNECT THE FUSES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHTING HARNESS BURNED THE BULBS WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND REQUIRED THE CONTACT TO MANUALLY DISCONNECT THE FUSES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,502.
NHTSA ODI #10920357
Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2016
EnginePower Train
SAFETY ISSUES BEING OBSERVED ON ML 350 2007 OBSERVATIONS (MY WIFE & I HAVE BOTH EXPERIENCED): AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION , EXPERIENCING LIMP MODE CREATING A SAFETY ISSUES WHICH CANNOT BE FORESEEN, CAN HAPPEN ANY TIME THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT AND UNPREDICTABLE, IT WILL BE DRIVING FINE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I…
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SAFETY ISSUES BEING OBSERVED ON ML 350 2007 OBSERVATIONS (MY WIFE & I HAVE BOTH EXPERIENCED): AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION , EXPERIENCING LIMP MODE CREATING A SAFETY ISSUES WHICH CANNOT BE FORESEEN, CAN HAPPEN ANY TIME THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT AND UNPREDICTABLE, IT WILL BE DRIVING FINE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL START LOSING POWER IN TRAFFIC & DRAG DOWN. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WILL START SHIFTING BY ITSELF FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER & THE SPEED OF THE CARS STARTS TO CRAWL, LIKE "LIMP MODE" THE IDLE SPEED STARTS TO REV UP, CAR IS NOT INCREASING THE SPEED AS ONE WOULD EXPECT ONCE NORMALLY WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. ONE HAS TO PULL OVER IF THEY CAN OR STUCK IN THE STREET ONE IS DRIVING WHICH I EXPERIENCED AND TRIED TO PULL OVER & HAD ISSUES. I BASICALLY HAD TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AND HOPED THE CAR WOULD START BACK AGAIN, I HAD TO REPEAT THIS SEVERAL TIMES AS I EXPERIENCED THE DRAG DOWN AND GEARS GOING DOWN. VERY SCARY INCIDENTS WITH CHILDREN & WIFE IN THE CAR WHEN I WAS COMING BACK FROM AN OCCASION (I.E. DRIVING BACK HOME). TOLD BY DEALER ON 10/11/16: CODE 0717 & 0718 & NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY 4 YEARS/50K POTENTIALLY RELATED ISSUE: CODE 064 INCIDENT HAD OCCURED SEVERAL TIMES NOW IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS
NHTSA ODI #10915346
122,673 miles · Feb 22, 2016
Seats
I PRESS THE SEAT HEATING BUTTON FOR THE DRIVER SIDE WHILE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY ABOUT A MINUTE LATER I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING I TURNED VEHICLE OFF TO INVESTIGATE. TWO DAYS LATER I NOTICE A HOLE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A HALF A DOLLAR IN THE LOWER LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT.
NHTSA ODI #10837601
101,000 miles · Dec 17, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineSeatsFire
1) CAR IS HAVING RECURRING ISSUE WITH SEAT BURNING DUE TO SEAT HEATER. DEALER CORRECTED ISSUE BUT ISSUE PERSISTS. NOT ABLE TO TURN HEATER ON. DEALER CLAIMS ISSUE IS FIXED BUT WHEN HEAT SEATER IS TURNED ON, BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE FILLS CAR. ADVISED DEALER THAT CAR IS LEAKING WATER IN SINCE NOTICED WATER ON THE TRUCK IN THE REAR …
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1) CAR IS HAVING RECURRING ISSUE WITH SEAT BURNING DUE TO SEAT HEATER. DEALER CORRECTED ISSUE BUT ISSUE PERSISTS. NOT ABLE TO TURN HEATER ON. DEALER CLAIMS ISSUE IS FIXED BUT WHEN HEAT SEATER IS TURNED ON, BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE FILLS CAR. ADVISED DEALER THAT CAR IS LEAKING WATER IN SINCE NOTICED WATER ON THE TRUCK IN THE REAR WHERE THE COMPUTERS ARE. ONCE WATER IS IN, ALL SORTS OF ELECTRICAL LIGHT ISSUES HAPPEN WITH THE CAR. 2) CAR IS HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUE. UPON RESEARCH, IT SEEMS ML350 HAS THIS RECURRENT ISSUE. CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY BENZ IS NOT HAVING THIS RECALL. CAR STOPS MOVING IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY. CANNOT GET IT TO RUN. HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF, PUSH IT ASIDE AND TRY MULTIPLE TIMES FOR CAR TO MOVE.THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WITH KIDS INSIDE TRUCK SINCE THAT IS THE REASON WHY I BOUGHT TRUCK FOR OVER MORE THAN 35 K. DEALER CLAIMS ITS A TRANSMISSION COVER VALVE BODY BUT DOES NOT GUARANTEE REPAIRS. DEALER STATES EVEN AFTER THIS REPAIR, THE ISSUE COULD PERSIST AND TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WHICH COULD COST ANOTHER 4000 USD IN ADDITION TO 2000 TO CHANGE PLATE. IT IS OBVIOUS MERCEDES BENZ HAS LET US DOWN AND ALSO HAS MADE IT DANGEROUS FOR US TO DRIVE THEIR CARS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. IF YOU GO ONLINE, EVERYONE WITH THIS TRUCK IS HAVING THIS ISSUE AND IS SHELLING DOLLARS OUT TO MERCEDES DEALERS FOR FIXES THAT ARE NOT GUARANTEED.
NHTSA ODI #10810843
80,000 miles · Dec 8, 2015
Electrical System
I BACKED CAR OUT OF GARAGE AND ALL INSTRUMENTS ON PANEL STARTED TURNING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS. MY LIGHTS BLINK OFF AND ON ,MY CLOCK REWINDS , ,MY RADIO LIGHT GET BRIGHT THEN TURNS DARK. THIS CAR IS GARAGE KEPT SO WHY IS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BAD .THESE THINGS HAPPEN WHEN IT IS STATIONARY AND IN MOTION ALSO POWER STEERING LEAK
NHTSA ODI #10808970
93,000 miles · Oct 10, 2015
Seats
I WAS LEAVING MY SON'S FOOTBALL GAME AND GOING TO THE SCHOOL TO PICK HIM UP. ITS 1.75 MILES FROM FIELD TO SCHOOL. I TURNED ON MY DRIVERS SEAT AND BEFORE I REACHED THE SCHOOL, I FELT A BURNING IN THE LOWER LEFT SIDE OF SEAT. I REACHED DOWN TO FEEL WHAT WAS BURNING AND REALIZED IT HAD BURNT A HOLE IN SEAT AND THROUGH MY COAT. …
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I WAS LEAVING MY SON'S FOOTBALL GAME AND GOING TO THE SCHOOL TO PICK HIM UP. ITS 1.75 MILES FROM FIELD TO SCHOOL. I TURNED ON MY DRIVERS SEAT AND BEFORE I REACHED THE SCHOOL, I FELT A BURNING IN THE LOWER LEFT SIDE OF SEAT. I REACHED DOWN TO FEEL WHAT WAS BURNING AND REALIZED IT HAD BURNT A HOLE IN SEAT AND THROUGH MY COAT. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE SEAT. UPON PARKING AT THE SCHOOL, I GOT OUT TO LOOK AT WHAT HAD HAPPENED. HOLE IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A QUARTER. CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000 MILES.
NHTSA ODI #10781229
87,653 miles · Sep 21, 2015
SeatsFireInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND ACTIVATING THE SEAT WARMER, THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVER SEAT WAS EXTREMELY HOT AND BURNED THE CONTACT'S SHIRT AND LEFT ARM. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE DRIVER SEAT AND TURNED …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND ACTIVATING THE SEAT WARMER, THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVER SEAT WAS EXTREMELY HOT AND BURNED THE CONTACT'S SHIRT AND LEFT ARM. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE DRIVER SEAT AND TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER. THE FAILURE BURNED THE LOWER LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,653.
NHTSA ODI #10766676