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2008 Mercedes Benz ML350

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Mercedes Benz ML350 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 51.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

52 reports with mileage · 15 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 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports6 fire reports3 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

7 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2019
Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

FAULTY WIRING IN THE BRAKE LIGHT HARNESS THAT COULD CAUSE FIRE. WIRING COMMONLY ARCS CAUSING THE BULBS TO BURN OUT AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. MERCEDES HAS OTHER CARS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM, BUT WON'T ADDRESS IT ON THE ML350'S. THEY EVEN MADE A PART TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, BUT DEMAND CAR OWNERS PAY OUT OF POCKET TO FIX …

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FAULTY WIRING IN THE BRAKE LIGHT HARNESS THAT COULD CAUSE FIRE. WIRING COMMONLY ARCS CAUSING THE BULBS TO BURN OUT AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. MERCEDES HAS OTHER CARS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM, BUT WON'T ADDRESS IT ON THE ML350'S. THEY EVEN MADE A PART TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, BUT DEMAND CAR OWNERS PAY OUT OF POCKET TO FIX MERCEDES FAULTY WIRING PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11218579

110,000 miles · Aug 2, 2018
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

DUE TO A FAULTY RIGHT TAILLAMP SEAL, WATER GOT INTO A CONTROL MODULE AND DAMAGED IT BEYOND REPAIR. I WOKE UP AND WALKED OUTSIDE TO SEE MY HEADLIGHTS FLASHING AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION MY KEY FOB NOT WORKING, SRS DISABLED, AND MANY OTHER MISCELLANEOUS ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS DISABLED. SOME TIME BEFORE THIS, THE MOTOR TO THE REAR …

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DUE TO A FAULTY RIGHT TAILLAMP SEAL, WATER GOT INTO A CONTROL MODULE AND DAMAGED IT BEYOND REPAIR. I WOKE UP AND WALKED OUTSIDE TO SEE MY HEADLIGHTS FLASHING AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION MY KEY FOB NOT WORKING, SRS DISABLED, AND MANY OTHER MISCELLANEOUS ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS DISABLED. SOME TIME BEFORE THIS, THE MOTOR TO THE REAR HATCH STOPPED WORKING, POSSIBLY FOR THE SAME REASON.

NHTSA ODI #11115405

23,000 miles · Jul 6, 2016
Exterior LightingStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE POWER LIFTGATE FAILED TO OPERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL UNIT FOR THE POWER LIFTGATE FAILED DUE TO WATER CONTAMINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY HAVING THE SE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE POWER LIFTGATE FAILED TO OPERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL UNIT FOR THE POWER LIFTGATE FAILED DUE TO WATER CONTAMINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY HAVING THE SEAL OF THE REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY REPLACED, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V076000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.

NHTSA ODI #10882967

128,000 miles · Dec 30, 2015
Exterior LightingStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER LIFTGATE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SEAL. THERE WERE FOUR INCHES OF WATER WITHIN THE SPARE TIRE HOUSING AND T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER LIFTGATE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SEAL. THERE WERE FOUR INCHES OF WATER WITHIN THE SPARE TIRE HOUSING AND THE POWER LIFTGATE HYDRAULIC MOTOR WAS COMPLETELY SUBMERGED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

NHTSA ODI #10817018

78,000 miles · Jun 24, 2015
Exterior LightingStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTED BLINKING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAILGATE SYSTEM MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND SEIZED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE RADIO AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM ALSO FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON REMOVING THE SPARE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTED BLINKING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAILGATE SYSTEM MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND SEIZED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE RADIO AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM ALSO FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON REMOVING THE SPARE TIRE, THERE WAS WATER IN THE SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT AS WELL IN THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT AND ON THE TAIL GATE MODEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT WATER WAS ENTERING FROM THE SEAL AROUND THE REAR TAIL LAMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. UPDATED 09/03/15*LJ UPDATED 12/8/2015*JS

NHTSA ODI #10730118

133,500 miles · Aug 6, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE THAT IS LOCATED UNDER THE SPARE TIRE WAS DAMAGED. THERE WAS A RED LIGHT THAT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE PASSENGER DOOR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS FLASHED ON AND…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE THAT IS LOCATED UNDER THE SPARE TIRE WAS DAMAGED. THERE WAS A RED LIGHT THAT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE PASSENGER DOOR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT GASKET AND CONTROL UNIT SAM MODULE WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,500. UPDATED 10/03/2014*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND WOULD LIKE TO BE REFUNDED. UPDATED 5/12/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10619410

53,630 miles · Apr 1, 2011
Exterior LightingPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT FAILED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSIS AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AS THE TAIL LIGHT SOCKET GROUND WIRING CONNECTIONS AS FAULTY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SOCKET WITH AND UPGRADED SOCKET KIT. IN …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT FAILED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSIS AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AS THE TAIL LIGHT SOCKET GROUND WIRING CONNECTIONS AS FAULTY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SOCKET WITH AND UPGRADED SOCKET KIT. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION FAILURES WHEN DOWNSHIFTING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO UP SHIFT THE GEAR. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE COULD BE CORRECTED BY INSTALLING UPDATED SOFTWARE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,630 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,678. UPDATED 5/24/11 *CN

NHTSA ODI #10393982

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.