2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350 has 126 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (47% of all complaints), specifically: we purchased a new mercedes ml 350 in october of 2011, in the past year it has had three airbag failures. each time the diagnostics system alerts an airbag failure we have it replaced by the dealership, but i have lost all confidence in the vehicles safety equipment. will these airbags actually op. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 11 crash reports 11 injuries

126

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

59 complaints

47%

• WE PURCHASED A NEW MERCEDES ML 350 IN OCTOBER OF 2011, IN THE PAST YEAR IT HAS HAD THREE AIRBAG FAILURES. EACH TIME THE DIAGNOSTICS SYSTEM ALERTS AN AIRBAG FAILURE WE HAVE IT REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP, BUT I HAVE LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN THE VEHICLES SAFETY EQUIPMENT. WILL THESE AIRBAGS ACTUALLY OP
• TAKATA RECALL- I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY MERCEDES AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE AIRBAG RECALL AND A TIMELINE FOR WHEN I CAN GET AIRBAGS REPLACED.
• TAKATA RECALL MERCEDES BENZ NOTIFIED BY USPS SAFETY RECALL 03/16.NO FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE OR OTHER ACTION/S TO INDICATE RECTIFY OF SAFETY RECALL SINCE. MERCEDES HOUSTON NORTH DEALERSHIP VISIT 10/29/16 AT WHICH I PURCHASED REFUSES VEHICLE RETURN IN LIGHT OF INDICATED AIRBAG RECALL, STATING I CANNOT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“WE PURCHASED A NEW MERCEDES ML 350 IN OCTOBER OF 2011, IN THE PAST YEAR IT HAS HAD THREE AIRBAG FAILURES. EACH TIME THE DIAGNOSTICS SYSTEM ALERTS AN AIRBAG FAILURE WE HAVE IT REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP, BUT I HAVE LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN THE VEHICLES SAFETY EQUIPMENT. WILL THESE AIRBAGS ACTUALLY OP”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

18 complaints

14%

• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF BAKERSFIELD, 5600 GASOLINE ALLEY DR, BAKERSFIELD, CA 93313, (661) 451-1400) EVERY THIRTY DAYS TO DETERMINE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE ABS RANDOMLY ACTIVATED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP ERRONEOUSLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING UP TO 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF WEST PALM BEACH (3341 N. DIXIE WHY, STE
• The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulics) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceed

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF BAKERSFIELD, 5600 GASOLINE ALLEY DR, BAKERSFIELD, CA 93313, (661) 451-1400) EVERY THIRTY DAYS TO DETERMINE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

16 complaints

13%

• WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN AND THE TRUCK JERKED OVER TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT ME DOING IT. ITS HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES SINCE THEN. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THEREFORE THERE IS NO PROBLEM. MY IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 20,000 MILES. MY KEYS WOULD N
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE IN A JERKING MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE BLIND SPOT ASSIST SENSORS CONTRIBUTED TO
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED. THE ESP TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AND SIDE SWIPED A SECOND VEH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN AND THE TRUCK JERKED OVER TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT ME DOING IT. ITS HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES SINCE THEN. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THEREFORE THERE IS NO PROBLEM. MY IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 20,000 MILES. MY KEYS WOULD N”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

7 complaints

• THE CAR WAS ON AN INCLINE IN MY DRIVEWAY. IT HAS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER ON THE COLUMN, AND I HAD BEEN BACKING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. I STOPPED PLACED THE CAR IN PARK AND GOT OUT WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING TO MOVE SOMETHING. THE CAR SAT IN PLACE FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS AND THEN SPONTANEOUSLY
• WITH THE GEAR SELECTOR IN PARK AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT OCCUPIED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS FROM A 4.4 PERCENT GRADE AND OVERTURNED AS IT PROCEEDED DOWNHILL. INSPECTION OF THE TRANSMISSION PARKING GEAR REVEALED THAT THE PARKING PAWL HAD BEEN ACTIVATED BUT DID NOT ENGAGE A PARKING GEAR S
• REFERENCE: SEIFI VS MERCEDES-BENZ. I HAVE 66,000 MILES ON MY CAR. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING, WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD PART WAS DEFECTIVE. HAS CODE1200, 12007 FOR BALANCE SHAFT. MERCEDES HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM JUST SETTLED FOR 2005-2007 MODEL.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“THE CAR WAS ON AN INCLINE IN MY DRIVEWAY. IT HAS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER ON THE COLUMN, AND I HAD BEEN BACKING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. I STOPPED PLACED THE CAR IN PARK AND GOT OUT WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING TO MOVE SOMETHING. THE CAR SAT IN PLACE FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS AND THEN SPONTANEOUSLY”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

6 complaints

• I HAVE A MERCEDES BENZ ML- 350 YEAR 2011. THE VEHICLE HAS A LITTLE OVER 60,00 THOUSAND MILES. THE ENGINE LIGHT FROM MY DASH BOARD STARTED COMING ON. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TEST RESULTS INDICATED THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE BALANCE SHAFT. THE R
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE SRS AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, AND THE SIDE VIEW AND BLIND SIDE INDICATORS WERE INOPERABLE. THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO ENGAGE IN THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FRI
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE ENGINE JERKED AND THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND WAS ABLE TO REGAIN ACCELERATION. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE EXITING TRAFFIC AT 40 MPH,

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“I HAVE A MERCEDES BENZ ML- 350 YEAR 2011. THE VEHICLE HAS A LITTLE OVER 60,00 THOUSAND MILES. THE ENGINE LIGHT FROM MY DASH BOARD STARTED COMING ON. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TEST RESULTS INDICATED THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE BALANCE SHAFT. THE R”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 126 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: WE PURCHASED A NEW MERCEDES ML 350 IN OCTOBER OF 2011, IN THE PAST YEAR IT HAS HAD THREE AIRBAG FAILURES. EACH TIME THE DIAGNOSTICS SYSTEM ALERTS AN AIRBAG FAILURE WE HAVE IT REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP, BUT I HAVE LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN THE VEHICLES SAFETY EQUIPMENT. WILL THESE AIRBAGS ACTUALLY OP
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF BAKERSFIELD, 5600 GASOLINE ALLEY DR, BAKERSFIELD, CA 93313, (661) 451-1400) EVERY THIRTY DAYS TO DETERMINE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN AND THE TRUCK JERKED OVER TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT ME DOING IT. ITS HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES SINCE THEN. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THEREFORE THERE IS NO PROBLEM. MY IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 20,000 MILES. MY KEYS WOULD N
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: THE CAR WAS ON AN INCLINE IN MY DRIVEWAY. IT HAS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER ON THE COLUMN, AND I HAD BEEN BACKING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. I STOPPED PLACED THE CAR IN PARK AND GOT OUT WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING TO MOVE SOMETHING. THE CAR SAT IN PLACE FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS AND THEN SPONTANEOUSLY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)