2013 Mercedes-Benz ML350

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz ML350 has 82 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (15% of all complaints), specifically: while at highway speeds vehicle braked unexpectedly due to what seems to be a malfunction in the front collision warning radar. this resulted in a multiple near miss collisions coming from the rear, for many vehicles on i5 near woodburn or during high traffic times. the vehicle suddenly braked causi. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 1 crash report 4 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

12 complaints

15%

• WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE BRAKED UNEXPECTEDLY DUE TO WHAT SEEMS TO BE A MALFUNCTION IN THE FRONT COLLISION WARNING RADAR. THIS RESULTED IN A MULTIPLE NEAR MISS COLLISIONS COMING FROM THE REAR, FOR MANY VEHICLES ON I5 NEAR WOODBURN OR DURING HIGH TRAFFIC TIMES. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BRAKED CAUSI
• IN MAY 2017, WHILE DRIVING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ACCELERATION WAS EXTREMELY REDUCED IN A VERY DANGEROUS WAY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS AN OIL LEAK THAT HAS BEEN LEAKING ON THE WIRING HARNESS, WHICH CAUSED WIRING/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR ENTIRE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY F
• I KEEP EXPERIENCING THE "PRE-SAFE LIMITED" WARNING. THE CAR BREAK STARTS FADING, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON THE WORKING CONDITIONS. THIS SITUATION IS SO UNSAFE BECAUSE THE CAR BECOMES HEAVY AND THE STEERING TURNS HARD TO MANEUVER.

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

“WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE BRAKED UNEXPECTEDLY DUE TO WHAT SEEMS TO BE A MALFUNCTION IN THE FRONT COLLISION WARNING RADAR. THIS RESULTED IN A MULTIPLE NEAR MISS COLLISIONS COMING FROM THE REAR, FOR MANY VEHICLES ON I5 NEAR WOODBURN OR DURING HIGH TRAFFIC TIMES. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BRAKED CAUSI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

11 complaints

13%

• GOING NORTH ON I-95 IN MASS AT 65 MPH IN A DRIVING RAIN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. THE RPM AND SPEEDOMETER BOTH WENT TO 0, AND THE NOTHING HAPPENED WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. ALL OTHER SYSTEMS (INCLUDING BRAKE, LIGHTS, RADIO, WIPERS, ETC) APPEARED TO WORK FINE. WAS ABLE TO GET
• IN MAY 2017, WHILE DRIVING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ACCELERATION WAS EXTREMELY REDUCED IN A VERY DANGEROUS WAY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS AN OIL LEAK THAT HAS BEEN LEAKING ON THE WIRING HARNESS, WHICH CAUSED WIRING/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR ENTIRE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY F
• I KEEP EXPERIENCING THE "PRE-SAFE LIMITED" WARNING. THE CAR BREAK STARTS FADING, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON THE WORKING CONDITIONS. THIS SITUATION IS SO UNSAFE BECAUSE THE CAR BECOMES HEAVY AND THE STEERING TURNS HARD TO MANEUVER.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“GOING NORTH ON I-95 IN MASS AT 65 MPH IN A DRIVING RAIN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. THE RPM AND SPEEDOMETER BOTH WENT TO 0, AND THE NOTHING HAPPENED WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. ALL OTHER SYSTEMS (INCLUDING BRAKE, LIGHTS, RADIO, WIPERS, ETC) APPEARED TO WORK FINE. WAS ABLE TO GET ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

10 complaints

12%

• WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE BRAKED UNEXPECTEDLY DUE TO WHAT SEEMS TO BE A MALFUNCTION IN THE FRONT COLLISION WARNING RADAR. THIS RESULTED IN A MULTIPLE NEAR MISS COLLISIONS COMING FROM THE REAR, FOR MANY VEHICLES ON I5 NEAR WOODBURN OR DURING HIGH TRAFFIC TIMES. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BRAKED CAUSI
• MY CAR TRABSFERT CONVERTER IS LEAKING. I HAVE TO FILL IT UP PERIODICALLY. THE CAR STOPPED ON HGW 9A AFTER A CONTINOUS NOISES UNDERNEATH.THE REPAIR COST IS ESTIMATED TO $6000. I COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS EQUIPMENT SINCE IT IS UNSAFE FOR THE DRIVER.
• THE CAR HAS A TRASNFER CONVERTER BOX IS DEEPLY LEAKING. I HAVE STOP SEVERAL TIMES IN MANHATTAN STREET TO COOL DOWN BEFORE MOVING. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE WITH THIS FAULTY EQUIPEMNT. THE NOISE UNDERNEATH IS TERRIBLE AND ANNOYING.

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

8 complaints

10%

• VEHICLE HAS 129,000 MILES. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, MOSTLY NOTICEABLE WHEN FUEL IS LOWER IN THE TANK AND/OR ON AN INCLINE, RPM DROPS TO ZERO, NO AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON GAS PEDAL DOES ANYTHING UNTIL THE ENGINE SPEED PICKS UP, USUALLY WITH A JERK FORWARD. MAKES GOING ONTO A BUSY STR
• I participated in the Emission Recall Campaign 2020050014. I have a 2013 ML350BlueTec. I have been back to the dealer 10 times to fix my car after the recall was performed. The check engine continues to return in an on (orange light) position after only a few days. On trip 5 my car could not acc
• On [XXX], while driving on the highway about 30 miles from Columbus, Ohio my 2013 Mercedez Benz ML350 suddenly stalled and lost power. There was no prior warning. Luckily, we were in the outer lane with no car close behind us so my husband slowly guided the car to the side road. The car has since be

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“VEHICLE HAS 129,000 MILES. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, MOSTLY NOTICEABLE WHEN FUEL IS LOWER IN THE TANK AND/OR ON AN INCLINE, RPM DROPS TO ZERO, NO AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON GAS PEDAL DOES ANYTHING UNTIL THE ENGINE SPEED PICKS UP, USUALLY WITH A JERK FORWARD. MAKES GOING ONTO A BUSY STR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

6 complaints

• 2013 MERCEDES BENZ ML 350. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE PUSHED THE BUTTON FOR THE TRANSMISSION, BUT IT WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK, AND REMAINED IN DRIVE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE ENTIRE STOCK PART ON THE VEHICLE HAD FAILED.
• GOING NORTH ON I-95 IN MASS AT 65 MPH IN A DRIVING RAIN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. THE RPM AND SPEEDOMETER BOTH WENT TO 0, AND THE NOTHING HAPPENED WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. ALL OTHER SYSTEMS (INCLUDING BRAKE, LIGHTS, RADIO, WIPERS, ETC) APPEARED TO WORK FINE. WAS ABLE TO GET
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED AND THE GEAR SHIFTER IN THE REVERSE POSITION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT B

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“2013 MERCEDES BENZ ML 350. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE PUSHED THE BUTTON FOR THE TRANSMISSION, BUT IT WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK, AND REMAINED IN DRIVE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE ENTIRE STOCK PART ON THE VEHICLE HAD FAILED.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 82 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE BRAKED UNEXPECTEDLY DUE TO WHAT SEEMS TO BE A MALFUNCTION IN THE FRONT COLLISION WARNING RADAR. THIS RESULTED IN A MULTIPLE NEAR MISS COLLISIONS COMING FROM THE REAR, FOR MANY VEHICLES ON I5 NEAR WOODBURN OR DURING HIGH TRAFFIC TIMES. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BRAKED CAUSI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: GOING NORTH ON I-95 IN MASS AT 65 MPH IN A DRIVING RAIN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. THE RPM AND SPEEDOMETER BOTH WENT TO 0, AND THE NOTHING HAPPENED WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. ALL OTHER SYSTEMS (INCLUDING BRAKE, LIGHTS, RADIO, WIPERS, ETC) APPEARED TO WORK FINE. WAS ABLE TO GET
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE BRAKED UNEXPECTEDLY DUE TO WHAT SEEMS TO BE A MALFUNCTION IN THE FRONT COLLISION WARNING RADAR. THIS RESULTED IN A MULTIPLE NEAR MISS COLLISIONS COMING FROM THE REAR, FOR MANY VEHICLES ON I5 NEAR WOODBURN OR DURING HIGH TRAFFIC TIMES. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BRAKED CAUSI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: VEHICLE HAS 129,000 MILES. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, MOSTLY NOTICEABLE WHEN FUEL IS LOWER IN THE TANK AND/OR ON AN INCLINE, RPM DROPS TO ZERO, NO AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON GAS PEDAL DOES ANYTHING UNTIL THE ENGINE SPEED PICKS UP, USUALLY WITH A JERK FORWARD. MAKES GOING ONTO A BUSY STR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)