2004 Mercedes-Benz ML350 Owner Complaints

OEM jack failed without warning. No injuries but it could have been bad. Car got stuck and spinning wheels dug into a region of hard packed snow over a gravel driveway at my father's house. I was using the jack to lift the wheels out of their holes so I could fill the hole with chunks of wood. To spread the load on the snow the base of the jack was on a roughly 10" long piece of 2x4, which was placed on a roughly 8x10 inch piece of plywood. Jack worked fine for the first 2 wheels. On the 3rd wheel the "thrust washer" that transfers force from the nut that rides on the main screw, to the hinged arm which picks up the car, split in half without warning. This resulted in a sudden and complete failure of the jack, dropping the car back to it's starting position.

NHTSA ID

11513149

Incident

Mar 13, 2023

Hello my check engine light is on in my 2004 Mercedes ml350 so I took it to a Mercedes dealership for inspection and repairs. They kept my suv for 8 days and finally called me back and said they believe the check engine light is on because I need to replace my charcoal canister shut off valve. Now this component takes the gas vapors that has not been burned off and reroutes it through the charcoal canister and back into the engine so it can be burnt off and not enter the atmosphere and enter the inside of the vehicle. Well My suv has failed inspection for emissions and that’s why I brought it in to Mercedes. Well the service department at Mercedes called me 8 days later and said Mercedes does not make that part anymore. And no other aftermarket company makes it either. They charged me $200 to tell me they can’t fix it because the part is not made anymore. So am I safe ? Why Mercedes never recalled a vehicle that can not pass states emissions test. I wrote a letter to the head of Mercedes in Europe and the United States. They offered me $2,000 off of a new Mercedes or $1,000 off a Pre owned Mercedes. Sounds like they know something is not right here. So my complaint is can a car manufacturer stop producing a part that is needed to safely pass the emissions test and isn’t these fumes harmful to me and my family?

NHTSA ID

11431676

Incident

Aug 18, 2021

THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN THE CAR HIT 170.000 MILES

NHTSA ID

11328774

Incident

Apr 29, 2017

Mileage

178,000 mi

FRONT SEATS GETS VERY HOT WHENEVER WE TURN ON THE SEAT WARMER OPTION. THIS STARTED TO HAPPEN AT LEAST FROM 5 TO 6 MONTHS. WE ARE SCARED IT MIGHT BURN OUR BACKS. THANKS

NHTSA ID

11208012

Incident

Jan 10, 2019

Mileage

100,000 mi

LEAKAGE OF POWER STEERING FLUID COMING FROM HOSES, OR PIPE, OR SOME CONNECTION. I WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE WHEN I STARTED MY CAR ONLY TO HEAR A LOUD WHINING NOISE AND A HARD-TO-TURN STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA ID

11097043

Incident

Apr 21, 2018

Mileage

162,000 mi

DISCOVERED BRITTLE, BROKEN AND MISSING WIRING INSULATION ON THE HEADLIGHT WIRING INSIDE THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. THIS WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT ALLOWED THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE WIRES TO COME IN CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER CREATING A SHORT.

NHTSA ID

11024117

Incident

Sep 18, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE STEERING FLUID HAD TO BE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN IT WAS TURNED AND POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED FROM THE COLUMN. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10936803

Incident

Jun 20, 2016

Mileage

90,000 mi

TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS

NHTSA ID

10850280

Incident

Mar 17, 2016

Mileage

165,000 mi

DURING A ROUTINE CHANGE OF A HEADLIGHT LAMP, THE MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN DISCOVER THAT THE INSULATION ON ALL FOUR WIRES IN THE LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WERE CRACKED, DISINTEGRATING AND MISSING LEAVING THE BARE WIRES EXPOSED. THE MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN WOULD NOT CHANGE THE BULB UNTIL A NEW WIRING HARNESS WAS FABRICATED AND THE DISCREPANCY WAS CORRECTED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE BARE WIRES ARE IN AN ENCLOSED HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY, CONTACTING FLAMMABLE MATERIALS. A SHORT IN THESE WIRES CAN LEAD TO SYSTEM FAILURES, OVERHEATING AND FIRE IN THE HEADLAMP AREA. RECOMMEND A RECALL FOR INSPECTION AND IF THIS DISCREPANCY IS DISCOVERED, RECOMMEND AN IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT OF THE WIRES IN THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA ID

10837350

Incident

Feb 20, 2016

Mileage

96,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY SLOWING DOWN ON A CURB. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,040.

NHTSA ID

10763996

Incident

Aug 15, 2015

Mileage

10,040 mi

CAR SUDDENLY DEVELOPED EXTREME GASOLINE ODOR AFTER A BRIEF 20 MILE TRIP. CURSORY CHECK DID NOT IDENTIFY SOURCE. UPON RETURN TRIP, SAME EXTREME SICKENING ODOR RETURNED. UPON PULLING INTO GARAGE GASOLINE WAS VISIBLY POURING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND POOLING ON GROUND. IT LOOKED TO BE COMING DIRECTLY FROM GAS TANK AREA BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE MAIN SOURCE AS IT WAS SPRAYED THROUGHOUT THE UNDERCARRIAGE. ASIDE FROM THE NAUSEA, THIS CLEARLY POSED A SIGNIFICANT FIRE DANGER AND WAS IMMEDIATELY TRANSPORTED TO THE DEALER AWAITING REPAIR COSTS NOW. THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER INCIDENTS OR EXTERNAL REASONS THAT MIGHT HAVE LED TO THIS (SUCH AS RUNNING OVER SOMETHING OR HITTING SOMETHING IN THE ROAD). AFTER DOING RESEARCH THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN, AND CONTINUES TO BE EXPERIENCED BY OTHER OWNERS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

10730246

Incident

Jun 24, 2015

Mileage

67,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HOSE CLAMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V465000 (STEERING), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 06/13/17*LJ THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE LEAKY STEERING FLUID REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED USING THE SAME REQUIREMENTS AS THE RECALL, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. *JS

NHTSA ID

10705685

Incident

Aug 1, 2008

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE CONTACT NOTICED FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA ID

10684301

Incident

Feb 7, 2015

Mileage

117,000 mi

SIDE-SWIPED ON THE FREEWAY. WITNESS STATE THE VEHICLE ROLLED 4-5 TIMES. NO FRONT OR SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10640376

Incident

Sep 29, 2014

Mileage

129,251 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL STREET, I NOTICED THAT BRAKES HAD STOPPED WORKING. AFTER INVESTIGATION, I NOTICED THAT A CORRODED BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. I HAD CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ CUSTOMER SERVICE. I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT A DEALER, WHO CONFIRMED THAT ALL BRAKE LINES ARE CORRODING IN THE AREA CLOSE TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE SUBJECT TO A RECALL. I WAS FURTHER TOLD THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR BRAKE LINES TO CORRODE AND LEAK. I HAVE NOT NOTICED CORROSION ON ANY OTHER PART OF THE CAR, EXCEPT THE BRAKE LINES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10525310

Incident

Jul 6, 2012

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES ML350. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS NECESSARY TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10455851

Incident

Feb 15, 2012

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WHEN SHE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING YARD AND THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,000. UPDATED 01/27/12 *BF

NHTSA ID

10442681

Incident

Jan 3, 2012

Mileage

55,000 mi

MAY 2010 I HAVE PROBLEM IN MY 2004 ML350. MY WIFE TURNED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HEATER TO THE HIGH SETTING. WITHIN A SHORT TIME THE HEATER HAD BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT. THE SEAT CAUGHT FIRE IN A SMALL SPOT ( LIKE A CIGARETTE BURN) WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND ALMOST CAUSED HER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THIS ISSUE IS REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES IN ONLINE SEARCHES I DID FOR THE 03 AND 04 ML350. I SPOKE TO A BENZ ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE MECHANIC AND HE SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE AND THAT IT IS A SHORT IN THE SEAT WIRING. HE SAID HE WOULD LOOK INTO IT BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM HIM. I AM GOING TO CALL THE DEALER TODAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10332535

Incident

May 20, 2010

Mileage

65,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING 2004 MERCEDES BENZ ML350 ON PUBLIC STREET THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER WHILE MOVING AT 30 - 35 MPH. LOST BOTH POWER STEERING CONTROL AND POWER BRAKING ABILITY AS A RESULT. WAS ABLE TO AVOID COLLISIONS AND COASTED INTO AN OFF STREET AREA SAFELY. UNDER OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ( HIGH SPEED FREEWAY TRAVEL ) ACCIDENT MAY HAVE BEEN CERTAIN. CAUSE DETERMINED TO BE FAULTY CRANK SENSOR. THIS SEEMS TO BE COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VINTAGE VEHICLE AND CAME AS NO SURPRISE TO MY MECHANIC. THIS IS ONE OF THE MORE FRIGHTENING DRIVING EXPERIENCES THAT I'VE HAD AND AM GRATEFUL THAT IT DID NOT OCCUR WHEN MY SPOUSE WAS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE; SHE WOULD HAVE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS HAPPENING OR WHAT TO DO. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. IF IT DOESN'T FALL UNDER THE CLASSIFICATION OF A TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ISSUE THEN THE DOT NEEDS TO REEVALUATE WHAT ITS MISSION IS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10300437

Incident

Dec 31, 2009

Mileage

104,000 mi

POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK, RESULTING IN OCCASIONAL HARD STEERING. THIS ALSO OCCURRED IN JANUARY AND APRIL. WE CALLED THE DEALER AND MERCEDES USA AND WERE TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE SEPTEMBER 2008 RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10283743

Incident

Sep 11, 2009

Mileage

61,500 mi

THE DRIVER SEAT HEATER OVER-HEATED AND CAUSED A MINOR BURN WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER AGREED TO PAY FOR HALF THE COST OF REPLACEMENT BUT WOULD NOT GIVE THE DEFECTIVE PART BACK TO ME EVEN WHEN I SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR IT. WHILE SEARCHING FOR MORE INFORMATION, I CAME ACROSS OTHER INCIDENTS WITH THIS CAR WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10267287

Incident

Feb 8, 2009

Mileage

102,000 mi

A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY SUV. I WAS UNAWARE OF ANY LOST OF POWER STEERING FLUID UNTIL I LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND I LATER CHECK THE AREA WHERE I HAD PARKED THE NIGHT BEFORE. I PARKED MY VEHICLE UNTIL I REPLACED THE POWER STEERING FLUID. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE ON THE OTHER ML320, 2001 THAT I GOT RID OF THREE YEARS AGO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10256705

Incident

Nov 23, 2008

Mileage

61,000 mi

SRS AND AIRBAG LIGHTS REMAIN ON. I WON'T BOTHER WITH THE DEALER BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS BLOGS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE WHO HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A $750 SENSOR THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MERCEDES SHOULD SEEK RECOURSE WITH THEIR SUPPLIERS AND STAND BEHIND THEIR "WORLD-CLASS GERMAN ENGINEERING" AND MAKE THEIR CUSTOMERS WHOLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10256554

Incident

Nov 28, 2008

Mileage

75,000 mi

I HAVE A 2004 MERCEDES ML350 SUV AND I TURNED ON THE SEAT HEATER AND IT GOT SO HOT THAT I HAD TO TURN IT OFF. THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT BURNED SO HOT THAT I HAD TO MOVE MY BODY AND WEIGHT TO MY RIGHT SIDE BECAUSE IT FELT LIKE YOU WERE SITTING ON COALS - EVEN THROUGH THE LEATHER INTERIOR. I DID NOT USE IT AGAIN BECAUSE THE WEATHER WAS NOT THAT COLD. THE NEXT PERSON TO USE IT WAS MY MOTHER. SHE WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND I WAS NEXT TO HER AND SHE TURNED ON HER SEAT HEATER AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES SHE SCREAMED BECAUSE THE HEAT OF THE SEAT HEATER WAS SO PIERCING. I TURNED OFF THE HEATER IMMEDIATELY AND SHE LOOKED AND SAW SMOKE AND SMELLED SMOKE AS WELL. THIS IS A HUGE HAZARD THAT I HAVE HEARD OTHER ML'S HAVE HAD AS WELL AND THE MANUFACTURER OF THE SEAT HEATER SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, AS SHOULD MERCEDES!!! SHE SWERVED OFF THE ROAD AND ALMOST HIT A CAR BECAUSE OF THE INTENSITY OF HEAT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10253406

Incident

Dec 22, 2008

Mileage

73,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING A MERCEDES ML350 ON THE ROAD, THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. I COASTED TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART, THE STARTER CRANKED BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. WHEN I TRIED AGAIN AN HOUR LATER, THE ENGINE STARTED NORMALLY. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN, LATER IN THE DAY. IF I HAD BEEN ON A FREEWAY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN QUITE DANGEROUS. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MERCEDES MECHANIC WHO IMMEDIATELY KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG AND HE REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. HE SAID THAT THIS FREQUENTLY HAPPENS WITH THE ML350. *TR

NHTSA ID

10241718

Incident

Sep 6, 2008

Mileage

50,000 mi