RoadVitals

2006 Mercedes-Benz ML350 Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Sep 14, 2022
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 171 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML350 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Sep 14, 2022

The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the recall repair was not performed by the dealer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle intermittently experienced phantom braking with the ABS warning light illuminated. Additionally, the brake pedal went to the floorboard while depressed and made an abnormal sound; however, the brakes failed to stop the vehicle immediately. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the ABS sensor was faulty. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the ABS sensor needed to be reset. The dealer reset the ABS sensor and informed the contact that the brake system housing was corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 151,831.

NHTSA ID
11484390
Incident
Jul 27, 2022
Mileage
151,831 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 21, 2021

PULLING OUT INTO LANE OF TRAFFIC ACCELERATING WHERE CAR ABRUPTLY STARTS TO RUN VERY VERY ROUGH. CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON AND CAN BECOME UNSAFE WITH NO POWER AND ONCOMING TRAFFIC APPROACHING. SIMILARLY WHILE DRIVING OVER 60MPH SAME SCENARIO CAUSING CEL TO COME ON AND CAR TO DISENGAGE CRUISE AND SLOW EXTREMELY FAST. VERY ROUGH RUNNING AND IDLE. TERRIBLE FEELING OF BEING UNSAFE AND AT RISK. FINDING P0016 AND P0017 CODES AND ALL SYMPTOMS OF BALANCE SHAFT ISSUE THAT THE MB M272 IS KNOWN FOR. MY WIFE AND I ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE NOW KNOWING IT HAD A KNOWN DEFECTIVE ENGINE COMPONENT IN A SOFTWARE BALANCE SHAFT GEAR

NHTSA ID
11397247
Incident
Feb 20, 2021
Mileage
95,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel systemSteering
Filed Aug 1, 2020

EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED IN 2017 I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE DAY ONE. I CANNOT BELIEVE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ANY RECALLS ON THIS CAR WITH ALL THE WRONG THINGS WITH IT IT JOLTS OUT OF CONTROL IT'S SWERVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE IN THE POWER STEERING IS JUST A TOTAL MESS. WHEN I'M AT A STOP SIGN IT SUDDENLY STARTS SHAKING OUT OF NOWHERE AND THEN WITH THE CAR BEING IN PARK IS JOLTS BACK AND FORTH. I WENT TO A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT YESTERDAY I PARK MY CAR LIKE I NORMALLY WOULD NEXT TO YOU NOR I COME OUT THE CAR WON'T START THERE'S FLUID LEAKING AND I BELIEVE IT'S THE POWER STEERING. THIS CAR FEELS TOTALLY UNSAFE WHAT UP WRONG PURCHASE I MADE AND I'M NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO I CALLED MERCEDES AND THEY SAID THERE'S NO RECALL THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR PLEASE HELP I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO

NHTSA ID
11342682
Incident
Sep 20, 2017
Driver assistanceElectricalSuspension
Filed Jun 30, 2020

SECOND YEAR OF THIS SAME COMPLAIN. THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM MENTION THAT THE MERCEDES SHOULD BE TAKING CARE OF MY ISSUES. BUT THAT ISNT HAPPENING. MERCEDES JUST WANTS TO KEEP CHARGING ME . I LOOK UP THE DEFECTS OF THE CAR AND IT TELLS ME EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING

NHTSA ID
11331696
Incident
Aug 1, 2017
AirbagsDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Jun 30, 2020

POWER STEERING FAILS, WHEN TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE OR PARALLELS PARKING. THIS HAS HAPPEN FOR YEARS AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT CAN LOCK UP . IT WAS AT ONE TIME A RECALL .AND MERCEDES MENTION TO ME THAT THE RECALL HAS ENDED. I DONT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIGHT THIS . BUT I HAVE TAKING THE CAR TO MERCEDES TO DIAGNOSTICS AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME 100.00 . WHEN I KNOW THIS PROBLEM IS PART OF THE RECALL.

NHTSA ID
11331689
Incident
Aug 15, 2018
Mileage
5 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 22, 2017

MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER IN THE HIGHWAY, AND DIDN'T WANT TO ACCELERATE,CAUSING CAR TO HIGH RPM REV,GOING INTO LIMP MODE AND NOT ACCELERATE, ALMOST CAUSING MY FAMILY AND TO HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A SHOP WHICH STATED MY SPEED SENSOR CONDUCTOR PLATE IS DEFECTIVE...UPON DOING RESEARCH, I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS IS COMMON DANGEROUS ISSUE ON THE 06 MERCEDES ML MODELS..MERCEDES EVEN HAS A CLASS ACTION SUITE AGAINST THEM DUE TO THIS ISSUE..

NHTSA ID
10956199
Incident
Feb 2, 2017
Mileage
8 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 1, 2017

THERE IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH THE MERCEDES BENZ 7G TRONIC 722.9 TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION TO, WITHOUT NOTICE, FAIL TO SHIFT OUT OF 2ND GEAR WHICH CREATES A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING INCLUDING ENTERING THE FREEWAY AND ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. THE ISSUE IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON A NUMBER OF WEBSITE ON THE INTERNET WHICH INCLUDES SUPPORT GROUPS INCLUDING ONE ADVOCATING AND SOLICITING A CLASS ACTION SUIT IN THE STATE OF CA. THE NHTSA NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT SO AS TO PREVENT SERIOUS INJURY INCLUDING THE LOSS OF LIFE. MB USA IS VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE ISSUE WHICH REQUIRES THE REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM). ADDING INSULT TO INJURY, MB RESTRICTS THE SALE OF THE TCM SO THAT THE REPAIR CAN ONLY BE MADE AT AN AUTHORIZED MB DEALERSHIP ADDING TO THE CONSUMER'S COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE ESTIMATE REPAIR COST IS $1,500 AT THE DEALERSHIP. COST ESTIMATES OUTSIDE OF THE DEALERSHIP, IF THE ITEM WAS ABLE TO BE PURCHASED, IS LESS THAN HALF THAT. I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED BY A TRACTOR TRAILER WHILE ENTERING I-91 IN CT JUST LAST WEEK WHEN THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY WENT INTO WHAT MB CALLS "LIMP MODE" WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE VEHICLE SPEED IS RESTRICTED TO 30 MPH IMMEDIATELY. THIS NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE WAS QUITE ALARMING. I CONTACTED MB USA AND THEY DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS AT ALL DUE TO DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURING. AS AN INDIVIDUAL CONSUMER WE HAVE NO RIGHTS IN THIS MATTER TO ELIMINATE THIS MANUFACTURERS SAFETY DEFECT WHILE MB RESTRICTS AND MONOPOLIZES THE REPAIR OF A PROBLEM THAT THEY CREATED. THE FAILURE OF THIS PART CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10948821
Incident
Jan 27, 2017
Mileage
92,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 31, 2015

THE VEHICLE IS GETTING STUCK IN 7 GEAR ON THE FREEWAY AND NOT DOWN-SHIFTING TO ALLOW PASSING. EVEN WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE CAR WILL REMAIN IN 7TH GEAR. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION BECAUSE THE CONSUMER DOES NOT KNOW THE CAR IS NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY. MERCEDES IS AWARE OF VALVEBODY AND CONDUCTOR PLATE ISSUES WITH THESE CARS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10680137
Incident
Jan 30, 2015
Mileage
93,200 mi
Driver assistanceEngineSteering
Filed Aug 11, 2014

WHILE TRAVELING IN THE CENTER LANE ON A MAJOR PARKWAY AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT, OUR 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE; STEERING WAS COMPROMISED, AS WAS BRAKING. BRAKING AND STEERING WERE VERY DIFFICULT, BUT POSSIBLE ALLOWING THE CAR TO BE GUIDED TO THE SHOULDER. ALL FOUR FAMILY MEMBERS WERE PRESENT INCLUDING OUR TWO YOUNG SONS. AFTER BEING TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALER REPAIR SHOP, 4 DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT...THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED AS ?ENGINE JUMPED TIME? AND THE REPAIR DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE TO ?REMOVE ENGINE AND TEAR DOWN TO FIND CAUSE OF FAILURE?MOST LIKELY NEEDS ENGINE ASSEMBLY?. AS THAT THE QUOTED PRICE OF THE DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR EXCEEDS THE CURRENT VALUE OF THE CAR BY SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS, THE CAR WAS RETURNED WITHOUT FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. AT NO TIME IN THE PAST 4 YEARS HAS THERE BEEN A ?CHECK ENGINE? LIGHT NOR WERE THERE ANY INDICATORS OF ANY SERIOUS MECHANICAL ISSUES AS PER THE CAR?S ONBOARD COMPUTER REPORTING SYSTEM OR IN GENERAL DAILY OPERATIONS. AGAIN, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE, THAT THERE WERE NO INDICATOR LIGHTS OR WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IN JANUARY OF 2010, THE SAME AUTHORIZED DEALER REPAIR DEPARTMENT MENTIONED ABOVE CONDUCTED THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS: ?REMOVED ENGINE, REPLACED BALANCE SHAFT, REPLACED OIL PUMP, REPLACED CAM SOLENOIDS, REPLACED GASKETS?? IN RESPONSE TO A PERSISTENT ?CHECK ENGINE? LIGHT. OUR RECORDS INDICATE THAT THE 2010 ?CHECK ENGINE LIGHT? OCCURRED AT 55,395 MILES. THIS RECENT FAILURE HAS OCCURRED, MINUS THE ?CHECK ENGINE LIGHT? OR ANY OTHER INDICATORS, AT 99,424 MILES. OUR RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS MAY BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10621381
Incident
Aug 3, 2014
Mileage
96,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 4, 2011
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE GEAR THE VEHICLE SURGED BACKWARDS, RESULTING IN A CRASH. UPON SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, IT THEN SURGED FORWARD, RESULTING IN ANOTHER CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A SERIOUS INJURY AND WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A LOT WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000. UPDATED 3/11/11 *CN UPDATED 07/11/11

NHTSA ID
10380233
Incident
Sep 13, 2009
Mileage
53,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Apr 9, 2010

ON N.Y. STATE THRUWAY,ON CRUISE CONTROL,BRAKES SUDDENLY APPLIED THEMSELVES. ABS AND SLS FLASHED ON DASH.CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATED. TURNED OFF CRUISE CONTROL AND PULLED OFF. ATTEMPT TO START AGAIN AND BRAKES APPLIED THEMSELVES. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES ,@20 MIN. WAS ABLE TO GET CAR MOVING. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER WHO SAID SOME KIND OF BRAKE SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. CHARGED FOR REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10324673
Incident
Apr 7, 2010
Mileage
50,800 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceTransmission
Filed Feb 6, 2007
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES 350 M CLASS. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE TO MOVE FORWARD OR INTO REVERSE GEAR. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND HIT A CEMENT BLOCK AND CONTINUED TO LURCH FORWARD SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE SHE COULD STOP THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE. THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR APPEARED ON THE VEHICLE AFTER HITTING THE CEMENT BLOCK. SHE DID NOT RECALL WHICH INDICATOR LIGHT. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END PASSENGER DAMAGE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,851. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE COMPRESSOR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A MINOR BRUISE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. UPDATED 03/07/07. *JB

NHTSA ID
10181783
Incident
Dec 31, 2006
Mileage
10,851 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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