Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. 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. 29 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.
The 25 most recent of 29, in the owner's own words
After starting the car, two messages appeared on the dash board. Center Gauge read: SRS Restraint System Malfunction Service Required Fuel Gauge read: SRS (in red) Took the car to our certified mechanic. After his diagnostic check- He said it was the Air Bag Module is out. Needs to be replaced at Mercedes Dealership.
i encountered a major issue with the Mercedes ML350, while doing a 3 point turn in a busy suburban Toronto street.The electronic shift module left me stuck in Road way. Causing traffic back up and could not move vehicle.neither forward or reverse.tried pushing and different tactics to move vehicle off road. Had to call CAA-AAA. It was a caos situation,first tow truck could not load vehicle,all wheels were locked in drive and would not shift. Had to wait for special tow Have all four wheels lifted off onto dolly. Tow truck driver said it is a common problem.with MB,BMW and Audi.Vehicles towed to dealer sat at dealer. parts on back order and Not available for repair.Since was in Toronto away from Home. Had to source original equipment supplier to purchase part.Dealer and factory Mercedes could Not source part.back ordered.The dealer agreed to install the factory OEM part they could not source. My concern to all owners including myself in line traffic a basic traffic maneuver stuck in blocking traffic. Cannot moving vehicle jammed in gear that controlled by a shift module.no safe limp mode or emergency shift to neutral to move vehicle safely.
Driver Side Low beam headlight turns off and on randomly whether the vehicle is off or on. I lose view of the road because lights turn off randomly and others cannot see me at night as well. I've tried taking my vehicle to the shop, but no one can trace down this problem. No warning was shown until recently.
Since my significant others and I purchased this 2006 Mercedes Benz SUV - ML-350, over three months ago, we were wondering why the "Engine check light was always on" so we purchased (4) sensors and replaced the sensors of where OBD tests pointed out for the engine, deleted the Engine Check Light several times but it will go back on after we driven it for another 50 to 100 miles away to normal highways and freeways driving to relearn the computer system and the Check Engine Light On again and again but not blinking? We called our friendly mechanics and he said it maybe faults recalled that part of the electronics or maybe the computer is giving that "engine check" light on because it has some safety components is malfunctioning, the braking is also hard and sometimes it is too soft when I push it with my right foot to stop the car and also the car is using too much gas. So, we kept postponement of bringing this car to the dealership for repairs because we cannot afford the repairs. Then today, I check to my email and I see the Recall email from NHTSA about MB - ML-350 / recall number 2022050015 / NHTSA # 22V315, since we cannot smog check it because of the "Engine Check On" it is always on we were puzzled why this light and this car cost too much to use and sometimes hard and sometimes soft to push on it's braking power? Please let us know on what to do next? Shall we call the MB-Dealerships to tow this car to their shop because we have stop using this car about over (3) months ago since we bought it ? Braking System is sometimes is too hard and sometimes too soft and using too much gas and the "Engine Check is always On " even we have replaced the (4) electronic sensors that the OBD machine pointed out but is still doing the same thing. Please advise us of what to do to resolve these operational safety of our 2006 - ML-350 Mercedes Benz, it is stored in our car garage. The rear reverse camera also stops working and it is saying braking lights are not functioning?
During a rainstorm Dec 25 2021 brake lights gas gauge windshield wipers and truck all stopped working. Trunk will not open no automatic interior lights.
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
THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ALTERNATOR FAILURE AND SUBSEQUENT BATTERY DISCHARGE, AND WAS THEN BOOSTED AND DRIVEN HOME. ONCE THE ENGINE WAS AGAIN RESTARTED. IT FAILED TO SHUT DOWN AFTER THE DRIVER REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. ACCORDING TO OUR PRIVATE AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER, THIS LACK OF DRIVER CONTROL OVER ENGINE OPERATIONS IS A FUNDAMENTALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION, AND REPRESENTS A POTENTIAL FIRMWARE AND/OR COMPUTER SYSTEM ERROR WITHIN THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE.
MY ML350 HAS 65000 MILES ONLY AND WAS WORKING FINE THEN ENGINE STALLED AND NOW NEEDS A NEW ENGINE!!STALLED ON HIGHWAY SUDDENLY AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO SHOP THEY WANT TO REPLACE ENGINE?
THE CAR KEYS WOULD NOT OPEN THE CAR DOORS OR THE TRUNK
HEADLIGHT WIRING INSULATION IS CRACKING LEAVING THE WIRE EXPOSED. IF THE WIRES TOUCH IT COUID SHORT CIRCUIT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OR CAUSE A FIRE. MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN I NOTICED THE PROBLEM.
"TAKATA RECALL". IN HOUSE WIRING,3RD BRAKE LIGHT, TURN MARKERS ,BRAKE LIGHTS ALL NON OPERATIONAL. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP PROBLEM STILL OCCURS!
RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING AND MY CHECK ENGINE CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND THE DIAGNOSTIC REPORTED THE BALANCE SHAFT AND INTAKE REPAIR WAS NEEDED. THE ISSUE IS THAT THERE WAS A LAWSUIT AGAINST MBUSA FOR FAULTY BALANCE SHAFTS. AT NO POINT IN TIME WAS I INFORMED OF THE CLAIM ON MY VEHICLE. I NEED ASSISTANCE IN HAVING MY VEHICLE REPAIRED BEFORE THE TIME EXPIRES. MB USA HAS DEFECTIVE PARTS AND THEY ARE NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE REPAIR.
RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT HAD AN ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT STARTED IN THE WIRE HOUSING. THE CAR WAS PARKED (STATIONARY)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ABS AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE SPEED DECREASED AND FAILED TO INCREASE OVER 30 MPH. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V303000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
I HAD A 2006 ML350. IT SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE AS IT WAS PARKED FOR TWO HOURS AFTER I HAD DRIVEN IT. THE FIREMEN STATE IN THE REPORT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE AND STARTED FROM A SHORT IN THE REAR TAILLIGHT HARNESS.I BROUGHT THIS TO MERCEDES BENZ USA'S ATTENTION AND THEY WERE CARELESS ABOUT THE SAFETY DANGERS THAT THIS CAUSED/POSED. THEY SAID IT WASNT A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AFTER THE 2 MONTH LONG INVESTIGATION WAS STAMPED INCONCLUSIVE.THEY WERE OF MORE CONCERN ABOUT THIS BEING LEAKED OR EXPOSED AND TRIED TO SWEEP MY CASE UNDER THE RUG. THEY ONLY GAVE ME ONE CASE MANAGER AND LIMITED ME ONLY TO SPEAK WITH HER AFTER BEGGING TO SPEAK WITH ANOTHER MANAGER. AFTER BEING TRAPPED IN THIS CORPORATE COVER UP I HAD NO WHERE ELSE TO TURN. SUSAN M( MY WEST COAST REGIONAL CASE MANAGER) HOW MANY OTHER VEHICLE CASES DID THEY SWEEP UNDER THE RUG LIKE MINE? I DO NOT EXPECT THIS KIND OF COVER-UP FROM MERCEDES AND WOULD EXPECT THEM TO STAND BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES. HTTP://WWW.MERCEDESDEFECTS.COM/2008/04/WIRE-HARNESS-DEFECT.HTML PLEASE GET THIS TO THE NEXT STEP BEFORE PEOPLE LOOSE THEIR LIFE! I COULD HAVE DIED THIS NIGHT! THIS IS THEIR FACTORY RECALL MERCEDES BENZ USA SAID THEY DIDNT HAVE FOR MY VEHICLE AFTER THE FIRE. POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FIRE FROM WATER DAMAGED LIFT GATE CONTROL MODULE FOR MODELS: MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 BLUETEC, MERCEDES-BENZ ML350, MERCEDES-BENZ ML550, MERCEDES-BENZ ML63 AMG ELECTRICAL & LIGHTS, MAY 1, 2009 REPAIRPAL EXPERT OVERVIEW: DUE TO A FAULTY SEAL AROUND THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY, WATER MAY ENTER THE REAR COMPARTMENT CONTAINING THE SPARE TIRE. THE WATER COULD DAMAGE THE LIFT GATE CONTROL MODULE, CAUSING IT TO FAIL. THE FAILED MODULE COULD OVERHEAT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE. DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE TAIL LIGHT SEALS AND RELOCATE THE LIFT GATE CONTROL MODULE. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OF 2009. THE MERCEDES RECALL NUMBER IS 2009030003.
I WAS DRIVING WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE ELECTRIC SEAT HEATER TURNED ON. I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND FELT A BURNING PAIN ON MY BACK. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE I SAW THAT THE SEAT HEATER HAD BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE LEATHER DRIVER'S SEAT AND THROUGH MY JACKET. *TR
I WAS DRIVING AND I TURNED ON MY SEAT HEATER, AND I SAW SMOKE. I BURNED MY CLOTHING AND HAVE A LITTLE BURN ON MY BACK. THE SEAT WAS BURNING AND HAD A LITTLE FIRE. *TR
CAM-SHAFT AND CRANK-SHAFT MALFUNCTION. VEHICLE WONT DRIVE PROPERLY AND ALSO EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL ISSUES. LIGHTS AND LOCKING MECHANISMS GOING ON AND OFF ON THEIR OWN. *TR
NIGHT BEFORE INCIDENT THE AUTOMATIC REAR LIFT GATE OPENED WHEN FRONT DRIVER DOOR WOULD BE OPENED OR CLOSED. WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF, TAIL HAZARD LIGHT WERE ACTIVATED ALONG WITH WARNING ALARM FOR TAILGATE MALFUNCTION OR OPEN. DURING THE MORNING OF THE INCIDENT, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SHOW SAME ISSUES. WHEN VEHICLE WAS LATER ENTERED, ISSUE WITH TAILGATE OPENING SEEMED TO HAVE STOPPED, AFTER DRIVING AN APPROXIMATE 5-7 MILES, ODDER OF SMOKE EMERGED, TAILGATE WARNING ALARM SOUNDED ALONG WITH NORMAL TRAFFIC HORN, IN ADDITION CABIN LIGHTS TURNED ON AND WARN MESSAGES APPEARED ON DASH FOR FLAT TIRE,BLOWN BULBS, ETC, DRIVER PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND TURNED OFF VEHICLE TO INVESTIGATE. SOON AFTER TURNING OFF VEHICLE SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL CABIN, DRIVER IMMEDIATELY EXITED VEHICLE, FLAMES OVER TOOK VEHICLE WITHIN MINUTES. REMAINS SHOW UPPER HALF OF CABIN (SEATS AND UP) TOOK PRIMARY BURN, FLOORING WAS NOT BURNED. ENGINE BAY ONLY HAS MINOR FIRE DAMAGE FROM LARGE FLAMES AND HEAT GOING OUT OF FRONT WINDSHIELD. *TR
OWNER HAD ARRIVED HOME AT 7:00 P.M. FROM WORK AND WAS INSIDE HIS RESIDENCE. AT 10:00 P.M. POLICE AND FIRE PERSONNEL CAME TO HIS DOOR TO INFORM HIM THAT HIS CAR WAS ON FIRE. ONE RESIDENT SAID THAT, AS HE WAS WALKING IN THE PARKING LOT, HE NOTICED THERE WAS FIRE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TAIL LIGHT (AROUND 10:00 PM) AND WHEN HE LOOKED INSIDE, THERE WAS FIRE IN THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY BEHIND THE REAR TAIL LIGHT. HE RAN FOR A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND ALSO YELLED FOR HELP AND FOR SOMEONE TO CALL 911 FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. BOTH FIRE AND POLICE ARRIVED. CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR 3 HOURS AND WAS PARKED, WAS DRIVEN ONLY 7 MILES THREE HOURS EARLIER WITH NO STOPS. CAR HAS BEEN CONSIDERED TOTALED BY INSURANCE DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE INCURRED AND HAD BEEN OWNED FOR ONLY ONE YEAR, SERVICED REGULARLY BY MERCEDES BENZ, AND ALL RECALLS HAD BEEN UP-TO-DATE! THE SERVICING MERCEDES DEALERSHIP PROMPTLY INFORMED MERCEDES BENZ USA WHO ALSO PROMPTLY CONTACTED THE OWNER TO FILL OUT THE APPROPRIATE PAPERWORK AND SUBMIT PICTURES FOR REVIEW. THIS PAPERWORK/PICTURES WERE ALSO PROMPTLY SUBMITTED. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS FIRE AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC, THIS REPORT IS ALSO BEING SENT TO YOUR AGENCY FOR FOLLOW-UP. (NOTE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TAIL LIGHTS IN THE ML350 FOR POSSIBLE FIRE FOR 2007 AND YEARS ABOVE, BUT NOT THE YEAR OF THIS VEHICLE, 2006. A SIMILAR PROBLEM IS REPORTED IN THE C-CLASS AUTOMOBILES AND MAY BE MORE WIDESPREAD THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FUEL STATION AND LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V303000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.
SEAT WARMER MALFUNCTION, I WAS DRIVING AND HAD TO PULL OVER AS MY SEAT WARMER CREATED A FIRE INSIDE MY SEAT AND BURNED 3 HOLES THRU MY SEAT AND SINGED MY CLOTHING. DRIVERS SIDE SEAT ON LEFT SIDE OF SEAT. MERCEDES ML 350 2006
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN IT IGNITED IN SMALL FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AREA; A BYPASSER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY INFORMED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE FUSE BOX WHICH COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE WIRING HARNESS AND CAUSED OTHER DAMAGES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY CONTINUED TO INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ UPDATED 1/4/11 *CN
I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 MERCEDES ML 350, WITH THE SEAT WARMER TURNED ON. I NOTICED A SMELL OF SMOKE COMING FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE, SO I TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER AND THE SMELL WENT AWAY. THE NEXT DAY I DISCOVERED THAT THE SEAT WARMER HAD BURNED A SMALL HOLE IN THE SEAT COVERING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT JUST ABOVE THE DRIVER'S WAIST. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THAT IT WOULD COST $800-$1000 TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC THAT I TALKED WITH 1-ON-1 TOLD ME THAT THEY GET THIS PROBLEM FREQUENTLY. SINCE THE DAY OF THE BURN THROUGH, I HAVE NOT USED THE SEAT WARMER. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT I NOTICED THE SMOKE AND SHUT THE SEAT WARMER DOWN BEFORE THE SITUATION RESULTED IN A FIRE OR PERSONAL INJURY. SYSTEMS WITH THESE TYPES OF RISKS SHOULD HAVE SOME KIND OF "EXTENDED" WARRANTY COVERAGE WHEN THEY FAIL, TO HELP COVER THE RISK OF FIRE OR INJURY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE RESTARTED FOR A PERIOD OF TWO SECONDS AND THE AUTOMATED WINDOWS BEGAN TO OPERATE WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE HORN SOUNDED AND THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLYT ACTIVATED . THE "BRAKE FLUID LOW" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR DOOR AREA. THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECOMMENED LEVEL OF BRAKE FLUID WAS IN THE RESERVOIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A BUILD UP OF MOISTURE FROM AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF LIQUID SPILLED UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OR POSSIBLY THE DRIVER SEAT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS LIFE THREATENING AND THAT THE INTERIOR CARPET SHOULD BE DESIGNED WITH A WATERPROOF PROTECTOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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