2006 Mercedes-Benz ML350 Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V298000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle a week later, the brake warning light and the check engine warning light were illuminated, and the message "Take to Service Center" was displayed. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, but no assistance was provided. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the brake pedal, the brakes made an abnormal rubbing and squeaking sound, and the vehicle jerked. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer for the failure to be corrected under the recall, but no assistance was provided. The contact stated that the recall repair failed to correct the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 163,450.

NHTSA ID

11641387

Incident

Jul 4, 2024

Mileage

163,450 mi

THEY HAVE TIMING CHAIN ISSUES . THE BALANCE SHAFTS ABD TIMING CHSIN SPROCKETS FAIL AND CAUSE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE . THIS IS MY 3RD ML350 TO HAVE THE ENGINE GO OUT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING THE MANUFACTURER COULDBE PREVENTED IF IT WAS RECALLED YEARS AGO IF YOU DONT BELIEVE THEN RESEARCH IT THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

11531009

Incident

Jul 8, 2023

Balance shaft failure

NHTSA ID

11474203

Incident

Jul 15, 2022

car suddenly stalled out while driving in traffic and was told that the engine went out, was very dangerous and also seen on the website that 100s of other owners with the same problem and mercedes has not done anything about the problem.

NHTSA ID

11468358

Incident

Jun 29, 2018

Engine has low power and a whine. Also has a Check Engine Light indicating Center Balance Shaft issue. I took it to Merz dealer and they said it’s known issue of soft metal sproket internal to engine that occurs often. Many times at 50k miles but I bought my car at 150k. Was told engine could stop moving forward at any time.

NHTSA ID

11467863

Incident

Jun 6, 2022

There was a class action suit regarding Balance Shaft issues. I was not aware and having issues now.

NHTSA ID

11459988

Incident

Feb 17, 2022

Engine failure due to the engine balancer shaft

NHTSA ID

11434320

Incident

Jan 13, 2019

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

VEHICLE WAS SENT TO THE SHOP FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC INDICATED THAT IT WAS THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. THE SENSOR WAS CHANGED OUT BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IMMEDIATELY CAME BACK ON. AFTER FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE BALANCE SHAFT LOCATED INSIDE OF THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO REPLACE THE PART INSIDE OF THE ENGINE. CURRENTLY I CANNOT PASS EMISSIONS OR TAG REGISTRATION BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11384252

Incident

Oct 12, 2020

Mileage

167,000 mi

MERCEDES HAS PRODUCED SEVERAL THOUSAND ENGINES WITH DEFECTIVE BALANCE SHAFT SEEN IN MODEL YEARS 2005-2007 IN THE M272 AND M273. THE DECIDED USE OF SOFT METALS FOR ENGINE COMPONENTS, SUCH AS THE BALANCE SHAFT, LEAD TO A RAPID DETERIORATION OVER TIME AND RENDERS THE ENGINE UNUSABLE AND A POTENTIAL HAZARD AS THE CAMSHAFT AND CRANKSHAFT WILL NOT TURN, POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BREAK DOWN ON THE ROADWAY, LOSE POWER STEERING OR EVEN LOCK THE STEERING COLUMN, HEAT EXCESSIVELY, OR POSSIBLY EVEN CATCH FIRE. MERCEDES HAS ACCEPTED A SETTLEMENT OFFER IN 2015 COVERING MANY PLAINTIFFS, BUT DENIED RESPONSIBILITY. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE CONSUMER HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CHOICE OF MATERIALS USED TO MAKE THE BALANCE SHAFT, AND THEREFORE THE MANUFACTURER IS CLEARLY RESPONSIBLE, AND MUST KNOW IT. UPON REPLACEMENT OF THE BALANCE SHAFT, THE ISSUE SEEMS TO GO AWAY, INDICATING THAT THE MANUFACTURER MADE A FIX FOR AN ISSUE THEY KNEW THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR, COVERED IT UP, AND DENIED RESPONSIBILITY. THE NEWER BALANCE SHAFTS ARE RELIABLE AS MERCEDES KNEW OF ISSUES WITH THEIR PREVIOUS FAULTY ONES. MERCEDES HAS ONLY OFFERED TO COVER UP SOME OF THE DAMAGES, IN MOST CASES LESS THAN 38% OR NONE AT ALL, ONLY GAVE CUSTOMERS A FEW MONTHS TO FILE A CLAIM, AND ALMOST NONE WERE NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE OR THE SETTLEMENT, AND HAD COME TO REALIZE IT WHEN IT WAS TOO LATE. MANY VEHICLES STILL WELL WITHIN WARRANTY HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE DEFECTIVE BALANCE SHAFT, WHICH MEANS THAT OLDER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ISSUE PREVAILS ON THE BASIS OF THE INITIAL DEFECT. THE BALANCE SHAFT ISSUE HAS CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO STALL ON THE ROADWAY ON MANY OCCASIONS, AND IN ONE INSTANT, MY VEHICLE'S STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AS A RESULT. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO MBUSA FOR A RESOLUTION, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE IS TOO OLD, IT'S NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. VEHICLES 3 YEARS OLD HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. AGE IS NO FACTOR.

NHTSA ID

11324712

Incident

May 9, 2020

Mileage

135,000 mi

PURCHASED A USED MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 FROM A LOCAL DEALER. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER TWICE, THEY SAID IT WAS FIXED BUT NEVER WAS. AS A DISABLED MECHANIC, I PUT IT ON MY SCAN TOOL, FIXED THE ISSUES THAT WERE OCCURRING AND NOW I'M HAVING 2 CODES OF P0016 & P0017 COME UP. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH, COME OUT FIND OUT THAT IT'S AN INTERNAL ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE.I AM FINANCIALLY AND PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO REPAIR IT MYSELF, NOR SHOULD I HAVE TO. AS IT IS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT.I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND THERE IS A PENDING CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT.

NHTSA ID

11192771

Incident

Mar 28, 2019

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?

NHTSA ID

11173200

Incident

Jan 22, 2019

Mileage

65,000 mi

OUR ML 350 HAS 132213 MILES AS OF 10-2-18, AND IT'S GOT AN ENGINE FAULT OF 1208 CAMSHAFT. WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT THE BALANCE SHAFT IS BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $6446.82. WE TALKED TO MBZ CUSTOMER SERVICE, 800-367-6372, EXT 8536, AND TALKED TO JENNIFER. AND SHE ADVISED ME THAT BECAUSE OF A LAW SUIT, THERE'S NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO? WE'VE CHECKED ON-LINE, AND OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. WE FEEL THAT THIS IS A BAD PART, AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THANKS,

NHTSA ID

11142728

Incident

Oct 2, 2018

Mileage

132,213 mi

2006 MERCEDES ML 350. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEMS. *LD *JS

NHTSA ID

11084096

Incident

Nov 29, 2017

THE BALANCE SHAFT WENT BAD AFTER REQULAR MAINTENANCE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.

NHTSA ID

11082596

Incident

Mar 29, 2018

Mileage

1,390,000 mi

SETTLEMENT ABOUT DEFECTIVE GEARS WEAR OUT PREMATURELY, EXCESSIVELY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MALFUNCTION, THE 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT' TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE TO HAVE SYMPTOMS SUCH AS MISFIRING OR CATASTROPHIC STOPS. MAJEED SEIFI, ET AL. V. MERCEDES BENZ USA LLC CASE NO. 3:12-CV-05493 U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA. MAJEED SEIFI, ALLEGED A DEFECT IN BALANCE SHAFT SPROCKETS IN (V-6) ENGINES AND IDLE GEARS IN (V-8) ENGINES MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 MB THAT CAUSES THE GEARS TO WEAR PREMATURELY. PLAINTIFFS CONTEND ("MBUSA") HAD A DUTY TO DISCLOSE THIS INFORMATION TO CONSUMERS AT THE TIME THEY PURCHASED THEIR VEHICLES. BASED ON CONDUCT, CLAIMS FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE NEW JERSEY CONSUMER FRAUD ACT, CALIFORNIA'S CONSUMER LEGAL REMEDIES ACT AND UNFAIR COMPETITION LAW.MBUSA HAS AGREED TO OFFER TO SETTLEMENT CLASS MEMBERS TO MAKE QUALIFIED REPAIRS MERCEDES BENZ ENGINE DEFECT CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT. DEFECTIVE GEARS WEAR OUT PREMATURELY, EXCESSIVELY, WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONS, THE 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT' REMAINS ILLUMINATED, AND THE CAR MISFIRES OR STOPS. TOLD IT WILL TAKE $7,000.00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALL MY RECORDS. SPENT $5,000 IN 2015 FOR REPAIRS ALONE. PAID TO OWN A MB TO GET FORTY THOUSAND MILES OUT OF IT BEFORE IT NEEDS MOTOR WORK. MY ML350 ENGINE LIGHT SHOULD NOT BE ILLUMINATING AT <40,000 MILES ITS A DEFECTIVE MOTOR. CLEARLY A MANUFACTURE FACTORY DEFECT. $7000.00, TO GET A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OFF: MAJEED SEIFI,ET AL. V. MERCEDES BENZ PROVES MBUSA KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM. KNOWN MB 2006 ML350 INTERNAL PROBLEM (FACTORY DEFECT, LEMON ETC.) THAT WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO ME. NOT FROM NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, AND FROM NO FAULT OF MY OWN.

NHTSA ID

11051619

Incident

Nov 12, 2016

Mileage

38,000 mi

DRIVING 45MPH APPROACHING A STOP, I HIT THE BRAKES AND THE CAR STARTED TO SLOW. THEN THE CAR LURCHED AND ACCELERATED BY ITS SELF. I PUSHED THE BRAKE HARDER AND TRIED TO PUMP IT BUT NOTHING SLOWED THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES FELT AS IF THEY WERE NOT WORKING AT ALL. VEHICLE CRASHED AT ABOUT 55MPH AND ROLLED SEVERELY INJURING THE DRIVER. NO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, 77 DEGREES OUT, DRIVING ON A MILITARY INSTALLATION ROAD.

NHTSA ID

10971930

Incident

Mar 23, 2017

Mileage

63,000 mi

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN I TOOK MY TRUCK IN THEY SAID IT WAS THE BALANCE SHAFT GEAR $7500 IN MD. I COULDN'T AFFORD IT SO I LEFT AND DID RESEARCH TO SEE IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS TO ALL MLS OR I JUST AVE BAD LUCK. I FOUND OUT THEY RECALLED THIS PART AND A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS FILED AND APPROVED IN 2015. ITS TOO LATE TO CLAIM IT NOW, THERE WAS A TIME LIMIT WHICH I FEEL IS RIDICULOUS THAT'S LIKE PUTTING A TIME LIMIT ON SOMEONES LIFE BECAUSE OF A FAULTY PART MERCEDES KNEW ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME AND DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING. WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED WITHOUT HAVING TO COME OUT OF POCKET TO PAY OR TO GET A LAWYER TO FILE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAIN. SINCE THERE HAS BEEN MORE THAN ONE CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT FILED SHOULD SPEAK VOLUME AND WE SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10945435

Incident

Dec 24, 2016

Mileage

61,000 mi

MY 2006 MERC ML350, BROKE DOWN ON ME 10/22/16, AS SOON AS I GOT OFF THE FREEWAY BECAUSE I WAS HEARING A CRACKLING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IN A LOCAL PARKING LOT TO AVOID EMBARRASSMENT. THIS VEHICLE IS ALWAYS NEEDING SOMETHING, AND AT THIS TIME IT WAS HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO PARK IT BECAUSE THE SERPENTINE (VBELT) HAD UNRAVELED ITS WAY FROM THE ALTERNATOR PULLEY!! THE LORD HAD SAVED MY LIFE! SAME YEAR IN MARCH FREMONT DEALERSHIP SAID I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY AIR CONDENSOR BUT NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT MY BELT BEING WORN OR CRACKED OR ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTICED AT THAT PRESENT TIME. THEY MISINFORMED ME AT THAT TIME ABOUT THE VBELT NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AND TRIED TO SELL ME A AIR MASS SENSOR. MERCEDES KNOWS ABOUT VEHICLE 2006 YEAR AND ALL THE PARTS THAT ARE MALFUNCTIONING AND WONT LIFT A FINGER TO RECALL OR REIMBURSE OR PAY ENTIRELY. I WOULD HAVE DIED ON THE FREEWAY HAD THIS V BELT WOULD HAVE CAME OFF! TOOKBITVIN FOR REPAIRS AND THE DEALER IS REQUESTING $2350 TO REPLACE AIR CONDITION UNIT AND THEY WILL HAVE TO OPEN UP ALTERNATOR & ADJUST + VBELT. CAMPAIGN ANYONE OR BOTCOTT MBUSA!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10918854

Incident

Oct 22, 2016

Mileage

190,000 mi

MY CAR STARTED TO GIVE LESS POWER WHILE DRIVING INITIALLY AND THEN COUPLE OF DAYS THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE BALANCE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. THERE WAS A LAW SUIT AGAINST MB. THE SETTLEMENT IDENTIFIED MY CAR AS A CANDIDATE FOR A FUTURE REPAIR. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND NOTHING LIKE THIS WAS MENTIONED. I WAS TOLD TO PAY FULL PRICE.

NHTSA ID

10908827

Incident

May 31, 2016

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND GOT BOTH CODES P0016 AND P0017. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN DEFECT BY MERCEDES BENZ FOR THE BALANCER SHAFT WORN SPROCKET ISSUE. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR, ALMOST THE COST OF THE VEHICLE! MBUSA PICKS AND CHOOSES WHO THEY WILL HELP? WOW, WISH I NEVER GOT THIS CAR!

NHTSA ID

10899633

Incident

Aug 26, 2016

Mileage

87,461 mi

THE BALANCE SHAFT ON MY ML350 HAS GONE BAD. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A LOCAL STREET WHEN IT SUDDENLY STARTED TO STALL AND EVENTUALLY CUT OFF. THE STEERING WHEEL GOT STIFF AND I HAD TO FORCEFULLY TURN IT TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO START IT AGAIN IT WOULD ONLY REPEAT WHAT IT'S DONE BEFORE WHICH IS STALL AND CUT OFF. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC I WAS TOLD THAT THE BALANCE SHAFT IS BAD. MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME TO CALL MERCEDES TO SEE IF THEY WOULD FIX IT OUT OF GOOD FAITH BUT THAT GOT ME NO WHERE. THERE ARE COUNTLESS BLOGS ABOUT MERCEDES OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH THE M272 ENGINE. A REP FOR MERCEDES ADMITTED TO ME THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT STILL REFUSES TO RECALL. THE REPAIR QUOTE IS @ ABOUT $5000 WHICH IS OUT OF MY RANGE SO THE VEHICLE REMAINS PARKED. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BUT THE TIME FRAME HAS EXPIRED BY THE TIME I PURCHASED THIS CAR.

NHTSA ID

10893800

Incident

Jul 14, 2016

Mileage

3 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10873545

Incident

May 31, 2016

LETTER FROM SENATOR NELSON RE CONSTITUENT RE 2006 ML MERCEDES BENZ SUV ML 350 RECALL ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST MERCEDES BENZ, DUE TO AN INFERIOR BALANCE SHAFT IN THE ENGINE. A NUMBER OF VEHICLES INCLUDING HIS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE REPAIR FOR THE VEHICLE ENDS ON JUNE 16, 2016. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HE WAS NOT ELIGIBLE, BECAUSE HIS VEHICLE EXCEEDED 125,000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10873071

Incident

Jun 1, 2016

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED,SOME DECREASE IN POWER. TOOK TO MB DEALER,PULLED THE CODE FOR CAM SHAFT SENSOR,POSSIBLY CAM SHAFT BALANCER.WAITING TO HEAR ABOUT COST & POTENTIAL FUTURE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

10873077

Incident

May 29, 2016

Mileage

65,000 mi