2008 Mercedes-Benz ML350 Owner Complaints

See attached document for complaint

NHTSA ID

11583631

Incident

Feb 1, 2021

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated upon taking the vehicle to the dealer for servicing, he was informed that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the vehicle remained at the dealer for 2 months. The contact later received the recall notification. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and advised the contact that parts were not available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11484778

Incident

Sep 16, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11483473

Incident

May 9, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11479841

Incident

May 9, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11472787

Incident

Jul 7, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the steering wheel failed to respond as designed. The contact drove the vehicle safely off the road. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was made aware of a power steering rack leak. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred several times. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V682000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 38,000.

NHTSA ID

11458854

Incident

Feb 10, 2021

Mileage

38,000 mi

REAR LEFT AND RIGHT PASSENGER SEATBELT MECHANISMS (RETRACTING FUNCTION) ARE DEFECTIVE; BELTS DON'T WANT TO RETRACT BACK IN AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN PULLED OUT/USED

NHTSA ID

11378595

Incident

Aug 1, 2020

AFTER STARTING UP THE CAR AND TURNING ON THE SEAT HEATERS WE NOTICED A STRONG BURNING SMELL. WE HAD JUST ENTERED A SLIP ROAD AND MY WIFE (WHO WAS DRIVING) FELT A BURNING IN HER LOWER LEFT SIDE. NEXT THING... SHE WAS ON FIRE! HER WINTER COAT BUST INTO FLAMES AND AFTER PULLING OVER I GRABBED HER OUT OF THE DRIVERS SEAT AND ROLLED HER IN THE SNOW TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, WE WERE AMAZED THAT THE SEAT HAD A LARGE BURN HOLE THROUGH THE LEATHER AND THAT THERE WASN'T ANY SAFETY SHUT OFF FOR THE SEAT HEATER INITIATED BY THE VEHICLE. AFTER A DETAILED DESCRIPTION TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE LOCAL MERCEDES DEALERSHIP OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED,WE WERE TOLD THAT A $2578 REPAIR WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM... WE WERE AMAZED AT HOW UNCARING THEY WERE AND THAT THERE WASN'T A RECALL ACTIVE FOR THIS DEFECTIVE WIRING PROBLEM. WE WERE RELIEVED THAT THIS DIDN'T CAUSE ANY FATALITIES TO US OR ANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AFFECTED IF WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON A FREEWAY AT A HIGHER SPEED.

NHTSA ID

11310224

Incident

Feb 8, 2020

Mileage

167,000 mi

FAULTY WIRING IN THE BRAKE LIGHT HARNESS THAT COULD CAUSE FIRE. WIRING COMMONLY ARCS CAUSING THE BULBS TO BURN OUT AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. MERCEDES HAS OTHER CARS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM, BUT WON'T ADDRESS IT ON THE ML350'S. THEY EVEN MADE A PART TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, BUT DEMAND CAR OWNERS PAY OUT OF POCKET TO FIX MERCEDES FAULTY WIRING PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11218579

Incident

Jun 5, 2019

STEERING WHEEL GET HARD THEN SOFT ON TURN CAUSING LOSE OF CONTROL I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND SAID ITS THE RACK & PINION I LOOK ONLINE FOR RECALL THIER IS ONE FOR STEERING RACK SO I CALL THE DEALER THEY SAID MINE IS NOT

NHTSA ID

11166211

Incident

Jan 9, 2019

MILEAGE 80K AND A STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A BROKEN PIN. I SEE A RECALL 2008120011 AND FOLLOWING THE DOCUMENTATION THIS VIN QUALIFIES FOR IT BUT THE MB DEALER IS SAYING THAT THERE IS NO OPEN RECALL FOR THIS CAR.

NHTSA ID

11121948

Incident

Aug 20, 2018

Mileage

78,000 mi

2008 MERCEDES ML 350 BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO SEND AN ERROR MESSAGE THAT LEFT AND RIGHT BRAKE LIGHTS ARE OUT SOMETIMES THEY ARE AND SOMETIMES THEY AREN'T ITS ISN'T THE LIGHT BULB AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR. WATER CONTINUES TO LEAK IN THROUGH THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT DAMAGING THE SAM UNIT

NHTSA ID

11118762

Incident

May 13, 2015

Mileage

95,000 mi

DUE TO A FAULTY RIGHT TAILLAMP SEAL, WATER GOT INTO A CONTROL MODULE AND DAMAGED IT BEYOND REPAIR. I WOKE UP AND WALKED OUTSIDE TO SEE MY HEADLIGHTS FLASHING AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION MY KEY FOB NOT WORKING, SRS DISABLED, AND MANY OTHER MISCELLANEOUS ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS DISABLED. SOME TIME BEFORE THIS, THE MOTOR TO THE REAR HATCH STOPPED WORKING, POSSIBLY FOR THE SAME REASON.

NHTSA ID

11115405

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED STEERING FLUID, WHICH MADE THE STEERING WHEEL DIFFICULT TO TURN WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH OR ABOVE. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD A THUMPING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND APPROACHING A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CONTACTED AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF JACKSONVILLE, 10231 ATLANTIC BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32225), BUT NO REPAIRS OR DIAGNOSTIC TESTS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11100435

Incident

Jun 6, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

BRAKE LIGHT WENT OUT. TWO DAYS LATER THE BATTERY CAUSED A FIRE INSIDE OF VEHICLE WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. KEYS WERE NOT IN THE IGNITION AT THE TIME

NHTSA ID

11099554

Incident

May 28, 2018

MONDAY MORNING, JULY 24, 2017 THERE WERE TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS IN THE EARLY MORNING LEAVING LOTS OF STANDING WATER ON ROADWAYS. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR AND GOING THROUGH STANDING WATER ON ROADWAYS, CAR LOST POWER AND THEN ENGINE STOPPED. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO COAST ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROADWAY AND CAME TO A SAFE RESTING PLACE. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. I WAS STRANDED WITH AN INOPERATIVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11011627

Incident

Jul 24, 2017

Mileage

121,000 mi

THE INSULATION OF THE CABLES FOR THE HIGH AND LOW BEAM IS MISSING.THE WIRES ARE WITHOUT ANY INSULATION AT ALL.I CAN NOT USE THE LIGHTS BECAUSE I'M AFRAID OF A SHORT .OTHER WISE, I CAN USE THE CAR AS LONG AS I DON'T TURN THE FRONT LIGHTS ON.

NHTSA ID

10950124

Incident

Feb 5, 2017

Mileage

112,110 mi

STEERING FEELS WEIRD

NHTSA ID

10926785

Incident

Aug 28, 2016

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE POWER LIFTGATE FAILED TO OPERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL UNIT FOR THE POWER LIFTGATE FAILED DUE TO WATER CONTAMINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY HAVING THE SEAL OF THE REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY REPLACED, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V076000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.

NHTSA ID

10882967

Incident

Feb 3, 2015

Mileage

23,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER LIFTGATE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SEAL. THERE WAS FOUR INCHES OF WATER IN THE SPARE TIRE HOUSING AND THE POWER LIFTGATE HYDRAULIC MOTOR WAS COMPLETELY SUBMERGED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID

10882142

Incident

Mar 31, 2015

Mileage

105,000 mi

REAR HATCH WOULD NOT COMPETELY CATCH WHEN CLOSING. IT REQUIRED OPENING AND RECLOSING SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE COULD CATCH. SOON THEREAFTER IT WOULD NOT OPEN USING THE AUTOMATIC RELEASE. IT HAD TO BE OPENED USING THE MANUAL RELEASE ON THE INTERIOR SIDE OF THE DOOR. HAD TO CHANGE THE MECHANISM THAT CONTROLLED THE LOCKING AN OPENING OF THAT.

NHTSA ID

10882139

Incident

Mar 31, 2015

Mileage

105,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND A SQUEALING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE LINE AND THE POWER STEERING CONTROL HEAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,745.

NHTSA ID

10882018

Incident

Jun 18, 2016

Mileage

64,745 mi

MY MICHELIN LATITUDE TOUR HP 255/50 R19 TIRES ARE LOSING CHUCKS OF RUBBER. THE TIRES HAVE MULTIPLE CHUCKS OF RUBBER MISSING ALL THROUGH THE TIRE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE, AND I AM WORRIED FOR MY SAFETY REGARDING THESE TIRES. MY MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR MICHELIN AND THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR THESE AT THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP, AND THEY ARE EXTREMELY POOR QUALITY AND UNSAFE. I AM AFRAID THE WHOLE TIRE IS GOING TO FALL APART WHILE I'M DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

10863724

Incident

Apr 11, 2013

REAR HATCH WOULD NOT COMPETELY CATCH WHEN CLOSING. IT REQUIRED OPENING AND RECLOSING SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE COULD CATCH. SOON THEREAFTER IT WOULD NOT OPEN USING THE AUTOMATIC RELEASE. IT HAD TO BE OPENED USING THE MANUAL RELEASE ON THE INTERIOR SIDE OF THE DOOR. HAD TO CHANGE THE MECHANISM THAT CONTROLLED THE LOCKING AN OPENING OF THAT.

NHTSA ID

10854470

Incident

Mar 18, 2016

Mileage

70,000 mi

TRUCK JUST SHUT OFF WHILE SITTING AT THE STOP LIGHT AND ONCE WHILE TAKING OFF AT THE LIGHT AND WOULDN'T START BACK AFTER A FEW TRY'S

NHTSA ID

10854214

Incident

Apr 3, 2016