2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350 Electrical Problems

I believe the electrical system may be defective as ever since I have had it the light bulbs frequently have to be changed. We own three vehicles in my households (the other 2 are non-Mercedes) and none of my other vehicles do this. The latest issue with the electrical system is that the rear tail lamp and power lift gate. I was told there was water that was getting in from somewhere but mechanic could not find where. I need a new SAM module and that is why my power lift gate motor does not work. As I did some research online, the same exact problem was recalled on a the same model but the 2009 model and I have the 2011 model. I believe my car should be part of the same recall which I believe is Mercedes recall number 2009030003. That appears to be a faulty seal around the rear tail lamp assembly. I believe this is a manufacturer's defect that should be covered and would likely explain why I have had to change out light bulbs so many times over the years.

NHTSA ID

11647608

Incident

Mar 1, 2025

REAR BRAKE LIGHT GROUND OVERHEATED AND CAUSED FIRE DAMAGING WIRE HARNESS AND LIGHT ASSEMBLY DURING DRIVING. ALL TAIL LIGHTS AFFECTED.

NHTSA ID

11404911

Incident

Mar 2, 2021

Mileage

93,000 mi

I PUT MY KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND IT WOULD NOT START. I HAD A TOW TRUCK TO COME AND GET MY VEHICLE AND THEY CHARGED THE VEHICLE AND WOULD NOT GO INTO NEUTRAL OR DRIVE. I KNOW THAT I PROBABLY NEED A NEW BATTERY BUT THIS WAS SCARY.

NHTSA ID

11317721

Incident

Mar 12, 2020

WHEN CAR COMES TO A STOP, AND THE DRIVER PUSHES THE BUTTON TO PUT THE CAR IN "PARK", THE CAR DOES NOT GO INTO PARK, BUT STAYS IN "DRIVE" OR "REVERSE". DRIVER LEAVES CAR, AND BECAUSE DRIVER IS UNAWARE THAT THE VEHICLE REMAINS IN "DRIVE", AND DID NOT SWITCH TO "PARK", THE CAR CAN BEGIN TO IDLE FORWARD WHILE DRIVER LEAVES OR HAS LEFT THE VEHICLE, OR IDLES IN REVERSE, AS DRIVER LEAVES OR HAS LEFT THE VEHICLE, AS THE "PARK" POSITION IS NOT ACTIVATED. THIS CAN BE QUITE DANGEROUS TO THE DRIVER, OR TO PASSENGERS OR PEDESTRIANS. AT TIMES, THE CAR DOES GO INTO "PARK", BUT AT OTHER TIMES, IT DOES NOT, IT STAYS IN "DRIVE" OR "REVERSE", MISINFORMING THE DRIVER. THIS IS AN UNSAFE SITUATION.

NHTSA ID

11184031

Incident

Jan 10, 2019

Mileage

110,000 mi

THE SWITCH SOME TIME NOT DETECT, AND DO NOT START. NEED TO TURN SEVERAL TIME TO START THE ENGINE. ONCE IT START NO PROBLEM. SOME TIME IN THE MORNING IT START WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM. THE DEALER TOLD ME IT IS A IGNITION PROBLEM, THE CAR MILEAGE IS ONLY 87000. WHEN I SEARCHED IN THE INTERNET, 1000 OF CUSTOMERS REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM FOR 2010 AND 2011 MODEL CARS.

NHTSA ID

11002473

Incident

May 2, 2017

Mileage

87,000 mi

WHILE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, TURNING KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH MAY OR MAY NOT START THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

10994937

Incident

Jun 11, 2017

Mileage

1 mi

THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNT. THE SMOKE WERE FIRST SPOTTED FROM THE PASSENGER A/C VENT WHILE DRIVING FROM THE SCHOOL TO THE TEACHER'S HOUSE (LESS THAN 1 MILE DISTANCE). WITHIN MINUTES THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE GLOVE BOX OR PASSENGER AC VENT AREA. THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE BACK OF THE CAR IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. THE FIREFIGHTERS WERE THERE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE BEFORE IT GOT THE CHANCE TO GET TO THE FUEL TANK.

NHTSA ID

10958994

Incident

Mar 2, 2017

Mileage

56,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 20011 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION STARTER SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,573. UPDATED 04/06/17 *LJ *AS

NHTSA ID

10943919

Incident

Dec 1, 2016

Mileage

81,573 mi

TAKATA RECALL MERCEDES BENZ NOTIFIED BY USPS SAFETY RECALL 03/16.NO FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE OR OTHER ACTION/S TO INDICATE RECTIFY OF SAFETY RECALL SINCE. MERCEDES HOUSTON NORTH DEALERSHIP VISIT 10/29/16 AT WHICH I PURCHASED REFUSES VEHICLE RETURN IN LIGHT OF INDICATED AIRBAG RECALL, STATING I CANNOT SIMPLY RETURN THE VEHICLE.SALES REP INDICATES SUCH VEHICLES ARE TAKEN AS TRADE-IN AND/OR SOLD TO COMPETING DEALERS LIKE CARMAX WHICH PAYS HIGHER FOR UNWANTED/UNSAFE VEHICLES, BUT OFFERS AN ASSURANCE TO ASSUAGE MY SAFETY CONCERN THAT MERCEDES ARE MORE STRUCTURALLY SOUND THAN OTHER MANUFACTURERS, NAMELY HONDA IN WHICH DRIVERS/PASSENGERS DIED FROM TAKATA AIRBAG DEPLOYMENTS.REP FURTHER STATES AIRBAG REPLACEMENT UNLIKELY SINCE TAKATA IS BEHIND IN MANUFACTURING DUE TO TSNUMAI;PROCESSING NEW WORK AS PRIORITY TO SAFETY RECALL/REWORKS.UNABLE TO SELL/TRANSFER VEHICLE DUE TO RECALL/ILLEGALITY; WOULD NOT ANYWAY DUE TO SAFETY HAZARD WHICH NOT ONLY ENDANGERS, BUT KILLS, OTHERS.1-WK AFTER BUY,LEFT&RIGHT FRNT PRKNG LIGHTS MALFUNCTION.MERCEDES REPLACED/REPAIRED FUSE UPON NEW WIRINGHARNESS INSTALL UNDER EXT SVC PLAN.SAME LEFT&RIGHT FRNT PRKG INDICATOR MALFUNCTION W/IN 45DAYS AFTER;REPLACED OEM-BULBS BLEW.LEFT HEADLIGHT REPLACED-OEM BLEW.AUG/SEPT 2014 45K-MILE REQD MAINT, DEALER SVC ADVISOR SAID HEAD&PRKG LIGHT BULBS WRONG TYPE,RESTATE FIXED WIRINGHARNESS STILL ROOT.HEAD&PRKG LIGHTS FIXED W/OUT FURTHER WIRINGHARNESS MENTION.NEW CARBATTERY INSTALL DEC/JAN 2015 60K-MILE REQD MAINT REPORT TO DEALER SVC ADVISOR ELECTRONICKEY FAIL TO UNLOCK DOORS&ENGAGE IGNITION DESPITE NEW BATTERIES.ALL 2015 AND CONTINUING, LEFT&RIGHT FRONT BULBS,LEFT HEAD&TAILLIGHT OUTAGES, SPONTANEOUS ESPFAULTS ON DASH MALFUNCTION;IGNITION DELAYED-START W/OUT DASH WARNING IN PARK/REAR/NEUTRAL/DRIVE POSITION OR AT START/SHUTDOWN. PURCHASED 04/17/14 CERT PREOWN W/ EXT SVC PLAN ~36KMILES 10/29/16 ~103KMILES ESP EXPIRED 100KMILES

NHTSA ID

10920053

Incident

Apr 25, 2014

Mileage

36,000 mi

EIS THE KEY WILL LOCK/UNLOCK CAR, WILL TURN IN IGNITION BUT WILL NOT START CAR

NHTSA ID

10915319

Incident

Oct 7, 2016

THERE WAS A SERVICE CAMPAIGN NO. 2013040001, ISSUED APRIL, 2013 FROM DAIMLER AG, THE MANUFACTURER OF MERCEDES- BENZ VEHICLES, FOR MODELS 164 , X164, 251, MODEL YEARS 2011-2012. IT STATED THAT "DUE TO A SUPPLIER PROCESS ISSUE THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT CORRESPOND TO SPECIFICATION WHICH MAY LEAD TO A NO START CONDITION WHEN TURNING THE KEY." I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE, PURCHASED DECEMBER, 2014. SUNSET AUTO SALES PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN DECEMBER, WHICH IS MY HUSBAND'S CAR LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DOING THIS RANDOMLY AND DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND FAULT CODE. DEALERSHIP HAD TO REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH JULY 22, 2016 AND INVOICE STATES " FOUND EIS TO BE DEFECTIVE. REPLACED EIS AND PROBLEM NO LONGER DETECTED AT THIS TIME." I CONTACTED MERCEDES CUSTOMER CARE SERVICE TO HAVE THIS REPAIR COMPENSATED AND WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WAS NOT IN THE RECALL, THERE WASN'T ANY RECALL FOR THE EIS, AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AND WOULD NOT COMPENSATE FOR THIS. I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY METHOD TO TAKE CARE OF VEHICLE THAT WOULD CARE FOR THE EIS. MY VEHICLE YEAR AND MODEL WAS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN, THAT HAD NO END DATE, I MIGHT ADD. I EXPLAINED THAT BEING STRANDED BECAUSE OF A NO START SITUATION WOULD NOT BE GOOD, GIVEN MY MEDICAL CONDITION. I FEEL BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH IS A DOCUMENTED DEFECT, DESCRIBED IN THE SERVICE CAMPAIGN LETTER WITH NO END DATE, MERCEDES SHOULD HAVE COMPENSATED ME FOR THIS EXPENSE.

NHTSA ID

10888627

Incident

Jul 22, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 10/28/16*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID

10887590

Incident

Jul 19, 2016

Mileage

85,000 mi

WHILE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, TURNING KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH MAY OR MAY NOT START THE VEHICLE OR TURNING KEY IN IGNITION MAY EXPERIENCE A DELAY BEFORE VEHICLE WILL START OR IT MAY REQUIRE TURNING THE KEY IN THE ON AND OFF POSITION SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE STARTING. AFTER A NO START SITUATION, IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE VEHICLE WILL FINALLY START.

NHTSA ID

10839107

Incident

Feb 29, 2016

Mileage

57,913 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED. THE ESP TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AND SIDE SWIPED A SECOND VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE TURNED 360 DEGREE AND THEN CRASHED INTO AN UTILITY POLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

NHTSA ID

10786124

Incident

Sep 29, 2015

Mileage

44,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE IN A JERKING MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE BLIND SPOT ASSIST SENSORS CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10577487

Incident

Apr 4, 2014

Mileage

50,000 mi

WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN AND THE TRUCK JERKED OVER TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT ME DOING IT. ITS HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES SINCE THEN. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THEREFORE THERE IS NO PROBLEM. MY IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 20,000 MILES. MY KEYS WOULD NOT START THE TRUCK FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK STRAIGHT ON THE 1ST OR 2ND ATTEMPT. FINALLY ON THE 3RD TRY THE TRUCK WOULD START. ITS A YEAR AND A HALF OLD. WHEN THEY CONNECTED IT TO THEY'RE COMPUTER IT DID NOT READ ANY ERROR CODES. IT HAD TO NOT START THERE FOR IT TO CODE. NOW MY TRUCK IS BACK IN THE SHOP BECAUSE THE GEAR SHIFT GETS STUCK IN P. I ASKED TO GET OUT OF THE LEASE AND INTO ANOTHER ONE OF THEIR VEHICLES BECAUSE THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THE ANSWER WAS NO. BECAUSE THE COMPUTER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I GUESS ITS NORMAL WHEN YOUR ON THE HIGHWAY FOR YOUR TRUCK TO CHANGE LANES WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10500173

Incident

Dec 12, 2012

Mileage

19,000 mi