RoadVitals

2013 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.
9
Latest Jul 18, 2024
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.
16%
of 56 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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

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 2013 Mercedes-Benz ML350 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 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

Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jul 18, 2024

Started to have an issue with the blind spot assist showing inoperable. Shortly after depending on the outside temperature the AC would start shutting off and on. The days the temperature was above 95 degrees the AC would suddenly stop working. Took the vehicle to the dealer for AC service. Dealer reports the engine "back" wiring harness had been rubbing, exposing and chaffing the harness wires, and for safety concerns a complete harness replacement is necessary. When asked how was this possible since the harness clearance is a manufacture design. Was told it happens on these vehicles and currently there is no recall.

NHTSA ID
11603207
Incident
May 13, 2024
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 6, 2024

Both the front distronic system,which controls adaptive cruise control and emergency braking, and the blind spot warning have failed. Failure of both systems is usually caused by water getting into the respective control units related to poor sealing allowing water to enter and causing the systems to fail. I believe that these systems are critical to vehicle safety. The pre safe braking is essential to the safe operation of the vehicle. Blind spot warning failure is also a safety item on vehicles like these with large blind spot areas. Dealer has been no help other than repairs costing almost as much as the vehicle is worth. Very poor design and unsafe when these critical systems fail.

NHTSA ID
11581528
Incident
Feb 14, 2024
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 18, 2023

Blind spot inoperative message appeared while driving. Upon doing diagnosis with OBDII tester a fault was found with the left rear radar unit. There seem to be many social media accounts of these units failing due to water intrusion from apparently poor or defective water sealing. This may cause lane intrusion accidents due drivers being accustomed to the warning system working and notifying them of a vehicle in the blind spot. 2013 Mercedes Benz ML350 4Matic. Thank you for your consideration. Fault verified by OBDII tester. Vehicle not yet involved in an accident. Fault message was intermittent for several weeks before finally constant, Blind Spot Inoperative message stayed on.

NHTSA ID
11508024
Incident
Dec 1, 2022
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 27, 2017

THE CAR HAS A TRASNFER CONVERTER BOX IS DEEPLY LEAKING. I HAVE STOP SEVERAL TIMES IN MANHATTAN STREET TO COOL DOWN BEFORE MOVING. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE WITH THIS FAULTY EQUIPEMNT. THE NOISE UNDERNEATH IS TERRIBLE AND ANNOYING.

NHTSA ID
11048652
Incident
Oct 10, 2017
Mileage
120,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 27, 2017

MY CAR TRABSFERT CONVERTER IS LEAKING. I HAVE TO FILL IT UP PERIODICALLY. THE CAR STOPPED ON HGW 9A AFTER A CONTINOUS NOISES UNDERNEATH.THE REPAIR COST IS ESTIMATED TO $6000. I COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS EQUIPMENT SINCE IT IS UNSAFE FOR THE DRIVER.

NHTSA ID
11048647
Incident
Nov 20, 2017
Mileage
85,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Apr 26, 2017

WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE BRAKED UNEXPECTEDLY DUE TO WHAT SEEMS TO BE A MALFUNCTION IN THE FRONT COLLISION WARNING RADAR. THIS RESULTED IN A MULTIPLE NEAR MISS COLLISIONS COMING FROM THE REAR, FOR MANY VEHICLES ON I5 NEAR WOODBURN OR DURING HIGH TRAFFIC TIMES. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BRAKED CAUSING ME TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD. OTHER VEHICLES INCLUDES TWO IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING, THERE WAS A VEHICLE 6-8 CAR LENGTHS AHEAD TRAVELING AT THE SAME RATE OF SPEED WITH NO BRAKING, BOTH SIDES WERE CLEAR OF TRAFFIC, NO DAMAGE DONE SEEKING DEALER ASSISTANCE TO DECIPHER EXACT CAUSE. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO HAVE ALL SAFETY FEATURES AUTOMATICALLY TURNED OFF FROM COMPUTER. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING STRAIGHT WITH NO BRAKING NEEDED NOR WANTED.

NHTSA ID
10980883
Incident
Apr 26, 2017
Mileage
50,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 24, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED AND THE GEAR SHIFTER IN THE REVERSE POSITION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

NHTSA ID
10918462
Incident
Oct 22, 2016
Mileage
40,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 11, 2014

THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER IS LOCATED ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN, JUST BELOW THE LEVER FOR THE TURN SIGNAL MECHANISM. I ACCIDENTALLY PULLED ON THE CRUISE LEVER INSTEAD OF THE TURN SIGNAL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO UNEXPECTEDLY SPEED UP. THIS IS SUCH AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL SOMEONE HAS AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
10568339
Incident
Mar 7, 2014
Mileage
100 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 16, 2013

2013 MERCEDES BENZ ML350: DURING THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STOP POINT, THE VEHICLE HESITATED LURCHING TO THEN GAIN SPEED AS INTENDED BY THE DRIVER. SECOND AND THIRD OCCURRENCES WERE IDENTICAL AND OCCURRED WHILE LEAVING THE HOUSE WITH NO TRAFFIC ANYWHERE ON SIGHT. VEHICLE WAS SENT FOR REPAIRS AND DEALERSHIP SAID A SOFTWARE UPDATE SHOULD HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. ON 10/15/13, WHILE TRYING TO REENTER AN EXPRESSWAY FROM THE EMERGENCY LANE, THE CAR HESITATED WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM AN INCOMING VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE LURCHED CONSECUTIVE DURING THREE OCCASIONS IN A MATTER OF SECONDS THEN FINALLY GAINED SPEED THUS AVOIDING A COLLISION. SHOULD THE INCOMING CAR HAVE BEEN DRIVING JUST A BIT FASTER, 4 PASSENGERS INCLUDING A BABY WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED BY A VEHICLE TRAVELING AT EXPRESSWAY SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10548040
Incident
Sep 11, 2013
Mileage
24,000 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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .