2013 Mercedes-Benz ML350 Engine Problems

NHTSA VEHICLE SAFETY COMPLAINT SUPPORTING STATEMENT Vehicle: 2013 Mercedes-Benz ML350 I am submitting this complaint regarding a continuing safety concern involving water intrusion and electronic system damage in my 2013 Mercedes-Benz ML350. My vehicle was subject to a Mercedes-Benz recall involving water intrusion and related components. Despite recall-related repairs being performed, moisture and water intrusion concerns remain unresolved. During the diagnostic process, Mercedes-Benz personnel identified evidence of water and humidity in areas associated with vehicle electronics and control modules. The vehicle has experienced repeated mechanical and electronic issues following discovery of the water intrusion condition. Multiple repair facilities have been involved, and I have incurred significant diagnostic and repair expenses while attempting to determine the full extent of the damage. The primary concern is not ordinary wear and tear. The concern is that water intrusion has affected vehicle systems and that the recall remedy has not resulted in a complete resolution of the condition. I am concerned that moisture exposure may continue to impact vehicle electronics, control modules, sensors, and other safety-related systems. Mercedes-Benz USA has been notified and a case has been opened. The dealership has also been involved. However, despite escalation requests and requests for management review, I have not received a meaningful resolution. The dealership continues directing me back to Mercedes-Benz USA while Mercedes-Benz USA has not provided a final management response. I respectfully request that NHTSA review whether the recall remedy adequately addressed the water intrusion condition and whether additional investigation is warranted regarding continuing moisture intrusion, electronic system exposure, and potential safety risks associated with this condition. I am prepared to provide repair orders, recall documentation, photographs, diagnostic findin

NHTSA ID

11741266

Incident

Dec 17, 2025

The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 - 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled in the middle lane. The driver was able to push the vehicle safely to the roadside. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The following day, it took two minutes to start the vehicle. The vehicle was drivable, but the vehicle eventually stalled while driving. The vehicle was towed to another local dealer, Mercedes-Benz of South Orlando (4301 Millenia Blvd, Orlando, FL 32839), where it was diagnosed with a faulty fuel sensor and control valve. The parts were replaced. The contact stated that the fuel pump was replaced four times, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was contacted and escalated the failure was escalated to an engineer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.

NHTSA ID

11711198

Incident

Dec 1, 2025

Mileage

96,000 mi

The engine locked up after blowing the top part of the engine off, fire shot out of the engine and quickly went out like a flam thrower. I was driving on the expressway when the accelerator would not work without any warning I didn’t have any issues with this truck. The car cut off immediately thank God I was able to coast to the side of the expressway because it stopped in the left lane on the expressway I was scared for our lives. The dealership has the truck and they said the engine is locked up. This morning s unacceptable for a car I’ve had for a year.

NHTSA ID

11686235

Incident

Aug 17, 2025

The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated while adding washer fluid to the vehicle, the contact became aware that there was oil leaking from the upper timing chain covers down onto the alternator. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the upper timing chain covers needed to be removed and resealed. Additionally, the mechanic informed the contact that the oil needed to be cleaned off the engine and the alternator. The contact stated that upon investigating the failure, the contact became aware that the upper timing chain cover coating material did not allow the cover to seal properly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.

NHTSA ID

11616163

Incident

Sep 3, 2024

Mileage

66,000 mi

2013 Mercedes Benz ML350 (W166) engine (m276) began misfiring. Palm Springs Mercedes Benz diagnosed faulty camshaft positioning sensor leaking engine oil into engine electrical harness which wicked through harness to ECU. Faulty (leaking) camshaft positioning sensor caused faulty harness, ECU, injectors, o2 sensors. Said common problem on these and other models and engines.

NHTSA ID

11463905

Incident

Apr 23, 2022

The seal for the oil cooler is leaking and could cause an engine fire. The Mercedes repair says they only expect this repair to last 30,000 miles before it fails again. Each time this fix occurs it is a $4,800 repair by the dealer as they have to tear the engine apart to replace it. This is a known issue but there are no recalls. Oil runs under the entire car and on to the braking surfaces as well. I was told by the Mercedes dealer that fires have happened from this while driving or as the car or SUV is parked.

NHTSA ID

11443266

Incident

Jun 4, 2021

OIL CAP FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE LEAK OIL SLOWLY CAUSING THE OIL GET INTO THE AIR HOSE IN FRONT OF THE ENGINE. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON.

NHTSA ID

11174624

Incident

Feb 1, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE OIL COOLER FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF OIL LEAKED ONTO THE ENGINE DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. SULLIVAN-PARKHILL IMPORTS (401 WEST MARKETVIEW DRIVE, CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS 61822, (217) 352-4161) DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLER GASKET WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED BE TO CLEANED DUE TO SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF OIL LEAKING ONTO THE MOTOR OF THE DIESEL ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. *TT CONSUMER OIL SEAL LEAK -BLOWS OIL OVER ALL OVER ENGINE. *JB

NHTSA ID

11152448

Incident

Nov 2, 2018

Mileage

120,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE CAME ON AND ABOUT 5 SECONDS LATER, A LOUD NOISE CAME PROBABLY FROM THE ENGINE. THE CAR THEN STARTED JOLTING BACK AND FORTH; I HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL TWICE AND GOT ALMOST KNOCKED OUT. THE ENGINE STOPPED WHILE I WAS STILL RUNNING AT 70 MPH. MOST IF NOT ALL THE LIGHTS IN MY DASHBOARD CAME ON THEN I STARTED SLOWING DOWN. THE SEAT BELT NEVER TIGHTENED ON ME AS THE CAR WAS JOLTING. I KEPT THE CAR ROLLING AND GOT OUT OF A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AS THE CAR CAME TO A HALT, A LOT OF ENGINE OIL LEAKED ON THE STREET, MAYBE ABOUT AQUART. I TOOK A PICTURE AS I JUST GOT OUT OF THE CAR. ALSO, AS THE TOWING TOOK THE CAR, THE TOWING BED GOT OVER A QUART OF ENGINE OIL THAT LEAKED FROM MY CAR. I TOWED THE CAR TO MERCEDEZ BENZ OF NOVI BUT THEY REFUSED TO TAKE IT. THEY ORDERED ME TO TOWED IT OUT AND TOW IT BACK TO THEM TWO WEEKS LATER. I TOWED IT TO MERCEDES BENZ OF BLOOMFIELD ON SEPTEMBER 6. I NOTIFIED MBUSA OF THIS INCIDENT ON SEPTEMBER 7 AND PROVIDED THEM ACCESS TO CHECK THE CAR BUT THEY SHOWED NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN LOOKING AT THE COMPLAINT AS THE VEHICLE HAS 92,273 MILES AND IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY INSTEAD OFFERED ME A $2,000 DISCOUNT ON A PURCHASE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. NEITHER THE DEALERSHIP NOR MBUSA VERIFIED THE CAR FOR SAFETY RELATED ISSUES ON THE ENGINE OR SEAT BELT THOUGH IT WAS AND STILL IS PARKED AT THE MB DEALERSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD. I COULD HAVE EASILY WENT UNCONSCIOUS FROM THE JOLTING AND HITTING MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I THINK THERE IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT REQUIRES AT A MINIMUM FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO LOOK AT LET ALONE ISSUE A RECALL FOR SAFETY REASONS ON THE ENGINE AND THE SEAT BELT.

NHTSA ID

11129190

Incident

Sep 4, 2018

Mileage

92,273 mi

I KEEP EXPERIENCING THE "PRE-SAFE LIMITED" WARNING. THE CAR BREAK STARTS FADING, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON THE WORKING CONDITIONS. THIS SITUATION IS SO UNSAFE BECAUSE THE CAR BECOMES HEAVY AND THE STEERING TURNS HARD TO MANEUVER.

NHTSA ID

11110678

Incident

Jul 11, 2018

Mileage

100,234 mi

IN MAY 2017, WHILE DRIVING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ACCELERATION WAS EXTREMELY REDUCED IN A VERY DANGEROUS WAY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS AN OIL LEAK THAT HAS BEEN LEAKING ON THE WIRING HARNESS, WHICH CAUSED WIRING/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR ENTIRE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY FAIL. ESTIMATED REPAIR IS $13,500. THE VEHICLE HAS 34K MILES, AND THE ORIGINAL FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRED IN LATE FEBRUARY 2017. HAD ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AT DEALER IN FEBRUARY, NO OIL LEAK DETECTED. DEALER SERVICE TECH WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE AND HAS SEEN TEN OR SO OF THEM. UNPROTECTED WIRING HARNESS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR TO WARRANTY EXPIRATION, REPORTED SMALL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS TO MB DEALER, BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE/DETERMINE CAUSE. ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE COMPLETED AT MB DEALER PER MB SCHEDULE. CONTACTED MBUSA TO REQUEST A GOODWILL REPAIR CREDIT GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE REPAIR, THE HISTORY OF THE VEHICLE, HISTORY WITH MB, ETC. AND SINCE THIS DEFECT LIKELY PREDATED WARRANTY EXPIRATION. MBUSA CUSTOMER CARE CENTER WAS INDIFFERENT. PARTS ALONE ARE $8,000. MBUSA OFFERED TO CONTRIBUTE ONLY 10%.

NHTSA ID

10991521

Incident

May 11, 2017

Mileage

34,000 mi

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