2007 Mercedes-Benz ML500 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2007 Mercedes-Benz ML500, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Interior & seats562.5%
- Brakes112.5%
- Electrical112.5%
- Steering112.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2007 Mercedes Benz ML500. The contact stated that while her boyfriend was driving, the front and back seat warmers were operating and the driver noticed smoke. The contact mentioned there was a smoke odor and noticed the front driver seat caught on fire. The contact stated that the driver extinguished the fire with his clothes by smothering the seat. In addition, there was a hole in the seat. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they failed to provide a diagnosis and informed the contact the seat was going to be unplugged. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 199,800.
I HAD MY HEATED SEAT ON THE MEDIUM SETTING. WHILE ON MY SHORT COMMUTE TO WORK (ABOUT 8 MINUTES) THIS MORNING MY DRIVER SEAT STARTED TO SMOKE AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE LEATHER AND MELTED PART OF MY CLOTHING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
MECHANICAL FAILURE, STEERING JAM AND BRAKE DID NOT WORK DURING DRIVING AT 15-20 MPH IN SUBDIVISION STREET. GOT IN ACCIDENT HITTING THE VAN.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I OWNED A 2007 MERCEDES ML500, THE REASON I DON'T OWN THE VEHICLE ANY LONGER IS BECAUSE IT BURNT UP IN MY PARKING LOT OUTSIDE OF MY OFFICE. THE EVENING BEFORE THE FIRE I HAD DINNER OUT AND WHEN I WENT TO UNLOCK MY CAR DOORS, THE RIGHT BLINKER LIGHT FLICKERED AND REMAINED ON. AS I GOT INTO THE CAR THE SOUND OF THE BLINKER WAS VERY QUICK AND I TURNED IT OFF BUT REALIZED THEN THAT IT WENT COMPLETELY OUT ALONG WITH THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING I MADE AN APPOINTMENT T GET THOSE FIXED, IN THE MEANTIME I DROVE TO WORK AND PARKED. ONE OF MY CO-WORKERS WHOSE OFFICE FACES THE PARKING LOT SAID THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY CAR. WE CALLED 911 RAN OUTSIDE AND WHEN WE OPENED THE DRIVERS DOOR THERE WERE FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. WE USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT THE FLAMES KEPT COMING BACK UNTIL THERE WAS A WHOOSH SOUND AND THE FIRE EXPLODED OUT OF THE CAR. AT THAT POINT WE ALL RAN FOR SAFETY AND HAD TO SIT AND WATCH WHILE MY CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD PUT IT OUT. THE ENTIRE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS A BLACK CHARRED MESS FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK, THE EXTERIOR WAS BURNT AND IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. PRELIMINARY RESULTS ARE POINTING TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN THE SEAT. FYI - THE SEAT WARMER HAD NOT BEEN TURNED ON AT ALL, IN FACT, NO ONE HAS SAT IN THAT SEAT FOR WEEKS. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
MECHANICAL FAILURE, STEERING JAM AND BRAKE DID NOT WORK DURING DRIVING AT 15-20 MPH IN SUBDIVISION STREET. GOT IN ACCIDENT HITTING THE VAN.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .