Owners have filed 235 complaints on the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class, covering 2012–2015. The system named most often is Fuel/propulsion System (3 reports). Worst years by volume: 2014, 2012, 2015; cleanest: 2013, 2015, 2012. 25 reports describe a crash, 5 a fire, 1 a death. On average the car was 6.0 years old when the problem happened.
What breaks on Mercedes-Benz ML-Class
Grouped by the system owners named — percentages are shares of all 235 ML-Class complaints. Open any row for the full reports in owners' own words.
Fuel/propulsion System 3 Read
The failed/malfunctioning component appears to be the fuel pump controller / fuel pump control unit, and possibly the fuel pump system. The Mercedes-Benz dealer identified water/moisture-related damage and corrosion at the fuel pump controller area. The failed component should be available for inspection if the dealer…
Re: My 2013 ML350- Intermittent Start/ Vehicle cutting off while in heavy traffic. Fuel Pump and Fuel modulator failed due to water collecting in the spare tire wheel-weld causing water intrusion into the fuel system. I paid out of pocket for this service twice, AND then found out from MB Tacoma there was a RECALL…
Engine stalled driving on interstate highway at 70mph. Mechanic diagnostic indicated to be faulty fuel pump and/or fuel pump control unit. This issue has been recognized by mercedes benz as a faulty issue and subject to recall. Upon calling mercedes benz dealer was told there was no recall on this matter for my…
Electrical System 2 Read
In mid-trip as we were going down the highway went to change lanes and the turn signals were no longer functioning. No errors, no alerts, no warnings they just stopped working. After pulling over and turning off the vehicle and turning back on they work for a time then stop working again. After researching with other…
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…
Fuel System 2 Read
The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH and accelerating above 40 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 40 MPH before it lost automotive power. The vehicle was driven back to the residence. The vehicle was diagnosed by the dealer, and the failure was…
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…
Structure 1 Read
Rear subframe rusted from the inside out causing structural failure. This matches the defect in Campaign #2023020002 for other Mercedes models."
Service Brakes 1 Read
It seems that this vehicle was not included in a brake booster recall which included this model from 2005 through 2015. The brakes are not working properly, and brake fluid has entered the master brake cylinder damaging the seal. It is extremely unsafe to operate this vehicle in this condition. Somehow, this vehicle…
Visibility 1 Read
The contact owns a 2014 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH on the freeway, there was a popping noise coming from the sunroof and discovered it was shattered. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic for diganoses .The vehicle was not repaired The manufacturer was not…
Steering 1 Read
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350. While the contact’s wife was driving approximately 30 - 35 MPH, the message "Do Not Drive Vehicle" was suddenly displayed. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic, and the brake fluid reservoir was topped off. The mechanic was unable to find any leaks. The vehicle was not…
ML-Class years to avoid — and the clean ones
Complaints per model year. More reports usually means more cars on the road as well as more trouble, so read the crash and fire columns alongside the count.
| Model year | Complaints | Top system | Crashes | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Air Bags | 11 | — | |
| 2014 | Air Bags | 7 | 1 | |
| 2013 | Air Bags | 2 | 3 | |
| 2012 | Air Bags | 5 | 1 |
The same model year, different builds
Every complaint carries the first 11 characters of the VIN — plant, year, body and engine. That is a production series, and complaints are spread across them very unevenly.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Distinct production series | 110 |
| Average complaints per series | 2.1 |
| Worst single series | 9 complaints |
| Average age at failure | 6.0 years |
A model average of 2.1 hides a worst series at 9. Enter a VIN above to see the numbers for that exact build instead of the model as a whole.
Owners reported these. Find out if yours is one of them.
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How we count
Every figure here comes from complaints owners filed with NHTSA — 1,100,006 of them, covering 1,982 models built between 1981 and 2026.
A complaint is an unverified report: someone wrote down what happened to their car. It is not a confirmed defect and not a recall. What makes the volume useful is the pattern — when thousands of owners of the same build describe the same failure, that is a signal no marketing brochure will give you.
Two things we do that the source does not. First, we compute the age of the car at the moment of failure from the incident date and the model year. Second, we group complaints by the first 11 characters of the VIN — the production series — so a bad plant run does not disappear into a model-wide average.
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the ML-Class?
By complaint volume, 2014, 2012, 2015 drew the most owner reports. Bear in mind that popular years put more cars on the road, so check the crash and fire columns too.
Which ML-Class years are the cleanest?
2013, 2015, 2012 have the fewest complaints on file. For recent years that can simply mean the cars are young.
How many complaints does the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class have?
235 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, covering 2012–2015. Of those, 25 describe a crash and 5 a fire.
Are these complaints verified?
No. They are unverified reports from owners. NHTSA publishes them as filed and investigates only a fraction. The value is in the pattern, not in any single report.
Can I check complaints for one specific car?
Yes — enter its VIN above. We match the first 11 characters, which identify the plant, year, body and engine, so you get complaints on that exact production series rather than the whole model.