2010 Mercedes-Benz ML350 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
101 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
67,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 38 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 67 of 101 complaints (66.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 9.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.0% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 67 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Seat Belts | 10 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 |
| Steering | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
Air Bags: 67; Electrical System: 10; Seat Belts: 10; Engine: 5; Service Brakes: 5; Exterior Lighting: 4; Steering: 4; Unknown Or Other: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 63 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 41 |
| 2018 | 20 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 7; 2015: 8; 2016: 9; 2017: 41; 2018: 20; 2019: 7; 2020: 1; 2022: 2; 2023: 1; 2024: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10724637 · 2015-06-10 (June 10, 2015)
ABS AND ESP WARNING INDICATORS CAME ON. WAS TOLD MY WARRANTY HAD JUST EXPIRED DAYS EARLIER AND THAT ONLY ONE SENSOR WAS BAD BUT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS QUITE OFTEN AND RECOMMENDING CHANGING ALL 4 SENSORS. I SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE A PRODUCT DEFECT AND COMPLAINED TO SERVICE MANAGER. HE SAID HE WOULD WARRANTY THE ONE BAD PART AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE OTHERS. THAT'S FINE BUT WHAT ABOUT THE COMMONALITY OF THIS PART GOING BAD FOLLOWED BY OTHERS FAILING SHORTLY AFTERWARDS?
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10724637 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10778198 · 2015-09-28 (September 28, 2015)
THE RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT SENSOR GAVE A WARNING THAT THE BRAKE LAMP NEEDS REPLACING. WHILE MAKING ARRANGEMENTS TO REPLACE, THE LEFT BRAKE LIGHT BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION AND ALSO NEEDED REPLACEMENT. SINCE BOTH LED BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED WITHIN 3 MONTHS IT SEEMS TO BE A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES BENZ LED LIGHTS. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO MERCEDES BENZ USA AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT THEY WOULD CALL THE LOCAL DEALER ON MY BEHALF AND SPEAK WITH THE MANAGER TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. WE REPLACED BOTH REAR LIGH…
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10778198 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10794811 · 2015-11-19 (November 19, 2015)
PURCHASED CAR USED IN FEBRUARY 2015, HAD TO REPLACE RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT BULB THREE TIMES WITHIN THREE MONTHS. DEALERSHIP HAD TO REPLACE THE WIRE HARNESS ON BOTH TAILLIGHTS AS THE CONTACTS ON THE BRAKE LIGHT SOCKETS (BOTH SIDES) WERE DEFECTIVE. THE C230 MODEL HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM, HOWEVER, THE ML350 WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I WOULD ADVISE THE NHTSA TO SEE IF OTHER MODELS OF THE MERCEDES HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM TO AVOID REAR END ACCIDENTS WHEN BRAKES FAIL. THE CAR IS ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD, AND HAS NOT BEEN IN AN AR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10794811 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11022929 · 2017-09-12 (September 12, 2017)
ON AUGUST 1ST 2017 BOUGHT BRAND NEW BATTERY FROM MERCEDES-BENZ OF EASTON. INSTALLED IN NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS WITHOUT ANY ISSUE. ON SEPT 12TH 2017 AROUND 2.45PM STARTED THE CAR(IN THE DRIVEWAY) AND WENT INSIDE TO GET MY MOBILE. WHEN I CAME OUT TO TE CAR, SAW BIG SMOKE INSIDE AND IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED OFF THE ENGINE. SAW FLAMES COMING UNDERNEATH OF PASSENGER SEAT AND IMMEDIATELY POURED WATER. LATER OBSERVED BATTERY IGNITED THE FLAMES AND EVEN TOP OF THE BATTERY STARTED MELTING. CALLED MBUSA AND REPORTED THE INCIDENT, AND WAS PROMISED THAT A…
Owner-reported narrative. 138,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11022929 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10788322 · 2015-11-04 (November 4, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,702. ....UPDATED 01/13/16 *BF *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 90,702 miles reported. Look up ODI 10788322 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10811585 · 2015-12-21 (December 21, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10811585 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11182291 · 2019-02-25 (February 25, 2019)
VEHICLE HAS A VERY UNSTABLE RIDE THAT CONTINUES TO WORSEN. THE PROBLEM AROSE ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO AND CONTINUES TO WORSEN -- MORE SO OVER THE LAST YEAR. I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS AND TAKE METICULOUS CARE OF IT. I'VE KEPT UP WITH ALL MAINTENANCE AND ALWAYS PURCHASE THE BEST QUALITY REPLACEMENT TIRES. NOW THE VEHICLE IS SO UNSTABLE WITH ANY MINIMAL ROAD BUMPS OR EVEN SLIGHTLY UNEVEN SURFACES AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 35 MPH. SUV LOSES IT'S "GRIP" WITH THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY CONCERNING IF MAKING A TURN AT THE SAME TIME. THERE HAVE B…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11182291 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11746608 · 2026-06-26 (June 26, 2026)
Steering became increasingly sluggish and difficult to navigate; i took the vehicle into the shop and they said there is metal shards or shavings being worn into the power steering fluid and destroying the pump, clogging up the filter and the rack and pinion steering system is also being compromised making the vehicle unsafe to operate.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11746608 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10761930 · 2015-09-07 (September 7, 2015)
MASSIVE DIESEL LEAK FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK WHEN FILLING UP. THEN CEL CAME ON AND CAR LOST POWER. GOING UPHILL IN A CRUISE CONTROL, STARTED WITH 60, BY THE END OF THE FAIRLY EASY HIL, IT WAS BARELY DOING 20. WHEN FILLING UP, DIESEL LEAKED ALL OVER THE PLACE FROM PASSENGER SIDE FUEL TANK. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, CAN CAUSE FIRE OR STRANDED ON HIGHWAY. SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND MAY BE FIXED AS RECALL. 400 MILES FROM HOME ON A HOLIDAY, WITH FAMILY. BARELY MADE HOME, WITH MY WIFE LOOKING BACK IF THERE THERE IS FIRE BREAK OUT. WHITE KNUCKLE DRIVE.…
Owner-reported narrative. 124,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10761930 at NHTSA ↗