2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
110 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
63,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 36 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 59 of 110 complaints (53.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 23 | 20.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 3.6% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 3.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 2.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.8% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 0.9% |
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 | 59 |
| Electrical System | 15 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 9 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Power Train | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
Air Bags: 59; Electrical System: 15; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 10; Service Brakes: 9; Engine: 7; Power Train: 6; Unknown Or Other: 4; Exterior Lighting: 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 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 74 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 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2017 | 24 |
| 2018 | 24 |
| 2019 | 15 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2012: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 15; 2017: 24; 2018: 24; 2019: 15; 2020: 2; 2021: 2; 2022: 6; 2023: 6; 2024: 3; 2025: 3; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 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 10458253 · 2012-05-13 (May 13, 2012)
THE CAR WAS ON AN INCLINE IN MY DRIVEWAY. IT HAS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER ON THE COLUMN, AND I HAD BEEN BACKING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. I STOPPED PLACED THE CAR IN PARK AND GOT OUT WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING TO MOVE SOMETHING. THE CAR SAT IN PLACE FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS AND THEN SPONTANEOUSLY TOOK OFF AT APPROXIMATELY 5MILES/HOUR. FORTUNATELY MY DAUGHTER WAS STANDING ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR IN FRONT AND SAW THE CAR ROLLING FORWARD, JUMPED IN AND HIT THE BRAKES JUST AS THE CAR STRUCK ONE OF OTHER CARS ON THE DRIVEWAY. THE SHIFT LE…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458253 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10786124 · 2015-10-26 (October 26, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED. THE ESP TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AND SIDE SWIPED A SECOND VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE TURNED 360 DEGREE AND THEN CRASHED INTO AN UTILITY POLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE FRONT END…
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10786124 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10732120 · 2015-07-06 (July 6, 2015)
WITH THE GEAR SELECTOR IN PARK AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT OCCUPIED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS FROM A 4.4 PERCENT GRADE AND OVERTURNED AS IT PROCEEDED DOWNHILL. INSPECTION OF THE TRANSMISSION PARKING GEAR REVEALED THAT THE PARKING PAWL HAD BEEN ACTIVATED BUT DID NOT ENGAGE A PARKING GEAR SLOT. THIS INCIDENT WAS ATTRIBUTED TO EXCESSIVE ANGLE ON THE PARKING GEAR SLOT SIDES, AN UNDERPOWERED PRESSURE SPRING IN THE PARK INTERLOCK MECHANISM, OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH OF THESE CONDITIONS. THESE CONDITIONS PERMITTED THE PARKING PAWL TO BE RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,432 miles reported. Look up ODI 10732120 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11023516 · 2017-09-14 (September 14, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS EVENTUALLY TOWED TO THE LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER (JAMES MOTOR COMPANY (2440 RICHMOND RD, LEXINGTON, KY 40502, [phone remo…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11023516 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11102382 · 2018-06-18 (June 18, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE SRS AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, AND THE SIDE VIEW AND BLIND SIDE INDICATORS WERE INOPERABLE. THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO ENGAGE IN THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FRIEND'S RESIDENCE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11102382 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11298140 · 2020-01-09 (January 9, 2020)
THE BACK GATE LIGHTS ON ML350 STOPPED WORKING. ACCORDING TO MERCEDES DEALERSHIP, THE BACK LIGHT(BRAKE LIGHTS) ASSEMBLIES ARE ALL CORRODED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. I ASKED HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE AND THEY STATED THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW AND THAT THERE WAS NO WATER DAMAGE. I HAVE ALSO HAD FRONT LIGHT ISSUES AS WELL, WITH BULBS BURNING OUT FREQUENTLY. THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY WIRING IS DEFECTIVE. MERCEDES DEALERSHIP IS HAVING ME PAY TO REPLACE THE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES EVEN THOUGH THIS MUST BE SOME SORT OF DEFECT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11298140 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11317721 · 2020-03-12 (March 12, 2020)
I PUT MY KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND IT WOULD NOT START. I HAD A TOW TRUCK TO COME AND GET MY VEHICLE AND THEY CHARGED THE VEHICLE AND WOULD NOT GO INTO NEUTRAL OR DRIVE. I KNOW THAT I PROBABLY NEED A NEW BATTERY BUT THIS WAS SCARY.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11317721 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10958994 · 2017-03-06 (March 6, 2017)
THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNT. THE SMOKE WERE FIRST SPOTTED FROM THE PASSENGER A/C VENT WHILE DRIVING FROM THE SCHOOL TO THE TEACHER'S HOUSE (LESS THAN 1 MILE DISTANCE). WITHIN MINUTES THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE GLOVE BOX OR PASSENGER AC VENT AREA. THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE BACK OF THE CAR IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. THE FIREFIGHTERS WERE THERE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE BEFORE IT GOT THE CHANCE TO GET TO THE FUEL TANK.
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10958994 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11509505 · 2023-02-28 (February 28, 2023)
The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the contact noticed that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the message indicating an EVAP leak was displayed. The contact checked and noticed that there was a leak underneath the vehicle coming from the fuel tank. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 114,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 114,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11509505 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10885153 · 2016-07-15 (July 15, 2016)
FUEL LINE TEAR CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL. WHEN STOPPED FUEL WAS RUNNING FROM UNDER MY VEHICLE, COVERED MOTOR AND ALL OVER CAR. LUCKILY IT IS A BLUE TEC MERCEDE NOT A GAS. VERY FRIGHTENING. DRIVING 55 MILES PER HOUR HIGHWAY. NO SMELL THAT I REMEMBER, JUST LOSS OF CONTROL STEERING. I THOUGHT IT WAS A POWER STEERING PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10885153 at NHTSA ↗