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U.S. public vehicle records

2005 Mercedes Benz ML350 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

23 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

66,700 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 23 complaints (26.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior730.4%
Braking behavior626.1%
Engine operation521.7%
Transmission and shifting313.0%
Electrical and battery issues14.3%

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.

Steering
6
Engine And Engine Cooling
4
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
3
Seats
3
Power Train
2
Engine
1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
Equipment
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Steering6
Engine And Engine Cooling4
Power Train:Automatic Transmission3
Seats3
Power Train2
Engine1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine1
Equipment1

Steering: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Seats: 3; Power Train: 2; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Equipment: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
5
50,000 to 74,999
4
75,000 to 99,999
5
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9995
50,000 to 74,9994
75,000 to 99,9995
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 3 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.

2006
2
2007
1
2008
1
2009
3
2010
3
2011
6
2013
1
2015
2
2016
1
2017
1
2023
1
2025
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20062
20071
20081
20093
20103
20116
20131
20152
20161
20171
20231
20251

2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 3; 2010: 3; 2011: 6; 2013: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2023: 1; 2025: 1

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 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 10228584 · 2008-05-21 (May 21, 2008)

I HAVE A 2005 MERCEDES ML350 I BOUGHT IN 2006 SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR DYING. ONCE WHEN I WAS TURNING IN A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION WITH MY LITTLE BABY DAUGHTER WE ALMOST GOT HIT CAUSE THE CAR DIED OUT ON ME. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES IN FACT IT IS IN THERE NOW FOR THE SAME THING AND THEY CANNOT FIND WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE MANAGER OF THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY HAVE A LOT OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS FROM CUSTOMERS THAT OWN THOSE CARS. HE SAID THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN THE CAR DIES IT DOES NOT REGISTER…

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10228584 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10258928 · 2009-02-17 (February 17, 2009)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE LANES AT APPROXIMATELY 57 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE STEERING COLUMN COMPLETELY LOCKED. SHE ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE, BUT WAS HEADED TOWARDS A CEMENT BARRIER BECAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS INOPERABLE. SHE APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED ABRUPTLY. THERE WAS NO CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANI…

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10258928 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10168357 · 2006-09-15 (September 15, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON STOPPING THE MERCEDES BENZ ML350 SHOOK AND THEN STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS A 2005 MODEL.*AK UPDATED 10/25/2006 - THEREAS MOISTURE IN THE TAILLIGHT. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 24,992 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168357 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10295542 · 2009-12-14 (December 14, 2009)

I WOULD SAY WITHIN A YEAR OF GETTING THE VEHICLE WHILE AT A STOP THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTED TO SHAKE AND ALMOST STALL BUT I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND STARTED TO ACCELERATE SOME AND IT WENT AWAY. THIS HAPPENED ATLEAST 3 OTHER TIMES SINCE THEN AND IT IS NOW DEC 2009. THE VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW WHEN I GOT IT IN MARCH OF 2005. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. NOW MY CAR IS STALLING OUT AND WON'T START PROPERLY OR STAY RUNNING. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF BRINGING IT TO A BENZ REPAIR SHOP BU…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10295542 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10168905 · 2006-09-21 (September 21, 2006)

MY MERCEDES ML 350 AND ML 320 HAVE BOTH HAD EPISODES WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE ONLY COMMON DENOMINATOR WAS THAT THE INCIDENTS OCCURRED AFTER DRIVING OVER HIGHWAY SECTION DIVIDERS WHICH WERE SOMEWHAT BUMPY. SPEEDS WERE APPROX. 70 MPH IN ALL 3 INCIDENTS. ALL 3 TIMES, THE CAR HAD TO BE COASTED OFF THE HIGHWAY TO A FULL STOP, AND SHUT DOWN. THE TRANSMISSION WORKED FINE AFTER THE CAR WAS RESTARTED. THE ML 320 HAD 2 INCIDENTS IN THE SAME TRIP WHEN IT HAD ABOUT 65,000 MILES ON IT. DEA…

Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168905 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10297893 · 2010-01-03 (January 3, 2010)

2005 MERCEDES ML 350 VEHICLE JUMPS WHEN COMING TO A STOP THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT GOING TOO DEALERSHIP CAN NEVER FIND THE PROBLEM, FELLS LIKE TRANSMISSION . VERY BAD SAFETY ISSUE THIS HAS BEEN ON GOING SINCE NOV 8 2006 PLEASE HELP !!!!!!!!! *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10297893 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10295541 · 2009-12-14 (December 14, 2009)

ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I WAS AT 61K MILES AND WARRANTY EXPIRED ABOUT 10K MILES AGO. NOW I AM EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. AN MB TECH CAME AND SAID THE BATTERY WAS NOT THE PROBLEM BUT MOST LIKELY A SENSOR ISSUE AND THAT THIS MODEL HAS HAD MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS AND THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. WELL IT KEPT HAPPENING ALL THIS WEEK UNTIL THE 11TH WHERE IT REALLY WENT DOWN HARD IN TRAFFIC, LUCKILY THIS TIME MY KIDS WERE NOT IN THE CAR. NORMALLY THE CAR WOULD START IMMEDIATELY AFTER OR WITHIN 15 MINUTES THIS TIME AN HOUR AND WOULD THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10295541 at NHTSA ↗