2009 Mercedes Benz ML350 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
93 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 51 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 40 of 93 complaints (43.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 10.8% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 8.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 3.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.1% |
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 | 40 |
| Seat Belts | 18 |
| Electrical System | 16 |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
Air Bags: 40; Seat Belts: 18; Electrical System: 16; Exterior Lighting: 5; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Service Brakes: 4; Structure:Body: 3; Unknown Or Other: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 17 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 42 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 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 14 |
| 2017 | 25 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2011: 1; 2012: 3; 2013: 2; 2014: 11; 2015: 6; 2016: 14; 2017: 25; 2018: 11; 2019: 3; 2020: 2; 2021: 3; 2022: 4; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 5; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 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 10526026 · 2013-07-21 (July 21, 2013)
IN OCTOBER 2012, I OPENED THE REAR HATCH OF MY 2009 MERCEDES BENZ ML350 AND IT WOULD NOT CLOSE. I CONTINUED TO PUSH THE BUTTON ON THE HATCH DOOR, ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND ON THE KEY IN AN ATTEMPT TO CLOSE THE HATCH DOOR. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES, I WAS SUCCESSFULLY ABLE TO CLOSE IT. THREE WEEKS AGO, THE REAR HATCH MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN, HOWEVER, THIS TIME IT WOULD NOT OPEN. I TRIED THE BUTTON ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE HATCH, ON THE INSIDE ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND ON THE KEY IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE HATCH TO OPEN. I LEFT FOR A BUSINESS TRIP T…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10526026 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10534063 · 2013-08-07 (August 7, 2013)
THE BACK HATCH ON MY 2009 MERCEDES ML350 WOULD NOT OPEN USING THE ELECTRONIC KEY OR THE DRIVER BUTTON IN THE DOOR. THERE WAS A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS OPENING, BUT THE LATCH WOULD NOT RELEASE THE DOOR. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS MY BATTERY WOULD SUDDENLY BE DEAD. I ASSUMED I MUST HAVE LEFT A LIGHT ON. IT WAS NOT UNTIL I SAW A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA OF THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THAT I REALIZED THAT MY UNOPENED HATCH WAS DRAINING MY BATTERY. I HAVE SINCE HAD TO REPLACE MY BATTERY AT AN EXPENSE OF OVER $300. MERCEDES BATTERIES ARE EXTREMELY EXP…
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10534063 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10471977 · 2012-08-23 (August 23, 2012)
PLEASE NOTE THAT ON THE ML350 WITH LED LIGHTS THERE SEEM TO BE A MAJOR ISSUE WITH LIGHT REPLACEMENTS. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR STATES THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT IS BROKEN. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER THEY STATE THAT THERE IS NO BULB REPLACEMENT. YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TAIL LAMP FOR 545.00 . I THINK THIS IS CRAZY JUST FOR A BLOWN BULB, MERCEDES DID NOT DESIGN THE LED TAIL LAMP BULB TO BE REPLACEABLE. I THINK THE MAKER IS AN ASS TO DESIGN THE TAIL LAMP THAT WAY. I THINK THIS UNFAIR PRACTICE AND HOPE SOMEONE INVESTIGATES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 50,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10471977 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10578492 · 2014-04-09 (April 9, 2014)
AS I WAS GETTING READY TO SHIFT THE GEAR LEVER TO DRIVE THE LEVER SHEARED OFF AND I WAS UNABLE TO HAVE CONTROL OF SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO ANY OTHER POSITION SUCH AS (P/N/R). I STOP THE CAR AS A SAFETY CONCERN AND LOOKED AT THE BROKEN GEAR SHIFT LEVER AND IT APPEAR TO BE SHEARED OFF THE WEAKEST AREA OF THE LEVER OR WHERE THE SHIFTING LOAD TAKES PLACE. CAR STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT DEALER REFUSED TO FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY WITH THE EXCUSE EXCESSIVE FORCE APPLIED TO SHIFT WHICH CAUSE THE LEVER TO BRAKE. I AM SURE THE IS A MATERIAL DEFECTS AND FA…
Owner-reported narrative. 61,590 miles reported. Look up ODI 10578492 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10450137 · 2012-03-03 (March 3, 2012)
FUEL TANK LEAK. GAS SMELL INSIDE OF VEHICLE WAS SO BAD THAT IT MADE ME SICK. MERCEDES DEALER FIXED IT UNDER WARRANTY: CHANGED THE SEALS ON THE FUEL TANK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10450137 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10733001 · 2015-07-09 (July 9, 2015)
WEEK OF JUNE 27TH, I STARTED TO NOTE GAS FUMES COMING FROM MY VEHICLE. GIVEN, I HAD RECENTLY FILLED UP ON GAS TANK, THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO "BURN OFF"... ON JULY 2ND, TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR OIL CHANGE AND THEY NOTED THAT THEY COULD DETECT GAS FUMES COMING FROM UNDER MY VEHICLE AND ADVISED TO TAKE IT TO DEALERSHIP IN ASAP... SAME DAY, TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND AFTER A FULL INSPECTION OF MY VEHICLE, THEY ADVISED ME THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS BRAKING DOWN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY ADVISED THIS WAS SO INCREDIBLY RARE AND SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED…
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10733001 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10715118 · 2015-05-07 (May 7, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE, FUEL FUMES EMITTED IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10715118 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11686279 · 2025-09-10 (September 10, 2025)
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle lost power steering functionality, and the steering wheel locked. The battery warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the VIN was not included under recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11686279 at NHTSA ↗