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2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

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.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior2320.9%
Transmission and shifting43.6%
Engine operation43.6%
Electrical and battery issues32.7%
Fuel system concerns21.8%
Steering behavior10.9%

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.

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
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags59
Electrical System15
Service Brakes, Hydraulic10
Service Brakes9
Engine7
Power Train6
Unknown Or Other4
Exterior Lighting3

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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0004
25,000 to 49,9993
50,000 to 74,99913
75,000 to 99,9999
100,000 to 149,9996
150,000 and above1

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.

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
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20122
20132
20141
20152
201615
201724
201824
201915
20202
20212
20226
20236
20243
20253
20263

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.

Examples from the source records

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 10469882 · 2012-08-09 (August 9, 2012)

2011 MERCEDES BENZ ML 350. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RUN FLAT TIRES ISSUES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED THREE FLAT TIRES WITHIN THE FIRST 13,000 MILES. TWO REQUIRED EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT, ONE WITH A 24 HOUR TRIP DELAY. THE CONSUMER STATED THE LITERATURE FROM MERCEDES BENZ STATED THE RUN FLAT TIRES COULD ONLY BE DRIVEN 50 MILES LOADED AND ONLY 18 MILES UNLOADED.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10469882 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10496117 · 2013-02-01 (February 1, 2013)

WE PURCHASED A NEW MERCEDES ML 350 IN OCTOBER OF 2011, IN THE PAST YEAR IT HAS HAD THREE AIRBAG FAILURES. EACH TIME THE DIAGNOSTICS SYSTEM ALERTS AN AIRBAG FAILURE WE HAVE IT REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP, BUT I HAVE LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN THE VEHICLES SAFETY EQUIPMENT. WILL THESE AIRBAGS ACTUALLY OPERATE IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION? *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10496117 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10500173 · 2013-02-26 (February 26, 2013)

WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN AND THE TRUCK JERKED OVER TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT ME DOING IT. ITS HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES SINCE THEN. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THEREFORE THERE IS NO PROBLEM. MY IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 20,000 MILES. MY KEYS WOULD NOT START THE TRUCK FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK STRAIGHT ON THE 1ST OR 2ND ATTEMPT. FINALLY ON THE 3RD TRY THE TRUCK WOULD START. ITS A YEAR AND A HALF OLD. WHEN THEY CONNECTED IT TO THEY'RE COMPUTER IT DID NOT READ ANY ERROR CODES. IT HAD TO NOT START THERE F…

Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10500173 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10577487 · 2014-04-04 (April 4, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE IN A JERKING MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE BLIND SPOT ASSIST SENSORS CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10577487 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 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 10822579 · 2016-01-27 (January 27, 2016)

REFERENCE: SEIFI VS MERCEDES-BENZ. I HAVE 66,000 MILES ON MY CAR. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING, WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD PART WAS DEFECTIVE. HAS CODE1200, 12007 FOR BALANCE SHAFT. MERCEDES HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM JUST SETTLED FOR 2005-2007 MODEL.

Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10822579 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

16V081000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2016-02-11 (February 11, 2016)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 ML320 BlueTec 4Matic, GL320 BlueTec 4Matic and R320 CDI 4Matic, 2011 E350 Cabriolet and E550 Cabriolet, 2009-2011 ML350, ML350 4Matic, ML550 4Matic, ML63 AMG, and C63 AMG, 2010-2011 ML450 4Matic Hybrid, E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic, E550 Coupe, E550 4Matic, and E63 AMG, 2011-2012 GL350 BlueTec 4Matic and R350 BlueTec 4Matic, 2009-2012 GL450 4Matic, GL550 4Matic and R350 4Matic, 2007-2008 SLK280, SLK350, and SLK55 AMG, 2011-2014 SLS AMG Coupe, 2012 SLS AMG Cabriolet, 2013-2014 SLS AMG GT and SLS AMG GT Cabriolet, 2005 C230 Kompressor and C320, 2006-2007 C230, 2006-2011 C350, 2008-2011 C300 and C300 4Matic, 2010-2012 GLK350 and GLK350 4Matic and 2007-2008 Chrysler Crossfire vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: MBUSA will their notify owners, and Fiat Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler owners. Dealers for the respective brands will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. This recall began November 2016. Mercedes-Benz owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372 and Chrysler owners may contact Fiat Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
22V315000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum

Reported: 2022-05-09 (May 9, 2022)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML-Class, GL-Class, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake performance or brake failure.

Consequence: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2022050014, 2022050015 2022090006, & 2022090007.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
24V298000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum

Reported: 2024-04-26 (April 26, 2024)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML, GL, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake performance or brake failure.

Consequence: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MMUSA's number for this recall is 2024050001/2. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-315.

NHTSA campaign record ↗