2009 Mercedes Benz ML350: complaints, problems and recalls

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HATCHBACK DOOR DID NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH A SENSOR THAT WOULD PREVENT THE DOOR FROM CLOSING IF A PERSON WAS IN THE DOOR PATH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESIGNED WITH A SENSOR AND THAT WERE UNABLE TO ALTER THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10396033 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

I HAVE A 2009 MERCEDES ML 350. ABOUT A WEEK AGO, MY BREAK FLUID LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOPPED THE FLUID OFF. A FEW DAYS PASSED, AND THE LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP, AND IT WAS VERIFIED THAT "THE PRESSURE DROPS AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. (THEY) FOUND THE LINE INTO THE ABR PUMP WAS LEAKING. R&R PUMP TO INSPECT LINES AND FOUND METAL LINE DEFORMED AT FLARE". *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10452109 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

MY MERCEDES ML350 WAS PARKED ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. FLAMES BEGAN SHOOTING OUT OF THE RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT. BY THE TIME THAT WE SAW IT AND EXTINGUISHED IT THE ENTIRE BACK OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE AND THE CAR TOTALED.(MATTER OF MINUTES) THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. I HAVE PICTURES SHOWING THAT FIRE CAME FROM THE ELECTRICAL PANEL IN THE RIGHT REAR OF THE CAR. I HAD NO PREVIOUS INDICATION OTHER THAN A HALF AN HOUR EARLIER THE LEFT REAR TAILLIGHT WAS STUCK ON. ALSO TWICE IN THE PAST YEAR I CALLED THE DEALER TO SAY THAT I THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS S…

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10558192 at NHTSA ↗

REAR SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. THAT SEAT BELT RARELY GETS USED AND IS CLEAN AS A WHISTLE. IN READING ONLINE FORUMS, THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10560302 at NHTSA ↗

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.

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.

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.