2006 Mercedes Benz ML500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
37 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
71,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 31 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 37 complaints (18.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 29.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 21.6% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 18.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 16.2% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Power Train | 2 |
Electrical System: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 5; Air Bags: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Steering: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Power Train: 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 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 3
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2007: 3; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 4; 2011: 3; 2012: 2; 2013: 4; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2018: 3; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 5; 2023: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 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 10181871 · 2007-02-07 (February 7, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HIS 2006 MERCEDES ML 500 (19800 FAILURE MILEAGE) AT 25 MPH, AND MERGING RIGHT ONTO THE EXPRESSWAY, THE VEHICLE KEPT GOING STRAIGHT ONTO THE GRASS. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE TO CHECK THE STEERING WHEEL AND FOUND THAT THE STEERING WHEEL KEPT SPINNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT "THEY WILL NOT FIX THE VEHICLE, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS IN A CRASH" EVEN THOUGH HE DIDN'T STRIKE ANYTHING WHEN HE LOST CONTROL AND RAN OFF ON TO THE MEDIAN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN …
Owner-reported narrative. 19,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181871 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10209783 · 2007-11-24 (November 24, 2007)
THE ELECTRONIC AIRMATIC SUSPENSION SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A YEAR! WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE VECHILE IS UNDRIVEABLE BECAUSE THE FRONT END FALLS ON THE FRONT WHEELS. *TR CAN YOU BELEIVE I PAID EXTRA DOLLARS FOR THIS OPTION AND IT APPEARS THAT THIS WILL BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND I BELEIVE THE PROBLEM WILL NEVER BE RESOLVED. I CAN SEE MYSELF IN ANOTHER 5000 OR 6000 MILES EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM! I BELEIVE FROM PAST EXPERIENCE WITH MERCEDES BENZ THE ELECTRONIC AIRMATIC SUSPENION WILL NEVER WORK PROPERLY AND THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10209783 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10210926 · 2007-12-05 (December 5, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT ROLLED DOWN THE HILL AND CRASHED INTO A GATE. THE DRIVER JUMP INTO THE VEHICLE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE AND SUSTAINED SCRATCHES AND CUTS. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. THE MANUFACTURER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NORMAL. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HIRED AN INVESTIGATOR AND HE STATED THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28400 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 28,600. UPDATED 03/0…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10210926 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10218439 · 2008-02-18 (February 18, 2008)
MERCEDES 500ML TRANSMISSION AND POWER STEERING NOT SAFE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10218439 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10291630 · 2009-11-10 (November 10, 2009)
AFTER STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, RELEASED BRAKE AND PRESSED GAS; THE RPM WOULD GO UP, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD, INSTEAD THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS BECAUSE IT WAS ON A HILL. THE GEAR INDICATOR WAS ON DRIVE, BUT CAR WAS ACTUALLY ON NEUTRAL. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS CAR IS ON NEUTRAL AND CANNOT CHANGE TRANSMISSION BACK TO ANY GEAR. CAR WAS TAKE TO A DEALER REPAIR SHOP, WHERE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY WAS REPLACED. AS CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY COST OF REPAIR OVER $1000. *TR…
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10291630 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10294122 · 2009-12-01 (December 1, 2009)
ACCELERATED AFTER STOPPING AT A LIGHTED INTERSECTION. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR THEREFORE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT THE REDUCED COST OF $2500, AS A COURTESY, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 3K MILES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10294122 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10329094 · 2010-05-06 (May 6, 2010)
TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10329094 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10330995 · 2010-05-18 (May 18, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SEAT WAS MELTING. THE DEALER REUPHOLSTERED THE SEAT AND THE VEHICLE WAS RELEASED TO THE OWNER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 3 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE WIRING HARNESS TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT ALSO ADVISED THE DEALER THAT THE POWER DOOR LOCKS COULD ONLY BE USED MANUALLY. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE POWER DOOR …
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10330995 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
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 ↗