Mercedes-Benz ML-Class Complaints

497 consumer complaints on file.

#10640175September 30, 2014
SEAT BELTS
REAR SEATBELTS FAIL TO RETRACT. I'M WAITING ON A CALL FROM THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT AS TO THE COST TO REPLACE THE REAR SEAT BELTS. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM IN ANY OTHER CAR BRAND. VERY DISAPPOINTED AND CONCERNED ABOUT COST TO REPLACE AS CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. HOWEVER, SINCE MY TWO YOUNG KIDS RIDE IN THE BACK ALL THE TIME I NEED FUNCTIONING SEAT BELTS. HAVE SEEN SOME OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AT VARIOUS ONLINE FORUMS. PERHAPS AN INVESTIGATION IS WARRANTED DUE TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10631401September 7, 2014
STEERING, WHEELS
THE CAR WOULD MAKE LOUD NOISES EVEN AT A SMALL SPEED, SERVICE MGR AT SMYTHE TOLD ME THAT MB HAD THIS DEFECT AND HE STATED HE PUT LOCTITE 648 PER MY NOTES O 8/24./2012 AT 9N WHEEL BEARING(S)! MB SHOULD NOT HAVE SUCH A PROBLEM. MY PREVIOUS ML 500 ALSO HAD A STEERING PROBLEM AND MB NEVER NOTIFIED US BUT FIXED IT AFTER THE WARRANTY AS THEY KNEW ABOUT IT ACCORDING TO SMYTHE SVC MGR. I THINK MB MUST BE PROACTIVE IN RECTIFYING SUCH PROBLEMS AS WE DO NOT WANT THEM TO CAUSE PROBLEMS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXP.! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10621983August 13, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE ELECTRONIC KEY ANYMORE TO THE TUNE OF $1,300.00+ ON A FOUR YEAR OLD CAR, AT THIS PRICE POINT IS RIDICULOUS! ADDITIONALLY, A NEW KEY WAS NEEDED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10615319July 22, 2014
WHEELS
TWO BENT WHEELS ON RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE. IT IS UNKNOWN WHEN THE DAMAGE MAY HAVE OCCURRED OR IF THE WHEELS WERE IN FACT INCORRECT WHEN INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE DURING MANUFACTURE. INSPECTION BY THE MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER ON MAY 30 THOUGHT I HIT A LARGE POTHOLE IN ROAD. I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF HITTING A POTHOLE. I HAVE DRIVEN OVER THE NORMAL LESS THAN PERFECT "ROUGH " HIGHWAY ROADS IN THE US ONLY; NO OFF-ROAD. I BELIEVE THE WHEELS ARE DEFECTIVE. EITHER POOR METALLURGICAL SPECIFICATIONS BY MERCEDES-BENZ, A SUBSTANDARD MANUFACTURE OF THE CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS OR A FRAGILE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION FOR NORMAL ROAD USE. THIS VEHICLE IS A SUV WHICH IMPLIES A MORE HEAVY-DUTY CONSTRUCTION COMPARED TO A "CAR". MERCEDES-BENZ COMPANY VIDEOS ILLUSTRATE TRAILER-HAULING AND OFF-ROAD USAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598246June 13, 2014
SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER SIDE WILL NOT PULL OUT TO LATCH, I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES OVER THE COARSE OF 2.5 YEARS AND THEY SAY "THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE", MY WIFE HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH NO SEAT BELT. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578405April 8, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. INSTEAD OF BLOWING A FUSE , FUSE HOUSING MELTED FROM FIRE AND HEAT REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE HOUSING WITH ALL FUSES AND RELAYS. I BROUGHT IT UP TO MERCEDES BENZ ATTENTION AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS AS THE PART GOT REPLACED AT THIS POINT IT IS ONLY AN "ALLEGED" PROBLEM. THEY DO NOT WANT TO ACCEPT THEIR OWN SERVICE MECHANIC 'S DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HAPPENED. I AM AFRAID THIS CAR HAS ALL THE POTENTIAL OF BIGGER FIRE HAZARD AND POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS. I AM BRINGING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION ONLY BECAUSE YOU MAY HAVE PRIOR REPORTS ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND I AM DOING MY CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY IT WAS UNFORTUNATE 14 PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE WITH GM IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577487April 4, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574037March 21, 2014
VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ ML550. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD GLASS CAUSED A GLARE AND DISTORTED HIS VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER RECOGNIZED THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THE WINDSHIELD FUNCTIONED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,600. UPDATED 04/30/14 MA *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10568339March 11, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER IS LOCATED ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN, JUST BELOW THE LEVER FOR THE TURN SIGNAL MECHANISM. I ACCIDENTALLY PULLED ON THE CRUISE LEVER INSTEAD OF THE TURN SIGNAL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO UNEXPECTEDLY SPEED UP. THIS IS SUCH AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL SOMEONE HAS AN ACCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10567307March 4, 2014
VISIBILITY
ON 1/11/14 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:45 P.M. AMIDST A VERY HEAVY DOWNPOUR WITH THE WIPERS IN USE, I WAS TRAVELING EASTWARD ON I-95 AT ABOUT 60 MPH APPROACHING NEW HAVEN, WITH MY WIFE AND SON AS PASSENGERS, WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND IMMEDIATELY SAW THAT MY WIPERS HAD INTERLOCKED AND STOPPED FUNCTIONING, LEAVING ME WITH ALMOST NO VISIBILITY. I SLOWED DOWN, PUT ON FLASHERS, AND WAS ABLE SAFELY TO REACH THE NEXT EXIT AND COME TO A STOP ON A LOCAL STREET. THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER MECHANISM HAD COME APART. I DISENGAGED THE BLADE SO THAT THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER WAS ABLE TO FUNCTION. I TOOK THE CAR THIS MORNING (1/14) TO THE MERCEDES DEALER IN WHITE PLAINS, NY. THE SERVICE REP UPON SEEING THE DISENGAGED ARM SAID HE'S SEEN IT HAPPEN BEFORE, AND HE IMMEDIATELY CONCLUDED THAT THE "SCREWS" HAD COME LOOSE DUE TO USE OF THE WIPERS DURING THE RECENT SEVERE COLD WEATHER/SNOW WITHOUT SCRAPING THE WINDSHIELD BEFORE USE, AND THAT THE LOOSENING OF THE SCREWS WAS "BETTER" THAN BURNING OUT A $700 WIPER MOTOR. I DO NOT AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT IN LIGHT OF THE SERIOUS RISK OF AN ACCIDENT WHEN SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING I HAD ALMOST NO VISIBILITY AT NIGHT IN A HEAVY DOWNPOUR DOING 60 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561839January 28, 2014
SEAT BELTS
THE REAR SEAT BELTS ON THIS VEHICLE GET STUCK ALL THE WAY OUT AND WILL NOT RETRACT. THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AS OF THIS MONTH AND THE DEALER IS QUOTING AROUND $800 TO FIX THIS KNOWN ISSUE. HAVING A BROKEN RETRACTOR IS NOT SAFE AS WE CANNOT PUT TWO PEOPLE IN THE BACK SEAT OF OUR CAR. A TERRIBLE DESIGN TO HAVE A SEAT BELT BREAK WHEN VERY FEW PASSENGERS RIDE IN THE BACK SEAT EXCEPT FOR MY CHILD. PLEASE HELP AND PUT A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561349January 24, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HEAD LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE BEYOND TWENTY FIVE FEET, MAKING NIGHT TIME DRIVING VERY DIFFICULT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO UTILIZE THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10560843January 21, 2014
SEAT BELTS
REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELTS WON'T RETRACT. THIS LEAVES THE BELTS LOOSE AND INEFFECTIVE WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10560197January 16, 2014
VISIBILITY/WIPER
ON 1/11/14 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:45 P.M. AMIDST A VERY HEAVY DOWNPOUR WITH THE WIPERS IN USE, I WAS TRAVELING EASTWARD ON I-95 AT ABOUT 60 MPH APPROACHING NEW HAVEN, WITH MY WIFE AND SON AS PASSENGERS, WHEN I HEARD A NOISE AND IMMEDIATELY SAW THAT MY WIPERS HAD INTERLOCKED AND STOPPED FUNCTIONING, LEAVING ME WITH ALMOST ZERO VISIBILITY. I SLOWED DOWN, PUT ON FLASHERS, AND WAS ABLE SAFELY TO REACH THE NEXT EXIT AND COME TO A STOP ON A LOCAL STREET. THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER MECHANISM HAD COME APART. I DISENGAGED THE BLADE SO THAT THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER WAS ABLE TO FUNCTION. I TOOK THE CAR ON 1/14/14 TO THE MERCEDES DEALER IN WHITE PLAINS, NY. THE SERVICE REP UPON SEEING THE DISENGAGED ARM SAID HE'S SEEN IT HAPPEN BEFORE, AND HE IMMEDIATELY CONCLUDED THAT THE "SCREWS" HAD COME LOOSE DUE TO USE OF THE WIPERS DURING THE RECENT SEVERE COLD WEATHER/SNOW WITHOUT SCRAPING THE WINDSHIELD BEFORE USE, AND THAT THE LOOSENING OF THE SCREWS WAS "BETTER" THAN BURNING OUT A $700 WIPER MOTOR. I FIND THE REP'S STATEMENT TROUBLING, TO SAY THE LEAST, IN LIGHT OF THE RISK OF A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHEN SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING I HAD ALMOST NO VISIBILITY AT NIGHT IN A HEAVY DOWNPOUR DOING 60 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. I PICKED UP THE CAR THAT EVENING AND THE WIPERS ARE FULLY FUNCTIONING AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549974October 29, 2013
AIR BAGS
WARNING LIGHT COMES ON: A) FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLED, SEE OPERATORS MANUAL B) FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG ENABLED, SEE OPERATORS MANUAL C) ESP WARNING LIGHT ALSO COMES ON ADULT PASSENGER IS ALWAYS SEATED AND WITH SEAT BELT ON WHEN THESE ERROR MESSAGES COME ON. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OVER 11 TIMES 6 OF THEM FOR THE AIRBAG ERROR MESSAGE! DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT CAN'T FIX IT WITHOUT AN ERROR MESSAGE? GOD FORBID THERE'S AN ACCIDENT AND THE PASSENGER IN MY VEHICLE GET SERIOUSLY HURT OR DIE DUE TO AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING! THERE IS NO MONEY IN THE WORLD TO RECOMPENSE A LOSS OF A LOVED ONE!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548636October 20, 2013
ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE 2012 ML350 ENGINE STALLED. I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A ACCIDENT. LUCKILY, THE CAR BEHIND ME DID NOT HIT ME. I HAD TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548040October 16, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2013 MERCEDES BENZ ML350: DURING THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STOP POINT, THE VEHICLE HESITATED LURCHING TO THEN GAIN SPEED AS INTENDED BY THE DRIVER. SECOND AND THIRD OCCURRENCES WERE IDENTICAL AND OCCURRED WHILE LEAVING THE HOUSE WITH NO TRAFFIC ANYWHERE ON SIGHT. VEHICLE WAS SENT FOR REPAIRS AND DEALERSHIP SAID A SOFTWARE UPDATE SHOULD HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. ON 10/15/13, WHILE TRYING TO REENTER AN EXPRESSWAY FROM THE EMERGENCY LANE, THE CAR HESITATED WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM AN INCOMING VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE LURCHED CONSECUTIVE DURING THREE OCCASIONS IN A MATTER OF SECONDS THEN FINALLY GAINED SPEED THUS AVOIDING A COLLISION. SHOULD THE INCOMING CAR HAVE BEEN DRIVING JUST A BIT FASTER, 4 PASSENGERS INCLUDING A BABY WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED BY A VEHICLE TRAVELING AT EXPRESSWAY SPEEDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10542743September 9, 2013
STEERING
WHILE TRAVELING AT 55MPH THE STEERING SUDDENLY FELT VERY STIFF AND HARD TO MOVE. HAD TO APPLY BRAKES WHEN IT SEEMED I COULDN'T NEGOTIATE A CURVE IN THE ROAD. THE STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL SHORTLY AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE STEERING PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN IN A LOCAL SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT AT SLOW SPEED. RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER. THEY PERFORMED A SOFTWARE UPDATE AND STATED THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING. WITHIN 3 DAYS THE PROBLEM REAPPEARED AT SLOW SPEED WHILE STEERING THROUGH BARRIERS ENTERING A LOCAL AIR FORCE BASE. THE NEXT DAY (4 DAYS AFTER DEALER SERVICE) THE WIFE HAD THE STEERING LOCK UP AT SLOW SPEED IN A LOCAL GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT. SHE COULD NOT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. SHE SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, RESTARTED THE ENGINE, AND THE STEERING RETURNED. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE WAY HOME AFTER GROCERY SHOPPING. SHE IS NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. RETURNED THE CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR SERVICE. WE HAVE ONLY HAD THE ML350 THREE WEEKS. COULD NOT BELIEVE THE PROBLEM HADN'T BEEN DISCOVERED BEFORE BY THE PREVIOUS OWNERS OR THE SALES MANAGER THAT WAS USING IT AS A DEALER VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10523508July 7, 2013
STEERING
I AM GOING TO UHAUL TO RENT TRAILER. UHAUL IS AROUND 8 MILES FROM MY HOUSE.AFTER 7 MILES OF DRIVING ON THE ROAD SUDDENLY SHOWING ERROR MESSAGE " POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION REFER TO OPERATOR'S MANUAL" AT THAT TIME STEERING WAS SUPER SUPER SUPER HARD TO TURN. IMMEDIATELY I TURNED ON THE HAZARDOUS LIGHTS. APPLIED FULL AMOUNT OF POWER WITH MY 2 HANDS TURNED STEERING WHEEL TO RIGHT TO EXIT THE ROAD. SLOWLY IT MOVED AND CHANGED LANES AND TOOK VEHICLE TO OFF THE ROAD IT TOOK AROUND 5 MINUTES TO OFF THE ROAD. I REFERRED, MANUAL NOTHING MENTIONED IN MANUAL. TRY CHANGE MODE FROM POWER MANUAL, BUT NO LUCK. CALLED EMERGENCY ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE. THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO SOLVE AND EVEN PROBLEM, BUT THEY AGREED THAT ITS TOO HARD TO STEER WHEEL WHEN U GET THIS MESSAGE. MY ML350 TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER AND ALSO TOWING GUY ALSO SURPRISED AND HE FELT IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS. AFTER 2 HOURS MERCEDES SERVICE ADVISOR CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT THEY DID NOT FOUND ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE, BUT THEY HAVE TO UPDATE THE SOFTWARE. AND ALSO THEY ARE OBSERVING MY VEHICLE FOR 2 DAYS. IF IT HAPPENS ON HIGHWAY WITH THE SPEED OF 70-80MPH HOW SHOULD I CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND I WILL BE IN THE ACCIDENT AND IT WILL LEAD TO ANYTHING, MY WIFE IS TOO AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I SPEND 60K ON IT. I AM ALSO TOO SCARE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10523068July 3, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE FRONT ROTORS AND BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,882. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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