2006 Mercedes-Benz ML350 complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND EXITED THE VEHICLE FOR THIRTY SECONDS. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO RE-ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY LUNGED FORWARD, DRAGGING THE DRIVER AS SHE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER HAD ABNORMALLY SHIFTED OUT OF PARK. BEFORE THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO FULLY ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A RESIDENTIAL GATE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR ABRASIONS TO THE HEAD BUT DID NOT SEEK ANY MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 42,689.

I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND AS IT WAS A COLD MORNING I PUT MY DRIVERS SEAT HEATER ON. SHORTLY AFTER PUTTING IT ON I FELT A BURNING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BACK, I PULLED THE CAR OVER AND NOTICED A FIRE ON THE LOWER PORTION OF THE DRIVERS SEAT(BACK WING). THE FIRE BURNED THROUGH MY JACKET AND BURNED MY LOWER BACK. *TR

2006 MERCEDES ML350 75K NO WARNING LIGHT OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT/UNABLE TO DRIVE,VEHICLE RUNNING. DRIVE GEARS NOT MOVING OR REVERSE NOT WORKING/TOWED TO MERCEDES DEALER/SERVICE ADVISORY NEED REPLACE COMPLETE TRANSMISSION WILL COST 6.5K TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. AFTER RESEARCH. MERCEDES U.S.A HAVE A CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT. DEFECTIVE IDLE GEARS/THESE DEFECTIVE GEARS WEAR OUT PREMATURELY,EXCESSIVELY, AND WITHOUT WARNING,CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MALFUNCTION, THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE TO MISFIRE AND /OR STORE DRIVING. MERCEDES ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND INTENTIONAL CONCEALMENT OF THE DEFECT DUE TO COMPANY REPUTATION DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW AND MAY HURT THE COMPANY IMAGE. I WAS SHOCK AFTER WHAT I WAS EXPLAINED BY MERCEDES ADVISORY NOT TAKING ANY RESPONSIBLE FOR DEFECTED GEARS AND WANTED TO CHARGE ME. VERY BAD EXPERIENCE WITH MERCEDES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FUEL STATION AND LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V303000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

I RECENTLY STARTED NOTICING A SLIGHT HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF MY SUV. I TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL NEEDS TO BE REPLACE AT A COST OF $3668.00. I WAS TOLD THEY JUST GO BAD AND ALSO THEY JUST REPLACED TWO MORE HERE LATELY. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2006 MERCEDES 3 YEARS AGO THINKING I WOULD HAVE A CAR FOR A LIFETIME BOY DID I GO WRONG. IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS I HAVE HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS AND MERCEDES DOESN'T CARE. THE FIRST ISSUE I HAD TO REPLACE THE CRANK SHAFT $6000 PLUS FOR REPAIR I ALMOST WENT CRAZY SO I STARTED RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT FOR THIS ISSUE SO I PHONED MERCEDES AND THEY AGREE TO PICK UP HALF OF THE REPAIR. ONE MONTH LATER CAR STARTS MAKING WINDING NOISE TAKE IT BACK TO THEM AND NOW THEY SAY IT IS THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL $5500 TO REPAIR I START TO RESEARCH THAT ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS FOR MY SAME ISSUE ON THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL SO I GO BACK TO MERCEDES HOWEVER THIS TIME NOT WILLING TO HELP. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE TO SUCH A POWERFUL COMPANY LIKE MERCEDES. I TRULY DO NOT THINK THIS IS FAIR AND US THE CONSUMERS ARE BEING RIPPED OFF. *JS

CAR DOES NOT DOWN SHIFT WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO STOP. THEN WHEN YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE IT BARELY MOVES. ONE HAS TO PLACE THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK, THEN TURN ENGINE OFF AND THEN RESTART ENGINE TO RESET TRANSMISSION. FAULT CODES IN THE ONBOARD COMPUTER ALL POINT TO VALVE BODY CONDUCTOR PLATE ON TRANSMISSION. MERCEDES WILL NOT SELL OR REPLACE PART TO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS. THEY WILL ONLY SELL IT TO DEALERS WHICH I BELIEVE ARE TOLD TO DIAGNOSE A DIFFERENT PROBLEM. IN OTHER WORDS WORK AROUND THE PROBLEM TO GENERATE INCOME BEFORE ACTUALLY TRYING TO FIX THE ACTUAL PROBLEM. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM AMONGST ML 350 OWNERS WITH SOME PAYING THOUSANDS AND STILL NOT HAVING THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE THIS CAN BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY AT A BUSY TRAFFIC LIGHT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 10 MPH. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

OWNER OF 2006 ML350 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TOOK IN FOR DIAGNOSIS WITH CAM SHAFT FAILURE, MB DOES NOT OFFER ANY HELP AND KNEW OF THIS ISSUE. CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN NJ ALREADY STARTED, HOPING ONE WILL GET STARTED IN SC. COST TO REPAIR IS $6,000 TO THE CUSTOMER. THIS IS USURY, AND DECEPTION BY THE WONDERFUL AUTOMAKERS OF THIS GREAT FOREIGN CAR MAKER WITH AN OFFICE IN THE USA. WHEN YOU CALL MB USA THEY ADVISE YOU TO SPEAK WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT OFFERS NO HELP. *KB

AT APPROXIMATELY 70K MILES, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A LOW-FREQUENCY WHINING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF MY ML-350 AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH. THE NOISE BECAME MORE PREVALENT WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR AT HIGHER SPEEDS. FIRST, REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH MICHELIN "LATITUDE TOUR HP" - $1,300 (INCLUDING ALIGNMENT). THE NOISE STILL OCCURRED. NEXT, TOOK TO MB SPECIALIST, WHO RECOMMENDED BOTH WHEEL BEARING BE REPLACED - COST $425/SIDE. THE BEARINGS WERE REPLACED AND NOISE STILL OCCURRED. MB SPECIALIST RECOMMENDED CHECKING DIFFERENTIAL OIL FOR METAL - FOUND LOTS OF METAL FRAGMENTS IN DIFFERENTIAL OIL. INSTALLATION OF NEW DIFFERENTIAL WAS ~$3,500. MB SPECIALIST STATED THAT HIS PARTS DISTRIBUTOR SAID THAT THEY SELL AT LEAST ONE-TO-TWO LATE MODEL ML-350 FRONT END DIFFERENTIALS PER MONTH. IN MY OPINION, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE IS A FLAW IN THE DIFFERENTIAL'S DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING PROCESS, AS I SEEN SEVERAL REPORTS OF THE SAME DIFFERENTIAL ISSUES WITH [RELATIVELY]-LOW-MILEAGE/LATE-MODEL MB ML-350 SUVS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MB RESEARCH THIS ISSUE, AND POSSIBLY INSTATE A RECALL OR REIMBURSE MB OWNERS WHO'VE ALREADY AFFECTED COSTLY REPAIRS ON THEIR LOW-MILEAGE ML-350'S FRONT END DIFFERENTIALS. *TR

TRANSMISSION CODES DO NOT SWITCH GEARS HAPPENS ALOT HOW I'M DRIVING HAVE TO GET CODES RESET EVERY 2 TO 3 DAYS! *KB

TOOK CAR TO MB DEALERSHIP IN NORTH OLMSTED OHIO BECAUSE FRONT END OF CAR AND STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING AND VIBRATING EXCESSIVELY WHEN THE CAR WAS DRIVEN IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. CAR DROVE FINE UNDER THAT SPEED. I ALMOST WAS CAUSED TO DRIVE OFF OF ROAD AT MULTIPLE POINTS BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND LACK OF STEERING CONTROL. CONDITION DID NOT OCCUR AT LOWER SPEEDS. CAR WAS 1 WEEK OUTSIDE OF MFR WARRANTY. WAS TOLD BY MB DEALERSHIP THAT CAR NEEDED NEW FRONT DIFFERENTIAL. I CALLED MB NATIONAL TO COMPLAIN ABOUT AN ALLEGED LUXURY CAR'S FRONT DIFFERENTIAL FAILING ONLY AFTER 40K MILES. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. CAR CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEM TO THIS DAY (1 YEAR LATER). I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE SINCE BEEN LOOKING FOR A USED DIFFERNTIAL BECAUSE A NEW ONE W/INSTALL IS OVER $3K. IT SEEMS AS IF I AM NOT THE ONLY ML OWNER EXPERIENCING THESE PROBLEMS. MB WENT WITH A NEW 7 SPEED TRANSMISSION THAT YEAR WHICH MAY LEAD TO PROBLEMS. *TR

AROUND 45,000 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MERCEDES BENZ DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE BALANCE SHAFT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE BALANCE SHAFT, THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND TAKEN APART. ESTIMATED COST $6,000. THE SERVICE DEPT. TOLD ME THAT IT WAS DUE TO A PART THAT WAS NOT HARDENED PROPERLY DURING MANUFACTURING. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (S-B-03.30/08I) THAT WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN 2007 WHICH WAS FOUND IN INTERNET SEARCHING, HOWEVER IT SEEMS LIKE MERCEDES BENZ KNOWS THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (ON THE MAJORITY OF THESE VEHICLES) WILL NOT COME ON UNTIL WHEN THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. SINCE THIS FIX IS A HUGE EXPENSE, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO ISSUE A RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT IS CLEARLY A SAFETY CONCERN. IF I WOULD'VE HAVE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION, EVENTUALLY THE BALANCE SHAFT WOULD HAVE CONTINUED TO BREAK ITS TEETH RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE. CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THE CONDITION IS NOT SAFE, IT IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPS RUNNING AND THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MERCEDES BENZ USA REPLACED OUR BALANCE SHAFT OR PAY FOR IT PEOPLE WHO ALREADY FIXED. *TR

BALANCE SHAFT PROBLEM ON THE 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350 - I LIVE IN SOUTH FL AND I HAVE A 2006 MERCEDES ML350 WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES AND JUST LAST WEEK GOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN POMPANO BEACH AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE BALANCE SHAFT HAS TO BE REPLACED AND IT WILL COST $6600. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THE MANUFACTURER MAKES NO EFFORT TO RECALL THE VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE PARTS FOR FREE. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR THIS FACTORY DEFECT, MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD PAY FOR IT. *TR

VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE. *TR

I OWN A 2006 ML MERCEDES-BENZ WITH 47K MILES. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN THE CAR, I HAD IT CHECKED BY AN INDEPENDENT MERCEDES TECHNICIAN WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE BALANCE SHAFT MUST BE REPLACED IN THE CAR. HE GAVE ME A "STAR BULLETIN" WHICH IS AN INTERNAL MEMO PRODUCED BY MERCEDES SHOWING THE HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS DEFECT SINCE AUGUST 2007 AND HAVE DONE NOTHING ABOUT NOTIFYING OWNERS OF THE CARS WITH ENGINES EFFECTED. IT IS I HAVE BEEN TOLD A COMMON PLACE ISSUE AND IN FACT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED IN NEW JERSEY AGAINST MERCEDES OVER THIS ISSUE. THE PROBLEM HAS TO BE REPAIRED OR THE ENGINE CAN BE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR, THE COST I HAVE BEEN QUOTED FOR THE REPAIR IS $6000. IT WAS MADE VERY CLEAR TO ME BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT A CAR WITH 47K MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE SUCH AN ISSUE AND THAT IT IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT MERCEDES THUS FAR HAS NOT STEPPED UP TO REMEDY WITH CAR OWNERS. *TR

FRONT DIFFERENTIAL FOR MY MERCEDES ML 350 YEAR 2006 NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY 52000 MILES. *KB

I AM THE OWNER OF A MERCEDES 2006 ML350. I HAVE HAD MY CAM SENSOR AND CRANK SHAFT SENSOR REPAIRED 3 TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. I INITIALLY HAD MY CAR SERVICED AT PARK PLACE IN DALLAS ON LEMMON AVENUE. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN AFTER HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES. I CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO KEEP REPAIRING FOR A PROBLEM THAT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO CAUSE PROBLEMS. AFTER HAVING THESE ITEMS REPAIRED I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO GET AN INSPECTION AND I FAILED THE INSPECTION. SO I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT MY BALANCE SHAFT GEAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WHICH IS THE REASON FOR MY SENSORS TO CONTINUALLY WEAR OUT. THIS REPAIR COST $6000.00 AND I CANNOT AFFORD IT. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR MONTHS AND I HAVE AN EXPIRED INSPECTION STICKER BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD THE COST OF THIS REPAIR. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED THAT DETECTED A TROUBLE CODE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE ENGINE SPROCKET WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FOR THE REPAIR COVERAGE UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

GRINDING NOISE IN FRONT DIAGNOSED AS FAILED FRONT DIFFERENTIAL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO FLASH ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BALANCE SHIFT MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BALANCE SHIFT ALSO CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND HAD BECOME A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

2006 MERCEDES ML350, BALANCER SHAFT WORN AT ~75000 MILEAGE. BALANCER SHAFT GEAR AND/OR CAMSHAFT CHAIN GOT TOTALLY WORN, THAT WILL LEAD TO ENGINE LOCKUP AT ANY TIME IF NOT FIXED. I HEAR SIMILAR COMPLAINS FROM OTHER MERCEDES OWNERS WITH M272 AND M273 ENGINES MANUFACTURED IN 2006. THERE ALSO IS INTERNAL MERCEDES TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN S-B-03.30/08I FROM OCTOBER 24, 2008 FOR THIS ISSUE. ALSO THERE IS A CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT CASE 2:33-AV-00001 DOCUMENT 9629 FILED 10/05/10 IN NJ US DISTRICT COURT. BASED ON MY PAST EXPERIENCE AS ENGINEERED, I CONCLUDE PREMATURE BALANCER SHAFT WEAR CAUSED BY MB SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES (I.E. BAD PARTS). ISSUE ON MY CAR HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED IN 06/2011 AND I HAVE BEEN OFFERED A REPAIR FOR 5 DIFFERENT ISSUES (PRETENDING BALANCER SHAFT FIXED FOR FREE) WITH LABOR CHARGES SHUFFLED AROUND TO MASK BALANCER SHAFT ISSUE. TOTAL REPAIR BILL IS AROUND $10000 WHICH IS FULL PRICE AMOUNT FOR ALL 5 ISSUES FIXED. *TR

2006 MERCEDES ML350, FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WORN AT ~75000 MILEAGE, THAT COULD LEAD TO LOCKUP AT ANY TIME IF NOT FIXED. FROM TALKING WITH THE THREE MERCEDES DEALERSHIPS IN MY LOCAL AREA, IT SEEMS THERE IS A VERY HIGH INCIDENCE OF FRONT DIFFERENTIAL PROBLEMS ON 2006 ML'S. *TR

ON MAY 18, 2011, I TOOK MY 2006 ML350 TO AN AUTHORIZED MB DEALER DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INDICATOR BEING ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE BALANCE SHAFT FAILURE. THE COST TO REPAIR IS APPROX 5K. *TR

SEAT WARMER MALFUNCTION, I WAS DRIVING AND HAD TO PULL OVER AS MY SEAT WARMER CREATED A FIRE INSIDE MY SEAT AND BURNED 3 HOLES THRU MY SEAT AND SINGED MY CLOTHING. DRIVERS SIDE SEAT ON LEFT SIDE OF SEAT. MERCEDES ML 350 2006

MERCEDES BENZ BALANCE SHAFT PROBLEM (DRIVETRAIN) ON 2006 ML350 A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED IN 2007 BY MERCEDES BENZ BUT OWNERS SUCH AS MYSELF WERE NEVER NOTIFIED. *TR

STEERING WHEELS RATTLES AND MAKE GROANING NOISE WHEN TURNING OR HITTING BUMPS. CAN DISTRACT DRIVERS AND CAUSE ACCIDENTS. *TR

I'M THE OWNER OF A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350 4MATIC, CURRENTLY AT 58,645 MILES WITH OUTSIDE EXTENDED WARRANTY UNTIL 2013. RECENTLY I HAD THE HEATED SEAT TURNED ON WHICH I STARTED THE CAR AND AFTER ABOUT 2 MINUTES I SMELLED A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM INSIDE THE CABIN AND THEN STARTED SEEING SMOKE COMING FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BOLSTER AROUND THE WAIST AREA. I FOUND A HOLE BURNT THE SIZE OF A NICKEL AND SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM IT. IT WAS BRIGHT RED AS I COULD SEE INSIDE THE HOLE I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE HEAT SEAT AND SLOWLY THE BURNING WENT AWAY. I TOOK MY CAR TO A MERCEDES BENZ DEALER THE NEXT AND THEY DENIED THAT THERE IS NO HEATING ELEMENT IN THAT PART OF THE SEAT AND REFUSED TO COVER UNDER OUTSIDE WARRANTY. AT THE DEALERSHIP I DID TRY TO TURN THE HEATED SEAT ON BUT NO SMOKE WAS COMING OUT SO I WASN'T ABLE TO PROOF THE SEATING ELEMENT WAS ACTUALLY CAUSING THE PROBLEM. BUT I READ NUMEROUS INCIDENTS ONLINE WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE BALANCE SHAFT AND OTHER PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,448.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN IT IGNITED IN SMALL FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AREA; A BYPASSER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY INFORMED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE FUSE BOX WHICH COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE WIRING HARNESS AND CAUSED OTHER DAMAGES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY CONTINUED TO INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ UPDATED 1/4/11 *CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE GEAR THE VEHICLE SURGED BACKWARDS, RESULTING IN A CRASH. UPON SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, IT THEN SURGED FORWARD, RESULTING IN ANOTHER CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A SERIOUS INJURY AND WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A LOT WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000. UPDATED 3/11/11 *CN UPDATED 07/11/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML 350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR REMAINED STUCK FROM THE INSIDE. SHE WAS FORCED TO CRAWL TO THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND REPLACED THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR ACTUATOR. THE CONTACT DID INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,240 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. UPDATED 10/27/2011 *LN *TR

HELLO I LIVE IN NY AND I HAVE A 2006 ML350. RECENTLY I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO MERCEDES BENZ. THEY STATE THE CAR NEEDS NEW BALANCE SHAFT AND TIMING GEARS. THE CAR ONLY HAS 46,000 MILES. THIS SHOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. THE COST IS OVER $5,000 TO GET FIXED. MERCEDES WILL NOT COVER IT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT PART. IN RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I FOUND OUT I WASN'T THE ONLY WITH THIS ISSUE. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN NEW JERSEY AS WELL AS OTHER STATES. MY INSPECTION HAS EXPIRED AND CAN'T NOT PASS WITHOUT THE REPAIR WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HERE IS THE LINK TO THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HTTP://WWW.COURTHOUSENEWS.COM/2010/10/07/MERCEDES.PDF. THEY SHOULD MAKE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

2006 MERCEDES BENZ BALANCE SHAFT IS DEFECTIVE. THE DEFECT CAUSES THE CAR TO SOMETIMES SPUTTER WHEN ACCELERATING, ALMOST WAS KILLED BY A TRUCK AS I TURNED LEFT, OR STALL OUT COMPLETELY. *TR

AROUND 52,000 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MERCEDES BENZ DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE BALANCE SHAFT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE BALANCE SHAFT, THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND TAKEN APART. ESTIMATED COST $4,000 TO $7,500. THE SERVICE DEPT. TOLD ME THAT IT WAS DUE TO A PART THAT WAS NOT HARDENED PROPERLY DURING MANUFACTURING. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (S-B-03.30/08I) THAT WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN 2007, HOWEVER IT SEEMS LIKE MERCEDES BENZ KNOWS THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (ON THE MAJORITY OF THESE VEHICLES) WILL NOT COME ON UNTIL AFTER 50,000 MILES, WHEN THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. SINCE THIS FIX IS A HUGE EXPENSE, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO ISSUE A RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT IS CLEARLY A SAFETY CONCERN. IF WE WOULD'VE HAVE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION, EVENTUALLY THE BALANCE SHAFT WOULD HAVE CONTINUED TO BREAK ITS TEETH RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE. CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THE CONDITION IS NOT SAFE, IT IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPS RUNNING AND THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPLACED OUR BALANCE SHAFT, THE PARTS USED ARE TOO NUMEROUS TO LIST ALONG WITH LABOR CODES. HERE IS A BRIEF BREAKDOWN: 28.8 LABOR HOURS TOTAL $2,940.48, PARTS $1,263.50 (CONSUMER COST), $925.49 (NET COST). THE FAILURE HAS BEEN CORRECTED, HOWEVER THE SERVICE DEPT. TOLD ME ALL OF THESE VEHICLES MADE DURING THIS TIME WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE THIS FA

2006 ML350 MERCEDES BENZ - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AND THE GARAGE TELLS ME THAT THE BALANCE SHAFT GEARS HAVE WORN AND NEED TO BE REPLACED IN A CAR WITH JUST 67,000 MILES ON IT. THE PRICE IS 5500 AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE I'VE HEARD FROM WITH THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. I THINK THIS IS AN OBVIOUS FLAW IN THIS BATCH OF ENGINES AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AS THIS IS SERIOUS IF THE CHAINS ACTUALLY COME OFF THE GEARS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 MERCEDES ML 350, WITH THE SEAT WARMER TURNED ON. I NOTICED A SMELL OF SMOKE COMING FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE, SO I TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER AND THE SMELL WENT AWAY. THE NEXT DAY I DISCOVERED THAT THE SEAT WARMER HAD BURNED A SMALL HOLE IN THE SEAT COVERING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT JUST ABOVE THE DRIVER'S WAIST. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THAT IT WOULD COST $800-$1000 TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC THAT I TALKED WITH 1-ON-1 TOLD ME THAT THEY GET THIS PROBLEM FREQUENTLY. SINCE THE DAY OF THE BURN THROUGH, I HAVE NOT USED THE SEAT WARMER. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT I NOTICED THE SMOKE AND SHUT THE SEAT WARMER DOWN BEFORE THE SITUATION RESULTED IN A FIRE OR PERSONAL INJURY. SYSTEMS WITH THESE TYPES OF RISKS SHOULD HAVE SOME KIND OF "EXTENDED" WARRANTY COVERAGE WHEN THEY FAIL, TO HELP COVER THE RISK OF FIRE OR INJURY. *TR

ABOUT 2 MINUTES AFTER TURNING ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER, THE DRIVER'S SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. A HOLE BURNED THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND BURNED MY BACK. LUCKILY, I RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM QUICKLY ENOUGH THAT I WAS ONLY SLIGHTLY BURNED. MY HUSBAND AND MY 1 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME. I WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME, SO MY CLOTHES COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. IF WE HAD TURNED ON THE SEAT WARMER WHILE WARMING UP THE CAR, THE ENTIRE CAR COULD HAVE GONE UP IN FLAMES.

2006 MERCEDES ML350 AT 91,100 MILES DRIVER SMELLED A BURNING SMELL AND LATER FOUND A BURNED HOLE IN THE DRIVERS SEAT, DRIVER NOTICED SMELL WHEN SEAT WARMER WAS TURNED ON. DEALERSHIP IS REQUIRING THE DRIVER TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THIS ISN'T NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO THE DRIVER AS WELL AS OTHER DRIVERS SHOULD THE SEAT CATCH A FLAME. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED SHE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE BUT THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD ONLY SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR NEUTRAL. SHE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE BACK INTO PARK BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK AND A MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD INFORMED HER THAT SHE COULD NOT SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK WHILE IT WAS IN MOTION. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGED AND SHE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN SHUT OFF AND TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS REPROGRAMMED AND THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. SHE WAS INFORMED THE FAILURE WITHIN THE WHEEL BEARINGS RESULTED IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM THINKING THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE MORE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BUT THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE AGAIN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 41,000. UPDATED 01/06/11 *BF UPDATED 01/24/11*JB

2006 ML350 MERCEDES BENZ - BALANCE SHAFT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IN A CAR WITH UNDER 50,00 MILES ON IT. THEY WANT 8,000 TO DO THE JOB AND I AM FINDING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. I WAS DIRECTED TO YOU BY A FACEBOOK SITE THAT IS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR MERCEDES. I THINK THIS IS A FLAW IN THE CAR AND THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO HER IT BEGAN TO LUNGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS DRAGGING. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO EXHIBIT THE JERKING MOTION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE STATING THAT THE MANIFOLD WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE HAD RECURRED. THERE HAVE BEEN NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116247.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE RESTARTED FOR A PERIOD OF TWO SECONDS AND THE AUTOMATED WINDOWS BEGAN TO OPERATE WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE HORN SOUNDED AND THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLYT ACTIVATED . THE "BRAKE FLUID LOW" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR DOOR AREA. THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECOMMENED LEVEL OF BRAKE FLUID WAS IN THE RESERVOIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A BUILD UP OF MOISTURE FROM AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF LIQUID SPILLED UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OR POSSIBLY THE DRIVER SEAT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS LIFE THREATENING AND THAT THE INTERIOR CARPET SHOULD BE DESIGNED WITH A WATERPROOF PROTECTOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY STIFF RESISTANT TO THE CONTACTS ATTEMPTS TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE (NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V224000: STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSISTS SYSTEM) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 59,000.

BALANCE SHAFT ON MY MERCEDES ML350 HAS WORN CAM CAUSING CHECKING ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON AND THE TIMING TO BE OFF. MERCEDES SERVICE BULLETIN STATES THAT THE BALANCE SHAFT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE MATERIAL OF NEW REPLACEMENT SHAFT HAS BEEN UPDATED. THIS HAS HAPPENING TO NEARLY ALL MERCEDES BENZ EQUIPPED WITH M272 ENGINE UP TO SERIAL NO. 2729..30 468993 OR M273 ENGINE UP TO SERIAL NO. 2739..30 088611 AND OCCURS AFTER 55,000 MILES. MERCEDES WANTS $4,000 - $6,000 TO REPLACE DEFECT PART. *TR

ON N.Y. STATE THRUWAY,ON CRUISE CONTROL,BRAKES SUDDENLY APPLIED THEMSELVES. ABS AND SLS FLASHED ON DASH.CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATED. TURNED OFF CRUISE CONTROL AND PULLED OFF. ATTEMPT TO START AGAIN AND BRAKES APPLIED THEMSELVES. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES ,@20 MIN. WAS ABLE TO GET CAR MOVING. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER WHO SAID SOME KIND OF BRAKE SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. CHARGED FOR REPLACEMENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES ML350. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE DEALER NEEDED TO REPAIR IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY RECALIBRATED THE SYSTEM BUT THE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE AIR BAG LIGHT FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,593.

MY ABS SYSTEM IS BROKE IN MY ML 350 MERCEDES BENZ 2006, IT ONLY 3 YEARS OLD I PURCHASE IT IN 5/2006. ITS NOT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT HAS 64,000 MILES, THIS IS STILL A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE ABS SYSTEM I WAS TOLD BY A MERCEDES SERVICE MANAGER THIS RARELY GOES OUT ON A CAR, BUT WHY NO ONE WANTS TO FIX IT. IT COSTS 3300 DOLLARS TO FIX. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES ML350. WHENEVER THE CONTACT MADE A SHARP LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED EMPTY AND THEN FULL REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED DRIVEN. WHEN THE CONTACT ADDED FUEL TO IT'S CAPACITY, THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED 3/4 INSTEAD OF FULL. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CONTACT IS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 02/02/10 *BF UPDATED 02/02/10

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 61,000. UPDATED 01/20/10. *LJ UPDATED 01/21/10.*JB