2006 Mercedes-Benz ML350 complaints

: IMPROPERLY ENGINEERED EMERGENCY BRAKE HANDLE THAT: WHEN A 1-2 MM PLASTIC PIECE ON THE HANDLE HOUSING THE CABLE SHEARS, WILL THEN ALLOW THE BRAKE CABLE TO DISCONNECT INSIDE OF THE DASH BOARD AND LEAVE THE OWNER STRANDED. IF WE HAD BEEN MORE ISOLATED THIS COULD BE A LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM. *TR

BENZ ML 350 - I WAS SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PULL OFF, THE VEHICLE STARTED DRIVING VERY SLOW AND ROUGH. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD; TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND WAITED FOR A FEW SECONDS. WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE AWAY, THE VEHICLE DROVE PROPERLY. WHEN I GOT HOME, I CALLED MY MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND ADVISED THEM OF WHAT HAPPENED. I WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A "SYSTEM GLITCH" AND THE SYSTEM JUST HAD TO "RESET" ITSELF. FOUR DAYS LATER, I WAS SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AGAIN AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PULL OFF, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS, IT SOUNDED AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE TO NEUTRAL, BUT WOULD NOT MOVE IN ANY DIRECTION. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO MY DEALER. I WAS THEN ADVISED THAT MY VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

HIGH-RISK DESIGN FLAW IN MERCEDES 2006 SUV. THE SUN ROOF SAFETY MECHANISM (I.E., AUTO REVERSE WITH RESISTANCE) DOES NOT WORK WHEN THE SWITCH IS HELD THROUGHOUT CLOSURE. (THE SAFETY MECHANISM DOES WORK WHEN THE SWITCH IS INITIATED BUT NOT HELD THROUGHOUT CLOSURE). ALTHOUGH THIS IS ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL, IT SHOULD BE PROMPTLY ADDRESSED TO PREVENT POTENTIAL SIGNIFICANT ACCIDENTAL INJURY, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN. I HAVE SIMILARLY INFORMED MERCEDES BENZ. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU WISH TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER. THANK YOU. *TR

2006 MERCEDES ML350. UPON TURNING 78K MILES A CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR APPEARED. UPON EXAMINATION A SPROCKET IN THE TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY WAS WORN AND IN DANGER OF FAILURE. WITHIN ONE DAY - AND WITH VERY LITTLE EFFORT - I FOUND TWO OTHERS WITH THE SAME MOTOR HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. MERCEDES PRIDES ITSELF ON EXCELLENT ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING AND CHARGED ME $50K FOR SUCH EXCELLENCE. WITH THIS KIND OF MILEAGE THERE SHOULD BE NO PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF MACHINERY. APPARENTLY MB AGREED. UPON WORKING WITH A LOCAL DEALERSHIP MB PAID 50% OF THE BILL WHICH TOTALED $4200 WITH DISCOUNTS. THIS ITEM SHOULD TRULY BE A RECALL AND SHOULD NOT HAVE COST ME A PENNY. MB IS TRYING TO KEEP THIS SITUATION QUIET AS NOT TO INCUR EXTENSIVE DAMAGES. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL TAKE PLACE FOR OTHERS WHO WILL INEVITABLY HAVE THIS SAME EXPERIENCE AT SOME POINT. *TR

WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY MERCEDES BENZ ML350, THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON REGARDING THE REAR LIFT GATE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I SMELLED SMOKE AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS SOME KIND OF LIQUID SPILL IN THE CARGO AREA. THE LIQUID THAT SPILLED GOT INTO THE CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT, CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE SYSTEM AND THE REAR LIFT GATE WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE CPU CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO THE SPILL. THERE ARE NO WARNING MESSAGES POSTED IN THE CARGO AREA, CAUTIONING THE OWNER THAT THE CAR COULD CATCH ON FIRE IF THERE IS A LIQUID SPILL IN THIS AREA. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS NO INFORMATION IN THE OWNERS MANUAL NOTIFYING OF THIS POTENTIAL DISASTROUS EVENT. SEEING THAT THE CARGO TRUNK IS THE MOST COMMON PLACE WHERE LIQUIDS WOULD BE TRANSPORTED FROM THE GROCERY STORE, MERCEDES SHOULD PROPERLY PROTECT THAT PART OF THE VEHICLE FROM LIQUIDS IF IT CONTAINS COMPUTER CIRCUITRY AND A SPILL CAN CAUSE A FIRE. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD. AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT, THE COMPUTER SYSTEM, REAR LIFT GATE LATCH AND BODY COMPONENT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER ACCIDENTALLY SPILLED A SMOOTHIE ON THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT COVER LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER ROW FLOOR. THE LIQUID PENETRATED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING AND THE ABS INVOLUNTARY ENGAGE. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WINDOW MOTOR AND THE COMPUTER AT THE COST OF $1,384. THE MANUFACTURER FILED A REPORT AND STATED THAT THE COVER WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER. THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 34,695. UPDATED 11/07/08. *LJ UPDATED 11/07/08.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BEEP AND NOTICED A FLASH OF WARNING LIGHTS ACROSS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CHECK ENGINE, (!), AND BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE SEIZED TO A JOLT, RELEASED, COASTED, AND THEN FAILED. HE HAD DIFFICULTY RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, BUT WHEN IT DID, ALL OF THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AGAIN, INCLUDING ESP GO TO WORKSHOP. HE SAID THAT HIS FOOT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR THE ENTIRE TIME. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY WITH THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 23,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEEPED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. AT 10,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. AFTERWARDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20-50 MPH. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. ON DECEMBER 25, 2006, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AFTER THE CRASH. THREE TO FOUR MONTHS LATER, THE TIRES WERE LOSING AIR RAPIDLY AND THE LOW PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH PRESSURE IN THE TIRES. AT 20,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS BECOMING LOUDER IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. SHE PAID $600 FOR THE REPAIR AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HEAR A NOISE AFTER DIAGNOSING THE FAILURE. AT 26,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO THE TIRES, STRUTS, SHOCKS AND A POWER STEERING LEAK. SHE CALLED THE SALES DEALER AND THEY INFORMED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER IN ANOTHER STATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TWO AND A HALF WEEKS AGO DUE TO THE POWER STEERING LEAK. THE PART FOR THE REPAIR HAD TO BE ORDERED FROM OVERSEAS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY REPLACED THE SHOCKS, BUT THE NOISE GREW LOUDER. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE WAS DUE TO THE SHOCKS. ON JANUARY 24, 2008, THERE WAS AN ODOR PRESENT AND THE NOISE RECURRED. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHIC

WHILE TRAVELING ON 80 EAST IN NEW JERSEY ON A RAINY DAY THE ESP LIGHT MALFUNCTION SHOWED ON THE DASHBOARD SCREEN. AT THAT POINT THE VEHICLE SPUN TO THE RIGHT AND COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED. THE FAILURE OF THE ESP CAUSED THE CRASH. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINENTAL, SIZE P235/6517 TIRES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TREAD ON THE TIRES WAS WORN, HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS FAILURES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 13,500. UPDATED 12/12/07

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES ML 350. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON A RAINY DAY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING, THE DOOR LOCKS BEGAN TO LOCK AND UNLOCK, THE HORN STARTED BLOWING ,AND THE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ON AND OFF. THE CONTACT DROVE INTO A PARKING LOT AND CALLED MERCEDES, WHO ARRIVED 2 HOURS LATER AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE MERCEDES DEALER AND DIAGNOSED. THE DIAGNOSIS SHOWED THAT A SODA SPILLED INTO A COMPUTER LOCATED IN THE BACK OF THE HATCHBACK COMPARTMENT WHICH CAUSED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,975. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 3,000. *AK UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES 350 M CLASS. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE TO MOVE FORWARD OR INTO REVERSE GEAR. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND HIT A CEMENT BLOCK AND CONTINUED TO LURCH FORWARD SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE SHE COULD STOP THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE. THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR APPEARED ON THE VEHICLE AFTER HITTING THE CEMENT BLOCK. SHE DID NOT RECALL WHICH INDICATOR LIGHT. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END PASSENGER DAMAGE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,851. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE COMPRESSOR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A MINOR BRUISE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. UPDATED 03/07/07. *JB

THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT IS NOT BEING REPORTED TO OWNERS OF THE MERCEDES BENZ ML350 WITH APPEARANCE PACKAGES. THIS IS A 4 WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE THAT IS BEING ADVERTISED AS A SNOW CAPABLE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE WITH THE APPEARANCE PACKAGE FROM MERCEDES IS A SERIOUS RISK TO ANY BUYER WHO ATTEMPTS TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE IN THE SNOW. THE FACT THAT IS NOT BEING BROUGHT TO BUYERS ATTENTION IS THAT IT COMES WITH PERFORMANCE TIRES, NOT ALL SEASON/SNOW TIRES THAT ARE TYPICAL IN EVERY OTHER 4 WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE. MERCEDES BENZ AND THEIR DEALERS ARE NOT AWARING CONSUMERS OF THIS UPON PURCHASE, WHICH IS A SERIOUS FRAUD WHEN THEY ARE ADVERTISING IT AS BEING A SNOW CAPABLE VEHICLE. THIS FACT WILL LEAD TO NUMEROUS CRASHES BECAUSE OWNERS/DRIVERS ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS VEHICLES LIMITATIONS AND ASSUME IT WILL HANDLE LIKE A STANDARD 4 WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE. NHTSA NEEDS TO BRING THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE MANUFACTURER AND ALL REGISTERED OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO PREVENT FURTHER CRASHES. *NM

I PURCHASED MERCEDES ML 350, 2006 IN APRIL 2006. FROM DRIVER'S SEAT, THE LEFT SIDE VIEW MIRROR IS ONLY PARTIALLY VISIBLE! I SHOWED THIS TO HBL DEALERSHIP IN TYSONS CORNER VIRGINIA, AND THEY AGREED TO THIS DESIGN ISSUE. WHEN THE AC IS TURNED ON, MANY TIME, DUE TO VARIATION IN INSIDE AND OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES, SMALL FOG FORMS OUT OF THE WINDOW AT A LOCATION, THAT THE FOG NOW COMPLETELY OBSCURES THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR! THE MIRROR CANNOT BE USED ANY MOREE BY THE DRIVER, CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD! AGAIN THE ISSUE IS AGREED BY THE DEALERSHIP AS DESIGN ISSUE. CONTACTED MERCEDEZ BENZ AT 1800-367-6372 EXT 6, ID# IS 4635. SHE STILL THINKS THE CAR HAS NO ISSUE EVEN IF THE DEALERSHIP AND MYSELF THINK OTHERWISE! SHE FELT AT THE BEST SHE CAN DO IS JUST APOLOGIZE! HELP!!!!!!!!! *NM

LEASED VEHICLE FROM MERCEDES BENZ OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, ON FRIDAY 10/13/06 SRS SYSTEM LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED IN RED, AND WOULDN'T GO OFF. CONTACTED DEALERS SERVICE ON 10/13/06, FRIDAY, SAME STATED, UPON MY INQUIRY, VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, AND TO BRING IT IN ON TUESDAY 10/17/06, FOR ITS' SCHEDULED FIRST APPOINTMENT AT 8:00 A.M.. UPON REVIEWING THE OPERATOR'S MANUAL FOR THE ML350, SAME DISCLOSED ON PAGE 407, "IN THE EVENT A MALFUNCTION OF THE SRS IS INDICATED AS OUTLINED ABOVE, THE SRS MAY NOT BE OPERATIONAL. FOR YOUR SAFETY, WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU VISIT AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES-BENZ LIGHT TRUCK CENTER IMMEDIATELY TO HAVE THE SYSTEM CHECKED, OTHERWISE THE SRS MAY NOT BE ACTIVATED WHEN NEEDED IN AN ACCIDENT, WHICH COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS OR FATAL INJURY, OR IT MIGHT DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY AND UNNECESSARILY WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT/OR INJURY TO YOU OR TO OTHERS." *NM

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HEAVY JOLT AND SKIPPAGE AT STARTUP FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AND HEAVY JOLT WHILE STOPPING. MERCEDES STATES IT IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM HOWEVER THERE IS NO SOFTWARE AVAILABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *NM

BRAKE SYSTEM ON 2006 ML350 HAS EXCESSIVE PEDAL TRAVEL CAUSING UNSAFE BRAKING AND JERKY STOPPING. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER STATE THAT THIS CONDITION IS "NORMAL" FOR THE ML SERIES MERCEDES TRUCK. THIS TRAVEL CAUSES DELAYED BRAKING AND DOES NOT EXIST ON ANOTHER MERCEDES AUTOMOBILES. MANUFACTURER TO FURTHER EVALUATE THE CONDITION OR ADMIT ANY POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM. *JB

STEERING WHEEL HAS NOTICEABLE CLICKS AND FEEDBACKS WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT IN A MOTION OR STAND STILL. *NM

WHEN I DROVE MY VEHICLE AT LOW SPEED AND CAME TO STOP, THE VEHICLE JOLTED BY MOVING FORWARD. I BELIEVED THIS WAS CAUSED BY JERKY TRANSMISSION, AND THERE WAS A BUG IN THE SOFTWARE THAT CONTROLLED THE TRANSMISSION. I TALKED TO A SERVICE GUY AT MY DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS, AND HE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO FIX AT THIS TIME, AWAITING AN ANSWER FROM MERCEDES BENZ. *NM

2006 ML 350 PULLS TO THE RIGHT WHEN DRIVING THROUGH WATER PUDDLES. *TS THE CONSUMER FEELS THE CONTINENTAL TIRES MAY BE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE TIRE HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH BRIDGESTONE DUELER HL. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT DRIVEN THE VEHICLE IN WET CONDITIONS WITH THE NEW TIRE YET. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS ONE CUP OF WATER IN A BAG IN THE CARGO AREA. THE WATER SPILLED ONTO THE CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT, CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE SYSTEM AND THE REAR LIFT GATE WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP.

DT: 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS HARD AND ERRATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT. HE DID NOT BELIEVE THE DEFECT WAS IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE JOLTED AT SPEEDS UNDER 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES, WHERE THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT EACH TIME. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. *AK