2004 Mercedes Benz ML500

Routine

Owners filed 18 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Steering5
000
Electrical System3
000
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System1
011
Tires1
000
Structure › Body1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Pads1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
000
Seats › Front Assembly › Seat Heater/Cooler1
011
Seats1
001
Power Train › Automatic Transmission1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Steering
Filed Apr 7, 2021248,000 milesNC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, HE LOS CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED 360 DEGREES HOWEVER, THE WHEELS REMAINED IN A STRAIGHTFORWARD POSITION. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE TO DRIFTED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED MERCEDES BENZ OF CARY (2400 AUTO PARK BLVD, CARY, NC 27511, 919-380-1800) BUT WAS NOT YET DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 248,000.

Steering
Filed Feb 13, 2017123,000 milesDE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. A MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

Structure › Body
Filed May 3, 2016NJ

SMELL GAS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. RUST AROUND FRONT AND REAR FENDERS

Electrical System
Filed Dec 27, 2014125,500 milesMD

THIS COULD BE RELATED TO A SOFTWARE PROBLEM IN ALL ML CLASS. 1. OBD SYSTEM CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE INCORRECTLY 2. STUCK FUEL-LEVEL SENSOR CAUSE TO REPORT INCORRECTLY 3. THE SPEEDOMETER OUT OF TOLERANCE IS REPORTING INCORRECTLY 4. OBD SYSTEM IS REPORTING INCORRECTLY CAUSING FAULTS IN SYSTEMS. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Nov 26, 2014225,000 milesMD

THE BOSE DVD STEREO HAS NO SOUND EVERYTHING WORKS JUST NO SOUND THIS APPEAR TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

Steering
Filed Oct 6, 2014165,000 milesOH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ ML500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO CONTROL THE WHEEL. THE CONTACT NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED FOR THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V465000 (STEERING). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING FLUID WAS LOW AND NEEDED TO BE REPLENISHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

Steering
Filed Oct 17, 201370,000 milesVA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ ML500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL EXHIBITED A LOUD NOISE WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 08V465000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Seats1 injured
Filed Jan 31, 2012141,000 milesOH

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE HEATED SEAT WAS TURNED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY MERCEDES ML 500 WITH MY 17 DAUGHTER SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE CAR STARTED TO SMELL AND MY DAUGHTERS SEAT FELT HOT TO HER. SHE TRIED TO MOVE HER SELF OVER AND BURNT THE PALM OF HER HAND ON THE SIDE OF THE SEAT. THE HEATED SEAT HAD BEEN BURNING AT A VERY HOT TEMPERATURE AND WAS MELTING THE LEATHER ON THE SEAT. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE SEAT AND OPENED THE WINDOWS TO HELP COOL IT OFF. IT TOOK 30 MINUTES OR MORE FOR THE SEAT TO COOL OFF IN THAT SPOT. MY DAUGHTER JUMPED TO THE BACK SEAT WHILE IT WAS STILL HOT SO THAT SHE WOULD NOT GET BURNED AGAIN. *TT

Steering
Filed Feb 14, 2011110,000 milesCO

2004 MERCEDES BENZ ML500. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED / REPAIRED BY ZEMBRICK MERCEDES IN ADISON WISCONSIN ON FEB 3 2011. THE REPAIRS / SERVICE INCLUDED REPLACING A SEAL ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP. WITHIN DAYS OF THE REPAIR THE POWER STEERING UNIT LEAKED ALL IT'S FLUID FROM A HOSE CLAMP. FOUND THE RECALL 08V465000 FOR THIS PROBLEM WHICH PER THE RECALL COVERED ALL 1998-2004 MB ML'S . HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP AND MBUSA STATES THIS RECALL IS VIN SPECIFIC AND THIS VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. THE PROBLEM IS OBVIOUSLY STILL PRESENT AND ONGOING, HOWEVER MBUSA SEEMS TO BE APPLYING THIS RECALL TO SUIT THEIR INTERPRETATION. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AND THE HAZARDS ORIGINALLY IDENTIFIED HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED AND CORRECTED. *TR

Exterior LightingFire
Filed Jan 12, 201160,000 milesNJ

DURING REGULAR VEHICLE USE THE FRONT RIGHT HEADLIGHT STOPPED WORKING. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE HEADLIGHT HOLDER HAD MELTED UNDER EXTREME TEMPERATURES DUE TO A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT IN THE WIRING HARNESS. *TR

Seats › Front Assembly › Seat Heater/CoolerFire1 injured
Filed Jan 31, 2008NY

2004 MERCEDES BENZ ML500 DRIVER SEAT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATES THAT DUE TO THE SEAT CATCHING FIRE HE SUFFERED MILD BURNS ON THE LEFT HIP. *KB THE HEATING PAD IN THE DRIVERS SEAT SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED THE LEATHER AND SEAT CUSHION TO BURN. *JB

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac SystemFire1 injured
Filed Nov 28, 200750,200 milesNY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ ML500. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER SEAT BECAME EXTREMELY HOT WHILE THE WARMER FUNCTION WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE SEAT WAS RED AND SMOKING. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE FOR 30 MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTED IT AND DROVE HOME. THE CONTACT SUFFERED BURNS ON HIS LEFT SIDE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,200. UPDATED 01-10-08. *KB THE DEALER STATED DEFROSTER NOT WORKING. UPDATED 12/31/07 *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Dec 7, 20061,500 milesNC

CAR GETS STUCK IN THE PARK GEAR AND HAS TO BE TOWED. DURING THE SECOND INCIDENT, A MECHANIC PUT A PEN INTO A SLOT IN THE GEAR BOX AND IT SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL. THIS IS A DEFECT THE MANUFACTURER KNEW ABOUT, OTHERWISE HOW DID THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO? *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Pads
Filed Apr 15, 200618,284 milesTX

OVERLY EXCESSIVE BRAKE PAD AND BRAKE ROTOR WEAR ASSOCIATED WITH 2004 MERCEDES ML500 SUV. REPLACEMENT/REPAIR COST NOT COVERED BY MERCEDES NEW VEHICLE WARRANTY AND REPAIR COSTS IN EXCESS OF $1300.00. *NM

Tires
Filed Sep 29, 20058,900 milesNY

DT:CONSUMER HAD TWO DUNLOP SP 5000 TIRES THAT WERE CUPPED. AS A RESULT OF THE CUPPING, THE CONSUMER PURCHASED 4 NEW TIRES. CONSUMER HAD AN ALIGNMENT AND BALANCING DONE. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THE VEHICLE OPERATED POORLY AT LOW SPEED, IT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS ROCKING BACK AND FORTH. AT 18 MPH VEHICLE VIBRATED. CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE MADE HIM ILL TO DRIVE DUE TO THE VIBRATION. GOODYEAR GAVE CONSUMER MONEY BACK AND CONSUMER RETURNED THE TIRES TO GOODYEAR. CONSUMER WENT TO A MERCEDES DEALER AND THE DEALER PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT, BALANCING AND DIAGNOSTIC. DEALER PUT SAME TIRES ON VEHICLE AND CONSUMER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NEW TIRES AS WITH THE PREVIOUS SET. *AK *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Feb 5, 2005NH

I HAVE RETURNED MY SUV TO MERCEDES ABOUT 5 TIMES TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED BECAUSE THEY SQUEAL WHEN STOPPING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD MY MERCEDES THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE BECAUSE ALL DISC BRAKES SQUEAL. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE BECAUSE I HAVE HAD MANY CARS WITH DISC BRAKES OVER THE YEARS. I PICKED THE CAR UP ON 2/3/05 AND IT WAS SQUEALING AGAIN ON 2/4/05. *JB

Electrical System
Filed Jun 14, 20044,000 milesCA

VEHICLE LOST POWER DUE TO THE ESM TRACKING SYSTEM. AFTER ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES THE VEHICLE COULD BE RESTARTED. *AK *NM

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Apr 17, 2004MI

I WANT TO PROTEST IN THE LOUDEST VOICE THAT I HAVE AS A AUTOMOBILE DRIVER THE USE BY SOME RECENT MODEL CARS OF HIGH INTENSITY HEADLIGHTS. I AM NOT REFERRING TO HIGH BEAMS.......THESE LIGHTS ARE FAR WORSE THAN HIGH BEAMS. I AM BLINDED BY THESE LIGHTS AND FIND MY EYES TURNING TO THEM INVOLUNTARILY. I FEAR THAT THEY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY ACCIDENTS IF OTHER DRIVERS REACT AS I DO. I SEE ABSOLUTELY NO NEED FOR SUCH LIGHTS ON OUR HIGHWAYS. THIS IS THE FIRST COMPLIANT I HAVE EVER SUBMITTED IN 57 YEARS OF DRIVING! *AK

18 of 18 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2006
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20111000Routine
20080100Do not drive
20079250Do not drive
200637250Do not drive
20053000Routine
2004 — this page18030Routine
200313020Routine
200227100Routine

Compare every ML500 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.