MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 · model year

2005 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350

28 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2005MERCEDES-BENZML350 carries 28 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 3 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2005 ML350 is steering with 6 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling (4) and power train:automatic transmission (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 2005 ML350. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

28
Complaints
0
Crashes
3
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

28 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STEERING6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
SEATS3
POWER TRAIN2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS1
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER1
PARKING BRAKE1
EQUIPMENT1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
STRUCTURE:BODY1
ENGINE1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH1

Recent Complaints

20250205STEERING

I had went to a car wash & when I was leaving & turned right at the light my door flew open & few days later my steering wheel started to get hard to turn & it had started leaking bad .i had my kids in the car when both incident happened. Didn’t notify my insurance or police .

20250205LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

I had went to a car wash & when I was leaving & turned right at the light my door flew open & few days later my steering wheel started to get hard to turn & it had started leaking bad .i had my kids in the car when both incident happened. Didn’t notify my insurance or police .

20230720SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2005 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the service brake warning light illuminated. The contact then stated that her husband depressed the brake pedal to slow the vehicle and had to apply added pressure to the brake pedal, with the brake pedal extending to the floorboard. The contact stated that the brake pedal remained stuck on the floorboard. The contact’s husband shifted into park(P) and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

Mileage: 200,000

20170814POWER TRAIN

OCCASSIONALLY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT STALLS IN GEAR,THAT IS THE GEAR SHIFT DOESN'T WORK AND THE VEHICLESTAYS IN ONE GEAR EVEN WHILE MOVING.USUALLY THE DRIVER HAS TO STOP BRIEFLY SHIFTS THE GEAR TO ANOTHER GEAR AND THEN STARTS AGAIN.IN A FEW SECONDS WWE CAN DRIVE AGAIN.UNTIL THE SAME THING HAPPENS AGAIN PERHAPS IN A FEW MONTHS OR SO.THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION MORE GENERALLY ON CITY STREET.THIS BEGAN TO HAPPEN FROM THE VERY MOMENT I PURCHASED THE CAR AND WITHIN TWO HOURS OF DRIVING AND HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN SINCE

Mileage: 48,000

20160610FireENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ODOR OF SMOKE WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND DARK SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE TO EXTINGUISH FLAMES THAT CAME FROM THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

Mileage: 95,000

20150731STRUCTURE:BODY

COMMERCIAL MACK TRUCK DOT #[XXX] DRIVER NAME [XXX] MD TAG [XXX]TRUCK VIN #[XXX] COMMERCIAL ENTERED MD RT FIVE NORTH AT 1:30 PM AND HEAVY AMOUNTS OF ROCKS WERE FALLING FROM LOWER EDGE BETWEEN TAILGATE AND BODY OF TRUCK BED. MAJOR FALLING DEBRIS CAUSED HEAVY DAMAGE TO OUR WINDSHIELD AND FRONT PAINT ON HOOD AND BUMPER. WE NOW HAVE NUMEROUS CRACKS IN WINDSHIELD AND DAMAGE TO FRONT END BODY AND PAINT. WE ATTEMPTED TO CATCH UP TO TRUCK TO NOTIFY DRIVER BUT THE EXTREMELY HEAVY AMOUNT OF FALLING ROCKS PREVENTED BEING ABLE TO CATCH UP TO DRIVER SAFELY. EXTREMELY UPSET DRIVER FAILED TO SAFELY SECURE LOAD CAUSING EXTREMELY UNSAFE ROAD CONDITIONS AND DAMAGE TO OTHER FOLLOWING VEHICLES. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE WITH THE AMOUNT OF ROCKS FALLING FROM THIS TRUCK FOR THE DRIVER TO NOT BE AWARE OF IT, MY TWO CENTS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 65,000

20150318FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING ON 3/14/15 THE CAR HAD TROUBLE STARTING. I MANAGED TO REACH HOME. NEXT MORNING ON 3/15/15 I BACKED CAR OUT OF GARAGE - HAD THE SAME PROBLEM STARTING CAR. AFTER PARKING CAR IN GARAGE, I SUDDENLY NOTICED THAT GASOLINE WAS LEAKING FROM UNDER THE LEFT PASSENGER SEAT TO THE GARAGE FLOOR. ON 3/16/15 MORNING I CALLED UP MERCEDES BENZ ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THE FUEL LINE FROM THE FUEL FILTER TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAD COME PARTIALLY OFF THE FUEL FILTER. IT WAS RECONNECTED BUT I WAS TOLD IT COULD COME OFF. THIS IS A CAR MY SPOUSE DRIVES AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. I HAVE DRIVE VARIOUS AUTOMOBILES SINCE I FIRST CAME TO THE USA IN DECEMBER 1974 AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. WHAT SHOULD I BE DOING? *TR

Mileage: 84,792

20130325FireSEATS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, SHE NOTICED A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT WARMER HAD OVERHEATED AND BURNED A HOLE IN THE LEATHER. AS A RESULT, THE SEAT ELEMENT WARMER AND THE SEAT PAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Mileage: 90,000

20111226SEATS

DRIVER HEATED SEAT BURNING UNDERSIDE OF LEFT THIGH ON BOTH LOW AND HIGH SETTINGS. ON 12/26/11, IT FELT HOTTER THAN NORMAL (EVEN ON A VERY SHORT 6-7 MINUTE JOURNEY) BURNING INDEX FINGER WHEN SEAT LEATHER WAS BEING FELT. THERE IS ALSO SMELL OF BURNING. I SWITCHED HEATED SEAT OFF IMMEDIATELY. A "HOT SPOT" IS VISIBLE ON THE LEATHER SEAT WHERE THE ELEMENT SEEMS TO HAVE OVERHEATED. *TR

Mileage: 78,650

20110915FireSEATS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN REVERSE, THE DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT WAS ACTIVATED AND SUDDENLY THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A SEVERE BURNING SENSATION DIRECTLY TO THE SKIN FROM THE LOWER PORTION OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE CONTACT EXIT THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED SMOKE AND FLAMES EMITTING FROM THE TOP OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. IMMEDIATELY, ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED AND THE FLAMES WERE SMOTHERED BY AND INDIVIDUAL WHO USED THEIR HANDS TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR BURNS TO HIS BACK AND THE OTHER PERSON SUSTAINED MINOR BURNS TO BOTH HANDS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE TECHNICIAN TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

Mileage: 32,000

20110910STEERING

BOUGHT THE 2005 ML350 USED LAST SUMMER (2010). IN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE WHILE SLOWING DOWN OR STOPPED, THE ACCELERATION SEEMED TO DROP LOW ENOUGH TO MAKE THE VEHICLE STALL. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, BUT TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. SINCE THEN, IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE YEAR. ALSO, WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE IT WILL STALL AND I WILL HAVE TO KEEP RETRYING TO START IT AND PRESS THE ACCELERATION PEDAL TO GET IT TO FINALLY START. (ONLY USE THE RECOMMENDED OCTANE SUGGESTIONS FROM THE MERCEDES BOOKLET, AND FOLLOW ALL DIRECTIONS DURING FUELING) FINALLY, SEEMS TO POSSIBLY HAVE A STEERING FLUID LEAK. (ONLY USE MERCEDES POWER STEERING FLUID FROM DEALERSHIP). *TR

Mileage: 60,000

20110910POWER TRAIN

BOUGHT THE 2005 ML350 USED LAST SUMMER (2010). IN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE WHILE SLOWING DOWN OR STOPPED, THE ACCELERATION SEEMED TO DROP LOW ENOUGH TO MAKE THE VEHICLE STALL. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, BUT TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. SINCE THEN, IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE YEAR. ALSO, WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE IT WILL STALL AND I WILL HAVE TO KEEP RETRYING TO START IT AND PRESS THE ACCELERATION PEDAL TO GET IT TO FINALLY START. (ONLY USE THE RECOMMENDED OCTANE SUGGESTIONS FROM THE MERCEDES BOOKLET, AND FOLLOW ALL DIRECTIONS DURING FUELING) FINALLY, SEEMS TO POSSIBLY HAVE A STEERING FLUID LEAK. (ONLY USE MERCEDES POWER STEERING FLUID FROM DEALERSHIP). *TR

Mileage: 60,000

20110307ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES ML350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,400.

Mileage: 68,400

20110209POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK. *TR

Mileage: 78,600

20110209STEERING

POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK. *TR

Mileage: 78,600

20110112STEERING

THE 2005 ML 350 I BELIEVE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT LED TO RECALLS FOR ML SERIES IN 2003, 2004 AND POSSIBLY OTHER YEARS. THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM LOOSES FLUID CAUSED BY LEAKS IN THE PLUMBING OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE ONLY SIGN OF AN INITIAL PROBLEM WAS THE NOISE MADE BY THE PUMP BECAUSE OF LOSS OF FLUID. THIS VEHICLE REQUIRES SPECIAL FLUID WHICH IS NOT COMMONLY AVAILABLE. LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL IS THE RESULT OF THE LOSS OF FLUID.

Mileage: 45,000

20101227PARKING BRAKE

THE CUP HOLDER ON ML 350 MERCEDES BENZ IS NOT DESIGN WELL I GOT BAD BURN SEVERAL TIMES BY PLACING COFFEE IN CUP HOLDER ,I TALK WITH MERCEDES BENZ PEOPLE MENTIONED TO SORRY YOU HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE DIFFERENT CUP HOLDER ,ALSO ON HAND BRAKE DOESN'T WORK AFTER SEVERAL TIME USED,DOESN'T RELEASE CAR MADE REALLY CHEAP DESIGN AND HIGH PRICE. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

20101227EQUIPMENT

THE CUP HOLDER ON ML 350 MERCEDES BENZ IS NOT DESIGN WELL I GOT BAD BURN SEVERAL TIMES BY PLACING COFFEE IN CUP HOLDER ,I TALK WITH MERCEDES BENZ PEOPLE MENTIONED TO SORRY YOU HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE DIFFERENT CUP HOLDER ,ALSO ON HAND BRAKE DOESN'T WORK AFTER SEVERAL TIME USED,DOESN'T RELEASE CAR MADE REALLY CHEAP DESIGN AND HIGH PRICE. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

20100804STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL GROAN COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING. THE STEERING WOULD ALSO SPORADICALLY BECOME TIGHT WHEN ATTEMPTING A SHARP TURN. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY BE CAUSE BY MOISTURE IN THE RACK AND PINION. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE TWO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS RELATIVE TO THE FAILURE BUT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL (NHTSA ITEM NUMBERS: 10028646 AND 10020460). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

Mileage: 110,000

20100103POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2005 MERCEDES ML 350 VEHICLE JUMPS WHEN COMING TO A STOP THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT GOING TOO DEALERSHIP CAN NEVER FIND THE PROBLEM, FELLS LIKE TRANSMISSION . VERY BAD SAFETY ISSUE THIS HAS BEEN ON GOING SINCE NOV 8 2006 PLEASE HELP !!!!!!!!! *TR

Mileage: 25,000

Compare 2005MERCEDES-BENZML350 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 have?
The 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 has 28 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 3 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350?
The most-complained component for the 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 is STEERING with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.