Total Complaints
3 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 · model year
2005 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500
3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2005MERCEDES-BENZML500 carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 ML500 is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc with 1 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (1) and engine (1). 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 ML500. 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.
3
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
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
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20141107ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ ML500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE DAS CONTROL BOX MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
Mileage: 115,000
20080911ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ ML500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. HE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
Mileage: 20,000
20070615SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
ML500 EATS THROUGH BRAKES. EL DORADO HILLS MERCEDES REPLACED BRAKES AND ROTORS ON MY ML500 AT 29000 WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, SINCE THEN THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AND ROTORS 3 TIMES AND I ONLY HAVE 60000 ON THE VEHICLE AND MOST OF THAT WAS HIGHWAY DRIVING. I DO NOT PULL ANYTHING, NO TRAILER HITCH INSTALLED. APPEARS TO BE DESIGN FLAW OR I'M BEING TAKEN BY THE DEALER. *AK
Mileage: 61,000
Compare 2005MERCEDES-BENZML500 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 have?▼
The 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500?▼
The most-complained component for the 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and ENGINE.
Is the 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.