Total Complaints
11 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ ML550 · model year
11 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2011MERCEDES-BENZML550 carries 11 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 2011 ML550 is air bags with 2 filings, followed by electrical system (1) and exterior lighting:back up lights (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 2011 ML550. 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.
Total Complaints
11 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
The break line in the rear locate right above the gas tank is corroded by rust due to the clip is holding the break line allows the moisture to accumulate. The car will lose its break completely when this happens. There is no way for the car owner to inspect this problem until the car has no break power.
TAKATA RECALL...I HAVE HAD A RECALL FOR A VERY LONG TIME ON MY AIR BAGS AND HAVE NEVER BEEN CONTACTED BY MERCEDES AGAIN AFTER THE INITIAL RECALL. I AM DRIVING AROUND WITH A POTENTIALLY DEADLY DEVICE IN MY VEHICLE. I FIND THIS RIDICULOUS ESPECIALLY SINCE I AM DRIVING A MERCEDES WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE ONE OF THE SAFEST VEHICLES! RECALL NUMBER 16V081. MFG RECALL NUMBER 2016020003
TAKATA RECALL. HAVE CONTACTED DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR AND HALF REQUESTING WHEN IT WOULD BE FIXED AND ARE TOLD IT IS STILL PENDING. I WOULD EXPECT FASTER SERVICE ON THIS POTENTIAL DANGER WITH THE DEFECTIVE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG.
DRIVING ON A FEEDER ROAD IN LIGHT TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 55 MPH, WE WERE STARTLED BY AN ENORMOUS LOUD EXPLOSIVE SOUND ON OUR SUNROOF OF THE ML 550, LIKE A BOMB SOUND. PULLED OVER AND SLID THE INSIDE VENTED HEADLINER/CURTAIN BACK ABOUT 6 INCHES AND SAW A HOLE THE SIZE OF TWO FISTS PLUS SHATTERED GLASS. WE RECALL THAT WE WEREN'T FOLLOWING BEHIND ANY TRUCKS. MERCEDES DEALERSHIP ESTIMATED $2,777.00 TO REPLACE GLASS, DROP HEADLINER AND REMOVE BROKEN GLASS SHARDS/PIECE. MB DID NOT OFFER ANY EXPLANATION AS TO DEFECTIVE SUNROOF GLASS. WE OWNED NUMEROUS MODELS OF MERCEDES WITH SUNROOFS AND NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH A FRIGHTENING EPISODE. *TR
Mileage: 50,000
THE CAR WOULD MAKE LOUD NOISES EVEN AT A SMALL SPEED, SERVICE MGR AT SMYTHE TOLD ME THAT MB HAD THIS DEFECT AND HE STATED HE PUT LOCTITE 648 PER MY NOTES O 8/24./2012 AT 9N WHEEL BEARING(S)! MB SHOULD NOT HAVE SUCH A PROBLEM. MY PREVIOUS ML 500 ALSO HAD A STEERING PROBLEM AND MB NEVER NOTIFIED US BUT FIXED IT AFTER THE WARRANTY AS THEY KNEW ABOUT IT ACCORDING TO SMYTHE SVC MGR. I THINK MB MUST BE PROACTIVE IN RECTIFYING SUCH PROBLEMS AS WE DO NOT WANT THEM TO CAUSE PROBLEMS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXP.! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Mileage: 2,047
THE CAR WOULD MAKE LOUD NOISES EVEN AT A SMALL SPEED, SERVICE MGR AT SMYTHE TOLD ME THAT MB HAD THIS DEFECT AND HE STATED HE PUT LOCTITE 648 PER MY NOTES O 8/24./2012 AT 9N WHEEL BEARING(S)! MB SHOULD NOT HAVE SUCH A PROBLEM. MY PREVIOUS ML 500 ALSO HAD A STEERING PROBLEM AND MB NEVER NOTIFIED US BUT FIXED IT AFTER THE WARRANTY AS THEY KNEW ABOUT IT ACCORDING TO SMYTHE SVC MGR. I THINK MB MUST BE PROACTIVE IN RECTIFYING SUCH PROBLEMS AS WE DO NOT WANT THEM TO CAUSE PROBLEMS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXP.! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Mileage: 2,047
YESTERDAY, I WAS DRIVING OUR 2011 MERCEDES ML550 ON A CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY, AND SUDDENLY LOST MY BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS AND REVERSE LIGHTS, DUE TO A RODENT EATING THE WIRING OF THE CAR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS YEAR A RODENT HAS EATEN THE WIRING OF THIS CAR. 4 MONTHS AGO A RODENT ATE THE MAIN WIRING LOOM AND THE REPAIR COST $1000. WE HAVE OWNED 5 DIFFERENT MERCEDES BENZ MODELS OVER THE LAST 7 YEARS. THE WIRING FOR EACH OF THESE CARS HAS BEEN EATEN BY RODENTS MORE THAN ONCE AND CAUSED US THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE (OBVIOUSLY NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY). IN MOST CASES THE CARS WERE GARAGED. THE CARS WERE PARKED IN VARIOUS PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING LOCATIONS WHERE NO ONE ELSE WITH OTHER BRAND CARS HAS HAD RODENT DAMAGE. EVERY TIME WE BRING THE CARS IN TO BE REPAIRED THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIPS TELLS US "2 OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT THEIR MERCEDES IN TODAY WITH RODENT DAMAGE". I HEAR FROM ONE OF THE MB REPAIRMEN MERCEDES HAS CHOSEN TO USE A MATERIAL FOR THE I
Mileage: 8,000
YESTERDAY, I WAS DRIVING OUR 2011 MERCEDES ML550 ON A CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY, AND SUDDENLY LOST MY BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS AND REVERSE LIGHTS, DUE TO A RODENT EATING THE WIRING OF THE CAR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS YEAR A RODENT HAS EATEN THE WIRING OF THIS CAR. 4 MONTHS AGO A RODENT ATE THE MAIN WIRING LOOM AND THE REPAIR COST $1000. WE HAVE OWNED 5 DIFFERENT MERCEDES BENZ MODELS OVER THE LAST 7 YEARS. THE WIRING FOR EACH OF THESE CARS HAS BEEN EATEN BY RODENTS MORE THAN ONCE AND CAUSED US THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE (OBVIOUSLY NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY). IN MOST CASES THE CARS WERE GARAGED. THE CARS WERE PARKED IN VARIOUS PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING LOCATIONS WHERE NO ONE ELSE WITH OTHER BRAND CARS HAS HAD RODENT DAMAGE. EVERY TIME WE BRING THE CARS IN TO BE REPAIRED THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIPS TELLS US "2 OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT THEIR MERCEDES IN TODAY WITH RODENT DAMAGE". I HEAR FROM ONE OF THE MB REPAIRMEN MERCEDES HAS CHOSEN TO USE A MATERIAL FOR THE I
Mileage: 8,000
YESTERDAY, I WAS DRIVING OUR 2011 MERCEDES ML550 ON A CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY, AND SUDDENLY LOST MY BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS AND REVERSE LIGHTS, DUE TO A RODENT EATING THE WIRING OF THE CAR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS YEAR A RODENT HAS EATEN THE WIRING OF THIS CAR. 4 MONTHS AGO A RODENT ATE THE MAIN WIRING LOOM AND THE REPAIR COST $1000. WE HAVE OWNED 5 DIFFERENT MERCEDES BENZ MODELS OVER THE LAST 7 YEARS. THE WIRING FOR EACH OF THESE CARS HAS BEEN EATEN BY RODENTS MORE THAN ONCE AND CAUSED US THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE (OBVIOUSLY NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY). IN MOST CASES THE CARS WERE GARAGED. THE CARS WERE PARKED IN VARIOUS PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING LOCATIONS WHERE NO ONE ELSE WITH OTHER BRAND CARS HAS HAD RODENT DAMAGE. EVERY TIME WE BRING THE CARS IN TO BE REPAIRED THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIPS TELLS US "2 OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT THEIR MERCEDES IN TODAY WITH RODENT DAMAGE". I HEAR FROM ONE OF THE MB REPAIRMEN MERCEDES HAS CHOSEN TO USE A MATERIAL FOR THE I
Mileage: 8,000
YESTERDAY, I WAS DRIVING OUR 2011 MERCEDES ML550 ON A CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY, AND SUDDENLY LOST MY BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS AND REVERSE LIGHTS, DUE TO A RODENT EATING THE WIRING OF THE CAR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS YEAR A RODENT HAS EATEN THE WIRING OF THIS CAR. 4 MONTHS AGO A RODENT ATE THE MAIN WIRING LOOM AND THE REPAIR COST $1000. WE HAVE OWNED 5 DIFFERENT MERCEDES BENZ MODELS OVER THE LAST 7 YEARS. THE WIRING FOR EACH OF THESE CARS HAS BEEN EATEN BY RODENTS MORE THAN ONCE AND CAUSED US THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE (OBVIOUSLY NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY). IN MOST CASES THE CARS WERE GARAGED. THE CARS WERE PARKED IN VARIOUS PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING LOCATIONS WHERE NO ONE ELSE WITH OTHER BRAND CARS HAS HAD RODENT DAMAGE. EVERY TIME WE BRING THE CARS IN TO BE REPAIRED THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIPS TELLS US "2 OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT THEIR MERCEDES IN TODAY WITH RODENT DAMAGE". I HEAR FROM ONE OF THE MB REPAIRMEN MERCEDES HAS CHOSEN TO USE A MATERIAL FOR THE I
Mileage: 8,000
YESTERDAY, I WAS DRIVING OUR 2011 MERCEDES ML550 ON A CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY, AND SUDDENLY LOST MY BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS AND REVERSE LIGHTS, DUE TO A RODENT EATING THE WIRING OF THE CAR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS YEAR A RODENT HAS EATEN THE WIRING OF THIS CAR. 4 MONTHS AGO A RODENT ATE THE MAIN WIRING LOOM AND THE REPAIR COST $1000. WE HAVE OWNED 5 DIFFERENT MERCEDES BENZ MODELS OVER THE LAST 7 YEARS. THE WIRING FOR EACH OF THESE CARS HAS BEEN EATEN BY RODENTS MORE THAN ONCE AND CAUSED US THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE (OBVIOUSLY NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY). IN MOST CASES THE CARS WERE GARAGED. THE CARS WERE PARKED IN VARIOUS PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING LOCATIONS WHERE NO ONE ELSE WITH OTHER BRAND CARS HAS HAD RODENT DAMAGE. EVERY TIME WE BRING THE CARS IN TO BE REPAIRED THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIPS TELLS US "2 OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT THEIR MERCEDES IN TODAY WITH RODENT DAMAGE". I HEAR FROM ONE OF THE MB REPAIRMEN MERCEDES HAS CHOSEN TO USE A MATERIAL FOR THE I
Mileage: 8,000
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.