MERCEDES-BENZ ML550 · model year

2013 MERCEDES-BENZ ML550

3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2013MERCEDES-BENZML550 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 2013 ML550 is power train with 1 filings, followed by visibility/wiper (1) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor (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 2013 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.

3
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

3 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
POWER TRAIN1
VISIBILITY/WIPER1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR1

Recent Complaints

20170622SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ ML550. WHILE DRIVING AT LEAST 55 MPH DOWN A HILL, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOBBLED AND SHOOK WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF LITTLETON (8070 S BROADWAY, LITTLETON, CO 80122 (303) 738-7700) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT ALL FOUR ROTORS WERE WARPED FROM ONE APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE ROTORS WOULD CONTINUE TO BE WARPED UNLESS THE PADDLE SHIFTER WAS BEING APPLIED WHILE BRAKING AT HIGH SPEEDS DOWNHILL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DISAGREED WITH THE DEALER'S DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 19,000

20140321VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ ML550. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD GLASS CAUSED A GLARE AND DISTORTED HIS VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER RECOGNIZED THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THE WINDSHIELD FUNCTIONED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,600. UPDATED 04/30/14 MA *TR

Mileage: 5,600

20130318POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES BENZ ML550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 53 MPH, THERE WAS A NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HEARD THE NOISE BUT COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 0.

Compare 2013MERCEDES-BENZML550 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ ML550 have?
The 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ ML550 has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ ML550?
The most-complained component for the 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ ML550 is POWER TRAIN with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY/WIPER and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR.
Is the 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ ML550 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.