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Mercedes-Benz M-Class

Model years 1998–2009 in the US safety record. No model year stands out in owner complaints. Fewest complaints: 2007, 2008, 2009.

86owner complaints
15recall campaigns
40service bulletins
11model years on record

Complaints by model year

Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.

’98’00’02’04’07’09’98’01’04’08

NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026

New York safety inspections

Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2014.

0.0%0.9%1.8%’98’00’02’04’06’08’10’12’14’151.0%0.0%0.9%1.8%’98’01’04’07’10’13’14’151.0%

NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count

Year by year

Model yearComplaintsRecallsBulletinsCrashes · fires
2009 M-Class1130 · 0
2008 M-Class1230 · 0
2007 M-Class2210 · 2
2006 M-Class14231 · 0
2004 M-Class0100 · 0
2003 M-Class10331 · 1
2002 M-Class5550 · 0
2001 M-Class5462 · 0
2000 M-Class25561 · 0
1999 M-Class18450 · 1
1998 M-Class5451 · 0

A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections

Most common problems

  • Steering22
  • Engine and engine cooling15
  • Electrical system14
  • Power train10
  • Service brakes, hydraulic8
  • Electronic stability control (esc)8
  • Seats5
  • Structure4

NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years

Fatal crashes in the US

From 2020 to 2023, 125 M-Class vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 62 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.

Model yearVehicles in fatal crashesDeaths in the vehicleRolled over
20111230
2010700
2009521
200810102
2007500
2006500
20051272
2004410
20031140
20021194
2001843
200022117
1999975
1998441

NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count

In New Zealand

1,595 M-Class cars are on the New Zealand register; 58% arrived as used imports.

Model yearRegisteredSold new in NZUsed imports
2021110
2016211
201522914083
201430522969
2013216113102
20121728186
201126026
201067165
200963061
2008851764
200713430100
20061071194
200556053
200413013
200332032
20021009
200120020
200043038
199914014

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0

In the Netherlands

6,157 M-Class cars are on Dutch roads; 59% arrived later as imports, and 2,496 still have a recall open. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.

First registeredOn the roadImportedMedian list price
201518671%€108,309
201433072%€103,765
201355270%€99,964
201281573%€98,413
201125672%€94,159
201023765%€89,390
200923868%€92,448
200841163%€93,583
200755156%€91,694
200690853%€88,592
200541557%€83,950
200413031%€74,281
200320023%—
200225837%—
200124939%€102,421
200021239%€100,031
199915253%—
19985772%—

RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new

In Finland

201 M-Class cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 11% petrol, 89% diesel. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.

First registeredIn useAverage mileage
201510221,000 km
201420230,000 km
201339242,000 km
201264274,000 km
201119317,000 km
20096232,000 km
20085306,000 km
20075237,000 km
200612324,000 km
200510344,000 km
20035401,000 km
19996231,000 km

Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0

Road collisions in Great Britain

From 2021 to 2025, 513 M-Class cars were involved in road collisions in Great Britain that injured someone and were reported to the police. 6 of those collisions were fatal and 98 caused serious injuries. As with any count, models with more cars on British roads appear more often.

YearCars in injury collisionsFatalSerious
202592223
202485020
2023109020
2022108216
2021119219

Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data 2021–2025 · Open Government Licence v3.0 · how we count

In the United Kingdom

26,617 M-Class cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.

BuiltLicensedOff the road (SORN)
20166—
20153,11682
20143,778161
20134,044242
20122,371282
20112,213426
20102,169569
20091,518570
20081,601829
20071,4271,025
20061,1261,116
2005625596
20048161,009
20036091,016
20025161,339
2001286983
2000241974
1999140464
19981572

Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0

MOT test results in Great Britain

428 M-Class cars took their annual MOT test in 2023; 71% passed first time, against 64% for all cars of the same ages. Older cars fail more often, so compare a year with the same year of other cars.

First registeredTestsPassed first timeAll cars that yearAverage mileage
201232772%66%98,800 mi
201010165%60%116,100 mi

DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests of cars only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail

New registrations in Europe

114,470 new Mercedes-Benz M-Class cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2010 and 2021, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2021 the largest markets were Spain (4).

YearNew carsLargest marketsMass kgCO₂ g/kmPower kW
20214Spain2,174—158
20207Spain, Italy, Germany2,183257 (NEDC)216
201910Spain, Italy2,211219 (NEDC)200
20181Finland2,175189 (NEDC)190
201717Germany, Czechia, Romania2,165180 (NEDC)178
2016200Germany, Spain, Italy2,199—234
201514,404Germany, United Kingdom, Italy2,170—182
201422,399Germany, United Kingdom, Italy2,172—185
201327,525Germany, United Kingdom, Italy2,171—185
201217,434United Kingdom, France, Italy2,171—175
201113,449United Kingdom, Spain, France2,200—166
201019,020Germany, United Kingdom, Italy2,194——

Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement

EU safety alerts

Safety Gate, the European Union's rapid alert system, names the M-Class in 5 alerts. European versions can differ from the North American car.

SR/03711/24 · Injuries20 Dec 2024 · C-Class, E-Class, M-Class, S-Class, CLS, GLC, GLS, GLE, GLK, GL

The three aluminium screws of the steering box may corrode due to exposure to spray water and aggressive road-grit (salt) used for melting ice. Advanced corrosion could weaken the screws, leading to potential breakage during manoeuvring or parking. If all fixi…

A12/0286/17 · Injuries10 Mar 2017 · GL, GLE, M-Class

The upper suspension arm may not have been correctly screwed to the stub axle, which could affect the steering.

A12/0083/17 · Injuries27 Jan 2017 · GLE, M-Klasse, R-Klasse

The axle screws on the front/rear axle may not have been correctly secured which could lead to an overload on the remaining screw connections on the axle concerned. This overload may result in the rupture of the screws and under certain conditions, in loss of …

A12/0858/16 · Injuries15 Jul 2016 · ML-Class, GLE-Class

In the event of a car crash involving strong forces the end mount of the rear right seat belt may fail because of incorrectly fixed bolts. This would increase the potential risk of injury to passengers.

A12/0662/16 · Injuries3 Jun 2016 · S 500 Hybrid, C 350 Hybrid, GLC 350 Hybrid Plus 4Matic, ML 500 4Matic Hybrid

The on-board high-voltage battery charger may malfunction. As a consequence it may incorrectly detect that an external charging cable has been inserted. If the vehicle is travelling at a speed of less than 5 km/h, this could lead to the activation of the park-…

Safety Gate (European Commission) · CC0

Recalls

15 campaigns cover the M-Class; the latest 12 are below.

11V208000 · Vehicle speed control31 Mar 2011 · 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999-2002 M-CLASS AND MODEL YEAR 2000-2003 M-CLASS AMG VEHICLES. THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ALLOWS THE DRIVER TO DISENGAGE THE SYSTEM IN A NUMBER OF WAYS, INCLUDING TAPPING THE BRAKE PEDAL, USING THE CRUISE CONTROL STALK, OR BRAKING THE VEHICLE ENOUGH TO REACH A CERTAIN RATE OF DECELERATION. MERCEDES-BENZ HAS DETERMINED THAT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES USE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL MAY NOT AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL AS EXPECTED BY THE DRIVER, ALTHOUGH THE OTHER MEANS OF DEACTIVATING CRUISE CONTROL REMAIN FULLY OPERATIVE. SPECIFICALLY, WHERE THE DRIVER PUMPS THE BRAKES RATHER THAN APPLYING CONSISTENT PEDAL FORCE, THE LEVEL OF FORCE REQUIRED MAY BE UNUSUALLY HIGH.

09V076000 · Exterior lighting10 Mar 2009 · 2009

MERCEDES BENZ IS RECALLING 16,130 MY 2009 M-CLASS W164 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE OPTIONAL POWER LIFT GATE. AS A RESULT OF A FAULTY SEAL AROUND THE REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY, WATER MAY ENTER THE REAR COMPARTMENT CONTAINING THE SPARE TIRE. WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE CONTROL UNIT FOR THE POWER LIFT GATE CAN RESULT IN DISABLING OF THE POWER LIFT GATE MOTOR.

08V682000 · Steering19 Dec 2008 · 2008

MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING 577 MY 2008 GL-CLASS, M-CLASS, AND R-CLASS VEHICLES. A DEFECT MAY EXIST IN THE DRIVING PIN USED TO CONTROL THE OIL PRESSURE OF THE POWER STEERING.

08V465000 · Steering17 Sept 2008 · 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004

MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING 125,228 MY 1998-2004 M-CLASS VEHICLES. THE HOSE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER MAY NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE FOR THIS CONNECTION.

08V303000 · Electrical system7 Jul 2008 · 2006, 2007, 2008

MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING MY 2006-2008 M-CLASS, R-CLASS, MY 2005-2009 SLK-CLASS, MY 2005-2008 C-CLASS, MY 2003-2004 AND 2006-2008 CLK-CLASS, MY 2003-2008 E-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2008 CL-CLASS, MY 2008 CLS-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2007-2008 S-CLASS, MY 2003 G-CLASS, AND MY 2003-2004, 2006 AND 2009 SL-CLASS VEHICLES. A SOFTWARE CALIBRATION NUMBER (SCN) CODING RECEIVED ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES DURING A RECENT WORKSHOP VISIT WAS INCORRECT. DEPENDING ON THE MODEL YEAR AND MODEL AFFECTED, THE RESULTS OF AN INCORRECT SCN CODING CAN AFFECT A NUMBER OF VEHICLE SAFETY AND EMISSION FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF FUNCTIONS: (1) THE FUEL GAUGE READINGS MAY BE INCORRECT; (2) A STUCK FUEL-LEVEL SENSOR MAY NOT BE DISPLAYED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER; (3) THE OBD SYSTEM MAY CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE INCORRECTLY; AND, (4) THE SPEEDOMETER MAY BE OUT OF TOLERANCE.

06V495000 · Vehicle speed control29 Dec 2006 · 2007

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN FULLY FASTENED TO ITS MOUNTING STUDS.

05V224000 · Steering16 May 2005 · 2006

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A HOSE CLAMP THAT SECURES THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER MAY NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE FOR THIS CONNECTION.

03V121000 · Steering27 Mar 2003 · 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HOSE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER MAY NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE FOR THIS CONNECTION.

02V203000 · Seat belts26 Jul 2002 · 2002

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, S7.3, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE SEAT BELT CHIMES MAY NOT FUNCTION AS DESIGNED AND IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

02V058000 · Tires13 Feb 2002 · 2002

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DUNLOP SP5000 TIRES. SOME OF THESE TIRES HAVE A SEPARATION AROUND THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE IN THE AREA OF THE SIDE WALL AND TREAD.

01V061000 · Electrical system27 Feb 2001 · 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN ALL ACTIVITY MODULE II (AAM II) COULD HAVE A SUB-COMPONENT THAT COULD CAUSE THE MODULE TO INTERMITTENTLY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE AAM II CONTROLS A NUMBER OF SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, DOOR LOCKS, AND WIPER SYSTEMS.

00V352000 · Seat belts30 Oct 2000 · 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SEAT BELT ANCHOR IN THE REAR FOLDING MIDDLE SEATING POSITION MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH OUT-OF-TOLERANCE HARDWARE.

NHTSA recalls