Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2009 Mercedes-Benz M-Class, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Structure1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 5 2009 M-Class vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 2 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2009 Mercedes-Benz M-Class failed the safety check 1.19% of the time — 53% less often than the average 2009 passenger car (2.52%). Median odometer at inspection: 126,831 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2009 Mercedes-Benz M-Class cars on Dutch roads are the 3.5 petrol (200 kW, 268 hp), 3.0 diesel (165 kW, 221 hp) and 3.0 diesel (140 kW, 188 hp), out of 4 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5 petrol | 200 kW 268 hp | 84 |
| 3.0 diesel | 165 kW 221 hp | 76 |
| 3.0 diesel | 140 kW 188 hp | 32 |
| 6.2 petrol | 375 kW 503 hp | 22 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
238 first registered in 2009 are on Dutch roads; 68% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €92,448.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde117
- Band onvoldoende profiel90
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen76
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm49
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld43
- Remleiding door corrosie aangetast28
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)26
- Remslang beschadigd, wapeningsmateriaal zichtbaar24
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
1,518 cars built in 2009 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 570 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
6 of these cars first registered in 2009 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 232,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
63 2009 cars are on the New Zealand register; 97% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mercedes-Benz told its dealers about the 2009 Mercedes-Benz M-Class: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10039256 | MERCEDES-BENZ: THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS ON WITH MULTIPLE POSSIBLE TROUBLE CODES STORED. THERE COULD BE A PROBLEM WITH THE CAMSHAFT AND/OR SCORING OF A PISTON. *RM |
| 10038977 | MERCEDES-BENZ: THE AUTO-TRANSMISSION SWITCHES TO LIMP HOME MODE OR HAS NO POWER. THERE ARE MULTIPLE POSSIBLE FAULT CODES. A PISTON MAY BE DAMAGED. *RM |
| 10037408 | MERCEDES-BENZ: SHOCK ABSORBER PROCEDURE. *RM |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)