Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 ML | 0 | 1 |
| 2008 ML | 2 | 2 |
| 2007 ML | 1 | 2 |
| 2006 ML | 3 | 2 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Engine3
- Power train2
- Trailer hitches1
- Structure1
- Steering1
- Electrical system1
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 17 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 10.3–15.8 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | ML 350 BlueTec 4MATIC · Sport utility vehicle: Standard · Diesel | 11.8 | 8.5 | 10.3 |
| 2014 | ML 350 BlueTec 4MATIC · Sport utility vehicle: Standard · Diesel | 11.8 | 8.5 | 10.3 |
| 2013 | ML 350 BlueTec 4MATIC · Sport utility vehicle: Standard · Diesel | 11.8 | 8.5 | 10.3 |
| 2011 | ML 350 BlueTec 4MATIC · Sport utility vehicle · Diesel | 12.6 | 9.5 | 11.2 |
| 2010 | ML 350 BlueTec · Sport utility vehicle · Diesel | 12.6 | 9.5 | 11.2 |
| 2009 | ML 320 BlueTec 4MATIC · Sport utility vehicle · Diesel | 13.3 | 9.7 | 11.7 |
| 2008 | ML 320 CDI 4MATIC Turbo · Sport utility vehicle · Diesel | 12.8 | 9.8 | 11.4 |
| 2007 | ML 320 CDI · Sport utility vehicle · Diesel | 12.5 | 9.6 | 11.2 |
| 2006 | ML 350 # · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 16.3 | 12.5 | 14.6 |
| 2005 | ML 350 · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 17.2 | 14.1 | 15.8 |
| 2004 | ML 350 · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 17.2 | 14.1 | 15.8 |
| 2003 | ML 320 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 16.9 | 13.6 | 15.4 |
| 2002 | ML 320 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 16.9 | 13.6 | 15.4 |
| 2001 | ML 320 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 15.5 | 12.2 | 14.0 |
| 2000 | ML 320 · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 16.1 | 12.8 | 14.6 |
| 1999 | ML 320 · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 15.7 | 12.3 | 14.2 |
| 1998 | ML 320 · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 15.7 | 11.9 | 14.0 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
1,541 ML cars are on the New Zealand register; 7% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 2014 | 9 | 5 | 4 |
| 2013 | 133 | 117 | 7 |
| 2012 | 135 | 121 | 6 |
| 2011 | 151 | 147 | 3 |
| 2010 | 131 | 125 | 4 |
| 2009 | 110 | 89 | 17 |
| 2008 | 100 | 79 | 18 |
| 2007 | 125 | 104 | 13 |
| 2006 | 146 | 128 | 11 |
| 2005 | 77 | 70 | 2 |
| 2004 | 71 | 68 | 3 |
| 2003 | 50 | 46 | 1 |
| 2002 | 76 | 70 | 3 |
| 2001 | 79 | 75 | 2 |
| 2000 | 78 | 66 | 11 |
| 1999 | 52 | 45 | 3 |
| 1998 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
35,930 ML cars took their annual MOT test in 2023; 71% passed first time, against 63% for all cars of the same ages. Older cars fail more often, so compare a year with the same year of other cars.
| First registered | Tests | Passed first time |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 3,215 | 85% |
| 2014 | 3,900 | 82% |
| 2013 | 4,317 | 81% |
| 2012 | 2,356 | 78% |
| 2011 | 2,770 | 72% |
| 2010 | 2,848 | 68% |
| 2009 | 2,241 | 68% |
| 2008 | 2,626 | 66% |
| 2007 | 2,572 | 66% |
| 2006 | 2,284 | 67% |
| 2005 | 1,250 | 59% |
| 2004 | 1,733 | 58% |
| 2003 | 1,259 | 56% |
| 2002 | 1,151 | 61% |
| 2001 | 630 | 63% |
| 2000 | 524 | 60% |
| 1999 | 254 | 58% |
Why they fail
Share of all first tests that ended in a fail because of each part of the car (one test can fail on several).
| Area | ML | All cars, same ages |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 12.9% | 16.2% |
| Brakes | 8.5% | 9.6% |
| Suspension | 8.3% | 13.5% |
| Tyres | 5.4% | 7.0% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 4.2% | 4.7% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 3.2% | 5.6% |
| Visibility | 3.1% | 5.9% |
| Steering | 2.2% | 2.8% |
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
117 new Mercedes-Benz ML cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2010 and 2016, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2016 the largest markets were Ireland (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 | — |
| 2015 | 36 | — |
| 2014 | 19 | — |
| 2013 | 1 | — |
| 2012 | 1 | — |
| 2011 | 4 | — |
| 2010 | 55 | — |
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 ML in 4 alerts. European versions can differ from the North American car.
Severe corrosion may lead to a leakage of the brake booster, thus reducing the braking force, leading to an increase in brake pedal force required to decelerate the vehicle, resulting in a possible increase in stopping distance. Moreover, due to severe corrosi…
The driver and passenger airbags of the company Takata in vehicles with ammonium nitrate gas generators without drying agents could, under certain climate conditions, lead over time to a chemical change in the fuel.In the event of an accident triggering the re…
The sealing cap of the Active Curve System's oil reservoir does not prevent oil from leaking out. Oil may leak out and spray onto hot components. As a consequence it may ignite and lead to fire.
Due to incorrect functioning of the occupancy sensor system on the passenger's side, the airbag may not deploy in the event of an accident.
Safety Gate (European Commission) · CC0
Recalls
3 campaigns cover the ML.
MERCEDES-BENZ USA (MBUSA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 VEHICLES INCLUDING E-CLASS (212 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 2010 THROUGH FEBRUARY 2011, R-CLASS (251 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 2010 THROUGH APRIL 2011, ML-CLASS (W164 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 2010 THROUGH MARCH 2011, GL-CLASS (X164 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 2010 THROUGH MARCH 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2012 S-CLASS (221 PLATFORM) VEHICLES. THE DIESEL FUEL FILTER MAY LEAK FROM THE AREA AROUND THE HEATING COMPONENT.
MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING 52,740 MY 2006-2008 GL AND ML CLASS VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FLEX-N-GATE TRAILER HITCH. SOME OF THE WELD SEAMS CONNECTING THE TRAILER HITCH RECEIVER TO THE ATTACHMENT BAR USED TO SECURE THE TRAILER HITCH TO THE BODY FRAME DO NOT MEET PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DIESEL ENGINES, THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR COULD FAIL DUE TO SEPARATION OF BOND WIRES FROM THE LEAD FRAME IN THE SENSOR. THIS RESULTS IN AN INTERRUPTION IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IN THE CHIP HOUSING OF THE SENSOR.
NHTSA recalls