Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2008 Mercedes-Benz ML, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Trailer hitches1
- Engine1
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
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 2,626 of these cars first registered in 2008 took their annual MOT test. 66% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2008 the figure was 57%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2008 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 17.7% | 19.8% |
| Brakes | 13.1% | 11.3% |
| Suspension | 8.4% | 17.2% |
| Tyres | 4.7% | 7.6% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 4.5% | 6.2% |
| Visibility | 2.9% | 6.7% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In New Zealand
100 2008 cars are on the New Zealand register; 18% arrived as used imports, 79% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 11.4–19.5 L/100 km (about 12–21 mpg US), CO₂ 308–449 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| ML 320 CDI 4MATIC Turbo · Sport utility vehicle · Diesel | 12.8 | 9.8 | 11.4 |
| ML 350 4MATIC · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 15.9 | 12.0 | 14.1 |
| ML 550 4MATIC · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 17.8 | 13.1 | 15.7 |
| ML 63 AMG · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 22.1 | 16.2 | 19.5 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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 2008 Mercedes-Benz ML: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10037408 | MERCEDES-BENZ: SHOCK ABSORBER PROCEDURE. *RM |
| 10034306 | MERCEDES: AIRBAG DURABILITY AND RELIABILITY. AIR BAG SRS CONTROL MODULE (N2/2) DOES NOT HAVE A SET SHELF LIFE AND WILL NORMALLY BE RELIABLE FOR THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE. WITH 164, 216 221, 251 AND NEWER, THE AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT CAN BE RESET FIVE TIMES. WITH MODES 202, 210 AND NEWER, THE AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT CAN BE RESET THREE TIMES. EARLIER MODELS WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THEIR AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT AND TRIGGERED RESTRAIN COMPONENTS CHANGED ONLY AFTER AN ACCIDENT. NO MODELS OR MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE |
| 10030940 | MERCEDES: UNEVEN STEERING FORCES WHEN STEERING FROM LOCK TO LOCK. INCREASED STEERING FORCES IN CERTAIN POSITIONS. APPROXIMATELY EVERY 90 DEGREES A PRESSURE POINT CAN BE FELT WHICH MUST BE OVERCOME BY INCREASED FORCE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. UNIVERSAL JOINT IN STEERING COUPLING, (STEER COUPLING) HAS EXCESSIVE RESISTANCE. REPLACE STEERING COUPLING (STEER COUPLING). NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE |
| 10025648 | RATTLING/THUMPING NOISE ON ROUGH ROADS AND/OR KNOCKING NOISE WHEN MOVING STEERING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS ON ALL MODEL 164 AND 251 VEHICLES. MODEL YEARS UNKNOWN. *PE |
| 10025647 | WATER ENTRY INTO VEHICLE INTERIOR FOR ALL MODEL 164 VEHICLES. *PE |
| 10022893 | CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON / FAULT CODES FC1200 / FC1208 STORED IN ME-SFI CONTROL UNIT. MERCEDES-BENZ MODEL C230, C280, C350, SLK280, SLK350, CLK350, CLK550, E350, E550, CLS550, S600, AND SL550. EQUIPPED WITH M272 ENGINE OR M273 ENGINE. *NJ UPDATED 8/28/08. *PE |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)