VIN REPORT

4JGDA2EB9CA0107352012 MERCEDES-BENZ ML-ClassML350 BLUETEC 4-MATIC

20of 100
Moderate Risk
Buyer Risk Score
Recalls
Clear
No open recalls
Safety Grade
D
67/100 composite
Complaints
65
NHTSA filed
Vehicle Age
14 yrs
Made in UNITED STATES (USA)
BUYPurchase Verdict

2012 MERCEDES-BENZ ML-Class was analyzed across NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash test data, and public auction records. 65 owner complaints include 6 reported injuries, indicating real-world safety incidents beyond...

Verdict & Risk Assessment
📄

Executive Summary

2012 MERCEDES-BENZ ML-Class

2012 MERCEDES-BENZ ML-Class was analyzed across NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash test data, and public auction records. 65 owner complaints include 6 reported injuries, indicating real-world safety incidents beyond normal wear.

  • 6 injuries reported across 65 owner complaints
20
of 100
Moderate Risk
1 moderate risk signal detected. Negotiate accordingly and verify service history.
LOWMODERATEHIGHCRITICAL
1 Contributing Risk Factor
Critical deferred maintenance — safety-critical components overdue
+20
Critical Alerts

Title Brand Check

Mined from auction damage fields and listing titles — not a DMV title history pull

No auction records available. Title brand status could not be verified — request title history from seller or state DMV.

Vehicle

Vehicle Specifications

Decoded from NHTSA vPIC database

Make
MERCEDES-BENZ
Model
ML-Class
Year
2012
Trim / Series
ML350 BLUETEC 4-MATIC
Body Style
Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
Vehicle Type
MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE (MPV)
Drive Type
AWD/All-Wheel Drive
Fuel Type
Diesel
Engine
6-cyl 3.0L
Doors
4
Manufacturer
MERCEDES-BENZ OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Assembly
VANCE, UNITED STATES (USA)
GVWR
Class 2E: 6,001 - 7,000 lb (2,722 - 3,175 kg)

Assembly Plant Quality

Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (Vance)

A+Quality92/100
Excellent📍 VANCE, UNITED STATES (USA)

Award-winning plant producing GLE, GLS, and other Mercedes SUVs for global markets.

Awards & Recognition
  • JD Power Platinum Plant Award
  • JD Power IQS top ranking — Premium Midsize SUV
Safety

Safety Intelligence

Composite analysis from NHTSA recall, complaint, and crash data

D
Score: 67/100
Crash Test Rating20/40
Recall Safety30/30
Complaint History17/30
0/100Clear

✓ No high-risk recall components found

2/100
Basic
1 of 20 safety features detected
Missing: Automatic Emergency Braking, Pedestrian AEB, Forward Collision Warning, Electronic Stability Control
Low
  • 1 complaint(s) involved a fire
Moderate
  • 6 injuries reported in complaints

Lemon law eligibility depends on state law, number of repair attempts, and days out of service. Consult an attorney for actual eligibility.

Driver Assistance Features

ADAS equipment data from NHTSA vPIC database

Forward Collision Warning?Unknown
Automatic Emergency Braking?Unknown
Pedestrian AEB?Unknown
Rear AEB?Unknown
Lane Departure Warning?Unknown
Lane Keep Assist?Unknown
Lane Centering Assist?Unknown
Blind Spot Monitoring?Unknown
Rear Cross Traffic Alert?Unknown
Adaptive Cruise Control?Unknown
Adaptive Headlights?Unknown
Auto High Beam?Unknown
Parking Assist?Unknown
Backup Camera?Unknown
Electronic Stability Control?Unknown
Tire Pressure Monitoring?Direct
Event Data Recorder?Unknown
Crash Notification?Unknown
Dynamic Brake Support?Unknown
Keyless Ignition?Unknown
Recalls

Deferred Failure Risk

Components and defects approaching or past their known service milestones

82/100
Critical Deferred Risk
Critical deferred failure risk — 5 safety-critical or high-cost components are past their service interval. Without immediate attention, repair costs will compound significantly.
No odometer data on record. Mileage is estimated at ~168,000 mi based on average annual driving. Items marked EST. OVERDUE may already be due — verify service history with the seller. Items marked OVERDUE are confirmed past-due based on vehicle age alone.
EST. OVERDUECriticalTiming Chain Tensioner
Service interval: 10 yr · Vehicle age: 14 yr · Past due by age
Service Timing Chain Tensioner immediately — already past the 120,000 mi / 10 yr interval
Worn chain tensioners cause timing chain skip or snap — common on GM 5.3L/6.2L, Ford EcoBoost, VW/Audi EA888, BMW N47/N63. Listen for cold-start rattles.
EST. OVERDUECriticalWater Pump
Service interval: 8 yr · Vehicle age: 14 yr · Past due by age
Service Water Pump immediately — already past the 100,000 mi / 8 yr interval
Water pump failure causes rapid overheating. If the engine overheats even once, head gasket damage is likely — turning a $400 part into a $3,000+ repair.
EST. OVERDUEHighTransmission Fluid / Service
Service interval: 5 yr · Vehicle age: 14 yr · Past due by age
Service Transmission Fluid / Service immediately — already past the 60,000 mi / 5 yr interval
Degraded transmission fluid destroys clutch packs and solenoids. CVT transmissions are especially sensitive — neglected fluid can result in a $4,000–$8,000 replacement.
EST. OVERDUEHighDifferential / Transfer Case Fluid
Service interval: 4 yr · Vehicle age: 14 yr · Past due by age
Service Differential / Transfer Case Fluid immediately — already past the 50,000 mi / 4 yr interval
On 4WD/AWD vehicles, neglected differential or transfer case fluid causes metal-on-metal wear. Replacement costs $1,500–$4,000.
EST. OVERDUEHighCoolant Flush
Service interval: 5 yr · Vehicle age: 14 yr · Past due by age
Service Coolant Flush immediately — already past the 100,000 mi / 5 yr interval
Degraded coolant loses corrosion inhibitors and attacks aluminum engine components. Can cause head gasket failure and water pump corrosion.
EST. OVERDUEModerateSpark Plugs (iridium/platinum)
Service interval: 8 yr · Vehicle age: 14 yr · Past due by age
Service Spark Plugs (iridium/platinum) immediately — already past the 100,000 mi / 8 yr interval
Worn spark plugs cause misfires that can foul and crack catalytic converters. A $150 tune-up can prevent a $1,200 catalytic converter replacement.
EST. OVERDUEModerateFuel Injectors
Service interval: 10 yr · Vehicle age: 14 yr · Past due by age
Service Fuel Injectors immediately — already past the 120,000 mi / 10 yr interval
Dirty or failing injectors cause rough idle, reduced fuel economy, and increased emissions. Cleaning costs $100–$200; replacement $800–$1,600.

NHTSA Safety Recalls

CLEAR
0found
No Recall Campaigns Found
NHTSA has no active or historical recalls for this 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ.
1 in 11

6 injuries reported across 65 complaints — elevated injury rate for this class of vehicle.

Complaints65

Complaint Intelligence

65 complaints analyzed across 8 system categories

Engine/Powertrain
1 crash21
Electrical
2 crash2 inj17
Other
1 crash3 inj10
Safety Systems
1 crash1 inj5
Fuel System
4
Body/Structure
3
Steering
3
Visibility
2
2017
4
2018
4
2019
6
2020
1
2021
3
2022
3
2023
9
2024
9
2025
2
2026
1
9% trend in recent years (improving reliability)
Declining -36%
9
Last 24 months
14
Prior 24 months
Engine stalling18
Fire/smoke4
Electrical failure4
Conditions Reported
Highway/high-speed (12)Startup (5)Parking/low-speed (3)Rain/wet (2)

Owner Complaints

HIGH VOLUME

65 safety complaints filed with NHTSA

65found
1
Fire
5
Crashes
6
Injuries
ODI #11731177FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

ENGINE STALLED DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT 70mph. MECHANIC DIAGNOSTIC INDICATED TO BE FAULTY FUEL PUMP and/or FUEL PUMP CONTROL UNIT. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY MERCEDES BENZ AS A FAULTY ISSUE AND SUBJECT TO RECALL. UPON CALLING MERCEDES BENZ DEALER WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS MATTER FOR MY VEHICLE CONTRADICTING THIS ISSUE PREVIOUSLY RECOGNIZED BY MERCEDES BENZ.

ODI #11637887ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

My name is [XXX] My vehicle cut off on me 3 times twice while stationary and once at an intersection. Found oil in engine control module due to failed cam position sensors. Oil has traveled through the engine harness to ECM causing oil to get into module and cause it to shut down but it did start back up. This is very dangerous and could cause serious injury to someone. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ODI #11634404FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Vehicle stalled without warning, and I was advised by a mechanic that the fuel pump control unit was reporting a fault through the onboard diagnostics port and the check engine light on the dashboard. It was necessary to replace the fuel pump control unit as the defect was intermittent and subject to occur at any time the vehicle was being driven. There is no available solution save the replacement. I had the fuel pump control unit replaced at my cost and after replacing it found information concerning the NHTSA recall campaign online. The defective fuel pump control unit was discarded upon replacement and is not available for inspection. I believe the failure of this fuel pump control unit is a direct result of the recall not being complied with. I believe the manufacturer; Mercedes Benz USA is responsible for my costs expended in repairing this defect under the recall campaign because they did not notify me of the recall. I purchased this vehicle from an authorized Mercedes Benz USA dealer, my personal contact information is a matter of record of the sale, and I believe Mercedes Benz USA had a duty to contact me concerning the NHTSA recall campaign #2023010002 concerning this vehicle.

ODI #11629538SEAT BELTS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE

The driver's seat belt is locked and the retractor is not working without any reason. The front adaptive cruise control radar is also not working, along with the crucial blind spot sensor. Because of this, the vehicle cruise control (even without adaptive mode) is not working at all. This is a big safety issue and it is illegal to even drive this car without the seat belt working.

ODI #11628291ENGINE

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated while driving uphill at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was shaking abnormally. The contact stated that the abnormal shaking occurred at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with timing chain failure. The contact was informed that the timing chain needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

ODI #11625550UNKNOWN OR OTHERFIRE1 INJURY

My wife was driving home from shopping and noticed an accumulation of dust on the rear window. She used the rear wiper to clean it but it came right back, she repeated twice and gave up. Approx 3-4 miles later she heard a POP and red lights came on the dash, when she pulled over ASAP in a safe spot smoke started coming from under the hood. She shut the engine off and tried to exit the car to find the hood release under the dash but there was fire coming out from under the car. She closed the door, grabbed her purse and cell phone and got out quickly as possible, burning her ankle and singing her long skirt. She got approx 50 feet away, looked back and the entire car was ablaze, centered mid vehicle, as well as 4-5 spot fires along the road she had just traveled. Previous to the POP the car was driving, steering, and braking normally, no warning lights of any kind. Visiting the site the next day revealed sound deadening/insulation material in and along side the roadway for 2-300 yards as well as dripping molten aluminum, corresponding to the area traveled after she first heard the POP. The vehicle had extensive repairs of cascading failing emissions system components only 7-9 months earlier, culminating with 42 days at Mercedes San Rafael where one component after another failed and was replaced. Myself and all knowledgeable persons i talk to assume it was an overheated catalytic converter that caused the problem. So far Mercedes has not been aggressive i trying to determine the cause. I've hired a forensic company and a joint inspection is pending. Cal Fire was able to contain the vegetation fire started by the vehicle at 85 acres, known as the Veteran's Fire-Igo as it occurred near the Veteran's Cemetery, using multiple fire engines, bulldozers, helicopters and a boride bomber. We are thankful she was alone in the car at the time without grandchildren buckled into car seats in the back or the results surely would have been much more tragic.

ODI #11603923STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTINGCRASH

Turn signals will not operate, dealership quoted me $1400 3 years ago, had the work performed and now the issue is happening again and I am being quoted the same amount of money. This is a safety concern if I cannot signal to others where I am turning!!!!! This could cause an accident!!!!! This is highly unsafe!!! What if my kids were in the car?! Talking to customers in waiting lounge at dealership other people have had same issue!! The one time they stopped working I had a person hit me going 30 mph, could have been much much worse.

ODI #11603926EXTERIOR LIGHTINGCRASH2 INJURIES

My indicators stopped working a month prior to accident, then they started working again. On March 10th the issue happened again where I turned my signal on and no light appeared and no light on the dash with the indicator sound either. Boom, I had sideswipe someone on a major road causing an accident. NHTSA needs to do something about this because corporate won’t do anything!

ODI #11602716STEERING,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Steering column module is intermittently not working as intended, therefore the blinkers will sometimes not work causing it to be a safety concern if I can not signal where I am going. When looking this issue up online I have seen numerous different forums and posts where people have had the same issue. When I took my vehicle to the dealership they had told me that this is very common with the vehicle I have and they do the fix all of the time, just for the issue to happen yet again later down the road.

ODI #11586089FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormally loud sound and then stalled. Additionally, the vehicle failed to accelerate properly while driving. The contact's husband coasted the vehicle to the side of the road. The vehicle was restarted and driven to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,372.

ODI #11571477ENGINE

When I start the engine, it makes a sound loud and strange

ODI #11567440STRUCTURE

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and lost forward propulsion. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle. The contact drove the vehicle for a short distance and the failure reoccurred. The vehicle lost motive power and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed of water entering the spare tire wheel well in the trunk of the vehicle. The contact was advised that the spare tire wheel well, was filled with water. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer for assistance. Per the dealer's records, the work associated with NHTSA campaign #22V955000 and MBUSA recall #2023010002 had been completed in March 2023. However, that recall failed to address the source of the issue where water was improperly entering the spare tire wheel well. The dealer did not maintain any records as to the status of the fuel pump or signs of water entry when the recall was completed. The manufacturer refused to cover this repair under the associated recall. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000.

ODI #11561754STRUCTURE

I have own this vehicle on July 2023. I have recently noticed the exterior paint is peeling off quickly all over the body.

ODI #11555567FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

While driving, vehicle stalled. Mechanic found water in spare wheel Well. And fuel module and fuel pump shorted out. Had vehicle repaired; 07/22. The vehicle stalled again in 12/22. Mechanic found water in spare wheel well. Had to replace fuel pump. In February,2023, Mercedes Benz notified me of a recall, NHTSA Recall I D: 22V955 ; water intrusion in the spare wheel well. And, stated their local dealer would repair vehicle or reimburse me for the cost of repair, if I had the repair done already. I submitted receipts and documents pertaining to the repair. The Mercedes Benz Dealership refused to acknowledge the causal relationship between the repairs and the recall issue. And, refused me reimbursement.

ODI #11554614EXTERIOR LIGHTING,SERVICE BRAKES

When reversing the vehicle the brake pedal jumps with your feet on the brake pedal and a nose rattles,when driving and you have a sudden stop motion the vehicle brakes pedal with your feet on it it’s very hard to push the brake Pedal . Reversing the vehicle very strong nose and the vehicle doesn’t stop right away

ODI #11546781ENGINE

CUANDO ENCIENDO MI GUAGUA HACE UN RUIDO MUY FUERTE Y SE SIENTE COMO SI SE VA A APAGAR. EL MOTOR SE PUEDE ROMPER EN CUALQUIER MOMENTO. SI SE HA LLEVADO A DIFERENTES TALLERES PARA CONFIRMAR EL RUIDO Y ME REFIEREN QUE SON MAS DE 80 GUAGUAS QUE HAN VISITADO SU TALLER CON EL MISMO PROBLEMA. NO PRESENTA NINGUNA ADVERTENCIA CUANDO APARECIO POR PRIMERA VEZ. EN EL TALLER ME DICEN QUE SE DEBE CAMBIAR EL MOTOR POR QUE SON LOS MOTOR STROKER Y ESO PUEDE CAUSAR UN FEO ACCIDENTE. WHEN I TURN ON MY BUS IT MAKES A VERY LOUD NOISE AND IT FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO TURN OFF. THE ENGINE CAN BREAK AT ANY TIME. IF IT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DIFFERENT WORKSHOPS TO CONFIRM THE NOISE AND THEY TELL ME THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN 80 BUSES THAT HAVE VISITED THEIR WORKSHOP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT DOES NOT PRESENT ANY WARNING WHEN IT FIRST APPEARED. IN THE WORKSHOP THEY TELL ME THAT THE ENGINE MUST BE CHANGED BECAUSE THEY ARE THE STROKER ENGINES AND THAT CAN CAUSE AN UGLY ACCIDENT.

ODI #11523792FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

The contact’s husband owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V955000 (Fuel System, Diesel, Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the vehicle remained. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

ODI #11521457EXTERIOR LIGHTING,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Due to water in the spare wheel well, (Recall ID:22V955) our fuel module and fuel pump went out. While driving in traffic on I-5 our car stalled then stopped which put us at risk of a crash.The first time (July 2022) It was repaired by Cooper's Auto Repair), After the 2nd time it failed again in Aug 2022, once again as we were driving, our mechanic at (Boyle's Foreign Car Repair) Aug 2022 & Dec 2022 (replace) decided to do an inspection of the whole car to see why this was happening, upon inspection he found water in the spare wheel well, He pulled out the plug to stop accumulation. 2 months later (Feb 2023 )we received the recall letter. In the letter it states that MBUSA would reimburse repairs performed prior to the recall. MBUSA is now refusing to reimburse for replacement but also refusing to find and fix where the water in entering. We reside in a very wet part of the country and see this as a continuing issue. There also is condensation in the back tail lights, which was not there until this issue started occurring. The car was previously in S Cal so there was no issue with water accumulation until it was moved to the rainy Pacific NW. We are fearful of using this car during very wet times as we do not know if this (failure of pump/module) will occur as well as condensation and water being in the back tail lights possibly resulting in the car stopping during it being driven. Therefore putting our lives in potential danger of an accident.

ODI #11511930ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,LANE DEPARTURE

In the last year, randomly, when starting the vehicle, the yellow check engine light comes on. Turn the vehicle off, it is gone. The side view mirrors have the yellow lights lit up on them when driving down any road, the red warning lights that tell you there's something behind or in front of you start going off for no reason while driving down any road, all the "safety" and lane assist features seem to have a ghost controlling them. The radio will also glitch out from time to time. It will swap through the channels or pull up list of channels when there is Nobody in the vehicle messing with it at all. Yesterday, I received the message that the backup assist was not working and another about lane assist not working. This morning, both messages are gone and things seem to be normal. This is very distracting! I've been on the highway, in the high speed lane and my alert is flashing and loudly sounding. It startled me, caused me to abruptly slow down and start looking all around; I was concerned someone was about to hit me or worse, I was about to hit something I couldn't see; it turns out there was nothing in front of, behind or around me at all. This needs to get resolved, asap. It appears to me to be a computer/electrical issue. It seems that there are many others complaining about very similar issues! Come on Mercedes-Benz, let's put out the recall already! The dealership just says "unless it's doing it while it's here, there's not much I can do". Of course it is never doing it then! Unreal!!!!

ODI #11511019STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The steering column does not operate properly. The column no longer adjusts positions and more importantly, the turn signals work ad-hoc. When you start the vehicle, the turn signals tend to operate properly; however, after driving for approximately 15 minutes, the turn signals operate sporadically. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN as it's impossible to know when the turn signal will operate correctly or not, thus creating a hazard to me and others on the road. It is my understanding from investigating this online that this is a systemic issue with this model and not unique to my vehicle (just google "2012 Mercedes ml350 turn signal problems"). I discussed this with Mercedes Benz USA and they told me that the only way to resolve this issue is to replace the steering column (part #: 166-460-62-00) at the cost of $3,373.81. I hope that the NHTSA investigates this further as Mercedes-Benz has decided to ignore this safety issue that may cause harm or death. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

ODI #11507737ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

Oil leaked thru wiring harness in to ECU and 02 sensors massive damage on car harness

ODI #11481192ENGINE

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to a dealer who diagnosed a failure with the camshaft. The contact researched online and found a Technical Service Bulletin regarding the camshaft failure. The dealer advised the contact that the warranty had expired for the camshaft repair. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.

ODI #11478166ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE

The following has been happening over the last 2 - 3 yrs. Also confirmed with other customers on MB world blog site. After traveling in the car for 5-15 minutes, and sooner if connected to cell phone via bluetooth, the indicators stop working. This leads to deactivation of the blind spot assist as well. The problem is temporarily resolved after switching the vehicle off and then on again, only to recur after driving it again for 10-15minutes, and earlier if attached to iPhone via Bluetooth. The blind spot assist is then permanently inactivated. 2 Mercedes dealerships in 2 separate states where I took the vehicle could not even identify a problem, let alone resolve it. When I called MBUSA, they claimed ignorance to the issue and told me to repair or change the vehicle myself. Since this is an issue with multiple vehicles, a recall needs to be issued for this model. It’s unknown how many collisions can be attributed to this since the problem has not been acknowledged by Mercedes’. The problem has occurred almost everyday over the last 3 years. I have narrowly missed being involved in collisions because of the inactivation of blind spot assist and changing lanes. I have almost been rear ended a bunch of times because of the indicators getting inactivated. All this has happened with my family traveling me with. Please lets not wait for loss of life before a recall is initiated. thank you.

ODI #11454616FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL,ENGINE

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated while the vehicle was being inspected, the independent mechanic informed him of a diesel and oil leak. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

ODI #11427522ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated while driving 40 mph, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and attempted to restart the vehicle to see if the light would disappear however, the vehicle would not restart. The contact called the local dealer who arrived at the scene and connected the vehicle to a diagnostic machine to clear the sensor code for the vehicle to restart however, the failure persisted. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was due to the crankshaft position sensor. The vehicle was not repaired due the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.

ODI #11414943POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

HELLO, REF: ML350 CAMSHAFT SOLENOID LEAK! I AM SEEKING OUT FOR YOUR HELP WRT TO A SITUATION WITH 2012 ML350. ENCLOSED HEREWITH IS AN INSPECTION REPORT FROM A RECENT SERVICE VISIT REQUIRING CLOSE OF $8K IN REPAIRS FOR YOUR REFERENCE. ENGINE HARNESS (OIL LLED HARNESS AND VARIOUS COMPONENTS HAVE OIL IN THEM, ALL COMPONENTS WITH OIL SHOULD BE REPLACED, QUICK INSP FOUND A FEW COMPONENTS BUT THERE MAY BE MORE THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED) AFTER REVIEWING THE INSPECTION REPORT, I DID SOME RESEARCH AND CAME ACROSS CAMPAIGN NO. 2012070002, SEPTEMBER 2012 (COPY ENCLOSED FOR YOUR REFERENCE), WHEREIN MERCEDES HAD IDENTIFIED IT AS A PART OF RECALL AND SERVICE CAMPAIGN AND AGREES TO COVER THE COST AND LABOR DAMAGES TO ANY DOWNSTREAM COMPONENTS DUE TO THE CAMSHAFT SOLENOID LEAK. THIS SERVICE CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN INITIATED BECAUSE DAIMLER AG (DAG), THE MANUFACTURER OF MERCEDES- BENZ VEHICLES, HAS DETERMINED THAT DUE TO THE SETTLING PROPERTIES OF THE SEAL, OIL MAY LEAK FROM THE CAMSHAFT ADJUSTMENT SOLENOID. DEALERS WILL RETROFIT FOUR ADAPTER HARNESSES ONTO THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE AT THE NEXT WORKSHOP VISIT. PLEASE NOTE THAT RECALL AND SERVICE CAMPAIGNS DO NOT EXPIRE AND MAY ALSO BE PERFORMED ON A VEHICLE WITH A VEHICLE STATUS INDICATOR. APPROXIMATELY 557,108 VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED PLEASE REVIEW AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. MERCEDES IS NOT OWNING THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIR. APPRECIATE YOUR HELP IN THIS REGARD.

ODI #11402827ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE

THE TURN SIGNALS STOP WORKING AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR A FEW MINUTES. TO GET THEM TO WORK AGAIN REQUIRES STOPPING THE CAR, SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING IT WHICH IN TURN RESETS THE COMPUTER. THIS EFFORT DOES NOT PERMANENTLY FIX THE ISSUE AND THEY USUALLY QUIT WORKING AGAIN WITHIN TWO TO TEN MILES. THIS IS THE FIFTH COMPLAINT TO THE NHTSA WITH THIS ISSUE AND THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND FIXED FREE OF CHARGE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR THE PAST TWO TO THREE YEARS WITH THIS CAR. TODAY WE WERE ALMOST REAR ENDED WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN OFF OF A TWO LANE ROAD WITHOUT A DESIGNATED TURN LANE.

ODI #11375472VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE CONROL TO ACTIVATE THE WINDSHIELD WASHER IS A STALK MOUNTED BUTTON ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL. PRESSING THIS BUTTON WILL CORRECTLY CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WASHER TO COME ON BRIEFLY, SPRAY THE WINDSHIELD WITH WATER AND FOLLOW UP WITH A FEW STROKES OF THE WIPER TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS ARRANGEMENT IS THAT THE SIMILARITY OF THE BUTTON ON THE END OF THE STALK ON THE RIGHT SIDE, WHICH PLACES THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK. THUS IF YOU ARE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU COULD EASILY CONFUSE GOING INTO PARK WITH WASHING THE WINDSHIELD. MY EXPERIENCE IF YOU MAKE THIS MISTAKE IS THAT THE CAR WILL NOT GO INTO PARK WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, BUT WILL GO INTO INTO NEUTRAL UNTIL THE CAR FULLY STOPS. THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS MANEUVER, ESPECIALLY IN THE RAIN ON A BUSY INTERSTATE. THIS BUTTON AND ITS PLACEMENT SHOULD BE IMPROVED TO CORRECT THIS CONFUSION.

ODI #11290074POWER TRAIN

FACTORY DEFAULT IN THE TRANSFER CASE

ODI #11286590ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE TURN SIGNALS RANDOMLY STOP WORKING. VEHICLE MUST BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED TO GET SIGNALS TO WORK AGAIN WHICH ONLY LASTS FOR AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF TIMES. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED WITH GRANDCHILD IN CAR WHEN TURN SIGNAL THAT WORKED MOMENTS EARLIER FAILED AND CAR BEHIND ME CONSEQUENTLY ALMOST HIT ME. MERCEDES USA WAS CONTACTED AND WAS UNWILLING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THEY DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN MODULE THAT NEEDE TO BE REPLACED. THE ESTIMATE WAS ALMOST $1300. THE CAR HAS ONLY 39,000 MILES ON IT AND BASED ON RESEARCH OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. MERCEDES BASICALLY INDICATED THAT I WAS NOT A LOYAL ENOUGH CUSTOMER TO WARRANT COMPENSATION. I AM FORCED TO VIOLATE TRAFFIC LAWS AT TIMES BECAUSE I TRY TO NOT USE SIGNALS WHEN ABSOLUTELY NEEDED AS I DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY WON'T WORK. IN ADDITION I CANNOT LET ANYONE ELSE USE THE VEHICLE FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, SAFETY, LIABILITY, ETC. MERCEDES SHOULD HAVE DONE A RECALL AND I THINK THEY SHOULD BE LIABLE IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO ANYONE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM.

ODI #11196639POWER TRAIN

THIS CAR'S TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 70,000 MILES (2015), WHICH IS WAY TOO EARLY. DRIVING WHEN THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO ACT UP WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY AS IT LOST POWER COULD HAVE CAUSED COLLISION. I REPLACED TRANSMISSION FOR $14,000 AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT FOR A SECOND TIME (2019). CAUSING THE SAME SAFETY CONCERNS AS IT LOST POWER. THIS TIME I WAS NOT STUPID ENOUGH TO FIX IT AND WILL NOT BE BUYING A MERCEDES EVER AGAIN.

ODI #11196111ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNALS CEASE TO WORK RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON MAKES THE SIGNALS WORK AGAIN, BUT THEY CEASE TO WORK AFTER AWHILE. THE DEALER TOLD ME A FALSE CODE CAUSES THIS TO HAPPEN. THE DEALER CLEARED THE CODE, BUT THE ISSUE PERSISTS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION DURING DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS.

ODI #11185111FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2 INJURIES

TOOK OUR 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 BLUETEC TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES DUE TO AN OVERPOWERING FUEL SMELL AND BURNED PLASTIC IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. WE HAD TO STOP SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE WE FELT SICK AS IF WE WERE GOING TO PASS OUT AND/OR THROW UP. BUT, THEN IT STARTED TO AFFECT OUR CHILDREN AND WE DEMANDED THAT THE DEALERSHIP FIND THE ROOT CAUSE. THEY FINALLY DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A FUEL LEAK AROUND THE FUEL INJECTORS THAT COMPLETELY CHARRED COMPONENTS IN THE FUEL INJECTION CAVITY. IT COULD HAVE CREATED A FIRE OR LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I NOTICED THAT THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE NHTSA WHICH IS WHY I AM ALSO REPORTING THIS NOW ALSO. MY VEHICLE IS ONLY SERVICED BY THE MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING ME $1900 FOR THE REPAIR OF THE CHARRED COMPONENTS. NHTSA ID NUMBER: 11090864 REPORTED EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING CRAZY UNTIL THEY FOUND THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE SMELL. NOW THAT THERE ARE AT TWO REPORTED CASES OF THIS BOTH IN 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 VEHICLES IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.

ODI #11182004ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ON RANDOM OCCASIONS, WHILE IN MOTION AT ANY SPEED, THE MESSAGE "BLIND SPOT ASSIST IS INOPERATIVE" AND INDICATOR LIGHTS STOP WORKING. THE ONLY WAY TO CLEAR IT IS TO STOP THE VEHICLE, TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND START THE VEHICLE BACK UP.

ODI #11132292SEAT BELTS

SEAT BELTS WILL NOT EXTEND. WHEN TRYING TO BUCKLE SEAT BELT, THE BELT RETRACTOR LOCKS AS YOU TRY TO EXTEND, PREVENTING YOU FROM BUCKLING YOUR SEAT-BELT. AFFECTS BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT-BELTS. INTERMITTENTLY HAPPENS AND SEEMS TO BE TEMPERATURE RELATED. MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN WHEN IT IS WARM.

ODI #11096250ENGINE

2012 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO OIL LEAK. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER WAS OFFERED A 15% DISCOUNT ON THE REPAIR. *JS

ODI #11090864ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

AFTER BEING INTO AUTHORIZED MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP ONLY FOR AN STRONG DIESEL FUEL SMELL AND OIL LEAK 3 TIMES IN LESS THAN 4 MONTHS ON OUR ML350 BLUETEC ENGINE FUEL SMELL IS STRONG ENOUGH THAT WE HAVE A SEVER HEADACHE ,NAUSEOUS FEELING AND HAVE TO STOP THE CAR AND GET OUT FOR FRESH AIR, OPENING WINDOWS ONLY GETS MORE OF THE SMELL IN OF FUEL AND BURNING PLASTIC. THIS HAPPENS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ,BOTH ON CITY STREETS AND ON HIGHWAYS, MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN DRIVING.

ODI #11064734ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE

ON OCCASION THE BLIND SPOT ASSIST BECOMES INOPERATIVE. FREQUENTLY WHEN THIS OCCURS, IT ALSO DEACTIVATES THE TURN SIGNALS CREATING, IN MY OPINION, A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. EACH TIME IT'S HAPPENED IN MOTION ON AN EXPRESSWAY. I'VE CONTACTED THE LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ DEALER WHO TELLS ME THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM IS TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN OFF THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON TO REACTIVATE THE SYSTEM. NOT ONLY IS THIS INCONVENIENT, IT DOESN'T ALWAYS CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I CAN LIVE WITHOUT THE BLIND SPOT ASSIST; HOWEVER, NOT WITH INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNALS. THIS IS A 6-YEAR OLD CAR SO I AM NOT WILLING TO INVEST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON A PROBLEM THAT I FEEL THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD RECTIFY AT NO CHARGE. I AM A 72 YEAR OLD AND HAVE OWNED MANY CARS AND NEVER HAD ONE WHERE THE TURN SIGNALS BECOME INOPERATIVE.

ODI #11052806VISIBILITY,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE RADIO AND AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF COCONUT CREEK (4250 SR 7, COCONUT CREEK, FL 33073, PHONE: (954) 406-1167) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED, THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM, AND THE RADIATOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

ODI #11047393ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A WHILE THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS STOP WORKING

ODI #11046967AIR BAGSCRASH1 INJURY

MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THE TAKATA RECALL, ALTHOUGH SIMILAR MODELS I.E ML350 4MATIC 2012 IS. MY CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A HIGH IMPACT CRASH IN WHICH IT WAS TOTALED. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND RESULTED IN SERIOUS NECK AND BACK INJURIES. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY ON THE HIGHWAY AS TRAFFIC SLOWED. A FAST ONCOMING VEHICLE (70-80 MPH) FAILED TO SEE MY STATIONARY VEHICLE AND REAR ENDED MY VEHICLE WITHOUT BREAKING CAUSING IT TO CRASH IN THE CAR IN FRONT. THE INCIDENT WAS SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO CAUSE MY ENGINE TO DROP AND THE FRONT CRUMBLE ZONE WAS FULLY UTILIZED. A WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD "LEFT SRS AIRBAG MALFUNCTION" SEE THE PICTURE ATTACHED. THIS IS POSSIBLY A WIDESPREAD ISSUE AFFECTING MULTIPLE CLASSES OF MERCEDES BENZ CARS.

ODI #10990964ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

DRIVING ALONG AT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, 80 DEGREES, SUNNY AND CLEAR WEATHER THE FUEL LINE CAME LOOSE AND ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. DIESEL FUEL SPILLED ON VEHICLE AND ROADWAY. VEHICLE HAD 86,432 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. THE ENGINE IS A 3 LITER MERCEDES DIESEL BLUETEC. HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN GAS INSTEAD OF DIESEL I'M SURE IT WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. WAS TOLD THAT TWO FUEL LINE CLAMPS HAD FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACED. THE CAR HAS ONLY BEEN MAINTAINED AND REPAIRED AT MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERSHIPS. TRUE TO FORM, MERCEDES WAS NO HELP TO REIMBURSE THE COST OF REPAIRS. TOTAL REPAIR COSTS WITHOUT TOW WAS $321.88. TOW WAS PAID BY THEIR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS SAFETY ISSUE.

ODI #10902940STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL AND ELECTRICAL MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT A CASE MANAGER WOULD CALL THE CONTACT BACK WITHIN FORTY-EIGHT HOURS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

ODI #10897188AIR BAGS

MY VEHICLE CAME WITH ERROR MESSAGE "FRONT LEFT SRS MALFUNCTION SERVICE REQUIRED". DEALER CLAIMS THAT THE AIR BAG MIGHT NOT DEPLOY. LEFT IT FOR SERVICE. EL CABLE, CABLE CONNECTORS AND LOCKING MECHANISM WERE REPLACED. LOOKS LIKE THE ELECTRICAL CABLES WERE DAMAGED/DEFECTIVE IN THE MECHANISM. BEING A CAR WITH NO MORE THAN 4 YEARS AND UNDER 43000 MILES, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE PARTS REPLACED WERE DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. FURTHER THIS PROBLEM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH REGULAR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE. I DO NOT KNOW THE IMPACT WHICH IT WOULD CAUSE IF NOT SERVICED. PAID $444 FOR THE SERVICE AND I AM REALLY DOUBTFUL ABOUT THE RELIABILITY IN SAVING LIFE USING AIRBAGS ON MERCEDES. ATTACHED BILLS FOR THE SERVICE. APPRECIATE IF YOU COULD LOOK INTO THE MATTER AND FOLLOWUP. THANK YOU

ODI #10876458ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

OUR 2012 MB HAS 42500 MILES ON THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IT IS RELATED TO THE BLUE ADDITIVE EMISSION APPARENTLY THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON OCCURRENCE FROM WHAT I READ ON LINE, MB WILL NOT COVER THIS AND THEY CHARGE $3000.00 TO FIX, AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE MERCEDES ARE AWARE OF THIS BUT DO CARE ABOUT IT AND WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT,1 MECHANIC IMPLIED THEY RAISED THE PART PRICE TO REPAIR THIS KNOWING THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE, PROFITING FROM THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT.

ODI #10838764POWER TRAIN,ENGINE

FROM THE DAY ONE, DURING THE FIRST 25 MINUTES OF DRIVING, MY NEW 2012 MB ML350 VIBRATES AND MAKE GRINDING NOISE JUST IN BETWEEN 40 TO 45 MILES PER HOUR STEADY DRIVING. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING, THE VIBRATION AND THE NOISE ARE NOT NOTICEABLE. MB AND THE DEALER WERE TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT FAILED TO RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. NOW, THEY HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE VIBRATION IS NORMAL AND IS CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR. ANY PROBLEMS MB CAN'T SOLVE IS NORMAL!! WHAT KIND OF CAR IS IT THAT VIBRATES FOR FIRST 25 MINUTES OF DRIVING AT CERTAIN SPEED IS NORMAL!!

ODI #10811684POWER TRAIN

OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE WHICH WAS THE RESULT OF A FAULTY PART THAT MERCEDES HAS SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED WITH A NEW RE-ENGINEERED PART. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE ISSUE IS SYSTEMIC WITH ALL BLUE-TEC M AND G CLASS VEHICLES WHICH MERCEDES WILL NOT COVER THE CHARGE FOR. THE REPAIR REQUIRES THAT THE ENGINE BE REMOVED FROM THE CAR BECAUSE THAT IT IS THE ONLY WAY THE PART ($30) CAN BE REPLACED. THE RESULTING REPAIR COST OVER $1900 IN LABOR. WE NOTICED THE LEAK BECAUSE THERE WAS OIL DRIPS IN OUR GARAGE. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALERSHIP NOTED THAT WE HAD LOST ABOUT A THIRD OF OUR OIL AND THAT THE OIL WAS COVERING THE ENGINE AND IT WAS ALSO NOTED THAT THE OIL COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE IF THE PART WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY REPLACED.

ODI #10723288FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT REMAINED FOR APPROXIMATELY 21 DAYS FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL LINE, THE FUEL PUMP AND THREE PIN CONNECTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE NOISE INSULATION PANEL UNDERNEATH ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REMOVED AND REINSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FUEL PUMP RELAY, THE SCREW CONNECTIONS AND THE SUCTION JET PUMP, THE FUEL GAUZE TRANSMITTER, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR WERE ALL REPLACED HOWEVER THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,383.

ODI #10693748FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

MY ML350 IS OVER OVER 71000, NO WARRANTY. I NOTICED THAT IT HAS BEEN STALLED SEVERAL TIMES TILL INCIDENT. LAST TUESDAY, SUDDENLY CAR ENGINE STOPPED IN THE USPS PARKING LOTS, MIDDLE OF DRIVEWAY, NO MOVING. IT WAS AROUND 6PM, I CALLED ROAD SERVICE AND FIRST GUY CAME WHO DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT MB, AND 2ND GUY SAID IT MIGHT BE OUT OF GAS. I FILLED UP FULL ONE DAY BEFORE, SO TANK WAS NOT EMPTY. 2ND GUY DIDN'T KNOW EXACT REASON, AND NEEDED TO TOW. MY CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO DEALER LATE NIGHT. NEXT DAY, I CALLED DEALER BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IS A PROBLEM OR NOT CHECKING YET. 2 DAYS LATER. I STOPPED BY DEALER(BECAUSE THEY NEVER CALLED ME BACK), AND SALES PERSON SAID NEEDED TO ORDER A PART AND COST $700, SO SHOULD BE READY ON FRIDAY. (CAR TOWED ON TUESDAY). SALES PERSON NEVER CALLED ME BACK ON FRIDAY AGAIN, SO I STOPPED BY DEALER.SALES PERSON SAID, MY CAR NEEDED TO CHANGE FUEL PUMP AND COST WILL BE $1530. OFF COURSE, I COMPLAINED!! MY CAR IS READY TODAY, 8DAYS AFTER TOWED. I RENT A CAR FOR A WEEK AND PAID $300 BY MYSELF. DEALER GAVE ME A LITTLE DISCOUNT BUT PAID $1200. TOTAL MY COST IS $1500. THEY CHANGED CONTROL UNIT, FUEL DELIVERY MODULE, AND FUEL FILTER UNIT. ALSO ONE IS RECALL #2013110002 FUEL SYS ECU HAS BEEN REPLACED.(SOFTWARE) I THINK THIS IS SAFETY ISSUE. I WAS LUCKY WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENT. *TR

ODI #10670258STRUCTURE

WE BOUGHT THIS NEW VEHICLE AND HAS BEEN USED VERY CAREFULLY AS WELL. NO ACCIDENTS ON THIS VEHICLE AT ALL. WE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT BUMPER CHROME WAS PEELING OFF. IT IS COMING OFF IN FLAKES AS THOUGH THE CHROME DID NOT ADHERE TO THE MATERIAL AT ALL. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND REQUESTED FOR A REPLACEMENT AS IT IS STILL COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND OUT OURS WAS NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT AND THIS HAS BEEN ISSUE FOR MANY OTHERS AS WELL. HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED REPLACEMENT STATING THAT THIS HAPPENED DUE TO DAMAGE. I LOOK AT THE BUMPER AND CANNOT EVEN SEE A SMALL DENT. THE FRONT BUMPERS ARE NEEDED TO WITHSTAND CRASH OF LOWER MAGNITUDE AND RETAIN THE BUMPER QUALITY. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. MERCEDES NEEDS TO HONOR THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY AND TAKE OF THIS DEFECT BY RECALLING ALL OF THE VEHICLES. *TR

ODI #10661453EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE HEADLIGHTS ARE REALLY DIM. IT'S HARD TO SEE THE CURB IN THE NIGHT WHEN DRIVING FROM A ROAD WITH NO CURB AND ENTERING A ROAD WITH CURB. *JS

ODI #10598246SEAT BELTS

SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER SIDE WILL NOT PULL OUT TO LATCH, I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES OVER THE COARSE OF 2.5 YEARS AND THEY SAY "THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE", MY WIFE HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH NO SEAT BELT. *JS

ODI #10561349EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HEAD LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE BEYOND TWENTY FIVE FEET, MAKING NIGHT TIME DRIVING VERY DIFFICULT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO UTILIZE THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

ODI #10548636FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE

I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE 2012 ML350 ENGINE STALLED. I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A ACCIDENT. LUCKILY, THE CAR BEHIND ME DID NOT HIT ME. I HAD TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN. *TR

ODI #10542743STEERING

WHILE TRAVELING AT 55MPH THE STEERING SUDDENLY FELT VERY STIFF AND HARD TO MOVE. HAD TO APPLY BRAKES WHEN IT SEEMED I COULDN'T NEGOTIATE A CURVE IN THE ROAD. THE STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL SHORTLY AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE STEERING PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN IN A LOCAL SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT AT SLOW SPEED. RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER. THEY PERFORMED A SOFTWARE UPDATE AND STATED THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING. WITHIN 3 DAYS THE PROBLEM REAPPEARED AT SLOW SPEED WHILE STEERING THROUGH BARRIERS ENTERING A LOCAL AIR FORCE BASE. THE NEXT DAY (4 DAYS AFTER DEALER SERVICE) THE WIFE HAD THE STEERING LOCK UP AT SLOW SPEED IN A LOCAL GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT. SHE COULD NOT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. SHE SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, RESTARTED THE ENGINE, AND THE STEERING RETURNED. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE WAY HOME AFTER GROCERY SHOPPING. SHE IS NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. RETURNED THE CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR SERVICE. WE HAVE ONLY HAD THE ML350 THREE WEEKS. COULD NOT BELIEVE THE PROBLEM HADN'T BEEN DISCOVERED BEFORE BY THE PREVIOUS OWNERS OR THE SALES MANAGER THAT WAS USING IT AS A DEALER VEHICLE. *TR

ODI #10523508STEERING

I AM GOING TO UHAUL TO RENT TRAILER. UHAUL IS AROUND 8 MILES FROM MY HOUSE.AFTER 7 MILES OF DRIVING ON THE ROAD SUDDENLY SHOWING ERROR MESSAGE " POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION REFER TO OPERATOR'S MANUAL" AT THAT TIME STEERING WAS SUPER SUPER SUPER HARD TO TURN. IMMEDIATELY I TURNED ON THE HAZARDOUS LIGHTS. APPLIED FULL AMOUNT OF POWER WITH MY 2 HANDS TURNED STEERING WHEEL TO RIGHT TO EXIT THE ROAD. SLOWLY IT MOVED AND CHANGED LANES AND TOOK VEHICLE TO OFF THE ROAD IT TOOK AROUND 5 MINUTES TO OFF THE ROAD. I REFERRED, MANUAL NOTHING MENTIONED IN MANUAL. TRY CHANGE MODE FROM POWER MANUAL, BUT NO LUCK. CALLED EMERGENCY ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE. THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO SOLVE AND EVEN PROBLEM, BUT THEY AGREED THAT ITS TOO HARD TO STEER WHEEL WHEN U GET THIS MESSAGE. MY ML350 TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER AND ALSO TOWING GUY ALSO SURPRISED AND HE FELT IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS. AFTER 2 HOURS MERCEDES SERVICE ADVISOR CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT THEY DID NOT FOUND ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE, BUT THEY HAVE TO UPDATE THE SOFTWARE. AND ALSO THEY ARE OBSERVING MY VEHICLE FOR 2 DAYS. IF IT HAPPENS ON HIGHWAY WITH THE SPEED OF 70-80MPH HOW SHOULD I CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND I WILL BE IN THE ACCIDENT AND IT WILL LEAD TO ANYTHING, MY WIFE IS TOO AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I SPEND 60K ON IT. I AM ALSO TOO SCARE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. *TR

ODI #10523068SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE FRONT ROTORS AND BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,882. *TR

ODI #10510348ENGINE

THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER THE FIRST WEEK OF PICKING UP A BRAND NEW VEHICLE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. DEALER REPLACED HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL ON MANY DIFFERENT SUBSEQUENT OCCASIONS RANDOMLY. THERE WERE A FEW TIMES THAT THE CAR DIED REPEATEDLY ON CONSECUTIVE DAYS. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE EXACT PROBLEM SINCE IT OCCURS RANDOMLY, AND MERCEDES WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY RESOLUTION TO REMEDY STALLING ISSUE. DEALER MENTIONED THAT MERCEDES HEADQUARTER AWARE OF THE SYMPTOMS BUT HAS NO FIX IN THE MEAN TIME. ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE HAS STALLED MOSTLY DURING A COMPLETE STOP, IT COULD POSSIBLY STALL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, WHICH COULD POSE A GREATER RISK TO DRIVERS ESPECIALLY FEMALE DRIVER WITH A BABY INSIDE WHO DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO REACT APPROPRIATELY IN SUCH ENDANGERED SITUATION. *TR

ODI #10502622ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAD THIS CAR FOR OVER AN YEAR AND STARTED TO HAVE RANDOM STALLING PROBLEM WHEN STOPS AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR AND CALLED THE MB DEALER. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM DUE TO NO ERROR CODE WAS GENERATED. SO THEY DON'T FIX IT. I GOOGLE ON THE WEBSITE AND SAW A LOT OF POSTING REGARDS OF THIS ISSUE ON THE MBWORLD.ORG I STRONGLY FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. SUDDEN STALLING CAN CAUSE A CAR ACCIDENTS. *TR

ODI #10501076ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMCRASH

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY ML350 ON THE FREEWAY WITH MY 7 YEAR OLD SON IN THE BACK. SHE SAID THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE IN AN UNUSUAL WAY SO SHE DECIDED TO GET OFF AT THE NEAREST EXIT AND WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES ON THE OFF RAMP THE CAR'S ENGINE STOPPED. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, DASH READ INOPERABLE YET ALL THE ELECTRICAL WAS STILL ON. SHE TRIED TO TURN THE KEY AND RESTART IT BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START. BEFORE THIS INCIDENT WE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS. THIS IS A 2012 MODEL WITH JUST OVER 21,000 MILES AND WAS JUST SERVICED TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT . IT HAPPENED ALL OF A SUDDEN. THE CAR WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE- REAR ENDED WITH BOTH MY WIFE AND SON STILL IN IT. *TR

ODI #10500510UNKNOWN OR OTHERCRASH

DRIVER DROVE 2012 MERCEDES BENZ ML350 TO CONDOMINIUM AND PARKED VEHICLE IN PARKING SPACE, PLACED VEHICLE IN "PARK" AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE USING THE "KEYLESS GO" BUTTON. DRIVER OPENED THE DOOR, EXITED THE VEHICLE AND LOCKED IT. THE AREA WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WAS FLAT WITH ONLY ENOUGH GRADE TO CAUSE WATER TO RUN OFF OF THE PAVERS. A SHORT TIME LATER, I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND SAW THAT THE 2012 MERCEDES BENZ ML350 HAD ROLLED AWAY BACKWARDS APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET INTO BUSHES AND SHRUBS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CIRCULAR DRIVE OF THE CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS INJURED AND THE ONLY DAMAGE WAS A SCRATCHED BUMPER. UPON SEEING THE RESULTS OF THE ROLLAWAY, I GRABBED MY CAR KEY, CALLED TO THE DRIVER TO LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AND WENT TO THE VEHICLE. I UNLOCKED THE VEHICLE AND OPENED THE DOOR OF THE ML350. I LOOKED AT THE DASHBOARD AND IT SHOWED THAT THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION WAS IN THE "PARK" POSITION. I NOTE THAT THE MERCEDES BENZ M-CLASS "OPERATOR'S MANUAL STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS AUTOMATICALLY IN THE "PARK" POSITION IF YOU OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. WHETHER THIS WOULD CAUSE A ROLLED AWAY VEHICLE TO "AUTOMATICALLY" SHIFT INTO "PARK" IS A QUESTION FOR MERCEDES BENZ TO ANSWER. THE LOCAL MB DEALER HAS EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, MBUSA SENT AN ENGINEER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND SEPARATELY AND TOGETHER THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO "FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE" AND THEY PERFORMED NO REPAIRS. FMVSS 114 AT 49 CFR 571.114 REQUIRES THAT VEHICLES OF THIS TYPE MOVE NO MORE THAN 150 MM WHEN PLACE IN "PARK" ON A 10 PERCENT GRADE WITHOUT BENEFIT OF THE VEHICLE'S "PARKING BRAKE" (AKA "EMERGENCY BRAKE"). OUR ML 350 IS EITHER NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 114 DUE TO IT'S INABILITY TO MAINTAIN ITS POSITION WHILE IN "PARK" OR IT'S INABILITY TO REMAIN IN "PARK" ON A GRADE CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN THE REQUIRED 10 PERCENT GRADE. IS THIS A DESIGN DEFECT?? *TR

ODI #10485224ENGINE

THIS HAPPENED AS A NEW CAR, ONLY NOW, AFTER IT HAPPENED ABOUT 5 OR 6 TIMES, WE CAME TO KNOW THIS WEIRED AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM-IT LOSES THE POWER AT A STOP; AT RED LIGHT, AND EVEN WHEN WE TRIED TO START TO MOVE. WHEN IT HAPPENED, AT FIRST SEVERAL TIMES, WE WERE THINKING MAYBE I DID SOMETHING, AFTER 5 TO 6 TIMES HAPPENED TO ME AND TO MY WIFE, WE JUST CAME TO UNDERSTAND IT IS SUCH DANGEROUS PROBLEM. NOW, IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON FRIDAY AND WE WENT TO THE MERCEDES DEALER, WE CAME TO KNOW MORE, MANY HAPPEN LIKE THIS, WE ARE NOT THE FIRST; MERCEDES NO SOLUTION, EVEN THEY TRIED TO FIND. SO FAR, STILL NO SOLUTION AT ALL. THE SERVICE GUY DECLARED THAT IT ONLY STOPES AT A STOP!! THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING AS MERCEDES STILL NO SOLUTION!! WILL ANYONE DRIVE SUCH A WEIRD CAR IT STOPES YOU AT STOP?? WHAT HAPPEN IF IT STOPS YOU ON THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGH WAY?? WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF SOMEBODY HIT YOU FROM THE BACK?? *TR

ODI #10479969ENGINE

VEHICLE LOSES POWER AFTER A FEW HOURS OF DRIVING. THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT SHOW ANY ERROR MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD, AND THE DEALER CANNOT FIX THIS PROBLEM AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. LAST TRIP TO THE DEALER WHICH WAS 2 WEEKS AGO, THEY INSISTED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. HERE ARE EXAMPLES OF HOW SERIOUS THE PROBLEM IS, I WAS STRANDED AND HAD TO SHUT THE CAR DOWN FOR 30 - 45 MINUTES TO LET THE CAR RESET BEFORE CONTINUE DRIVING. I WAS STRANDED ON GRAPEVINE WHILE DRIVING BACK FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO LOS ANGELES. THE CAR COULD BARELY PULL ITSELF UP THE HILL, AND FREEWAY 5 WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION WITHOUT MUCH SERVICE LANE THAT I CAN PULL OUT. I GOT LUCKY AND GOT TO PULL OUT BEFORE BIG RIG SLAM INTO MY BACK. THIS CAR WILL SPORADICALLY LOSES POWER ON SURFACE STREET WHICH ALMOST LANDED ME INTO A HEAD ON COLLISION WHILE TRYING TO MAKE LEFT TURN ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC BECAUSE IT WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD. CURRENTLY, MY CAR HAS ABOUT 8000 MILES. I HAVE BEEN CONTACTING MBUSA, BUT THERE IS NO SENSE OF URGENCY ON THEIR END. I FILMED AND TOOK PHOTOS WHILE THE PROBLEM IS IN SESSION BECAUSE CAR COMPUTER WILL NOT LOG ANY. HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?FEATURE=PLAYER_EMBEDDED&V=OPQQFZT8ZOW HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?FEATURE=PLAYER_EMBEDDED&V=UZEDC-TNCSU HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?FEATURE=PLAYER_EMBEDDED&V=M_ZWNZWZ_LY I HAVE A BIT MORE VIDEOS AND PHOTOS, BUT THEY ARE JUST THE REPETITIVE OF WHAT I POSTED ABOVE. I POSTED PICTURES ON THE MBWORLD FORUM. HTTP://MBWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/NEW-M-CLASS-W166/466026-SO-MANY-PROBLEMS-MY-2012-ML350-BLUETEC.HTML [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ODI #10470651ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ ML 350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UNTIL AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS, WHO STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE PISTONS IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 800.

ODI #10457218VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I ACCELERATED TO ENTER INTERSTATE #81 AND THE THROTTLE PEDAL RETRACTED FROM FOOT AND PRESSED TO FLOOR. FELT AS IF CRUISE CONTROL HAD ENGAGED BUT IT HAD NOT BEEN. I TAPPED BREAK PEDAL REPEATEDLY AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. IF IT WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL THIS SHOULD HAVE DISENGAGED IT. THE THROTTLE WAS FULLY FLOORED AND CAR WAS RACING DOWN INTERSTATE #81 WITH FOUR PASSENGERS OUT OF CONTROL. I APPLIED BREAK PEDAL WITH FULL FORCE FOR ABOUT TWO TO THREE MINUTES AND VEHICLE FINALLY BEGAN SLOWING DOWN AND I PULLED CAR TO SHOULDER OF INTERSTATE. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REEVE UNTIL I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE TO HAVE A STUCK THROTTLE. THE DEALER FINDS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I CANNOT AND WILL NOT DRIVE IT AGAIN UNTIL THEY FIND THE PROBLEM OR GIVE ME A DIFFERENT MODEL. THEY HAVE REFERRED ME TO MERCEDES. I AWAIT THEIR DECISION, HOWEVER I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT DOESN'T LOOK FAVORABLE. I DON'T WANT MY MONEY BACK JUST A SAFE CAR TO DRIVE AS I DO NOT HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THIS ONE. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE, THEY JUST CAN'T FIND IT AND I WON'T RISK MY LIFE DRIVING IT AGAIN. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST THE VEHICLE WAS GOING AS I WAS VERY FOCUSED IN WATCHING THE CARS I WAS GOING TO CRASH INTO IF I HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO STOP IT. THIS IS MY THIRD MERCEDES BUT NEVER AGAIN AS THEY ARE NOT BEING HELPFUL IN THE LEAST. WORST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE! *JS

Complaint & Reliability Timeline

Annual complaints (blue) vs. composite reliability score (amber) — recall years marked in red

Annual complaints and reliability score for MERCEDES-BENZ ML-Class — recall years marked in red
05905010020122014201620182020202220242026Complaints/yrReliability (0–100)
Annual complaints (left axis)
Reliability score 0–100 (right axis, higher = safer)
Crash-involved complaints that year
Chart Analysis

The blue line shows 65 total NHTSA complaints filed over 15 years, with the worst year being 2023 (9 complaints).

The amber reliability line averaged 68/100 across the vehicle's life — dropping as low as 10 in 2024 when complaint severity peaked.

Notably, despite 65 complaints on file, no recall has been issued — either the defect pattern has not met NHTSA's threshold for a formal campaign, or a recall may be forthcoming.

Red dots on the amber line flag 3 years (2013, 2017, 2024) where complaints included crash events — these are the highest-severity incidents in the dataset.

Manufacturer Extended Warranties & Special Coverage

1 known program match this vehicle — verify current eligibility with dealer using your VIN

ACTIVEEMISSIONS WARRANTYFTC Consent Decree 2020
Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC Diesel Emissions Extended Warranty
Emissions System – NOx Trap / SCR / DEF (BlueTEC Diesel)
COVERAGE:Extended under FTC and state AG consent decree — 10 years / 120,000 miles for affected emissions components

Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC diesel vehicles were found to contain defeat device software that enabled NOx emissions to exceed legal limits in real-world driving. As part of a consent decree with the FTC, EPA, and state attorneys general, Mercedes extended the warranty on emissions components and NOx sensors.

HOW TO CLAIM: Contact Mercedes-Benz USA (1-800-367-6372) and provide your VIN to verify if your vehicle is included in the consent decree and what coverage applies to your specific emissions components. You may also be eligible for a powertrain warranty extension.

Coverage eligibility depends on your VIN, original sale date, and current mileage. Always verify with an authorized dealer or manufacturer customer service — programs may have been updated since this database was compiled.

Details & Analysis
Financial

5-Year Total Cost of Ownership

Estimated based on EPA fuel data, risk-adjusted maintenance, and depreciation

$48,614
~$810/mo over 5 yrs
$0.3/mi
cost per mile
Fuel
$10,000
Insurance (est.)
$7,500
Maintenance
$23,000
Repair Risk Buffer
$3,000
Depreciation
$5,114

Estimated 5-year cost of ownership: $48,614 (~$810/mo). Repair risk buffer is standard due to vehicle risk profile.

Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Tailored for the 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ ML-Class — specific failure modes your mechanic must check, not a generic list

MEDIUM
Test drive and inspect: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Multiple owner complaints filed for this component — verify it functions correctly during test drive.
MEDIUM
Test drive and inspect: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Multiple owner complaints filed for this component — verify it functions correctly during test drive.
MEDIUM
Test drive and inspect: SEAT BELTS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE
Multiple owner complaints filed for this component — verify it functions correctly during test drive.
MEDIUM
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic
For any used vehicle with a risk score above Low, a $100–$150 independent inspection is always worth it.
MEDIUM
Run a VIN check on NHTSA.gov to confirm all recalls are closed
Free at nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/recalls — enter the VIN and confirm all campaigns show as completed.
MEDIUM
Verify title is clean and check for salvage/rebuilt brands at your state DMV
Title washing across state lines is common — confirm with your state DMV before finalizing purchase.

Recall Probability Forecast

Estimated likelihood of a new recall in the next 18 months based on NHTSA signals

5%
18-month
10%
2-year
Low Probability
Cumulative 2-year risk: 10%

5% baseline recall probability — no strong indicators of an imminent recall.

Maintenance Schedule

OEM-specified service intervals for this vehicle

Maintenance intervals vary significantly by make, model, year, engine, and driving conditions. Always follow the manufacturer's official schedule — not generic industry estimates.

Tip: Request the seller's service records and compare against the manufacturer schedule. Missing intervals are a negotiation point.

History & Auctions

Auction History

Public sale records from Copart, IAAI, and auction aggregators

Searching Public Auction Records

Checking Copart, IAAI, BidFax, and other sources for 4JGDA2EB9CA010735. Results appear automatically when found.

Insurance Cost Estimate

Estimated annual premiums based on vehicle profile, theft data, and NHTSA safety ratings

Full Coverage
$1,450–$1,850/yr
~$121–$154/mo
Liability Only
$560–$710/yr
~$47–$59/mo
Category: Standard Vehicle
14-year-old vehicle: −18% (depreciated ACV lowers full-coverage cost)

Based on 2024 national avg ($2,011/yr full coverage). Individual rates vary by driver, location & insurer. Always compare 3+ quotes.

State-Specific Legal Protections

What consumer laws apply to this vehicle purchase in your state

Select your state to see what consumer protection laws, lemon law coverage, and title disclosure requirements apply to this vehicle purchase.

Complete Data Table

All decoded fields in a single flattened view

Vehicle Identity

VIN4JGDA2EB9CA010735
Model Year2012
MakeMERCEDES-BENZ
ModelML-Class
TrimML350 BLUETEC 4-MATIC
Vehicle TypeMULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE (MPV)

Body & Configuration

Body StyleSport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
Doors4
Drive TypeAWD/All-Wheel Drive
Fuel TypeDiesel

Engine

Engine Cylinders6
Displacement (L)3.0

Manufacturer

ManufacturerMERCEDES-BENZ OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Assembly CityVANCE
Assembly CountryUNITED STATES (USA)

VIN Structure

WMI (Chars 1–3)4JG
Check Digit (Char 9)9
Model Year Code (Char 10)C
Plant Code (Char 11)A
Sequence (Chars 12–17)010735

Safety Data

NHTSA Recall Count0
NHTSA Complaint Count65

VIN Structure Decode

ISO 3779 character-by-character breakdown of this Vehicle Identification Number

4
1
J
2
G
3
D
4
A
5
2
6
E
7
B
8
9
9
C
10
A
11
0
12
1
13
0
14
7
15
3
16
5
17
WMI (1–3)
VDS (4–8)
Check Digit (9)
Model Year (10)
Serial (11–17)
4
World Manufacturer
Country & region of manufacture
Position 1
J
Manufacturer
Specific manufacturer identifier
Position 2
G
Vehicle Type
Division or vehicle type
Position 3
DA2EB
Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)
Body style, engine type, restraint system
Position 4–8
9
Check Digit
Mathematical validation character
Position 9
C
Model Year
Year of manufacture
Position 10
A
Assembly Plant
Where the vehicle was assembled
Position 11
010735
Production Sequence
Unique serial number for this vehicle
Position 12–17
Country of Manufacture
United States
From VIN position 1 (4)
Model Year Character
"C" → 2012
Could also be 1982
Check Digit (Pos 9)
✓ Valid
ISO 3779 weighted-sum algorithm
Research This Model

Disclaimer: Data sourced from NHTSA public APIs and scraped auction listings. For informational purposes only. Not a substitute for a paid vehicle history report. Retrieved: 6/10/2026, 10:28:49 PM.