FaultScore

Worst years for a Mercedes Benz ML350

Owners have filed 651 complaints about the Mercedes Benz ML350 with NHTSA across model years 2001 to 2009. More of them are about the engine & cooling than anything else.

Avoid

2006 Mercedes Benz ML350

235 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly engine & cooling.

Cleanest on record

2005 Mercedes Benz ML350

28 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Mercedes Benz ML350 year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2009 C 105 2 8 69,750 Airbags
2008 C 93 9 6 72,000 Steering
2007 D 113 8 30 59,918 Seats
2006 F 235 21 25 69,950 Engine & Cooling
2005 B 28 0 3 66,700 Engine & Cooling
2004 C 44 3 3 73,000 Airbags
2003 C 31 0 5 50,446 Steering
2001 2 0 0 Child Seats

What breaks on a Mercedes Benz ML350

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Engine & Cooling 86 13.2%

Worst in 2006

Worst in 2006

Steering 74 11.4%

Worst in 2008

Worst in 2006

Seats 62 9.5%

Worst in 2007

Airbags 61 9.4%

Worst in 2009

Brakes 47 7.2%

Worst in 2006

Lights 28 4.3%

Worst in 2006

Seat Belts 23 3.5%

Worst in 2009

Body & Structure 22 3.4%

Worst in 2008

Fuel & Propulsion 19 2.9%

Worst in 2006

Other & Unspecified 15 2.3%

Worst in 2006

Acceleration & Cruise Control 14 2.2%

Worst in 2006

Equipment & Accessories 8 1.2%

Worst in 2005

Exactly what failed on a Mercedes Benz ML350

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Automatic Transmission 16 23.9%
Seat Heater/Cooler 12 17.9%
Body 11 16.4%
Engine 9 13.4%
Tail Lights 5 7.5%
Hatchback/Liftgate 4 6.0%
Hydraulic Power Assist System 4 6.0%
Differential Unit 2 3.0%
AIR Conditioner 2 3.0%
Rack AND Pinion 2 3.0%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Mercedes Benz ML350, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Oct 2004 peak 14 Mar 2026

Mercedes Benz ML350 problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the Mercedes Benz ML350

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.