FaultScore

Worst years for a Mercedes Benz ML500

Owners have filed 141 complaints about the Mercedes Benz ML500 with NHTSA across model years 2002 to 2007. More of them are about the steering than anything else.

Avoid

2006 Mercedes Benz ML500

49 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly electrical system.

Cleanest on record

2003 Mercedes Benz ML500

19 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Mercedes Benz ML500 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
2007 C 11 3 5 59,175 Seats
2006 D 49 5 7 70,000 Electrical System
2005 3 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2004 D 26 0 6 90,000 Steering
2003 C 19 0 2 111,000 Engine & Cooling
2002 C 33 1 0 87,000 Steering

What breaks on a Mercedes Benz ML500

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

Steering 22 15.6%

Worst in 2002

Brakes 22 15.6%

Worst in 2002

Electrical System 20 14.2%

Worst in 2006

Seats 14 9.9%

Worst in 2007

Engine & Cooling 12 8.5%

Worst in 2003

Transmission & Drivetrain 10 7.1%

Worst in 2006

Acceleration & Cruise Control 7 5.0%

Worst in 2006

Other & Unspecified 6 4.3%

Worst in 2006

Airbags 5 3.5%

Worst in 2006

Lights 5 3.5%

Worst in 2004

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 4 2.8%

Worst in 2002

Fuel & Propulsion 3 2.1%

Worst in 2002

Stability & Traction Control 3 2.1%

Worst in 2002

Body & Structure 2 1.4%

Worst in 2004

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Mercedes Benz ML500, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Nov 2002 peak 4 Nov 2025

Compare the Mercedes Benz ML500

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