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FaultScore report

2007 Mercedes Benz ML500 problems

Owners have filed 11 complaints about the 2007 Mercedes Benz ML500 with NHTSA between 2010 and 2023. The largest single group is the seats. Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 5 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Mercedes Benz ML500 All 2007 cars
C

FaultScore 44/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Mercedes Benz ML500.

How this is worked out

The numbers

11

Complaints

3

Crashes reported

5

Fires reported

1

Injuries reported

59,175 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

11%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 20 vs 50 Severity 100 vs 50 Early failure 19 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 20
Against the median year of the Mercedes Benz ML500. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
81.8% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 19
11% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2007 compares with every other Mercedes Benz ML500

Click any bar 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

What breaks on a 2007 Mercedes Benz ML500

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Seats 5 45.5%

0 crashes, 4 fires · median 128,000 mi

Other & Unspecified 3 27.3%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 59,175 mi

Brakes 1 9.1%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 59,175 mi

Steering 1 9.1%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 59,175 mi

Electrical System 1 9.1%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 32,500 mi

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

25,000 – 49,999 miles 2 22.2%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 3 33.3%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 2 22.2%
150,000+ miles 2 22.2%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Jun 2010 peak 3 Mar 2023

NHTSA investigations into the 2007 Mercedes Benz ML500

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

PE08030 Opened 25 Apr 2008 Closed 9 Sep 2008 SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

SEAT BACK WARMER OVERHEATS/BURNS

THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION INVESTIGATION CONCERNS THE SEAT BACK WARMER INSTALLED IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH MAY 2007, EQUIPPED WITH THE CTX' CARBOTEX SEAT WARMER DESIGN.THE DATA DISCLOSE FEW COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY REPORTS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE.NONE OF THE FIRE REPORTS INVOLVED OPEN FLAME, BUT WERE THERMAL INCIDENTS IN WHICH THE SEAT CUSHION SUSTAINED DISCOLORATION OR A HOLE BURNED IN THE SEAT COVER.THE REPORTED INJURY APPEARED TO BE MINOR.THE SUBJECT SEAT WARMER DESIGN WAS ALSO INSTALLED IN MY 2006 M-CLASS VEHICLES AND THOSE DATA ALSO SHOW FEW INCIDENTS.A SAFETY DEFECT TREND HAS N...

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 199,800 miles St. James, NY Fire

SEATS

The contact owns a 2007 Mercedes Benz ML500. The contact stated that while her boyfriend was driving, the front and back seat warmers were operating and the driver noticed smoke. The contact mentioned there was a smoke odor and noticed the front driver seat caught on fire. The contact stated that the driver extinguished the fire with his clothes by smothering the seat. In addition, there was a hole in the seat. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they failed to provide a diagnosis and informed the contact the seat was going to be unplugged. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 199,800.

NHTSA complaint #11434025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 155,000 miles Albuquerque, NM Fire

SEATS

I HAD MY HEATED SEAT ON THE MEDIUM SETTING. WHILE ON MY SHORT COMMUTE TO WORK (ABOUT 8 MINUTES) THIS MORNING MY DRIVER SEAT STARTED TO SMOKE AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE LEATHER AND MELTED PART OF MY CLOTHING.

NHTSA complaint #11156351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 123,000 miles Auburn, WA 1 injured

SEATS

I GOT INTO MY CAR AND TURNED ON THE SEAT WARMER. AFTER 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I COULD SMELL SMOKE BUT THOUGHT IT WAS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. A FEW SECONDS LATER I FELT A BURNING SENSATION ON MY LOWER BACK. I REACHED MY LEFT HAND BEHIND ME TO CHECK AND FELT SOMETHING HOT, WHEN I PULLED MY HAND OUT MY FINGER TIPS WERE COVERED IN MELTED LEATHER. THE SMOKE BY THEN INCREASED, I SHUT THE SEAT WARMER OFF AND EXITED THE HIGHWAY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

NHTSA complaint #10958297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 59,175 miles Prospect, KY Crash

STEERING

MECHANICAL FAILURE, STEERING JAM AND BRAKE DID NOT WORK DURING DRIVING AT 15-20 MPH IN SUBDIVISION STREET. GOT IN ACCIDENT HITTING THE VAN.

NHTSA complaint #10909481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 59,175 miles Prospect, KY Crash

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MECHANICAL FAILURE, STEERING JAM AND BRAKE DID NOT WORK DURING DRIVING AT 15-20 MPH IN SUBDIVISION STREET. GOT IN ACCIDENT HITTING THE VAN.

NHTSA complaint #10909481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 59,175 miles Prospect, KY Crash

SERVICE BRAKES

MECHANICAL FAILURE, STEERING JAM AND BRAKE DID NOT WORK DURING DRIVING AT 15-20 MPH IN SUBDIVISION STREET. GOT IN ACCIDENT HITTING THE VAN.

NHTSA complaint #10909481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Edmond, OK

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2007 MERCEDES BENZ ML500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO NHTSA SAFETY RECALL 22V-315. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR A RENTAL CAR.

NHTSA complaint #11510560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 199,800 miles St. James, NY Fire

SEATS

The contact owns a 2007 Mercedes Benz ML500. The contact stated that while her boyfriend was driving, the front and back seat warmers were operating and the driver noticed smoke. The contact mentioned there was a smoke odor and noticed the front driver seat caught on fire. The contact stated that the driver extinguished the fire with his clothes by smothering the seat. In addition, there was a hole in the seat. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they failed to provide a diagnosis and informed the contact the seat was going to be unplugged. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 199,800.

NHTSA complaint #11434025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 155,000 miles Albuquerque, NM Fire

SEATS

I HAD MY HEATED SEAT ON THE MEDIUM SETTING. WHILE ON MY SHORT COMMUTE TO WORK (ABOUT 8 MINUTES) THIS MORNING MY DRIVER SEAT STARTED TO SMOKE AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE LEATHER AND MELTED PART OF MY CLOTHING.

NHTSA complaint #11156351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 123,000 miles Auburn, WA 1 injured

SEATS

I GOT INTO MY CAR AND TURNED ON THE SEAT WARMER. AFTER 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I COULD SMELL SMOKE BUT THOUGHT IT WAS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. A FEW SECONDS LATER I FELT A BURNING SENSATION ON MY LOWER BACK. I REACHED MY LEFT HAND BEHIND ME TO CHECK AND FELT SOMETHING HOT, WHEN I PULLED MY HAND OUT MY FINGER TIPS WERE COVERED IN MELTED LEATHER. THE SMOKE BY THEN INCREASED, I SHUT THE SEAT WARMER OFF AND EXITED THE HIGHWAY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

NHTSA complaint #10958297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greensboro, NC

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I WAS INFORMED THAT MY CAR HAD A RECALL IN FEBRUARY AND THE LOCAL MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERSHIP HAS JUST GAVE ME THE RUN AROUND ABOUT GETTING A WELDER TO COME DO THE JOB. THEY HAVE NOT GOT BACK TO ME ABOUT GETTING A WELDER TO COME AND I FEEL LIKE IF IT'S A SAFETY RECALL THAT THEY SHOULD GET ON THE BALL TO GET THE VEHICLE UP TO CALL. THEY DIDN'T GIVE ME THE RUNAROUND WHEN THEY TOOK MY MONEY FOR REPAIRS THEY DID TO MY CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10918644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 59,175 miles Prospect, KY Crash

STEERING

MECHANICAL FAILURE, STEERING JAM AND BRAKE DID NOT WORK DURING DRIVING AT 15-20 MPH IN SUBDIVISION STREET. GOT IN ACCIDENT HITTING THE VAN.

NHTSA complaint #10909481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 59,175 miles Prospect, KY Crash

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MECHANICAL FAILURE, STEERING JAM AND BRAKE DID NOT WORK DURING DRIVING AT 15-20 MPH IN SUBDIVISION STREET. GOT IN ACCIDENT HITTING THE VAN.

NHTSA complaint #10909481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 59,175 miles Prospect, KY Crash

SERVICE BRAKES

MECHANICAL FAILURE, STEERING JAM AND BRAKE DID NOT WORK DURING DRIVING AT 15-20 MPH IN SUBDIVISION STREET. GOT IN ACCIDENT HITTING THE VAN.

NHTSA complaint #10909481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 128,000 miles Fayetteville, NC Fire

SEATS

ON NOVEMBER 22, 2015 I TURNED ON MY HEATED SEAT AS I WAS EXITING A SHOPPING MALL PARKING LOT. WHEN I GOT ON THE MAJOR CITY STREET I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN I FELT SOMETHING REALLY HOT ON MY BACK SO I JUMPED IN MY SEAT AND READJUSTED MY TOP, I FELT THE HEAT ON MY BACK AGAIN AND THIS TIME IT WAS HOTTER. I CAME TO A STOPLIGHT AND TURNED AROUND TO LOOK AT THE SEAT AND COULD SEE FIRE BURNING A HOLE THRU THE SEAT. I IMMEDIATELY STARTED PATTING THE SEAT TO STOP THE FIRE FROM SPREADING AND THEN TURNED OFF THE HEATED SEAT CONTROL. I CALLED THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP AND ASKED IF THEY HAD A RECALL ON THE SEATS AND WAS ADVISED NO BUT THEY DID HAVE PROBLEMS WITH SOME. THEY ADVISED ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN AND THEY WOULD FIX AT NO COST TO ME. THEY REPLACED THE SEAT BACK.

NHTSA complaint #10809201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 32,500 miles Minnesota, MN Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I OWNED A 2007 MERCEDES ML500, THE REASON I DON'T OWN THE VEHICLE ANY LONGER IS BECAUSE IT BURNT UP IN MY PARKING LOT OUTSIDE OF MY OFFICE. THE EVENING BEFORE THE FIRE I HAD DINNER OUT AND WHEN I WENT TO UNLOCK MY CAR DOORS, THE RIGHT BLINKER LIGHT FLICKERED AND REMAINED ON. AS I GOT INTO THE CAR THE SOUND OF THE BLINKER WAS VERY QUICK AND I TURNED IT OFF BUT REALIZED THEN THAT IT WENT COMPLETELY OUT ALONG WITH THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING I MADE AN APPOINTMENT T GET THOSE FIXED, IN THE MEANTIME I DROVE TO WORK AND PARKED. ONE OF MY CO-WORKERS WHOSE OFFICE FACES THE PARKING LOT SAID THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY CAR. WE CALLED 911 RAN OUTSIDE AND WHEN WE OPENED THE DRIVERS DOOR THERE WERE FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. WE USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT THE FLAMES KEPT COMING BACK UNTIL THERE WAS A WHOOSH SOUND AND THE FIRE EXPLODED OUT OF THE CAR. AT THAT POINT WE ALL RAN FOR SAFETY AND HAD TO SIT AND WATCH WHILE MY CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD PUT IT OUT. THE ENTIRE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS A BLACK CHARRED MESS FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK, THE EXTERIOR WAS BURNT AND IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. PRELIMINARY RESULTS ARE POINTING TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN THE SEAT. FYI - THE SEAT WARMER HAD NOT BEEN TURNED ON AT ALL, IN FACT, NO ONE HAS SAT IN THAT SEAT FOR WEEKS.

NHTSA complaint #10378769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 38,735 miles Anchorage,, AK Fire

SEATS

WHILE DRIVING MY 2007 ML 500 SUV, THE PASSENGER SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTIONED, RESULTING IN AN ELECTRICALLY INDUCED SMOLDERING FIRE. THE HEAT SOURCE BURNED A DIME SIZED HOLE COMPLETELY THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT, SMOKE STARTED TO APPEAR AND MY SKIN STARTED TO BURN RIGHT THROUGH MY CLOTHES. THINKING MY CLOTHES MIGHT BURST INTO FLAMES, I IMMEDIATELY CAME TO A STOP AND SAFELY JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND THEN MOMENTS LATER TURNED OFF THE CAR. THANKFULLY MY CLOTHES DID NOT CATCH FIRE AND I WAS NOT IN BUSY TRAFFIC OR THIS MIGHT HAVE ENDED DIFFERENTLY. IF THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH SEAT HEATERS IN OTHER MERCEDES BENZ CARS, THIS MALFUNCTION COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS HARM TO ITS OCCUPANTS AND OTHER DRIVERS. THE CAR DEALERSHIP WILL REPLACE THE PARTS AND REPAIR THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10339102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.