2009 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class Complaint Log

THE REAR PASSENGER AND MIDDLE PASSENGER SEAT BELTS BOTH WENT SLACK. NOT DUE TO ANY MISUSE. CERTIFIED PREOWNED WARRANTY EXPIRED OCTOBER 31, 2013. MERCEDES COVERED COST OF PARTS, I PICKED UP COST OF LABOR. *JS

BOTH REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT. DEALER WANTS $1450 TO FIX THEM. *TR

REAR SEAT BELT WON'T RETRACT. MANY HAVE THIS PROBLEM ACCORDING TO ONLINE FORUMS. VERY COMMON ISSUE. MERCEDES BENZ WILL NOT COVER, VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY WANT OVER $700 TO FIX. *TR

BOTH REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT. THEY GET STUCK FULLY OPEN. *TR

THE AUTOMATIC REAR HATCH CLOSED BUT DID NOT LOCK. DURING ACCELERATION THE REAR HATCH STARTED TO OPEN. ANY FURTHER ATTEMPTS TO LOCK THE HATCH WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AND THE REAR HATCH COULD NOT BE LOCKED. *TR

REAR SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. THAT SEAT BELT RARELY GETS USED AND IS CLEAN AS A WHISTLE. IN READING ONLINE FORUMS, THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. *TR

REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT

REAR SEAT BELT WON'T RETRACT. THE REAR SEAT BELT BEHIND THE DRIVER WILL NOT RETRACT. *TR

MY MERCEDES ML350 WAS PARKED ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. FLAMES BEGAN SHOOTING OUT OF THE RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT. BY THE TIME THAT WE SAW IT AND EXTINGUISHED IT THE ENTIRE BACK OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE AND THE CAR TOTALED.(MATTER OF MINUTES) THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. I HAVE PICTURES SHOWING THAT FIRE CAME FROM THE ELECTRICAL PANEL IN THE RIGHT REAR OF THE CAR. I HAD NO PREVIOUS INDICATION OTHER THAN A HALF AN HOUR EARLIER THE LEFT REAR TAILLIGHT WAS STUCK ON. ALSO TWICE IN THE PAST YEAR I CALLED THE DEALER TO SAY THAT I THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS SOME PROBLEM WITH THE CAR BECAUSE THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD RANDOMLY STOP COOLING. WHEN I TOOK IT IN THEY COULD NEVER FIND THE PROBLEM - IT WAS INTERMITTENT. SINCE THE FIRE MERCEDES CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS BEEN TERRIBLE. I ASKED THEM TO REPLACE MY LOST BELONGINGS NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE (THIS WASN'T MUCH) AND IT APPEARS THAT ALL THEY WANTED TO DO WAS GET RID OF ME AND SWEEP THIS ISSUE UNDER THE RUG. CUSTOMER SERVICE MERCEDES OFFERED TO GIVE ME $4,000 OFF THE BEST DEAL THAT I COULD NEGOTIATE OFF A NEW MERCEDES AT MY LOCAL MERCEDES DEALERSHIP IF I WAS TOO BUY A NEW ONE - THEY SEVERAL TIMES GAVE EXTENDED ME THIS OFFER - WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND GOT A PRICE, CUSTOMER SERVICE MERCEDES TOOK BACK THEIR OFFER. WHEN I ASKED TO SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR THE ATTENDANT HUNG UP ON ME. THE DEALERSHIP WAS GOOD TO DEAL WITH - CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS TERRIBLE TERRIBLE! I'VE CALLED THREE TIMES SINCE AND THEY WILL NOT PUT A SUPERVISOR ON THE PHONE. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR - IT SHOULD DEFINITELY BE LOOKED INTO SO THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO OTHERS. I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT THE FIRE DIDN'T START WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHE. I HAVE PICTURES IF ANYONE CARES TO SEE PROOF OF WHAT I'M SAYING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOW SPEED, THE EXTERIOR LIGHT WARNING MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PARK PLACE MOTORCARS MERCEDES-BENZ DALLAS (113 LEMMON AVE, DALLAS, TX 75209; (214) 736-5753) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR BRAKE LIGHT WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

THE BACK HATCH ON MY 2009 MERCEDES ML350 WOULD NOT OPEN USING THE ELECTRONIC KEY OR THE DRIVER BUTTON IN THE DOOR. THERE WAS A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS OPENING, BUT THE LATCH WOULD NOT RELEASE THE DOOR. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS MY BATTERY WOULD SUDDENLY BE DEAD. I ASSUMED I MUST HAVE LEFT A LIGHT ON. IT WAS NOT UNTIL I SAW A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA OF THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THAT I REALIZED THAT MY UNOPENED HATCH WAS DRAINING MY BATTERY. I HAVE SINCE HAD TO REPLACE MY BATTERY AT AN EXPENSE OF OVER $300. MERCEDES BATTERIES ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED AT THE MERCEDES DEALER. I CAN ONLY OPEN THE HATCH MANUALLY BY CRAWLING INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND TRIPPING A SWITCH AT THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. I AM CHECKING ON HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO HAVE THE LATCH AND ACTUATOR REPLACED. ESTIMATES APPEAR TO BE ABOUT $1,000 TO HAVE THESE PARTS REPLACED. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ON ONE SITE MERCEDES EVEN ADMITTED THAT THEY ARE AWARE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH LATCH ON THIS MODEL. *TR

IN OCTOBER 2012, I OPENED THE REAR HATCH OF MY 2009 MERCEDES BENZ ML350 AND IT WOULD NOT CLOSE. I CONTINUED TO PUSH THE BUTTON ON THE HATCH DOOR, ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND ON THE KEY IN AN ATTEMPT TO CLOSE THE HATCH DOOR. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES, I WAS SUCCESSFULLY ABLE TO CLOSE IT. THREE WEEKS AGO, THE REAR HATCH MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN, HOWEVER, THIS TIME IT WOULD NOT OPEN. I TRIED THE BUTTON ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE HATCH, ON THE INSIDE ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND ON THE KEY IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE HATCH TO OPEN. I LEFT FOR A BUSINESS TRIP THE NEXT DAY, AND WHEN I RETURNED MY CAR WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO CALL ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE TO GET A JUMP OF THE BATTERY. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MERCEDES DEALER, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. I TOLD THEM THAT I HAD A SUSPICION THAT THE DEAD BATTERY WAS CAUSED BY A MALFUNCTION OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM INVOLVING THE REAR HATCH. THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THAT HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE REAR HATCH CAUSING A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY. WHILE DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, I DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE REAR HATCH EITHER FAILING TO OPEN OR FAILING TO CLOSE AND AS A RESULT THE BATTERY DRAINS. FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT THE PROBLEM CAUSES THE BATTERY TO DRAIN IS EVIDENCED BY THE FACT THAT THE BULB THAT ILLUMINATES THE LICENSE PLATE IN THE REAR HATCH DOOR WENT OUT AS WELL. APPARENTLY THE BULB CONTINUED TO STAY ON BECAUSE THE SENSOR IN THE DOOR WAS ACTIVATED, WHICH WOULD ONLY HAPPEN WHEN THE HATCH DOOR IS OPEN. FAILURE OF THE HATCH DOOR TO OPEN, MEANS THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TREATED THE HATCH DOOR AS IF IT WAS AJAR EVEN THOUGH THE LOCKING MECHANISM WAS MALFUNCTIONING NOT ALLOWING THE DOOR TO OPEN. SO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONTINUOUSLY KEPT ATTEMPTING TO LATCH THE DOOR WHICH IS WHAT CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. *TR

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES. TOWED TO LOCAL MB DEALER, DIAGNOSTICS INDICATED FUEL PUMP FAILURE. FUEL PUMP REPLACED. APPROXIMATE MILEAGE 64000. VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON 4 OTHER OCCASIONS OVER COURSE OF NEXT 8 MONTHS. TWICE THE VEHICLE STARTED THE NEXT DAY. ONCE THE FUEL PUMP RELAY WAS REPLACED. VEHICLE FAILED TO START AGAIN 10/10/14 AND WAS TOWED TO AREA MB DEALER. DIAGNOSTICS INDICATED FUEL PUMP FAILURE AGAIN. FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED AGAIN! APPROXIMATE MILEAGE 145000. WAITING FOR IT TO LEAVE ME STRANDED AGAIN. *TR

PLEASE NOTE THAT ON THE ML350 WITH LED LIGHTS THERE SEEM TO BE A MAJOR ISSUE WITH LIGHT REPLACEMENTS. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR STATES THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT IS BROKEN. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER THEY STATE THAT THERE IS NO BULB REPLACEMENT. YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TAIL LAMP FOR 545.00 . I THINK THIS IS CRAZY JUST FOR A BLOWN BULB, MERCEDES DID NOT DESIGN THE LED TAIL LAMP BULB TO BE REPLACEABLE. I THINK THE MAKER IS AN ASS TO DESIGN THE TAIL LAMP THAT WAY. I THINK THIS UNFAIR PRACTICE AND HOPE SOMEONE INVESTIGATES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE GOING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE ENGINE WOULD REV AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT THEN SHIFTED INTO GEAR AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES LATER AND THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR ANOTHER INSPECTION WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION MODULE SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

ML320 BLUETEC, RANDOMLY LOSES POWER. THE POWER WILL BE RESTORED ONCE THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN. CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 7 TIMES FOR REPAIR OF THIS ONE ISSUE, INCLUDING TWICE IN A STATE WITH LIMITED POWER. DEALER HAS DONE MULTIPLE SOFTWARE UPDATES, TURBO REPLACEMENT, EXHAUST VALVES REPLACEMENT AND THE ISSUE IS STILL PRESENT. ON ONE OF THE LAST OCCASIONS THIS HAPPENED, THE CAR LOST POWER WHEN TRYING TO MERGE ON TO THE HWY. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN ME BEING REAR ENDED BY A BIG RIG. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER BEFORE I WAS REAR ENDED. THIS IS SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND RECTIFIED. AS OF 02/17/2014 THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *TR

REAR SEAT BELTS ON BOTH SIDES DO NOT RETRACT. THEY HAVE NOT WORKED SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR. ALTHOUGH I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE OF THIS PROBLEM, WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL, I HAVE NOT YET FOUND A RECALL. PLEASE CONSIDER AN INVESTIGATION ON THIS ISSUE. AS OUR CHILDREN ARE ALMOST ALWAYS THE ONES IN THE BACK SEAT, IT IS THEIR LIVES AT RISK FROM THIS FAULTY EQUIPMENT. *JS

I HAVE A 2009 MERCEDES ML 350. ABOUT A WEEK AGO, MY BREAK FLUID LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOPPED THE FLUID OFF. A FEW DAYS PASSED, AND THE LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP, AND IT WAS VERIFIED THAT "THE PRESSURE DROPS AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. (THEY) FOUND THE LINE INTO THE ABR PUMP WAS LEAKING. R&R PUMP TO INSPECT LINES AND FOUND METAL LINE DEFORMED AT FLARE". *TR

FUEL TANK LEAK. GAS SMELL INSIDE OF VEHICLE WAS SO BAD THAT IT MADE ME SICK. MERCEDES DEALER FIXED IT UNDER WARRANTY: CHANGED THE SEALS ON THE FUEL TANK. *TR

IN FEBRUARY OF 2012 WE HAD A TIRE FAILURE-TREAD SEPARATION. THE TIRES WE WERE SOLD AS 'RUN FLAT' WERE IN FACT MOEXTENDED BY BRIGDESTONE. THIS TIRE HAS A VERY LIMITED RUN LOW ABILITY THAT ALLOWS 18-30 MILES AT 30 MPH AND 10 PSI. WE WERE TOLD WE HAD RUN FLATS THAT ALLOWED OPERATION AT 50MPH FOR 50 MILES AT ZERO PSI. MERCEDES AND BRIDGESTONE DENIED ANY LIABILITY. THIS FRAUD WILL PUT SOMEONE ELSE IN DANGER AND THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE WARNED. WE HAVE SINCE REPLACED PSEUDO RUN FLATS W REAL RUN FLATS AND WILL DO NO FURTHER BUSINESS WITH MERCEDES BENZ. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL BEGAN TO LEAK FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE WHILE REFUELING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ITS FUEL FILTER REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER PRIOR TO REFUELING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER AND A FUEL GASKET WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES ML 320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRAILER HITCH FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AT THE SEAMS WHILE GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY RUST OF THE HITCH. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONTACT USE A DIFFERENT AND LARGER VEHICLE TO HAUL A TRAILER. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE HE WAS ADHERING TO THE HAILING SPECIFICATIONS LISTED FOR HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE CONTACT STATED REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V242000 (TRAILER HITCHES). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 38,000.

FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THIS IS THE SECOND FUEL PUMP FAILURE IN THE LESS THAN ONE YEAR. DURING THE 2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, THE CAR HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE STARTING, REQUIRING MULTIPLE TRIPS TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. ON MANY OCCASIONS THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED AND THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED WITH THE PROBLEM UNRESOLVED. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND SERVICED BY THE DEALER,

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HATCHBACK DOOR DID NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH A SENSOR THAT WOULD PREVENT THE DOOR FROM CLOSING IF A PERSON WAS IN THE DOOR PATH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESIGNED WITH A SENSOR AND THAT WERE UNABLE TO ALTER THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,000.

I HAVE A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ ML320 BLUETEC THAT HAS ISSUES WITH STARTING THE ENGINE WHEN WARM. THE CAR WILL CRANK BUT NOT START. *TR

LETTER FROM REGARDING NUMEROUS ISSUES AND TROUBLES HE HAS FACED SINCE THE PURCHASE OF HIS MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLE, A 2009 ML320 BLUE TEC DIESEL ENGINE SUV; SEEKING ASSISTANCE-HE WOULD LIKE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT OF THIS COMPLAINT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST PROBLEM HE ENCOUNTERED WITH THE VEHICLE WAS IN MAY OF 2010, WITHIN LESS THAN A YEAR OF PURCHASE, WHILE DRIVING, THE GAS GAUGE ALL OF A SUDDEN WENT FROM A HALF TANK OF FUEL, TO READING EMPTY, WHERE AT THAT POINT THE FUEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. EVEN THOUGH HE KNEW THE TANK WAS NOT EMPTY, HE STOPPED TO THE GAS STATION AND RE-FUELED. HOWEVER, THE TANK CONTINUED TO READ EMPTY. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, THE NEEDLE MOVED TO THE FULL POSITION. FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, ALONG WITH A BLUE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND TO BE WRONG. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION AS THE CONSUMER WAS ATTEMPTING TO GO UPHILL ON AN INCLINE. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN IN SPEED. EVEN TRYING TO PUMP THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DID NOT HELP AND EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE, SEVERAL MORE TIMES AFTER THAT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED SEVERAL OTHER TIMES AS WELL. THE DEALER CHANGED THE ENTIRE COMPUTER MODULE. SOON AFTER, THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ONCE THE TIRES WERE CHECKED, THE LIGHT NO LONGER APPEARED.

THE SUV SLOWS AND/OR STALLS SUDDENLY AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. STARTED AROUND 8,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON ODOMETER. IT IS A 2009 ML 320 BLUETEC. OCCURS UNEXPECTEDLY FOR FEW SECONDS RANDOMLY. *TR

THIS CAR SHOULD QUALIFY AS A LEMON. WE SPENT OVER $65K ON IT NEW IN JANUARY OF 2009 AND IT HAS EASILY COSTS US $65K TO KEEP IT RUNNING SINCE. SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT BREAKS ON IT EVERY 60 DAYS SINCE OWNING IT. THE TURBO WENT OUT MOST RECENTLY AFTER A BAD OIL SEAL LET OIL INTO IT. $6500! THE CAR MAY HAVE SADLY BEEN CURSED SINCE DAY ONE. OUR SALES PERSON AT MERCEDES BENZ OF SF DIED RIGHT AFTER WE BOUGHT IT. THINGS STARTED TO BREAK IMMEDIATELY AFTER. PEOPLE RAN INTO IT, ETC. IT HAS BEEN THE WORST CAR OWNER EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE. *TR