There are 15 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML-Classin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
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.
When I start the engine, it makes a sound loud and strange
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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.
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
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
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026