There are 2 owner-reported visibility & wipers complaints for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML-Classin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
THE CONROL TO ACTIVATE THE WINDSHIELD WASHER IS A STALK MOUNTED BUTTON ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL. PRESSING THIS BUTTON WILL CORRECTLY CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WASHER TO COME ON BRIEFLY, SPRAY THE WINDSHIELD WITH WATER AND FOLLOW UP WITH A FEW STROKES OF THE WIPER TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS ARRANGEMENT IS THAT THE SIMILARITY OF THE BUTTON ON THE END OF THE STALK ON THE RIGHT SIDE, WHICH PLACES THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK. THUS IF YOU ARE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU COULD EASILY CONFUSE GOING INTO PARK WITH WASHING THE WINDSHIELD. MY EXPERIENCE IF YOU MAKE THIS MISTAKE IS THAT THE CAR WILL NOT GO INTO PARK WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, BUT WILL GO INTO INTO NEUTRAL UNTIL THE CAR FULLY STOPS. THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS MANEUVER, ESPECIALLY IN THE RAIN ON A BUSY INTERSTATE. THIS BUTTON AND ITS PLACEMENT SHOULD BE IMPROVED TO CORRECT THIS CONFUSION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE RADIO AND AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF COCONUT CREEK (4250 SR 7, COCONUT CREEK, FL 33073, PHONE: (954) 406-1167) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED, THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM, AND THE RADIATOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
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