What 66 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Mercedes-benz Ml-class

THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE WHEN A STRONG SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE BACK, AFTER STARTING THE CAR, IT DISPLAYS A WARNING MESSAGE LIGHT ON THE DASH; IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND A SQUEALING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE, THIS COULD EASILY HAVE RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IMMEDIATELY MBRACE WAS CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING CONTROL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITHOUT WARRANTY AND AT MY OWN COST. THEY ACCUSED ME THAT THE CAR MUST BE INVOLVED IN AN INCIDENT/ACCIDENT, BUT IT IS TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE CAR TO HAVE SUFFERED A HEAVY BLOW, OR TO HAVE GONE INTO A HOLE, OR TO CLIMB A HIGH SIDEWALK, ETC. WITHOUT A SIGN OF DAMAGE; THE DAMAGE PIECE (STEERING GEAR) IS LOCATED IN A PLACE THAT WOULD BE TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO REACH WITHOUT THE CAR SUFFERING A HEAVY IMPACT, WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ADDITIONAL EXTERNAL DAMAGE BELOW, OR IN THE TIRE, BUMPER, RIM, OR ANY OTHER PART, EVEN THE AIR BAGS. THE CAR EXTERNALLY INCLUDING EACH SINGLE PART, IS IN PERFECT CONDITION. THIS DAMAGE WAS NOT CAUSED BY ANYTHING THAT I DID WRONG; MUST BE A DEFECTIVE PART FROM THE MANUFACTURE, AND I CAN'T NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS. THE MB USA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, AND THEY INSIST THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OR MY CAR INSURANCE NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE MONETARILY OF THIS SITUATION, WHICH IS COMPLETELY UNFAIR TO ME AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. IT HAS ONLY 18,000 MILES APPROX. AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE SUCH A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS BRAND AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. IF A DEFECTIVE DRIVING PART IN THE STEERING GEAR EXISTS IN THE VEHICLE, THAT CAUSES IT TO BREAK DURING NORMAL VEHICLE TURNING, THE NORMALLY AVAILABLE HYDRAULIC SUPPORT FUNCTION WILL NO LONGER FUNCTION AND STEERING WHEEL OPERATION WILL BE LIMITED. *TR

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WHEN AT A SLIGHT INCLINE OR DECLINE, THE VEHICLE WILL GO FROM THE "DRIVE" GEAR AUTOMATICALLY INTO "PARK." WHEN THE "DRIVE" GEAR IS RE-ENGAGED, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT CRUNCHING OF THE GEARS AS IT GOES FROM "PARK" BACK INTO "DRIVE" MODE, CAUSING UNDUE STRESS AND FATIGUE ON THE BRAKING MECHANISM, INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF BRAKE MALFUNCTION AND/OR FAILURE.

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GOING TO WORK IN THE MORNING AND PULLING OUT OF THE GARAGE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE NOT THE ACCELERATOR IN REVERSE SUDDENLY THE CAR SURGED BY ITSELF WHILE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR WENT IN REVERSE VERY FAST HITTING OUR SIDE CONCRETE SIDE WALL. (THE DISTANCE IS ABOUT (28FT) THE IMPACT WAS SO HARD THAT THE PASSENGER WINDOW WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN AND THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE BACK FRAME OF THE MERCEDES WAS SMASHED. IT HAPPENED SO FAST THAT I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. AFTER I HIT THE WALL I WAS JOLTED FORWARD AND I SMASHED THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WITH THE GARAGE. THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVEWAY. AGAIN, I DID NOT PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE WHEN I WAS JOLTED FORWARD THE CAR WENT FORWARD FROM THE IMPACT OF THE HIT FROM THE WALL AND I DID NOT PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A WALL AND THE REAR WINDOW BROKE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 19 MPH IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE THEN SWITCHED GEARS INTO DRIVE INDEPENDENTLY, LUNGED FORWARD, AND CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT OFFERED AN EXPLANATION FOR THE INDEPENDENT ACCELERATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,300. UPDATED 01/31/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS DAMAGED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL. UPDATED 03/06/17.*JB

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SUNROOF WAS FOUND SHATTERED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. NO EVIDENCE OF VANDALISM. FOUND OUT AFTER OPENING THE DOOR & CLOSING IT - HEARD THE SHATTERED GLASS FALL ONTO THE INTERIOR SUNROOF VISOR. NO VISIBLE DAMAGE THAT MIGHT INDICATE THE CAUSE OF THE SHATTERED GLASS. THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE SUNROOF WERE SUNKEN IN SLIGHTLY, AND THE MIDDLE PORTION FLEXED UPWARD. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECENT EXTREME HEAT RECENTLY.

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STARTED CAR, PUT IN REVERSE. FELT THE ENGINE SURGE MOVED SHIFTER TO NEUTRAL THEN DRIVE . ENGINE SURGED, COULD NOT STOP THE CAR WITH THE BRAKES IT PROCEEDED THROUGH A GATE AND WAS STOPPED BY OUR STONE FENCE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STALLED AND BECAME STUCK. THE WIPERS RESTARTED MOMENTARILY AND THEN STOPPED WORKING AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE WIPER TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND CONSULTED WITH THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 22,000.

NHTSA ODI 10870568

CAR WAS IN MOTION ON STREET AND SUDDENLY REAR PASSENGER DOOR SWUNG OPEN AND ITEMS ON BACK SEAT FELL OUT ONTO THE ROADWAY CAUSING VEHICLES TO SWERVE TO THE OTHER SIDE OF ROADWAY. I LATER CONFIRMED THAT MERCEDES DOES NOT GIVE ANY WARNING FOR A PASSENGER REAR DOOR THAT IS NOT LATCHED UNTIL AFTER THE CAR IS GOING AT LEAST 7-8 MPH? IF A PERSON (CHILD) HAD BEEN BACK THERE, HE/SHE WOULD HAVE FALLEN OUT INTO TRAFFIC. I TRIED THIS EXPERIMENT AT HOME BY JUST BARELY CLOSING THE DOOR (NOT EVEN LATCHING IT AT ALL) AND NO WARNING IS GIVEN TILL 7-8 MPH IS REACHED. THIS WOULD SEEM TO BE A SAFETY OVERSIGHT BY MERCEDES!!!! THIS NEEDS CORRECTIVE ACTION, AND AT THE VERY LEAST, THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF THIS POTENTIAL HAZARD TO THEIR CHILDREN. THERE IS ALSO HAS THE POTENTIAL OF CAUSING AN ACCIDENT TO OTHER UNSUSPECTING CARS ON THE ROADWAYS. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!!

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WHEN THE VEHICLE'S PARKING MECHANISM IS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ROLLS SEVERAL FEET BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP; THEREBY ENDANGERING ANYONE IN, NEAR, OR AROUND THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME FROM GETTING RUN OVER OR, SERIOUSLY INJURED BY THE MOVING VEHICLE.

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REAR TAILGATE WAS LEFT OPEN. STARTED CAR AND NO WARNING THAT TAILGATE WAS OPEN WAS GIVEN. STARTED TO MOVE CAR INTO GARAGE AND OPEN TAILGATE STRUCK GARAGE OPENING. DAMAGE IN EXCESS OF $1000. NO WARNING IS GIVEN UNTIL CAR EXCEEDS 6-7MPH!!! THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS SOMETHING IN THE BACK WOULD ALREADY HAVE FALLEN OUT BEFORE ANY WARNING.

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I RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW ML350 FROM MERCEDES BENZ OF BURLINGTON, MA AND I HAVE A 'SAFETY' RELATED ISSUE WITH THE LIFT GATE. I WENT TO MOVE THE VEHICLE, NOT KNOWING THAT THE LIFT GATE WAS OPEN.THERE WAS NO WARNING OR ANY INDICATION THAT THE LIFT GATE WAS OPEN!! I HAVE OWNED 2 ACURA MDX'S AND BOTH GAVE LOUD WARNINGS WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO DRIVE AND THE LIFT GATE IS OPEN. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY OVERSIGHT BY MERCEDES IN THEIR DESIGN AS THE TAILGATE WARNING DOES NOT COME ON UNTIL A CERTAIN SPEED IS REACHED. THE WARNING SHOULD BE EVIDENT THE MOMENT THE CAR IS PUT INTO DRIVE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DESIGN FLAW THAT COULD LEAD TO INJURIES IF SOMEONE, OR EVEN A DOG, WAS IN THE BACK AND THE CAR DROVE FORWARD WITH THE LIFT GATE OPEN. I JUST SPOKE WITH A MERCEDES CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, AND SHE INDICATED THAT THIS IS A 'SPEED SENSITIVE' FUNCTION AND 'YES' YOU COULD BE DRIVING WITH THE LIFT GATE OPEN UP TILL THAT SPEED IS REACHED AND YOU WOULD NOT RECEIVE ANY WARNING AT ALL. IF I HAD PUT MY DOG OR ANYTHING IN THAT CARGO AREA AND STARTED TO DRIVE AWAY, THE WARNING WOULD COME ON TOO LATE TO PREVENT WHATEVER WAS BACK THERE FROM 'FALLING OUT'. THAT'S A SAFETY FLAW WITH A POTENTIAL OF INJURIES. MY OTHER CARS, INFINITI AND ACURA BOTH GIVE WARNINGS WHEN ANY DOOR OR LIFT GATE IS OPEN. PLEASE NOTIFY MERCEDES TO FIX THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY FLAW THAT ALL OTHER MANUFACTURERS HAVE SEEM TO HAVE FIXED. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI 10811571

THERE IS A NOTICEABLE VIBRATION BETWEEN 60 AND 65 MPH. THE VIBRATION WAS NOTICED FROM THE VERY BEGINNING ON THE BRAND NEW VEHICLE. DEALER HAS CHECKED REAMS AND WHEELS BALANCE BUT THIS VIBRATION STILL EXISTS. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT IS OUT OF BALANCE??

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THIS NEW MERCEDES-BENZ ML400 HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION FEATURE THAT WITHOUT REASON REVERTS BACK TO AUTOMATIC WITHIN ABOUT 10 SECONDS WITHOUT ANY REASON. THIS PREVENTS THE DRIVER FROM BEING ABLE TO CONTROL TRACTION IN SLIPPERY OR OTHER DIFFICULT CONDITIONS, WHICH CLEARLY WAS OUR EXPERIENCE. THIS FEATURE IS MISREPRESENTED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL WHICH STATES AS HAVING A MANUAL TRANSMISSON CONTROL CAPABILITY AND WAS ALSO SOLD AS SUCH BY THE DEALERSHIP.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEARS WERE SLIPPING INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SOFTWARE COMMAND SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT WITHIN FIVE DAYS, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, THE GEAR SLIPPED INTO DRIVE AND CRASHED INTO A FIRE HYDRANT. THE CONTACT DID NOT DISCLOSE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OR NOT. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,600. UPDATED 04/13/15*LJ UPDATED 11/5/2015*JS

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ROLLAWAY INCIDENT DUE TO AUTOMATIC GEAR SELECTOR MOUNTED ON STEERING COLUMN. *TR

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COMMAND SYSTEM OF CAR NOT RESPONDING PROPERLY, ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, LOUD NOISES FROM ENGINE. *TR

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