Home · 2015 Mercedes-benz Ml-class · Complaints

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

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (66)Crash / fire / injury (15)Engine (16)Fuel system (10)Transmission & drivetrain (8)Brakes (7)Steering (6)Body & structure (5)Electrical system (5)Fuel System, Diesel (5)Airbags (4)Suspension (4)

15 of 66 complaints match · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Aug 17, 2023AirbagsCrash1 injury

On 8/15/23 on my parking explode air bag , completely make me blind.Nader air bag push my legs from brake and Car still was driving and stop a the wall, I was completely blind, destroyed my car ,Pain my legs , my arms my head incrediblo,my body is all blue, Thanks to God I am still life. Always I take care my car and I was in Mercedes -Benz dealer in Fletcher N C check my car before I wil drive back home to Florida he told me everything is good and safe .to drive .I need help .All my life I drive Mercedes-Benz .Mercedes mechanic must check car before release to customer to drive ,Please help me with nader car.

NHTSA ODI 11539120

May 5, 2022AirbagsCrash2 injuries

The contact owned a 2015 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40-45 mph in the rain, he drove over a puddle of water and hydroplaned on the highway and hit the jersey wall, went across the highway, and crashed into the guard rail. The air bags did not deploy. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. The contact sustained injuries to his shoulder and medical attention was provided. The passenger occupant sustained injuries to the vertebrae and medical attention was provided. A police report was filed. There was no reported fire. The vehicle was towed to an independent lot. The local dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company.

NHTSA ODI 11463448

Apr 13, 2021Transmission & drivetrainCrash

WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD PLOWING INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT CAUSING FOUR CAR COLLISION. VEHICLE ON TWO PRIOR OCCASIONS, HAD SURGED WITHOUT INCIDENT. THIS OCCURRED ON A CITY STREET IN VOHESS, NJ. THE CAUSE IS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11407897

Jul 20, 2020SteeringCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ ML250. THE CONTACT WAS TOWING AN UNKNOWN TRAVEL TRAILER WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND DROVE INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT STATED ALL 4 AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT STATED HIS WIFE SUSTAINED A BRUISE FROM THE SEAT BELT BUT DID NOT SEEK ANY MEDICINAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT STATED THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT AND TOW COMPANY WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE DITCH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.

NHTSA ODI 11340376

Dec 28, 2019Crash

I WAS DRIVING THE THE VEHICLE ON 12/26/2019.THEVEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED ACCLERATING AND I COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AND ENDED UP CRASHING INTO THE FRONT OF A COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WASN'T INJURED SERIOUSLY AND NONE OF THE OTHER PEOPLE INSIDE WERE HURT BADLY THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOTALED AS PER THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT NOT TO MENTION THE LOSS OF INCOME.

NHTSA ODI 11291755

Mar 5, 2019SuspensionSeat belts1 injury

I READ THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 3-4 RECALLS ON MY MERCEDES WHICH WE BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATIONS.

NHTSA ODI 11184466

Sep 15, 2018SteeringAirbagsCrash

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND ALL OF SUDDEN MY CAR STARTED STEERING HORIZONTALLY ON THE RIGHT. CAR WAS AUTO CONTROLLED AND OUT OF MY CONTROL. THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO RESPOND AND STEER. I GOT INTO A MAJOR LIFE THREATENING CAR CRASH.

NHTSA ODI 11129683

Apr 30, 2018SteeringBrakesCrash1 death

I BELIEVE WITH MY HEART AND SOUL MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE WAS KILLED DUE TO FAILURE OF VEHICLE IN MOTION AND LOST ALL CONTROL.*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11090969

Dec 9, 2016Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlBrakesCrash

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

NHTSA ODI 10934032

Jul 12, 2016Speed controlCrash

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.

NHTSA ODI 10884293

Feb 19, 2016Transmission & drivetrainBrakesEngine1 injury

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.

NHTSA ODI 10837160

Jan 3, 2016Body & structureCrash

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.

NHTSA ODI 10817440

Dec 21, 2015Body & structureCrash

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

Jan 20, 2015Transmission & drivetrainCrash

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

NHTSA ODI 10676584

Jan 19, 2015SteeringTransmission & drivetrainBody & structureCrash

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

NHTSA ODI 10676372

Working with the data? Download all 66 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 28, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2015 Mercedes-benz Ml-class verdict →