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

The failed/malfunctioning component appears to be the fuel pump controller / fuel pump control unit, and possibly the fuel pump system. The Mercedes-Benz dealer identified water/moisture-related damage and corrosion at the fuel pump controller area. The failed component should be available for inspection if the dealer preserves the part during repair. I have requested that the dealer not discard the damaged component. My safety and the safety of others were put at risk because the fuel pump controller is related to fuel delivery. If it fails, the vehicle may not start, may lose fuel supply, or may stall while driving. This creates a safety risk, especially if the vehicle stalls in traffic, at an intersection, on a highway, or during normal driving. The problem has been confirmed by a Mercedes-Benz dealership. The dealership diagnosed water/moisture damage to the fuel pump controller area and provided an estimate of $768.22 for fuel pump controller replacement, plus $244.88 for the inspection fee. The dealer also indicated that this was the first inspection and that the fuel pump itself may also need further inspection or may have related damage. The vehicle/component has been inspected by a Mercedes-Benz dealership. Mercedes-Benz USA / the manufacturer’s representative has also reviewed the case through its goodwill process, but they refused to treat it as recall-related coverage. To my knowledge, the vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. Prior to the current failure, the vehicle had starting/no-start related symptoms beginning around the middle of 2023. The engine could not start successfully at times. I do not recall receiving a clear warning lamp or message specifically identifying the fuel pump controller before the failure. However, the symptoms were consistent with a fuel delivery problem, and the dealer later confirmed water/moisture corrosion damage in the fuel pump controller area.

NHTSA ODI 11739473

The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shook abnormally before the vehicle lost automotive power. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and take the vehicle to a local dealer. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V955000 (Fuel System, Diesel, Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the repair failed to prevent the failure. The contact stated that two weeks after the recall repair, the failure reoccurred. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was scanned by a local independent mechanic who retrieved DTC: P035413, A10D, P072102, U016886, V1FBD04, 94C3, V1DAV54, V1DBD31, P030085, and V142E31. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.

NHTSA ODI 11652759

The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated while reversing, the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who determined that the fuel pump was faulty and needed to be replaced. The fuel pump was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V955000 (Fuel System, Diesel, Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11589651

The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle temporarily lost motive power before returning to normal driving functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was informed that the check engine light displayed after repairing the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V955000 (Fuel System, Diesel, Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

NHTSA ODI 11540040

The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz ML400. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power without warning. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was contacted and stated the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V955000 (Fuel System, Diesel, Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 79,000.

NHTSA ODI 11540104

The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V955000 (Fuel System, Diesel, Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle started to lose motive power and was making an abnormal sputtering sound as if the vehicle was running out of gasoline. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over and was able restart the vehicle. The failure had become a recurring failure. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI 11523279

There is a recall for this significant safety risk. I contacted my local Mercedes Benz about recall remedy on 6 January 2023 and they confirmed the recall and said MB would issue steps to get this taken care of in the beginning of February. It is now 18 February 2023 and this has not happened and I have received no communication from MB and yet the safety risk still exists and could be life threatening.

NHTSA ODI 11507997

My viechle is loss of propulsion without warning on the freeway last week on a raining day. After brought the car to West Covina Dealer inspected the car is leaking water that has entered the spare wheel well, the accumulated water could intermittently contact the fuel pump control unit caused loss propulsion. And there are some circuit boards and wires damaged due to a water leak and not drive able. The West Covina MB dealer is refuse to fix until MBusa responsible for the cost. Please help what other option we have about this issue?

NHTSA ODI 11502923

DRIVING VEHICLE ALL DAY NO PROBLEMS .IT JUST TURNED 20,000 MILES. WAS DRIVING ON ROAD WHEN VEHICLE STARTED SURGING, LIKE OUT OF FUEL, WENT DOWN ROAD A LITTLE FURTHER AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN .THIS TIME I SMELLED STRONG DIESEL FUEL FUMES. SMOKE STARTING COMING OUT FROM UNDER HOOD. . I PULLED OFF ROAD AND SHUT CAR OFF. I OPENED HOOD LOTS OF SMOKE AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT COMPLETELY SOAKED WITH DIESEL FUEL ! HAD TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. GOT TOWED IN TO MERCEDES BENZ OF NORTH HAVEN CT. SERVICE DEPT TODAY SAYS LOOKS LIKE A RODENT CHEWED SOMETHING IN YOUR ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AND THAT CAUSED YOUR FUEL LEAK. THEREFORE WE ARE NOT COVERING ANYTHING UNDER WARRANTY. IT WILL COST ABOUT $4500 TO FIX .THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND VEHICLE IS UNDER FULL WARRANTY AND EXTENDED WARRANTY ! I WAS DRIVING THIS CAR ALL DAY .IT BROKE DOWN AT 2:30 IN THE AFTERNOON..MERCEDES BENZ IS LUCKY THE CAR DIDN'T CATCH FIRER AND BURN TO THE GROUND. MAURO MOTORS NEEDS TO MAKE GOOD ON THE WARRANTY AND FIX AT NO CHARGE. I HAVE A AUTOMOTIVE BACKGROUND AND JUST CANT BUY WHAT THEY ARE SAYING THE CAUSE IS FROM..WE OWN 2 MB VEHICLES AND THIS IS UNHEARD OF. WE WILL CONTACT OUR LAWYER ABOUT THIS ISSUE IF NOT RESOLVED. REGARDS, [XXX] [XXX] H: [XXX] C:[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ODI 10970118

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.

NHTSA ODI 10934530