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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
30,705 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 Owner Comments

problem #18

May 042023

ML350

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- San Lorenzo, PR, USA

problem #17

Feb 042022

ML350

  • miles
Oil leaked thru wiring harness in to ECU and 02 sensors massive damage on car harness

- Arlington, MA, USA

problem #16

Aug 132022

ML350

  • 96,000 miles
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.

- New York, NY, USA

problem #15

Feb 012022

ML350

  • 110,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated while the vehicle was being inspected, the independent mechanic informed him of a diesel and oil leak. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

- Blakeslee, PA, USA

problem #14

Apr 262021

ML350

  • 92,000 miles
Hello, ref: ML350 camshaft solenoid leak! I am seeking out for your help wrt to a situation with 2012 ML350. Enclosed herewith is an inspection report from a recent service visit requiring close of $8K in repairs for your reference. Engine harness (oil lled harness and various components have oil in them, all components with oil should be replaced, quick insp found a few components but there may be more that need to be replaced) after reviewing the inspection report, I did some research and came across campaign no. 2012070002, September 2012 (copy enclosed for your reference), wherein Mercedes had identified it as a part of recall and service campaign and agrees to cover the cost and labor damages to any downstream components due to the camshaft solenoid leak. This service campaign has been initiated because daimler ag (dag), the manufacturer of Mercedes- Benz vehicles, has determined that due to the settling properties of the seal, oil may leak from the camshaft adjustment solenoid. Dealers will retrofit four adapter harnesses onto the engine wiring harness as a precautionary measure at the next workshop visit. Please note that recall and service campaigns do not expire and may also be performed on a vehicle with a vehicle status indicator. Approximately 557,108 vehicles are affected please review and let me know if you have any questions. Mercedes is not owning the responsibility for repair. Appreciate your help in this regard.

- Aurora, IL, USA

problem #13

Jan 292018

ML350 6-cyl Diesel

  • miles
2012 Mercedes Benz ML350. Consumer writes in regards to oil leak. 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.

- Lexington, NC, USA

problem #12

Mar 292018

ML350

  • 49,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Clarks Summit, PA, USA

problem #11

Jun 072016

ML350

  • 48,000 miles
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.

- Boca Raton, FL, USA

problem #10

May 162017

ML350

  • 86,432 miles
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.

- Hilton Head Island, SC, USA

problem #9

Jun 222016

ML350

  • 42,500 miles
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 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.

- Independence, MO, USA

problem #8

Jul 312012

ML350

  • 50 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

From the day one, during the first 25 minutes of driving, my new 2012 mb ML350 vibrates and make grinding noise just in between 40 to 45 miles per hour steady driving. After about 30 minutes of driving, the vibration and the noise are not noticeable. Mb and the dealer were trying to fix the problem but failed to resolved the problem. Now, they have concluded that the vibration is normal and is characteristic of the car. Any problems mb can't solve is normal!! what kind of car is it that vibrates for first 25 minutes of driving at certain speed is normal!!

- Centreville, VA, USA

problem #7

Oct 202013

ML350 6-cyl

  • 3,600 miles
I stopped at a red light. The 2012 ML350 engine stalled. I could have been in a accident. Luckily, the car behind me did not hit me. I had to start the engine again.

- Glendale, CA, USA

problem #6

Jul 012013

ML350 6-cyl

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes Benz ML350. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where it was determined that the software needed to be updated. The contact was also told by the dealer that the front rotors and brakes needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was unknown, but the current mileage was 24,882.

- Bronx, NY, USA

problem #5

May 182012

ML350 6-cyl

  • 200 miles
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.

- San Ramon, CA, USA

problem #4

Mar 012013

ML350 6-cyl

  • 21,200 miles
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.

- Woodland Hills, CA, USA

problem #3

Apr 102012

ML350 6-cyl

  • 500 miles
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?"

- Irvine, CA, USA

problem #2

Feb 172012

ML350 6-cyl Diesel

  • 3,000 miles
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. www.youtube.com/watch"feature=player_embedded&V=opqqfzt8zow www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&V=uzedc-tncsu 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. 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).

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #1

May 172012

ML350

  • 200 miles
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.

- Cypress , TX, USA

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