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Mercedes-Benz ML350Model year report

2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350 Problems

Compared with other Mercedes-Benz ML350 years

Typical for this model

45/100 0.9× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with a typical complaint level and no open NHTSA investigation: 2010

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
93filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
70,000miles, 51 complaints with mileage
Recalls
32 do-not-drive
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
18 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl RWD · 16 city / 21 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report problems related to the Takata driver-side airbag recall, with many describing long waits for replacement parts at dealers. Rear seat belts that will not retract and electrical faults, including smoke or fire originating near the rear of the vehicle, are also frequently described, usually at higher mileage.

  1. Air bags

    Driver-side airbag recall parts unavailable

    • 38 complaints (41%)
    • median 80,000 mi at 8.3 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2016–2018

    Complaints describe receiving notice of the driver-side airbag inflator recall and then being unable to get the repair completed, because dealers stated the replacement part was on back order or unavailable. Several owners report calling multiple dealers over many months, and some say they were told the manufacturer could not confirm when parts would arrive. A few complaints also raise concerns about resale value or trade-in while the recall remains open. Reported across a wide mileage range, from very low mileage to 150,000 miles, mostly between 2016 and 2018 after recall notices were mailed.

    Recall 16V0810002 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask the seller or dealer whether the driver-side airbag inflator recall has been completed and request the repair paperwork. Check the open-recall status for the specific vehicle identification number before purchase.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The manufacturer of the airbag has filed a bankruptcy claim and we have no resolution to fix this airbag ever. The car now is unsellable as its a deathtrap and no one will buy it and no dealer really wants to take it back so im stuck with this car and need to get it replaced. We need a serious remedy not only from takata but from the vehicle manufacturer that purchased these airbags without further testing. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11055619, filed 2017-12, 80,000 miles

    “Takata recall. I have scheduled an appointment to replace the airbag infiltrator since I received a letter in the mail that the part is available. The dealer has tried several times to contact the manufacturer and the part is on back order. It is a safety concern for me and my wife and has been causing worries and a concern to drive the car on a daily basis with a child one year old going back and fourth to school and day care. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11093858, filed 2018-05, 78,000 miles
  2. Electrical system

    Smoke or fire near the rear of the vehicle

    • 13 complaints (14%)
    • median 78,500 mi at 7.5 yrs old (12 state mileage)
    • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2011–2025

    Complaints describe smoke or flames coming from the trunk area, the rear taillight, or from underneath the front passenger seat, sometimes after a warning message or a burning odor. In several cases the vehicle was destroyed, and owners report the cause was not determined. Some complaints also mention a rear hatch that would not open or close and a battery that drained repeatedly. Reported from about 31,000 to 140,000 miles, in some cases while driving and in others while parked.

    What to check: Check that the rear hatch opens and closes and latches properly, and look for water intrusion or corrosion around rear electrical components. Ask whether the battery has drained unexpectedly or the hatch has acted up.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The liftgate on my car quit working recently. I discovered that the liftgate motor was in a pool of water. There is a recall 09v076000 that is already issued for this problem. I am very concerned that this could cause a short circuit which could lead to a fire. For some reason my car is not on the recall list even though it is that model year and the exact problem as stated in the recall. Please advise.”

    NHTSA complaint #11207940, filed 2019-05, 102,000 miles

    “My mercedes ML350 was parked on a residential street. Flames began shooting out of the right rear taillight. By the time that we saw it and extinguished it the entire back of the car was on fire and the car totaled.(matter of minutes) the fire department was called. I have pictures showing that fire came from the electrical panel in the right rear of the car. I had no previous indication other than a half an hour earlier the left rear taillight was stuck on. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10558192, filed 2014-01, 45,000 miles
  3. Seat belts

    Rear seat belts will not retract

    • 17 complaints (18%)
    • median 62,500 mi at 6.2 yrs old (14 state mileage)
    • filed 2014–2021

    Complaints describe rear seat belts that stay pulled out and do not retract, or that hang loose and cannot be pulled snug, on one or both sides of the back seat. Owners say rear passengers, often children, are left with belts that do not hold them properly. Several report being quoted several hundred dollars for the repair, and some say they were told there is no recall for the condition. Mostly reported between roughly 30,000 and 115,000 miles, often after the vehicle was out of warranty.

    What to check: Pull each rear belt out fully and let it go; it should retract smoothly and hold tension. Ask whether any rear belt assembly has been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Rear seatbelt will not retract. Mileage is past warranty coverage & fix is very pricey (approx $800). This is a major safety issue especially with passengers, mostly children, in the back. I googled this & it seems I am not the only one who has this issue. It is wide spread & a fault of the manufacturer. Mercedes should be required to fix this free of charge! Please help.”

    NHTSA complaint #10644186, filed 2014-10, 60,000 miles

    “I had a passenger in the rear of my vehicle and she told me the seat belts did not work. The rear passenger belt would not retract. When I stopped the vehicle we checked both sides and neither rear belts are working. They are all out of the containment system and locked. They will not retract and therefore cannot be used. I contacted mb USA to find out if there is a recall for the seat belts after I went online and found out that this is a very common problem with their vehicles. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10680613, filed 2015-02, 68,822 miles
  4. Fuel system

    Fuel odor and fuel leaks

    • 5 complaints (5%)
    • median 45,351 mi at 6.8 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2012–2023

    Complaints describe a strong gasoline smell inside and around the vehicle, sometimes strongest right after refueling or with the air conditioning on, and in some cases a visible leak around the fuel tank. Owners report dealers identifying the fuel sending unit or tank seals as the source and replacing them, and one complaint mentions the engine stalling after refueling. Reported between roughly 40,000 and 72,000 miles.

    What to check: Smell for fuel around the filler area and under the rear of the vehicle after a fill-up, and look for staining or dampness around the tank.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Week of june 27th, I started to note gas fumes coming from my vehicle. Given, I had recently filled up on gas tank, thought it was due to burn off ... On july 2nd, took my vehicle in for oil change and they noted that they could detect gas fumes coming from under my vehicle and advised to take it to dealership in asap... Same day, took it to dealership and after a full inspection of my vehicle, they advised me the fuel sending unit was braking down and needed to be replaced. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10733001, filed 2015-07, 72,000 miles

    “Fuel tank leak. Gas smell inside of vehicle was so bad that it made me sick. Mercedes dealer fixed it under warranty: changed the seals on the fuel tank.”

    NHTSA complaint #10450137, filed 2012-03, 40,000 miles
  5. Electrical system

    Ignition key not recognized, no start

    • 6 complaints (6%)
    • median 135,000 mi at 13.8 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2018–2026

    Complaints describe the vehicle failing to start with a message that the key does not belong to the vehicle, sometimes intermittently and later every time. Owners report the dealer diagnosed the electronic ignition system and quoted a multi-thousand-dollar repair, and some also mention failed door locking, headlights, or fuel gauge readings traced to a corroded rear signal module. Mostly reported between about 90,000 and 120,000 miles.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Try starting the vehicle several times with the key you will use, and ask whether the ignition switch or key has ever been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Failing/faulty eis electronic ignition system. My vehicle has 117,000 miles and has intermittent ignition issues. I place the key in the ignition a message on the dash, key does not belong to vehicle , car will not turn to start, takes several attempts to have car start. The mercedes dealer in my area diagnosed the issues as needing to replace eis, electronic ignition system, est. Cost of $3,700.00. The issue has gone to intermittent to every time I try to start the vehicle. This car has low miles and has been dealer maintained. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11232097, filed 2019-07, 116,500 miles

    “The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated that when the key fob was inserted in the ignition, the vehicle would not start and the 'key is not for this car' message appeared. The contact stated that the key had not been replaced and was the same key that he had always used to operate the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11088888, filed 2018-04, 130,000 miles

Buying note. Ask for proof that the open airbag and brake booster recalls were completed, and check the brake hydraulics and rear belts during a test drive. Electrical and fuel-system faults reported at this age make a pre-purchase inspection worthwhile.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 93 consumer complaints for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350. 51 of the complaints include a mileage, and 20% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 70,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 6 a fire, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns (2 marked do-not-drive) and 90 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 7 Mercedes-Benz ML350 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 45 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Suspension (1), Transmission and drivetrain (1), Vehicle speed control (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “Takata recall. I am currently living 79 miles from my job and I need to trade in my car. Because of the takata airbags I cannot get the full value for my car nor will some car dealership take the car. After running a car fax my care value is reduced by $4000 dollars.”

NHTSA complaint #11041691, filed 2017-10, 101 miles

Seat belts: “The rear seat belts do not retract once pulled out. Over the course of several days, they slowly work their way back up. No vehicle should have a seatbelt fail; it is even more ridiculous that this part failed in a car that is this expensive or that has had such a long history of safety. It isn't safe for anyone to sit in the back seats because the seat belts are out-stretched so far that a person would be thrown forward a ways before the seatbelts stopped them. That is dangerous.”

NHTSA complaint #11404801, filed 2021-03, 115,000 miles

Electrical system: “The back hatch on my 2009 mercedes ML350 would not open using the electronic key or the driver button in the door. There was a noise that sounded like it was opening, but the latch would not release the door. On multiple occasions my battery would suddenly be dead. I assumed I must have left a light on. It was not until I saw a complaint with NHTSA of the exact same problem that I realized that my unopened hatch was draining my battery. I have since had to replace my battery at an expense of over $300. Mercedes batteries are extremely expensive and can only be purchased at the mercedes dealer. …”

NHTSA complaint #10534063, filed 2013-08, 95,000 miles

Brakes: “My rear brake lines have corroded to the point that I lost my brakes. The fluid has leaked out. The car is not rusting or showing signs of rust or corrosion. Only the actual brake lines have rusted. It appears to be a defect in manufacturing. The lines should have had a protective coating or been covered in the exposed area to prevent excessive corrosion to the point the brake lines rusted thru and the vehicle lost it's braking ability. …”

NHTSA complaint #11032925, filed 2017-10, 114,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

20% of the 51 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 54,000 and 104,284 miles.

2%0–102%10–2516%25–5033%50–7520%75–10022%100–1506%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (51 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 70,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’12’14’1625’18’20’22’24’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
ML-Class · sedan AWDnot rated5 / 5——4 · 17.9% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2009 model year: forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning not available, automatic emergency braking not available.

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
ML350 RWD3.5L 6-cyl7-speed automatic162118$4,550
ML350 4matic 4WD/AWD3.5L 6-cyl7-speed automatic152017$4,850

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 90 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 90 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz ML350

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20155218,750552085 · MoreRising
20146839,200452055 · TypicalRising
20135771,000452042 · TypicalRising
20126548,5003—2060 · TypicalRising
201111165,0003—1766 · MoreStable
201010167,0003—1838 · TypicalStable
20099370,0003—1845 · TypicalStable
20086771,0002—1745 · TypicalFalling
20078360,0002—17Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200617268,0002—16Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20052366,7000—15—Rising
20043570,0000—15Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20032551,4000—15Not compared (before 2008)Rising

All Mercedes-Benz ML350 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350?

Owners of this model year most often report problems related to the Takata driver-side airbag recall, with many describing long waits for replacement parts at dealers. The issues reported most often: Driver-side airbag recall parts unavailable; Smoke or fire near the rear of the vehicle; Rear seat belts will not retract.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350 have?

NHTSA recorded 93 consumer complaints for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 40 complaints (43% of the total), followed by seat belts with 18.

Has the 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 of them with a do-not-drive advisory. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350 get?

The EPA rates the 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350 (ML350, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 16 city and 21 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350 reported?

Among the 51 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 70,000 miles and the middle half falls between 54,000 and 104,284 miles; 20% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.