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Mercedes-Benz ML350Model year report

2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350 Problems

Compared with other Mercedes-Benz ML350 years

More complaints than typical for this model

66/100 1.5× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with a typical complaint level and no open NHTSA investigation: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014

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
111filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
65,000miles, 37 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
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
17 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl RWD · 16 city / 21 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Complaints on this model year cluster around two things: the Takata driver-side airbag recall, where many owners describe waiting years for parts, and brake problems, including the brake booster recall and corroded brake lines. A smaller but recurring group of reports covers no-start or ignition-switch trouble and automatic transmission clunking or intermittent limp behavior. Most sampled complaints fall between roughly 50,000 and 100,000 miles.

  1. Air bags

    Takata airbag recall parts unavailable for years

    • 52 complaints (47%)
    • median 54,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
    • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2013–2023

    Owners describe receiving notice of the driver-side airbag inflator recall and then being told repeatedly by dealers that replacement parts were not in stock. Many say the wait stretched over a year or more, and some report being discouraged from trading the vehicle in or told the open recall reduced its value. A few describe airbags not deploying in a collision, and others ask whether the recalled inflator is still in place. Mostly reported from 2016 onward regardless of mileage, as owners followed up on an open recall.

    Recall 16V0810002 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask for documentation that the driver-side airbag inflator recall was completed, and confirm with a dealer by VIN whether any airbag campaign is still open.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Takata recall. I have been waiting patiently since february 2016, and every 6 months mercedes benz keeps delaying the remedy to this potentially fatal issue. My wife and toddler ride in this vehicle and I'm always in fear the airbag can deploy causing serious injury or death. How much longer am I supposed to wait for the parts to be ready while mercedes benz is making record profits?”

    NHTSA complaint #11221963, filed 2019-06, 53,000 miles

    “We purchased a new mercedes ml 350 in october of 2011, in the past year it has had three airbag failures. Each time the diagnostics system alerts an airbag failure we have it replaced by the dealership, but I have lost all confidence in the vehicles safety equipment. Will these airbags actually operate in the event of a collision?”

    NHTSA complaint #10496117, filed 2013-02
  2. Brakes

    Brake booster corrosion and brake line failures

    • 16 complaints (14%)
    • median 105,500 mi at 14.2 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2018–2026

    Complaints describe the brake pedal going to the floor or needing heavy effort, with the brake warning light on, sometimes shortly after the booster recall work was performed. Others report corroded rear brake lines that failed or leaked, and several mention no pedal response when stopping at low speed. Owners say dealers either performed the booster recall, replaced lines, or in some cases told them the vehicle should not be driven until inspected. Reported from about 65,000 miles upward, often on older vehicles in the 90,000 to 190,000 mile range.

    Recall 24V298000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 22V315000 · DO NOT DRIVE1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Confirm the brake booster recall was completed and have the steel brake lines inspected for corrosion, especially on vehicles from wet or road-salt regions.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was driving locally and when I put on the brakes for a car exiting a street. Immediately my car sensor went on and my car brakes started to fail. It was a very scary situation. This is a known problem with Mercedes. Mercedes has a recall for the brake booster but will not fix the booster without the brake like being fixed. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11613011, filed 2024-09

    “Corroded brake lines. This is a well known issue for many ML350s built during this time period. This car was built with steel brake lines that easily corrode and present a serious safety issue. While driving a few months ago, the car suddenly lost the ability to brake because a line rusted completely through. The mechanic noted the lines are rusted in many other places as well. Mercedes refuses to correct this under warranty.”

    NHTSA complaint #11688721, filed 2025-09
  3. Electrical system

    No-start or delayed start from ignition switch

    • 10 complaints (9%)
    • median 57,913 mi at 5.8 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2013–2020

    Owners report turning the key and getting no crank, a delay before the engine catches, or needing several attempts and on-off cycles before the vehicle starts. Complaints say dealers diagnosed the ignition starter switch or electronic ignition switch and quoted replacement, while some owners note the problem is intermittent and leaves no stored codes. Mostly reported between about 55,000 and 87,000 miles.

    What to check: Start the vehicle cold several times and ask whether the ignition switch or starter has been replaced; intermittent no-crank with no codes is the pattern owners describe.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The switch some time not detect, and do not start. Need to turn several time to start the engine. Once it start no problem. Some time in the morning it start without any problem. The dealer told me it is a ignition problem, the car mileage is only 87000. When I searched in the internet, 1000 of customers reported the same problem for 2010 and 2011 model cars.”

    NHTSA complaint #11002473, filed 2017-06, 87,000 miles

    “Was driving to work on the highway in the rain and the truck jerked over to the right without me doing it. Its happened three more times since then. The dealership cannot duplicate the problem so therefore there is no problem. My ignition switch needed to be replaced at 20,000 miles. My keys would not start the truck for an entire week straight on the 1st or 2nd attempt. Finally on the 3rd try the truck would start. Its a year and a half old. When they connected it to they're computer it did not read any error codes. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10500173, filed 2013-02, 19,000 miles
  4. Transmission and drivetrain

    Transmission clunk and intermittent loss of acceleration

    • 7 complaints (6%)
    • median 91,500 mi at 8.1 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2013–2026

    Complaints describe a single clunk from the driveline when lifting off the throttle or changing direction, jerking at low-speed acceleration, and occasional limp-home or loss of acceleration with the check engine light on. Owners report dealers replacing or reprogramming transmission components, and in some cases quoting a full transmission replacement. Reported from roughly 40,000 to 100,000 miles, with clunking noted during low-speed maneuvering.

    7 related service bulletins

    What to check: Drive slowly in a lot and listen for a single clunk when lifting off the throttle or shifting between forward and reverse, and ask whether transmission software or the control unit has been serviced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My vehicle jerks back and forth at low acceleration, and it often goes into limp mode which makes the vehicle only drive at around 20 mph at most. I was on the highway, when this happened. I have a 722.9 transmission, and this is a common problem. Why is the snapping recalled? I have had a checked with Mercedes-Benz of music City when I had gotten my recall work done, and they said that it just needs a whole new transmission. They said that they had never seen an issue like this. They want $16,000. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11585077, filed 2024-04

    “The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350. While driving 70 MPH, the check engine warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle stalled. At the time of the failure, the accelerator pedal was depressed to the floorboard, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic was unable to properly diagnose the vehicle. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11023516, filed 2017-09, 100,000 miles

Buying note. Before buying, verify by VIN that the airbag and brake booster recalls are closed, and have the brake lines and booster inspected for corrosion. A cold-start check and a slow-speed drive are worth doing to look for ignition and transmission symptoms owners describe.

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 111 consumer complaints for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350. 37 of the complaints include a mileage, and 19% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 65,000 miles. Of all complaints, 8 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 8 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns (2 marked do-not-drive) and 108 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 66 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than 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: Body and structure (2), Electronic stability control (1), Seat belts (1), Tires (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “Takata recall mercedes benz notified by usps safety recall 03/16.no further correspondence or other action/s to indicate rectify of safety recall since. …”

NHTSA complaint #10920053, filed 2016-10, 36,000 miles

Brakes: “The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60–65 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle started sliding. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled. The brake warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.”

NHTSA complaint #11751996, filed 2026-07, 88,000 miles

Electrical system: “While vehicle is stationary, turning key in the ignition switch may or may not start the vehicle or turning key in ignition may experience a delay before vehicle will start or it may require turning the key in the on and off position several times before starting. After a no start situation, it may take several minutes before vehicle will finally start.”

NHTSA complaint #10839107, filed 2016-02, 57,913 miles

Engine: “I have a mercedes benz ml- 350 year 2011. The vehicle has a little over 60,00 thousand miles. The engine light from my dash board started coming on. I brought the car in to the mercedes dealership for a diagnostic test. The test results indicated there's a problem with the balance shaft. The repair quote I received was $9,300.00. This is quite absurd ... To say the least ! As I researched this issue regarding the balance shaft this has been an occurring problem in the ml- 350 and c class models such as the c 220. …”

NHTSA complaint #10902071, filed 2016-08

Mileage when problems were reported

19% of the 37 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 51,000 and 93,000 miles.

5%0–105%10–258%25–5035%50–7524%75–10019%100–1503%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (37 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 65,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

’12’14’1624’1824’20’22’24’26
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 2011 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 · SUV AWDnot rated———4 · 17.9% risk
ML-Class · SUV RWDnot rated———4 · 17.4% risk

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

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2011 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 automatic162117$4,850
ML350 4matic RWD3.5L 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 2011 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. 108 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 108 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 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350?

Complaints on this model year cluster around two things: the Takata driver-side airbag recall, where many owners describe waiting years for parts, and brake problems, including the brake booster recall and corroded brake lines. The issues reported most often: Takata airbag recall parts unavailable for years; Brake booster corrosion and brake line failures; No-start or delayed start from ignition switch.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350 have?

NHTSA recorded 111 consumer complaints for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 59 complaints (53% of the total), followed by brakes with 19.

Has the 2011 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 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350 get?

The EPA rates the 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350 (ML350, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 17 mpg combined, 16 city and 21 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,850 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350 reported?

Among the 37 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 65,000 miles and the middle half falls between 51,000 and 93,000 miles; 19% 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.