2015 Mercedes-Benz ML350 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the car surging, rolling or changing gear on its own, especially while reversing. Other common reports involve sudden loss of power or stalling, some linked to water in the spare tire well and a fuel pump control unit that is the subject of a recall, and doors or the tailgate that open without an early warning or fail to lock or latch. Reported mileage ranges from a few miles to about 120,000, and many complaints come from early in ownership.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Car surges, rolls or changes gear on its own

   • 14 complaints (27%)
   • median 18,750 mi at 2.2 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2025

   Owners describe the car moving or changing gear without the driver selecting it, often while reversing or pulling out of a garage or parking space. Several say a foot was on the brake when the car surged, and some report they could not stop it before it hit a wall, a building, a fence or another vehicle. Others describe the gear selector moving into park or drive on a slope, gears slipping into drive while reversing, or the car rolling several feet after the parking mechanism was engaged. Where mileage is given, most reports are under about 20,000 miles, and many occur while reversing or pulling out of a garage or parking space.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the transmission service bulletin on park lock learning was checked. During a test drive, confirm that shifts are smooth and that the car holds in park without rolling.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10934530, filed 2016-12, 19,000 miles

   “When at a slight incline or decline, the vehicle will go from the drive gear automatically into park. When the drive gear is re-engaged, there is a significant crunching of the gears as it goes from park back into drive mode, causing undue stress and fatigue on the braking mechanism, increasing the likelihood of brake malfunction and/or failure.”

   NHTSA complaint #10939678, filed 2017-01, 6,900 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Sudden power loss or stalling, water near fuel pump

   • 11 complaints (21%)
   • median 79,000 mi at 8.6 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners describe the engine losing power, sputtering or stalling while driving, and in one case the car would not restart after stalling while reversing. Some complaints link the problem to water entering the spare tire well and damaging the fuel pump control unit, which recall 22V955000 says could lead to an engine stall while driving. According to complaints, dealers found moisture damage and corrosion near the fuel pump controller, and in one case the recall repair did not prevent the failure from returning two weeks later. Where mileage is given, these reports range from about 79,000 to 120,000 miles, and one describes it on a freeway in rain.

   Recall 22V955000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 22V955000 was completed on this car, and ask the dealer to check the spare tire well and fuel pump control unit for water damage.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11739473, filed 2026-05

   “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 complaint #11502923, filed 2023-01
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Doors and tailgate: lock, latch or warning problems

   • 8 complaints (15%)
   • median 5,800 mi at 1.4 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2024

   Owners describe a rear door or the tailgate left open while driving with no warning until the car reaches about 6 to 8 mph, and in one case a rear door swung open and items fell onto the road, so nearby vehicles swerved. Others report back doors that will not lock, a rear door that would not close or open properly, and a front passenger lock that shows locked when it is not secure. One owner says the dealer described the back door problem as known and said actuators on both doors would need replacement at the owner's cost. Where mileage is given, these reports range from about 5,000 to 58,000 miles, and the no-warning reports are all under about 6,000 miles.

   What to check: Test that each door and the tailgate latch and lock properly, and check whether a dashboard warning appears when a door or the tailgate is open at low speed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10811571, filed 2015-12, 5,000 miles

   “Neither back doors on my 2015 ML350 lock. Even after you try to lock them from the inside anyone can open the doors from the outside. This is a huge safety hazard because someone could easily car jack the car while you are in it. I bought the car new from the local dealer and i have reported this to the dealership and they said it was a known problem and that acutuators on both doors needed to be replaced at a large cost to me. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11479779, filed 2022-08

Buying note. Buyers considering this model year may want to ask whether recall 22V955000 was completed and whether the car has been checked for water in the spare tire well. During a test drive, it can help to check that the car holds in park, that shifts are smooth, and that every door and the tailgate lock and warn as expected.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 48 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.