2009 Mercedes Benz Ml320 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (4) · Fuel System, Diesel (4) · Air Bags (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mercedes Benz Ml320 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
20 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum 2024-04-26 · campaign 24V298000 · 15,604 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML, GL, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake performance or brake failure.
Risk: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MMUSA's number for this recall is 2024050001/2. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-315.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum 2022-05-09 · campaign 22V315000 · 350,294 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML-Class, GL-Class, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake performance or brake failure.
Risk: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2022050014, 2022050015 2022090006, & 2022090007.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2016-02-11 · campaign 16V081000 · 711,159 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 ML320 BlueTec 4Matic, GL320 BlueTec 4Matic and R320 CDI 4Matic, 2011 E350 Cabriolet and E550 Cabriolet, 2009-2011 ML350, ML350 4Matic, ML550 4Matic, ML63 AMG, and C63 AMG, 2010-2011 ML450 4Matic Hybrid, E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic, E550 Coupe, E550 4Matic, and E63 AMG, 2011-2012 GL350 BlueTec 4Matic and R350 BlueTec 4Matic, 2009-2012 GL450 4Matic, GL550 4Matic and R350 4Matic, 2007-2008 SLK280, SLK350, and SLK55 AMG, 2011-201
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: MBUSA will their notify owners, and Fiat Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler owners. Dealers for the respective brands will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. This recall began November 2016. Mercedes-Benz owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372 and Chrysler owners may contact Fiat Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Service bulletins (87)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Service Brakes 2026-09-22 · LI42.10-P-078779 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60mph. note: although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is distinctly different if it happens at all times or only while braking. cause although the cause of the vibra
Structure:body 2026-09-14 · LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. cause under analysis. remedy to narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • if the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary,
Structure:body 2026-08-06 · LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. cause under analysis. remedy to narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • if the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary,
Power Train 2026-07-14 · LI35.30-P-058566 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). the noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. note: sound file in attachment cause if the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboard collar n
Visibility/Wiper 2026-04-20 · LI77.21-P-075806 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint the sliding sunroof glass panel of the panoramic roof reverses during the closing process, either once or multiple times, without an entrapment (anti‑pinch) event being detected. the concern may occur temporarily or repeatedly during normal closing operation. cause the automatic reversing
Exterior Lighting 2026-04-16 · LI82.10-P-078301 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged. cause fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. it does not lead to any technical impairment of the headlamp. if a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in the housing cover, then the l
Showing the 6 most recent of 87 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2022-08-04 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic“the contact owns a 2009 mercedes-benz ml320. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 22v315000 (service brakes, hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the dealer was made aware of the issu…”
2022-06-09 · Suspension“rear coil springs rusted through and broke resulting in greatly diminished vehicle stability, especially in emergency maneuvers. have had numerous repair facilities evaluate, including the dealer. all have refused to replace rear springs due to safety risk …”
2020-02-09 · Structure:body · 89,000 mi · 🔥 fire“our vehicle caught fire. my wife and i had just gotten off of the interstate when we started to smell an odd smell. we pulled into a hotel parking lot where we started to see smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. i stopped the vehicle in a hotel driveway, put the vehicle in park. we got out of the vehicle and saw flames underneath the vehicl…”
2020-01-12 · Electrical System · 100,000 mi“issues with sunroof mb has done a recall on all models other than "m" class i'm having issues with my 2009 ml 320…”
2018-06-08 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2009 mercedes-benz ml320. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v081000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. the dealer (courtesy automotive center, (530) 345-9444) was called and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. the manufac…”
2017-11-08 · Air Bags“takata recall - all the mercedes benz locations i called (portland, beaverton, tigard, hillsborough and wilsonville), are not accepting to replace the defective equipment as they claim they do not have the required parts to do it.…”
2017-10-12 · Unknown Or Other · 84,251 mi“cpsc:2009 mercedes benz ml320 with approved, dealer installed trailer tow hitch purchased used on 9/05/2017. rated capacity is 7200 lbs. on monday, 9/11/2017, attached an 2005 airstream trailer, weighing 5240 lbs. , moving out of driveway, heard a loud "pop" sound. .on 9/22/2017, and confirmed as faulty, due to lack of penetration at the point of w…”
2017-09-23 · Unknown Or Other · 94,542 mi“dealer installed flex-n-gate trailer hitch, not currently included in recall campaign 08v242000. have experienced identical weld failure, as described in recall information. would like to request expansion of recall to include 2009 models.…”
2016-12-03 · Air Bags · 99,000 mi“i was sold this vehicle on february 27, 2016, after the recall notice was released. the dealer did not mention a recall, and i had no knowledge of a recall until searching today. shouldn't the dealership have informed me of the recall? do they have any culpability for not sharing this information.…”
2016-03-24 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 58,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2009 mercedes-benz ml320. after fueling the vehicle, the contact noticed that the vehicle was leaking fuel badly. the fire department removed some of the fuel before the vehicle was towed. the failure recurred four times. the vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel sender needed to be replaced. the …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.