2012 Mercedes-Benz Ml350 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Fuel/Propulsion System (11) · Engine (11) · Steering (7)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mercedes-Benz Ml350 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
44 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump:control/Drive Module 2022-12-23 · campaign 22V955000 · 348,183 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2012-2014 ML550, 2012-2015 ML350, AMG ML63, 2015 ML250, ML400, 2016 GLE450, GLE300, 2016-2018 GLE350, GLE550, 2016-2019 GLE400, 2017-2019 AMG GLE43, and 2016-2020 AMG GLE63 vehicles. Water might accumulate in the spare tire wheel well and damage the fuel pump control unit, which could cause an engine stall while driving.
Risk: An engine stall while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a water drain plug, inspect for water intrusion, and replace the fuel pump control unit as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 15, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010002 and 2023010003.
Suspension:front 2018-04-27 · campaign 18V272000 · 9,725 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2012-2014 ML350 Bluetec 4Matic and ML550 4Matic, 2012-2015 ML63 AMG 4Matic and ML350 4Matic, 2013-2016 GL350 Bluetec 4Matic, GL550 4Matic and GL63 AMG 4Matic, 2017 GLS350d 4Matic, GLS450 4Matic, GLS550 4Matic and GLS63 AMG 4Matic, 2015 ML400 4Matic, 2016 GLE400 4Matic, GLE350 4Matic, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLE63S AMG 4Matic, GLE450 4Matic Coupe and GLE63S AMG 4Matic Coupe, 2015-2016 GL450 4Matic and 2013-2014 GL450 4Matic vehicles equipped with the
Risk: The leaking oil in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will correct the oil level as necessary and replace the reservoir sealing cap to prevent oil foam from leaking out, free of charge. The recall began August 30, 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018070015.
Electrical System:software 2017-03-14 · campaign 17V177000 · 51 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 AMG GT-S, GLC300, CLA250 and GLE300d 4Matic vehicles, 2013 C250, E350 BlueTec and G63 AMG vehicles, 2008-2014 C300 vehicles, 2013-2014 C300 4Matic and ML350 4Matic vehicles, 2009 C350 vehicles, 2014 CLS550, E350 4Matic, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Wagon 4Matic, GLK350 and SL550 vehicles, 2012 CLS550 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2016 E350 vehicles, 2016-2017 GL450 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2014 ML350 4Matic BlueTec vehicles, 2015 S550, S550 4Matic and C30
Risk: If the air bags do not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, there would be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update software in the affected control units, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Equipment 2012-08-09 · campaign 12E028000 · 8,879 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz is recalling certain accessory all-season floor mats sold for use in model year 2012 and 2013 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class vehicles. This all-season floor mat may not fully conform to the contour of the vehicle's floor plan as intended. Clearance between the mat and the gas pedal may be reduced, possibly allowing the pedal to become trapped.
Risk: This interference could prevent the gas pedal from retracting and the vehicle may not decelerate as expected when the driver lifts their foot from the gas pedal, which could increase the risk of a crash. Should the pedal become trapped, steady application of the brakes will allow the vehicle to be brought to a stop.
Fix: Mercedes-Benz will notify owners, and dealers will replace the floor mats free of charge. Until replacement mats become available, consumers are advised to remove their floor mats from the vehicle. The safety recall began on December 21, 2012. Only vehicles equipped with the accessory floor mats are affected. Owners may contact Mercedes-Benz for more information at 1-800-367-6372.
Service bulletins (132)
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,
Steering 2026-08-28 · LI46.35-P-067339 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint during part of the steering movement, it feels heavier or more difficult to steer in the same spot every time. or rattling, humming, dry sliding/gravel noise from the electric steering system when steering (see attachment). complaint does not impact the ability to safely steer or control
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
Suspension 2026-07-07 · LI33.20-P-078406 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint creaking noise, in irregular sequence when driving slowly in combination with slight steering movements and/or creaking/crackling noises from the area of the wheel bearing on the front axle when cornering/ maneuvering. sound file attached for comparison. must match noise for proper diagnos
Showing the 6 most recent of 132 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-07-13 · Steering · 122,000 mi“the contact owns a 2012 mercedes-benz ml350. while the contact’s wife was driving approximately 30 - 35 mph, the message "do not drive vehicle" was suddenly displayed. the vehicle was taken to a mechanic, and the brake fluid reservoir was topped off. the mechanic was unable to find any leaks. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the message t…”
2026-04-14 · Fuel/Propulsion System“engine stalled driving on interstate highway at 70mph. mechanic diagnostic indicated to be faulty fuel pump and/or fuel pump control unit. this issue has been recognized by mercedes benz as a faulty issue and subject to recall. upon calling mercedes benz dealer was told there was no recall on this matter for my vehicle contradicting this issue prev…”
2025-01-23 · Engine“my name is [xxx] my vehicle cut off on me 3 times twice while stationary and once at an intersection. found oil in engine control module due to failed cam position sensors. oil has traveled through the engine harness to ecm causing oil to get into module and cause it to shut down but it did start back up. this is very dangerous and could cause ser…”
2025-01-06 · Fuel/Propulsion System“vehicle stalled without warning, and i was advised by a mechanic that the fuel pump control unit was reporting a fault through the onboard diagnostics port and the check engine light on the dashboard. it was necessary to replace the fuel pump control unit as the defect was intermittent and subject to occur at any time the vehicle was being driven…”
2024-12-08 · Seat Belts“the driver's seat belt is locked and the retractor is not working without any reason. the front adaptive cruise control radar is also not working, along with the crucial blind spot sensor. because of this, the vehicle cruise control (even without adaptive mode) is not working at all. this is a big safety issue and it is illegal to even drive this c…”
2024-12-02 · Engine · 65,000 mi“the contact owns a 2012 mercedes-benz ml350. the contact stated while driving uphill at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. in addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was shaking abnormally. the contact stated that the abnormal shaking occurred at various speeds. th…”
2024-11-15 · Unknown Or Other · 🔥 fire“my wife was driving home from shopping and noticed an accumulation of dust on the rear window. she used the rear wiper to clean it but it came right back, she repeated twice and gave up. approx 3-4 miles later she heard a pop and red lights came on the dash, when she pulled over asap in a safe spot smoke started coming from under the hood. she shut…”
2024-07-22 · Steering · 💥 crash“turn signals will not operate, dealership quoted me $1400 3 years ago, had the work performed and now the issue is happening again and i am being quoted the same amount of money. this is a safety concern if i cannot signal to others where i am turning!!!!! this could cause an accident!!!!! this is highly unsafe!!! what if my kids were in the car?! …”
2024-07-22 · Exterior Lighting · 💥 crash“my indicators stopped working a month prior to accident, then they started working again. on march 10th the issue happened again where i turned my signal on and no light appeared and no light on the dash with the indicator sound either. boom, i had sideswipe someone on a major road causing an accident. nhtsa needs to do something about this because…”
2024-07-16 · Steering“steering column module is intermittently not working as intended, therefore the blinkers will sometimes not work causing it to be a safety concern if i can not signal where i am going. when looking this issue up online i have seen numerous different forums and posts where people have had the same issue. when i took my vehicle to the dealership they…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.