Mercedes Benz ML350 loss of power problems

Filed Sep 10, 2025 · Steering · 90,000 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle lost power steering functionality, and the steering wheel locked. The battery warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the VIN was not included under recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

Filed Jun 1, 2022 · Acceleration, Engine · TX

2007 Mercedes-Benz ML350 DEFECTIVE BALANCE SHAFT CAUSING PAUSE & STOP IN TRAFFIC This is a known defect and has been resolved previously in customers favor in class action and private lawsuits against Mercedes Benz USA. Mercedes refuses to take responsibility for a defective and unsafe build THAT PUTS EVERYONE IN THE PATH OF THIS CARS LIFE IN JEOPARDY. PLEASE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC WILL YOU FORCE THEM TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE BALANCE SHAFT before I have to get an attorney! Balance Shaft - UNSAFE!! BALANCE SHAFT has made this a suicide/weapon on wheels. When driving the car will suddenly and with no notice lose power, slow down substantially or stop on its own and sometimes will not moved forward at all. This has happened in traffic and I was almost hit. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE COULD KILL ME OR ANYONE AROUND ME. Each time I have had to turn on emergency flashers, turn off the car and restart. I drove home with Emergency flashers on all the way. 2 mechanics, including dealer advise this is a known problem for my year and model. Mercedes knows this is defective workmanship & they putting lives at risk. Now I have NO TRANSPORTATION AS THIS CAR IS UNSAFE. I have been advised not to drive the car.

Filed May 22, 2021 · Steering · CA

Losing power steering pressure while driving the car: safety issue it appears Hard to steer the ML350

Filed May 26, 2020 · Steering · 113,000 miles · CA

A loss of power steering fluid can damage the power steering pump and may result in diminished power assist for steering which could lead to a crash. *bf what you should do: dealers will replace the power steering hose clamp. The recall is expected to begin on may 23, 2005. Owners should contact mercedes-benz at 1‑800‑367‑6372. Summary: on certain passenger vehicles, a hose clamp that secures the power steering fluid cooling hose to the power steering fluid cooler may not provide sufficient clamping force for this connection. *tr consumer was told by the dealer recall was expired and would no longer honor it.

Filed May 15, 2020 · Engine · 135,000 miles · CA

Mercedes has produced several thousand engines with defective balance shaft seen in model years 2005-2007 in the m272 and m273. The decided use of soft metals for engine components, such as the balance shaft, lead to a rapid deterioration over time and renders the engine unusable and a potential hazard as the camshaft and crankshaft will not turn, potentially causing the vehicle to break down on the roadway, lose power steering or even lock the steering column, heat excessively, or possibly even catch fire. Mercedes has accepted a settlement offer in 2015 covering many plaintiffs, but denied responsibility. It is obvious that the consumer had nothing to do with the choice of materials used to make the balance shaft, and therefore the manufacturer is clearly responsible, and must know it. Upon replacement of the balance shaft, the issue seems to go away, indicating that the manufacturer made a fix for an issue they knew they were responsible for, covered it up, and denied responsibility. The newer balance shafts are reliable as mercedes knew of issues with their previous faulty ones. Mercedes has only offered to cover up some of the damages, in most cases less than 38% or none at all, only gave customers a few months to file a claim, and almost none were notified of the issue or the settlement, and had come to realize it when it was too late. Many vehicles still well within warranty have been affected by the defective balance shaft, which means that older vehicles with the same issue prevails on the basis of the initial defect. The balance shaft issue has caused my vehicle to stall on the roadway on many occasions, and in one instant, my vehicle's steering column locked as a result. I have reached out to mbusa for a resolution, only to be told that since the vehicle is too old, it's not their responsibility. Vehicles 3 years old have had this issue. Age is no factor.

Filed Jul 31, 2017 · Engine, Fuel system · 121,000 miles · NY

Monday morning, july 24, 2017 there were torrential downpours in the early morning leaving lots of standing water on roadways. After driving the car and going through standing water on roadways, car lost power and then engine stopped. Fortunately, I was able to coast onto the shoulder of the roadway and came to a safe resting place. Car would not restart. I was stranded with an inoperative vehicle.

Filed Feb 22, 2017 · Acceleration, Transmission · 8 miles · NJ

My car suddenly lost power in the highway, and didn't want to accelerate,causing car to high RPM rev,going into limp mode and not accelerate, almost causing my family and to have a serious accident.vehicle was diagnosed by a shop which stated my speed sensor conductor plate is defective...upon doing research, I have noticed that this is common dangerous issue on the 06 mercedes ml models..mercedes even has a class action suite against them due to this issue..

Filed Nov 7, 2016 · Engine, Steering · 107,000 miles · AZ

Serpentine belt system. While driving on road at the highway speed, one of the idler pulleys locked up due to the failed bearing, leading to damaging/braking serpentine belt. That LED to loss of steering (loss of power steering) and overheating the engine. Created a very danger situation and left my family stranded many miles away from home. Very costly towing service and repair.

Filed Oct 11, 2016 · Engine, Transmission · CA

Safety issues being observed on ml 350 2007 observations (my wife & I have both experienced): automatic transmission , experiencing limp mode creating a safety issues which cannot be foreseen, can happen any time the problem occurs when you least expect it and unpredictable, it will be driving fine and then all of a sudden it will start losing power in traffic & drag down. Also, the vehicle will start shifting by itself from one gear to another & the speed of the cars starts to crawl, like "limp mode" the idle speed starts to rev up, car is not increasing the speed as one would expect once normally when pressing on the gas pedal. One has to pull over if they can or stuck in the street one is driving which I experienced and tried to pull over & had issues. I basically had to turn the engine off in the middle of the road while driving and hoped the car would start back again, I had to repeat this several times as I experienced the drag down and gears going down. Very scary incidents with children & wife in the car when I was coming back from an occasion (I.e. Driving back home). Told by dealer on 10/11/16: code 0717 & 0718 & not covered under warranty 4 years/50k potentially related issue: code 064 incident had occured several times now in the last few weeks

Filed Apr 22, 2016 · Electrical, Engine · NC

Random loss of power ' (the entire panel lights up) as the car suddenly and slowly powers off while taking off from a drop, driving, breaking, and turning, coming to a stop and on the highway. In the past 6 months we have spent more than 3800.00 for car repair on the ml 350. It shuts off more and more frequently. So much so we do not allow our daughter to drive unless I am there and now not even then until we have had it fixed for the 4th time (we thought) after crank shaft, spark plugs and now electrical work we are at a total loss. This issue is not isolated but mercedes benz has had other reports our and others ' not repair / or recalled but it seems major to our family ' as my only vehicle and other owner that have invested in this make.