The break line in the rear locate right above the gas tank is corroded by rust due to the clip is holding the break line allows the moisture to accumulate. The car will lose its break completely when this happens. There is no way for the car owner to inspect this problem until the car has no break power.
The worst 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML550 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Airbags2
- Brakes1
- Electrical1
- Lights1
- Steering1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Airbags2
- Brakes1
- Electrical1
- Lights1
- Steering1
- Visibility1
- Wheels1
Recalls 3
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 24V298000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 22V315000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- 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, 2011-2014 SLS AMG Coupe, 2012 SLS AMG Cabriolet, 2013-2014 SLS AMG GT and SLS AMG GT Cabriolet, 2005 C230 Kompressor and C320, 2006-2007 C230, 2006-2011 C350, 2008-2011 C300 and C300 4Matic, 2010-2012 GLK350 and GLK350 4Matic and 2007-2008 Chrysler Crossfire vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 16V081000 · Recall details
See all 3 recalls for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML550
Defect investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
EA21002
Technical service bulletins for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML550 67
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60MPH. NOTE: Although the symptom is...
- Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors
- Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end)
- The sliding sunroof glass panel of the panoramic roof reverses during the closing process, either once or...
- Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged
- Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged
- Headlamps leaking or fogged
- Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end)
- Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged
- Vehicle with atypical reduced heat output
What 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML550 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Takata recall...I have had a recall for a very long time on my air bags and have never been contacted by mercedes again after the initial recall. I am driving around with a potentially deadly device in my vehicle. I find this ridiculous especially since I am driving a mercedes which is supposed to be one of the safest vehicles! Recall number 16v081. Mfg recall number 2016020003
Takata recall. Have contacted dealership numerous times in the last year and half requesting when it would be fixed and are told it is still pending. I would expect faster service on this potential danger with the defective driver side airbag.
Driving on a feeder road in light traffic at about 55 MPH, we were startled by an enormous loud explosive sound on our sunroof of the ml 550, like a bomb sound. Pulled over and slid the inside vented headliner/curtain back about 6 inches and saw a hole the size of two fists plus shattered glass. We recall that we weren't following behind any trucks. Mercedes dealership estimated $2,777.00 to replace glass, drop headliner and remove broken glass shards/piece. Mb did not offer any explanation as to defective sunroof glass. We owned numerous models of mercedes with sunroofs and never experienced such a frightening episode.
The car would make loud noises even at a small speed, service mgr at smythe told me that mb had this defect and he stated he put loctite 648 per my notes o 8/24./2012 at 9n wheel bearing(s)! Mb should not have such a problem. My previous ml 500 also had a steering problem and mb never notified us but fixed it after the warranty as they knew about it according to smythe svc mgr. I think mb must be proactive in rectifying such problems as we do not want them to cause problems after the warranty exp.! [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Yesterday, I was driving our 2011 mercedes ml550 on a california highway, and suddenly lost my brake lights, turn signal lights and reverse lights, due to a rodent eating the wiring of the car. This is the second time this year a rodent has eaten the wiring of this car. 4 months ago a rodent ate the main wiring loom and the repair cost $1000. We have owned 5 different mercedes benz models over the last 7 years. The wiring for each of these cars has been eaten by rodents more than once and caused us thousands of dollars worth of damage (obviously not covered under warranty). In most cases the cars were garaged. The cars were parked in various places around the country, including locations where no one else with other brand cars has had rodent damage. Every time we bring the cars in to be repaired the mercedes dealerships tells us "2 other people have brought their mercedes in today with rodent damage". I hear from one of the mb repairmen mercedes has chosen to use a material for the insulation of their wiring that is attractive to rodents. Losing my lighting on a highway is a safety issue for me. Being stuck responsible for paying for repairs that may be caused by a material choice mb has made seems unfair.
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Questions about the 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML550
Is the 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML550 reliable?
Owners have filed 6 complaints about the 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML550, 2.0 times a typical ML550 model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML550?
Airbags, with 2 complaints. Next is brakes (1).
How many recalls does the 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML550 have?
3 recalls, covering service brakes, hydraulic and air bags.
Was there a recall on the 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML550 airbags?
Yes, 1 recall: 16V081000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
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