sydunipete

Yesterday I finally traded out of my 4 year old 2006 ML500. The second happiest day of my life was the day I bought that ML, the happiest was yesterday when I sold it.

Firstly, thanks to those on this forum who provided information and directly assisted me. Without that help I would not have been able to resolve as many faults as I did. (I had to fight for everything and multiple times.)

To other mercedes owners on the forum, I wish you happy motoring and I hope you have a far better run with your W164 than with mine.

To those yet to buy an ML, add me to the list of those who advise against it. Not just because of the many technical problems with mine, but mostly with the lack of any sort of customer support from Mercedes Australia. Unfortunately we don't have US style lemon laws here, something I'm sure my car with 52 days being repaired at the dealer under warranty would surely have tested.

What's wrong with my (ex) car?

Multiple tranmission faults from the second day of ownership to now. Rough 2-1 changes, flaring, "clunking" when taking foot of accelerator, slipping into neutral.

Steering replaced 3 times and starting to "clunk" and feel sloppy again.

COMAND system static present on all input modes (radio, CDC, phone etc)

Parking sensors had to be replaced

Body noises (bumper assemply not attached to sub frame correctly)

Failed crankshaft sensor

Numerous other more minor problems.

All of these lead me to the conclusion I could not afford to own this vehicle once Mercedes stopped honouring the warranty.

Again thanks and happy motoring.

sosh

Thats interesting. I recently traded out of my 06 ML500 for a new 2010 ML550. My experience with the 06 was the opposite of what you had posted. I took delivery in Oct of 05. To the day I traded it had absolutly had no faults and was never in the shop for anything but routine servicing. I wonder why there can be so much variation in quality between two vehicles of the same model and same year. My take is that it is the conditions in which its driven and the quality of the servicing dealer. Also perhaps some of the blame can go on the factory or parts suppliers. ?????

ajSvat

I’ve owned 3 ML’s so far and never a major issue with any of them. Sure the odd things like the brake switch on one, and a windshield fluid sensor on another, but that’s about it. Regular servicing at the dealership with a courtesy car to drive each time is a nice touch too.

But each person has their own opinions and when things go wrong we are left with a sour feeling so I wish you (sydunipete) better luck on your next vehicle.

I will continue to enjoy my ride!

sydunipete

Sosh, always serviced in accordance with Log Books at Mercedes dealers, less that 60,000 km (37,000 miles), city driving. Problems occurred from my first full day of ownership.

No, in my view it's a lemon. It happens to all manufacturers. It's how the problems are dealt with that define customer service. And in my personal view Mercedes Australia is a 0 out of 10. MBUSA or other locations backed by stronger consumer protection legislation might be a different story.

sosh

You are correct. However I do doubt if all Australian dealers are as bad as yours. We have some bad ones here also but I have been fortunate to have a wonderful dealer that is very competent. Have just taken delivery of my 6th and 7th new MB from them since 1998. (new E and new ML550). There is another dealer thats a bit closer to me and I would not give them the time of day.

dan1495

Put me down as another 2006 ML500 ex-owner who lived the nightmare. It was driven by my wife and had so many issues after 12 months I traded it in on a 2007 GL450 that was flawless. We now have a 2010 ML350 which at 2000 miles is starting to exhibit some unsettling issues.
I am a firm believer that barring any unusual circumstances it is luck of the draw.

sosh

What sort of "unsettling issues" are you speaking of?? My 2010 ML550 so far with a bit over 2000 miles and 3 months of ownership, like my 06 ML500 has been flawless to date. I would be interesting in hearing what you are experiencing in detail.

dan1495

It is making a rattling noise at idle from the front of the engine which turns into a whine at higher engine speeds. It is going to the dealer tomorrow and I will let you know what it turns out to be.

sosh

Most likely very minor perhaps the serp belt tensioner. Let us know

dan1495

Unfortunately it does not appear minor. They suspect it involves the transmission, possibly the torque converter. Mercedes wants them to pull the transmission to check it out.
As I said earlier, it's the luck of the draw.

sosh

Thats about as far from the front of the engine as you can get. Have not heard of any issues in this regard as far as the torque converter. Have had 4 MB's with this transmission and have had zero issues with it. Quite frankly if its a major deal I would ask them to replace the vehicle as its so new. This is the same trans you had in your 06 and your GL. With the history you have had they just might do it for you.

RickyK

thas unfortunate but i hope it doesnt repeat in the future. I have been with Mercedes Benz since 2002 and ever since I been in love with their cars and never faced any issues. Wish you all the luck in the future and hope you look forward for another benz

soapy

I had a 2005 ML500 also that had many problems. Went back to the dealer an average of once per month for problems. I finally traded it in for a GL450 that never gave me one problem. I traded it in for a ML550 2 years ago. IN the first month I had the ML I had one problem that took several trips to the dealer to fix. At first they said it was a bad intake manifold. After the repair within 50 miles the same problem came back. Then the dealer told me it was bad gas. I had to pay over $1000 to have the system flushed. Within 50 miles and their gas the same problem occured. Back to the dealer again and they told me it was a flutter valve that was bad. Back to the dealer again to be fixed. Picked it up and again the same problem within 50 miles. All this happened while I was out of state on vacation in Las Vegas. Between each trip to the dealer I had to return home to work and come back the following week in hopes of driving it home. After the third trip to Fletcher Jones Mercedes in Vegas I was heading home and within 50 miles the same problem resurfaced. I decided not to go back to Vegas and just drove it home for my local dealer to look at. Took my local dealer 1 hour to diagnose that the vacuum lines had been hooked up wrong. All told I spent over $2500 of my money to resolve this problem. Under MB warranty program I should have been reimbursed for some of the costs such as lodging. MB to date has not sent me a penny. The ML 550 has been fine since with no problems at all. I don't think I will go back to MB again. Infiniti has taken much better care of me on warranty problems.

aggst1

Why did you accept paying anything when the vehicle is under warranty? Interestingly you are concerned about the lodging expenses but not the $2500 ?? Am I missing something here?

The problems you are describing have not much to do with MB as a brand, and EVERYTHING to do with dealer customer service. It is the first dealer's shop that put the vacuum lines all screwed up. Not MB.

Again, your last comment about the Infiniti should read "My Infiniti DEALER has taken much better care of me on warranty problems"

Don't get me wrong, there is plenty to be said about MB quality on occasion but I don't see how Mercedes is at fault here. All cars, as man made machines will break down (see the TOYOTA myth being busted in front of our very eyes...)

VelociRaptor

I wish it only took me 3 months to rack up 2000 miles......
06 Dodge Ram with 89xxx miles and counting......and I live 2 miles from work lol.

sosh

Good to see you back here. For your info my 2010 ML550 that you think you helped build has been flawless!!

soapy

MB first diagnosed the intake manifold as being warped while it was in the dealer shop. It took almost a week to get a new intake manifold. MB policy states if you are more than 50 miles from home and have to wait for parts they will reimburse you for up to 3 nights lodging and a per diem for meals. They did let me have a loaner to drive but I could not take it beyond state lines. I was 600 miles from home and 2 states away. Lodging was only one part of the $2500 dollars. Several other factors made up the total. When they said it was bad gas they would not let me take the vehicle until the bill was paid since they said that was my problem. I said fine but I wanted a sample of the gas in question so I could take it back to Cheveron and show them. They said they would keep a sample for me but when I went to pick it up they had discarded all of it. I could go on and on but I felt both the dealer and MB had a hand in this. Neither ever helped reimburse me for any of this. It was my 3rd MB in a 3 year span so it was not like I was a one time buyer.
My local dealer has always been great to work with so I am not bashing all MB dealers just fletcher Jones in Vegas.

dan1495

We got our 2010 ML350 back after a week at the dealer. They replaced the torque converter and front transmission pump. Seems as good as new, as it should since it IS new.

ninjajim4

+1. why would you pay any money for a mechanical issue on a factory warrantied vehicle, and now that you know what the problem was, how can you blame the vehicle or the brand? nothing was even broken! the car ain't gonna run right if it's not hooked up right. it has nothing to do with MB, nothing to do with MLs. the problem is some idiot tech and the lousy dealership you went to.

IMO, you should do as much research on the dealership you buy from as you do on the car itself. they're the ones you're going to be tied to over the next x amount of years.

soapy

The real problem with the vehicle was a bad "tumble Flap". MB told the dealer it was the intake manifold the first time. Before I got it back MB issued a recall on the early build 550s to replace the tumble flap. As far a researching what dealer to take it to I called MB toll free number and they called Fletcher Jones and sent a flat bed truck out to pick up the car. The repair I paid for was when the dealer said it was bad gas and that MB would not pay for that. I would agree with that except that flushing out the gas and installing new gas did not fix the problem.
This week I found out that my selling dealer who is 50 miles away has been canceled and I got a call from a new MB dealer saying they would now provide the service for my ML. The only problem is that they are over 300 miles away. After getting this problem fixed correctly the 550 has been trouble free.

ml350_4dee

I bought a 06 ml350 about two weeks ago. Snow storm hit and I couldnt drive it for about a week except for very short trips but noticed some pulling at about 15mph. Finally got it back to carmax where I bought it. They said erratic shifting between 1st n 2nd gears. They took it to the MB dealer who said the remedy would be a new transmission. Its still under factory warranty, the carmax 30 day warranty, (and i bought an extended warranty at the time of purchase). They said about $7000 and a week to fix but it I wont have to pay 1 cent. Happy about that but nervous that this may be the beginning of a long nightmare.

sosh

Relax, your 06 will most likely be just fine. I recently traded my 06 ML500 on a 2010 ML550. The 06 was flawless from day one and never required a shop visit for anything other than routine servicing.

Messerchmidt

the car came out in 2006...what did you expect? NEVER buy any car the first year a new model its out (or second generally)

sosh

Thats very debateable. I have had a number of 1st year MB's that have been excellent and mid model ones that have been fraught with issues. The first year ones I have had were/are: 1998 ML320, 2006 ML500 and a 2010 E 350 4Matic, all excellent.
The mid year ones with issues included a 2002 ML500 that had some nagging issues. If everyone thought like you there would not be a second year to appear.

AMGE55K

I have read before the ML is th worst SUV money can buy and most everyone if not everyone tells me to steer away from one. I want to pick up a ML350, not the big motor, anybody know if that motor is more reliable? We probably will go to the new GX460 Lexus. I cannot have my families lives in jeapordy with the car breaking down on the freeway or something. My E55K has been solid, bit the Ml is scaring me.