I have a 2011 ML350 Bluetec with 138K miles and today it started having a weird issue where the Traction Control Light (Triangle/Exclamation) will flash at the same time a grinding noise is coming from the front end. It happened only upon startup and driving slowly and then went away. It didn't happen in reverse. Unfortunately it has happened two more times after the car sat and then was started again so it definitely is having some kind of problem. Any ideas on what it might be before we bring it to a mechanic??

 

Did you ever think of opening the hood and see where the noise is coming from?

 

Kind of hard to do when it only happens when you're driving the car...

 

Then it has to be put on a lift with the tires off the ground and the car in drive.

Also you will have to read for codes in Traction Cont. Module.

 

The grinding noise is probably the ABS system working....which would be normal.
Why it is working in the first place is the question.
Are you driving on some unusual slippery surface?

 

Following.... just started having a somewhat similar issue w/ my GL yesterday.

 

The traction control light comes on because one wheel isn’t turning the same speed as the others. When you’re not on ice, this likely will be accompanied by noise.