W166 stuck in Park
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Mercedes ML350
Hey Morten...I have a 2012 ML350 also and am having the same issue (direct shift on column). I thought I had also narrowed it down to old batteries (both main and auxiliary) and was committed to getting them changed. However, I accidentally changed key sets (fobs) and seem to have no issues using my secondary set of keys (key fob). Both my primary and secondary key fobs have new batteries, so go figure??? You might give that a try. I will be posing this issue to my local MB dealer on Monday. Let me know if this also works for you and if anyone else has any ideas, please let us know. Thanks
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Mercedes ML350
Yes. It appears to be related to a bad auxiliary battery. Both my regular and auxiliary were original and needed replacing. That solved the problem. Luckily I was able to switch FOBs as noted in the earlier post and get the vehicle out of my home garage and to a service center. Seems to be a poor design to cripple your vehicle because the auxiliary battery is bad. The other bad news is it costs around $800 to change both batteries. Again, poor design...they had to take the front seat out to replace the regular battery and the back cargo area floor and panel just to replace the auxiliary battery. I guess they build these for ease of manufacturing but they don't care about ongoing maintenance issues and costs. Just more annuity income for them!
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 706
Likes: 114
From: Los Angeles, CA
'22 GLE 350 | '15 ML250 | '87 560SL | '19 GLC 300 | '12 C250 (sold) | '02 ML500 | '98 C230
Yes. It appears to be related to a bad auxiliary battery. Both my regular and auxiliary were original and needed replacing. That solved the problem. Luckily I was able to switch FOBs as noted in the earlier post and get the vehicle out of my home garage and to a service center. Seems to be a poor design to cripple your vehicle because the auxiliary battery is bad. The other bad news is it costs around $800 to change both batteries. Again, poor design...they had to take the front seat out to replace the regular battery and the back cargo area floor and panel just to replace the auxiliary battery. I guess they build these for ease of manufacturing but they don't care about ongoing maintenance issues and costs. Just more annuity income for them!
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Newbie
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 5
Likes: 5
ML350
I've read and researched until my eyes have closed. I have the same problem originally stated in this thread.
2013 ML350 decides at times it will not shift into gears after a while... After scanning a few errors that came up states the ISM was bad so it was replaced. Worked for about a week before going back to what it was doing.
Replaced the Auxiliary Battery even thought it's voltage is around 12.8v
Replaced Main Battery with new Champion AGM battery even though voltage was fine.
Took voltage reading from Alternator and no problem there.
Replaced FOB Key battery (after 4 energizer batteries kept getting "Replace Battery" message. Switched to Panasonic and message went away. Vehicle drove fine for 2 days now back to it's same.
Scanned again and the following code comes up - P172A00 - The Direct Select Lever is Faulty.
Additional code U1420 - CAN communication with the control module "N80 (SCM/MRM)' is faulty
Can't find anything that explains or deals with this code however almost convinced this is the problem.
Can anyone shed some light here??
2013 ML350 decides at times it will not shift into gears after a while... After scanning a few errors that came up states the ISM was bad so it was replaced. Worked for about a week before going back to what it was doing.
Replaced the Auxiliary Battery even thought it's voltage is around 12.8v
Replaced Main Battery with new Champion AGM battery even though voltage was fine.
Took voltage reading from Alternator and no problem there.
Replaced FOB Key battery (after 4 energizer batteries kept getting "Replace Battery" message. Switched to Panasonic and message went away. Vehicle drove fine for 2 days now back to it's same.
Scanned again and the following code comes up - P172A00 - The Direct Select Lever is Faulty.
Additional code U1420 - CAN communication with the control module "N80 (SCM/MRM)' is faulty
Can't find anything that explains or deals with this code however almost convinced this is the problem.
Can anyone shed some light here??
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Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 23
Likes: 7
2014 ML350 4Matic
I had the same code - P172A00 - "The Direct Select Lever is Faulty" - and the car would not shift out of park. Well, the direct select lever WAS faulty. The entire outer steering column comes as a single unit with all levers - shifter, wiper, directional, etc. Cost $1200 including labor. You can find an individual shift lever on EBay but I was stuck out of state so this was not a home garage candidate for me.
