2012 ml350 car swerves/shifts to the right when i accelerate
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Joined: Jun 2018
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From: Northern Hemisphere - Chicago
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2012 ml350 car swerves/shifts to the right when i accelerate
It’s a weird one, guys — rather urgent.
When I’m driving, at a certain point during an upshift the car does a tiny swerve to the right. Even the steering wheel turns slightly clockwise. It only happens at one specific moment in the gear change.
ELI5 version: the car does a tiny wiggle or swerve exactly when the transmission shifts up.
Turning left, turning right, or accelerating in a straight line doesn’t change anything. It’s only during the upshift. The best way I can describe it is: it feels exactly like when a bicycle’s rear tire rubs the frame for a second and slows you down.
When I’m driving, at a certain point during an upshift the car does a tiny swerve to the right. Even the steering wheel turns slightly clockwise. It only happens at one specific moment in the gear change.
ELI5 version: the car does a tiny wiggle or swerve exactly when the transmission shifts up.
Turning left, turning right, or accelerating in a straight line doesn’t change anything. It’s only during the upshift. The best way I can describe it is: it feels exactly like when a bicycle’s rear tire rubs the frame for a second and slows you down.
Last edited by e350forme; Apr 1, 2026 at 01:37 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 815
Likes: 174
From: USA
04 E55, 06 E55, 05 G55, 14 E63s, 12 cls63
It’s a weird one, guys — rather urgent.
When I’m driving, at a certain point during an upshift the car does a tiny swerve to the right. Even the steering wheel turns slightly clockwise. It only happens at one specific moment in the gear change.
ELI5 version: the car does a tiny wiggle or swerve exactly when the transmission shifts up.
Turning left, turning right, or accelerating in a straight line doesn’t change anything. It’s only during the upshift. The best way I can describe it is: it feels exactly like when a bicycle’s rear tire rubs the frame for a second and slows you down.
When I’m driving, at a certain point during an upshift the car does a tiny swerve to the right. Even the steering wheel turns slightly clockwise. It only happens at one specific moment in the gear change.
ELI5 version: the car does a tiny wiggle or swerve exactly when the transmission shifts up.
Turning left, turning right, or accelerating in a straight line doesn’t change anything. It’s only during the upshift. The best way I can describe it is: it feels exactly like when a bicycle’s rear tire rubs the frame for a second and slows you down.
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Joined: Mar 2026
Posts: 13
Likes: 4
2014 ML550
I have a 2014 ML550, and it is pretty squirrely around corners. I am in the process of replacing the struts/shocks all around as well as control arm bushings and other pieces in that family. Yours doesn't really sound like that, but I was surprised just how badly the shocks were gone on a 12-YO vehicle. I know it's a BIG sucker, and it has 92K miles, but these shocks were GONE. The bump stops were all crumbled and broken at the bottom. I have done the back, but I need to do the fronts, and then take it in for an alignment.
