MODELYEARINDEX

Which Mercedes-Benz ML years to avoid

Across 5 scored model years, the 2015 model year carries the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Mercedes-Benz ML Full report
D
Grade 2011–2015
2015 vs model median 2.2×
Model median3× median
Drivetrain 6
Engine 6
Brakes 6
Avoid

2015

Best

2011 · 2013

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2011
0.47× 15 B
2012
1.00× 28 B
2013
0.66× 23 B
2014
1.35× 35 C
2015
2.16× 49 D

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2014 C 35 reports · median 29,000 mi

  1. Engine 7

    The contact owns a 2014 mercedes benz ml350. While driving 40 MPH, the engine stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Electrical 4

    Vehicle made a right-hand turn uphill and completely shut off for 25 minutes; engine and electrical components. Required to manually hold in the brake on an incline until vehicle restarted. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Fuel System 3

    Diesel fuel filter and/or diesel fuel hose leaks spilling highly flammable diesel fuel on the road. The diesel fuel could leak near the heat source or leak onto the road. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

7 crash · 1 fire · 4 injuries

2015 D 49 reports · median 18,250 mi

  1. Drivetrain 6

    The contact owns a 2015 mercedes benz ml350. The contact stated that the gears were slipping intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who diagnosed that the software command system needed to be updated. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Engine 6

    Command system of car not responding properly, engine light illuminated, loud noises from engine. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Brakes 6

    When the vehicle's parking mechanism is engaged, the vehicle rolls several feet before coming to a complete stop; thereby endangering anyone in, near, or around the vehicle at that time from getting run over or… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

15 crash · 6 injuries

The best year for the ML

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2011 is the best-scoring ML model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 84.8 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2011 0.47× 15 B
2013 0.66× 23 B
2012 1.00× 28 B

Recalls

No recall campaigns are on record for this model.

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2015 were reported at a median of 18,250 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Mercedes-Benz ML years should you avoid?
2015 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Mercedes-Benz ML model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Mercedes-Benz ML?
2011 is the best-scoring Mercedes-Benz ML model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 84.8 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Mercedes-Benz ML have?
0 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Mercedes-Benz ML model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2015 ML
Complaints in window
49
Severity-weighted
109
Model median (weighted)
51
vs model median
2.16×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
0
Open investigations
0
Score 46.1 D