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Which year to buy
Bar height: serious owner complaints to NHTSA for that year, against this model's usual year.
2012GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual
55 serious complaints of 66, the most about engine (22) and fuel system (12); 1.0× this model's usual share of all serious complaints about 2012 vehicles.
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2012 mercedes-benz ml350. While at a stop light, the vehicle stalled without warning. In addition, the radio and air conditioner failed to function. The failure recurred numerous times.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the engine, Dec 2017
“Driving along at 65mph on highway with cruise control on, 80 degrees, sunny and clear weather the fuel line came loose and engine lost all power. Diesel fuel spilled on vehicle and roadway. Vehicle had 86,432 miles on it at the time. The engine is a 3 liter mercedes diesel bluetec.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the fuel system, May 2017
66 owner complaints · 0 recalls · EPA combined: 15–20 mpg · NHTSA: Not rated · 2012 trims and features
Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. NHTSA doesn't publish sales, so only big differences count. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.
Trims and features
Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl; 4.7L 8-cyl turbo; 5.5L 8-cyl turbo · Drive: 4WD
2012 ML trims
| ML350 4-MATIC | ML350 BLUETEC 4-MATIC | ML550 4-MATIC | ML63 AMG 4-MATIC |
|---|
base price, seating and driver-assistance equipment from NHTSA's vehicle database (vPIC), as Mercedes-Benz reports it. Tech and comfort features (CarPlay, heated seats, sunroof) for Mercedes-Benz aren't in our data yet. "—": not verified in our sources. "Varies": standard on some versions of the trim.
Year by year
| Year | Engines | Drive | Fuel economy | Crash rating | Recalls | Owner complaints | Most-reported problem | CarPlay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 2.1L 4-cyl turbo diesel 3.0L 6-cyl turbo 3.5L 6-cyl 5.5L 8-cyl turbo | 4WD, RWD | 15–25 mpg | 5 of 5 | 0 | 66 | Engine (16) | — |
| 2014 | 3.5L 6-cyl 4.7L 8-cyl turbo 5.5L 8-cyl turbo | 4WD, RWD | 15–20 mpg | 5 of 5 | 0 | 74 | Electrical system (21) | — |
| 2013 | 3.5L 6-cyl 4.7L 8-cyl turbo 5.5L 8-cyl turbo | 4WD, RWD | 15–20 mpg | 5 of 5 | 0 | 62 | Engine (13) | — |
| 2012 | 3.5L 6-cyl 4.7L 8-cyl turbo 5.5L 8-cyl turbo | 4WD | 15–20 mpg | Not rated | 0 | 66 | Engine (22) | — |
| 2011 | 3.5L 6-cyl 3.5L 6-cyl hybrid 5.5L 8-cyl 6.3L 8-cyl | 4WD, RWD | 12–22 mpg | Not rated | 0 | 119 | Air bags (62) | — |
| 2010 | 3.5L 6-cyl 3.5L 6-cyl hybrid 5.5L 8-cyl 6.3L 8-cyl | 4WD, RWD | 12–22 mpg | Not rated | 0 | 106 | Air bags (71) | — |
Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.
Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints
| Year | Version | Stars | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Mercedes-Benz ML-Class SUV 4WD | 5 | Standard | Optional | 7 | 66 |
| 2015 | Mercedes-Benz ML-Class SUV RWD | 5 | Standard | Optional | 7 | 66 |
| 2014 | Mercedes-Benz ML-Class SUV 4WD | 5 | Standard | No | 4 | 74 |
| 2014 | Mercedes-Benz ML-Class SUV RWD | 5 | Standard | No | 4 | 74 |
| 2013 | Mercedes-Benz ML-Class SUV 4WD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 5 | 62 |
| 2013 | Mercedes-Benz ML-Class SUV RWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 5 | 62 |
| 2012 | Mercedes-Benz ML-Class SUV AWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 4 | 66 |
| 2011 | Mercedes-Benz ML-Class SUV AWD | Not Rated | No | No | 4 | 119 |
| 2011 | Mercedes-Benz ML-Class SUV RWD | Not Rated | No | No | 4 | 119 |
| 2011 | Mercedes-Benz ML-Class Hybrid SUV RWD | Not Rated | No | No | 4 | 119 |
| 2011 | Mercedes-Benz ML-Class Hybrid SUV AWD | Not Rated | No | No | 4 | 119 |
| 2010 | Mercedes-Benz ML-Class 4-DR w/SAB | Not Rated | No | No | 3 | 106 |
| 2010 | Mercedes-Benz ML-Class Hybrid 4-DR w/SAB | Not Rated | No | No | 3 | 106 |
Source: NHTSA.
Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg
| Year | EPA model | Engines | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | ML250 Bluetec 4matic | Auto 7-spd, 4 cyl, 2.1 L, Diesel, Turbo | 25 |
| 2015 | ML350 | Auto 7-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L | 20 |
| 2015 | ML350 4matic | Auto 7-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L, SIDI; FFV Auto 7-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L, SIDI |
19 |
| 2015 | ML400 4matic | Auto 7-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo | 20 |
| 2015 | ML63 AMG | Auto 7-spd, 8 cyl, 5.5 L, Turbo | 15 |
| 2014 | ML350 | Auto 7-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L | 20 |
| 2014 | ML350 4matic | Auto 7-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L, SIDI; FFV Auto 7-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L, SIDI |
19 |
| 2014 | ML550 4matic | Auto 7-spd, 8 cyl, 4.7 L, Turbo | 16 |
| 2014 | ML63 AMG | Auto 7-spd, 8 cyl, 5.5 L, Turbo | 15 |
| 2013 | ML350 | Auto 7-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L | 20 |
| 2013 | ML350 4matic | Auto 7-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L, SIDI; FFV Auto 7-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L, SIDI |
20 |
| 2013 | ML550 4matic | Auto 7-spd, 8 cyl, 4.7 L, Turbo | 16 |
| 2013 | ML63 AMG | Auto 7-spd, 8 cyl, 5.5 L, Turbo | 15 |
| 2012 | ML350 4matic | Auto 7-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L, SIDI; FFV Auto 7-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L, SIDI |
19–20 |
| 2012 | ML550 4matic | Auto 7-spd, 8 cyl, 4.7 L, Turbo | 17 |
| 2012 | ML63 AMG | Auto 7-spd, 8 cyl, 5.5 L, Turbo | 15 |
| 2011 | ML350 | Auto 7-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L | 17 |
| 2011 | ML350 4matic | Auto 7-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L | 17 |
| 2011 | ML450 Hybrid 4matic | Auto (variable gear ratios), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | 22 |
| 2011 | ML550 4matic | Auto 7-spd, 8 cyl, 5.5 L | 15 |
| 2011 | ML63 AMG | Auto 7-spd, 8 cyl, 6.3 L | 12 |
| 2010 | ML350 | Auto 7-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L | 18 |
| 2010 | ML350 4matic | Auto 7-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L | 17 |
| 2010 | ML450 Hybrid 4matic | Auto (variable gear ratios), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | 22 |
| 2010 | ML550 4matic | Auto 7-spd, 8 cyl, 5.5 L | 15 |
| 2010 | ML63 AMG | Auto 7-spd, 8 cyl, 6.3 L | 12 |
Source: fueleconomy.gov.