Most common 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 problems
Share of the 65 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz ML350 complaints by model year
Best ML350 years: 2003, 2005, 2004. Years to avoid: 2006, 2010, 2011. Compare all years →
2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 recalls (3)
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump › Control/drive module
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2012-2014 ML550, 2012-2015 ML350, AMG ML63, 2015 ML250, ML400, 2016 GLE450, GLE300, 2016-2018 GLE350, GLE550, 2016-2019 GLE400, 2017-2019 AMG GLE43, and 2016-2020 AMG GLE63 vehicles.
Remedy: Dealers will install a water drain plug, inspect for water intrusion, and replace the fuel pump control unit as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 15, 2023.
Suspension › Front
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2012-2014 ML350 Bluetec 4Matic and ML550 4Matic, 2012-2015 ML63 AMG 4Matic and ML350 4Matic, 2013-2016 GL350 Bluetec 4Matic, GL550 4Matic and GL63 AMG 4Matic, 2017 GLS350d 4Matic, GLS450 4Matic, GLS550 4Matic and GLS63 AMG 4Matic, 2015 ML400 4Matic, 2016 GLE400 4Matic, GLE350…
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will correct the oil level as necessary and replace the reservoir sealing cap to prevent oil foam from leaking out, free of charge. The recall began August 30, 2018.
Electrical system › Software
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 AMG GT-S, GLC300, CLA250 and GLE300d 4Matic vehicles, 2013 C250, E350 BlueTec and G63 AMG vehicles, 2008-2014 C300 vehicles, 2013-2014 C300 4Matic and ML350 4Matic vehicles, 2009 C350 vehicles, 2014 CLS550, E350 4Matic, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Wagon 4Matic, GLK350 and…
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update software in the affected control units, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
What 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 owners say
Engine & cooling all 23 →
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated while driving 40 mph, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and attempted to restart the vehicle to see if the light would disappear however, the vehicle would not restart. The contact called the local dealer who arrived at the scene and connected the vehicle to a diagnostic machine to clear the sensor code for the vehicle to restart however, the failure persisted. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was due to the crankshaft position sensor. The vehicle was not repaired due the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated while driving uphill at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was shaking abnormally. The contact stated that the abnormal shaking occurred at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with timing chain failure. The contact was informed that the timing chain needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
Fuel & propulsion system
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormally loud sound and then stalled. Additionally, the vehicle failed to accelerate properly while driving. The contact's husband coasted the vehicle to the side of the road. The vehicle was restarted and driven to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,372.
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated while the vehicle was being inspected, the independent mechanic informed him of a diesel and oil leak. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
Electrical system
Turn signals will not operate, dealership quoted me $1400 3 years ago, had the work performed and now the issue is happening again and I am being quoted the same amount of money. This is a safety concern if I cannot signal to others where I am turning!!!!! This could cause an accident!!!!! This is highly unsafe!!! What if my kids were in the car?! Talking to customers in waiting lounge at dealership other people have had same issue!! The one time they stopped working I had a person hit me going 30 mph, could have been much much worse.
The following has been happening over the last 2 - 3 yrs. Also confirmed with other customers on MB world blog site. After traveling in the car for 5-15 minutes, and sooner if connected to cell phone via bluetooth, the indicators stop working. This leads to deactivation of the blind spot assist as well. The problem is temporarily resolved after switching the vehicle off and then on again, only to recur after driving it again for 10-15minutes, and earlier if attached to iPhone via Bluetooth. The blind spot assist is then permanently inactivated. 2 Mercedes dealerships in 2 separate states where I took the vehicle could not even identify a problem, let alone resolve it. When I called MBUSA, they claimed ignorance to the issue and told me to repair or change the vehicle myself. Since this is an issue with multiple vehicles, a recall needs to be issued for this model. …
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 a good car?
Based on 65 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 ML350 rates average: 20% fewer complaints than a typical year of the ML350 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350?
The engine & cooling — 23 complaints, 35% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › crank/camshaft position sensor. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (16) and electrical system (11).
How many recalls does the 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350, the most recent from December 23, 2022 (control/drive module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz ML350?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2003, 2005 and 2004. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2006, 2010 and 2011. See the full Mercedes-Benz ML350 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 49,000 miles; 52% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.