Most common 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML500 problems
Share of the 37 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz ML500 complaints by model year
Best ML500 years: 2007, 2003. Years to avoid: 2006, 2002. Compare all years →
2006 Mercedes-Benz ML500 recalls (2)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML, GL, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake performance or brake failure.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML-Class, GL-Class, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake performance or brake failure.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster.
What 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML500 owners say
Electrical system
The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the passenger's side rear door glass had independently fallen into the door. The contact stated a burning odor was on the interior of the vehicle. The contact stated that after inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed water underneath the front passenger's seat and the battery compartment was full of water. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, an unknown warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed electrical system due to water leaking into the rear taillight assembly. The contact was informed that the electrical system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000. The VIN information was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power whenever the ignition was bumped. No warning light was illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised that the cost to repair the vehicle would be out of pocket. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the brakes were severely corroded and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that she then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to speak with the dealer, but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.
Brakes
The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML 500. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undetermined speed, the vehicle accelerated and crashed into a tree. The brake pedal was applied but it failed to respond. There were no warning lights illuminated. The driver-side air bag was deployed. The contact sustained bruises and injuries to her hands, knees, and shoulder, and medical attention was provided by her primary physician. There was no fire or police report filed. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot. Then towed to another towing lot. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified about the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). …
The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power whenever the ignition was bumped. No warning light was illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised that the cost to repair the vehicle would be out of pocket. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the brakes were severely corroded and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that she then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to speak with the dealer, but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.
Transmission & drivetrain
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML500. While driving 20 MPH, a grinding noise was detected from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to Mercedes-Benz of stevens creek (4500 stevens creek blvd, san jose, ca 95129, [phone]) where the contact was informed that the rear differential needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 130,000.
Sporadically, while driving along on local roads or the highway, the car's transmission does not switch higher than third gear. The problem occurs about once a month. Upon engine restart, vehicle drives properly. My pedal shifters do not work when this problem occurs; I can try to shift gears with the pedal shifters, and the software indicates a change from 3rd to 4th gear, but the actual transmission does not change gears. It remains stuck in third gear whether I speed up or slow down. If I place the vehicle in park and try to reverse, there is no power to the vehicle until I restart the car. This seems to be occurring with more and more frequency. I have a safety concern that I have to pull off the road and restart my car whenever this occurs. This seems to be problematic for several owners on the NHTSA site and online.
2006 Mercedes-Benz ML500 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 7-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML500 a good car?
Based on 37 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 ML500 rates use caution: 2.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the ML500 at the same age. It is one of the ML500 years we suggest avoiding. 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 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML500?
The electrical system — 8 complaints, 22% of all complaints for this model year, most often about ignition. Next are the brakes (7) and transmission & drivetrain (7).
How many recalls does the 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML500 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML500, the most recent from April 26, 2024 (vacuum). 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 ML500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2007 and 2003. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2006 and 2002. See the full Mercedes-Benz ML500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 71,000 miles; 29% 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.