2006 Mercedes Benz ML500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other ML500 years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 8 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 37 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Mercedes Benz ML500. That is the most of any ML500 model year in the database (8 years). The most reported problem area is electrical system (8 complaints, 22%), typically at around 114,500 miles. Complaints mention 3 crashes, 5 fires, 4 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 37owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2006 Mercedes Benz ML500 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 8 | 22% | 114,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 7 | 19% | 53,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 | 14% | 128,500 | — | — |
| Steering | 5 | 14% | 68,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 11% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 11% | 48,763 | — | — |
| Seats | 3 | 8% | 71,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 3 | 8% | 27,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 5% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 3% | 43,444 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 3% | 40,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 3% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 3% | 23,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2006 Mercedes Benz ML500 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuumDo not drive
Problem: 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.
Risk: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MMUSA's number for this recall is 2024050001/2. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-315.
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuumDo not drive
Problem: 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.
Risk: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2022050014, 2022050015 2022090006, & 2022090007.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The esp and abs malfunctioned and the vehicle went out of control and hit parked vehicles causing multiple damages and injuries to me.
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…
I am experiencing malfunctions of the Seat Belt, electrical and breaking system
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…
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…
Other Mercedes Benz ML500 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 ML500 | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 ML500 | 0 | 1 |
| 2007 ML500 | 9 | 2 |
| 2006 | 37 | 2 |
| 2005 ML500 | 3 | 0 |
| 2004 ML500 | 18 | 0 |
| 2003 ML500 | 13 | 0 |
| 2002 ML500 | 27 | 1 |
See all Mercedes Benz ML500 problems by year, every Mercedes Benz model, or the Mercedes Benz VIN decoder.
Similar Mercedes Benz models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Mercedes Benz ML500?
Owners most often report electrical system, power train, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 8 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2006 Mercedes Benz ML500?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2006 Mercedes Benz ML500 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other ML500 model years, the 2006 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.