YearToAvoid

2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 6 ML350 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350 ranks worst of 6 model years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 100 and 110 complaints, mostly Airbags (54%). It carries 3 recalls, including 2 do-not-drive brake recalls, making it the year to avoid in this lineup.

Complaints
110
Recalls
3
incl. Do Not Drive
Crashes / fires
8 / 3
Injuries / deaths
8 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
17
15.5 city / 20.5 hwy

Top 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags59 (54%)
  2. Brakes19 (17%)
  3. Electrical System18 (16%)
  4. Engine10 (9%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain7 (6%)
  6. Structure & Body5 (5%)
  7. Other4 (4%)
  8. Fuel System2 (2%)
  9. Seat Belts1 (1%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (1%)

What owners report

  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in crashes, including one where the driver was injured despite a total loss of both vehicles.
  • Owners describe unintended vehicle movement, including a case where the transmission rolled backward from park and overturned.
  • The ESP traction control light illuminated before a loss of control that led to a crash into a utility pole.
  • Electrical fires were reported starting from the A/C vent, glove box area, and rear brake light wiring harness.
  • Some owners say the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to stop, resulting in a crash.
  • Dealers reportedly delayed or refused airbag recall repairs for extended periods, leaving owners in unrepaired vehicles.
2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350 complaints: complaints filed per quarter132012 Q22015 Q42017 Q22018 Q32019 Q42022 Q32023 Q42026 Q1
126 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2017 Q4 (13).

2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350 recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 24V298000Apr 26, 2024Brakes15,604 vehiclesDo Not Drive

    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.

    Risk: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.

    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. 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.

  2. NHTSA 22V315000May 9, 2022Brakes350,294 vehiclesDo Not Drive

    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.

    Risk: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.

    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. 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.

  3. NHTSA 16V081000Feb 11, 2016Airbags711,159 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 ML320 BlueTec 4Matic, GL320 BlueTec 4Matic and R320 CDI 4Matic, 2011 E350 Cabriolet and E550 Cabriolet, 2009-2011 ML350, ML350 4Matic, ML550 4Matic, ML63 AMG, and C63 AMG, 2010-2011 ML450 4Matic Hybrid, E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic, E550 Coupe, E550 4Matic, and E63 AMG, 2011-2012 GL350 BlueTec 4Matic and R350 BlueTec 4Matic, 2009-2012 GL450 4Matic, GL550 4Matic and R350 4Matic, 2007-2008 SLK280, SLK350, and SLK55 AMG, 2011-2014 SLS AMG Coupe, 2012 SLS AMG Cabriolet, 2013-2014 SLS AMG GT and SLS AMG GT Cabriolet, 2005 C230 Kompressor and C320, 2006-2007 C230, 2006-2011 C350, 2008-2011 C300 and C300 4Matic, 2010-2012 GLK350 and GLK350 4Matic and 2007-2008 Chrysler Crossfire vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

    Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: MBUSA will their notify owners, and Fiat Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler owners. Dealers for the respective brands will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. This recall began November 2016. Mercedes-Benz owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372 and Chrysler owners may contact Fiat Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.

2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
15.5 MPG
Highway
20.5 MPG
Combined
17 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,700
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2011 compared with other ML350 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201020112012201320142015
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid801013 !17.5
2011Avoid1001103 !17
2012Caution6065319.5
2013Best056420

All Mercedes-Benz ML350 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350 reliable?
Among the 6 ML350 model years with data, 2011 has the highest Complaint Index (100) and is ranked worst, with 110 complaints logged with NHTSA, so it is rated Avoid relative to other years.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 ML350?
Airbags account for 54% of complaints (59 of 110), followed by brakes (17%) and electrical system issues (16%), per NHTSA data.
Does the 2011 ML350 have recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2011 ML350, including 2 do-not-drive recalls covering brake corrosion issues and 1 Takata airbag recall.
How does the 2011 ML350 compare to other years?
The 2011 ML350 has a Complaint Index of 100, the highest of any year, while 2013 and 2015 have indexes of 0 and 20 and are rated Best.
What mileage do 2011 ML350 problems typically show up at?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 63,000 miles across all reported issues for the 2011 ML350.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.