YearToAvoid

2014 Mercedes-Benz ML350 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#4 most-complained of 6 ML350 years

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

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz ML350 has a complaint index of 40 and ranks 4th worst out of 6 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other ML350 years. It has 68 complaints, 4 recalls, and a median failure mileage of 39,200.

Complaints
68
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
7 / 2
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
19
18 city / 22 hwy

Top 2014 Mercedes-Benz ML350 problems

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

  1. Electrical System22 (32%)
  2. Engine20 (29%)
  3. Other17 (25%)
  4. Fuel System12 (18%)
  5. Structure & Body6 (9%)
  6. Lane Departure5 (7%)
  7. Airbags4 (6%)
  8. Steering4 (6%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain4 (6%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (4%)

What owners report

  • Vehicles suddenly accelerated or lost braking response, leading to collisions with other vehicles or obstacles.
  • Steering caused unexpected pulling to one side accompanied by a grinding metal-on-concrete sound.
  • Dashboard warning lights and stability control indicators activated simultaneously while the speedometer fluctuated and the transmission would not shift out of drive.
  • The engine stalled at low speed due to defective engine control module pins, requiring dealer replacement.
  • The transmission became stuck in fourth gear on the highway and would not respond to manual paddle shifts.
  • A wheel detached from the vehicle shortly after a dealership inspected the tires and brakes during a recall service.
2014 Mercedes-Benz ML350 complaints: complaints filed per quarter82014 Q42016 Q32017 Q42019 Q22022 Q12023 Q22025 Q22026 Q3
102 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2015 Q1 (8).

2014 Mercedes-Benz ML350 recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 22V955000Dec 23, 2022Fuel System348,183 vehicles

    Fuel system, diesel: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. Water might accumulate in the spare tire wheel well and damage the fuel pump control unit, which could cause an engine stall while driving.

    Risk: An engine stall while driving increases the risk of a crash.

    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. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010002 and 2023010003.

  2. NHTSA 19V787000Nov 1, 2019Other24,226 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Communication

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf

    Risk: An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.

  3. NHTSA 18V272000Apr 27, 2018Suspension, Wheels & Tires9,725 vehicles

    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 4Matic, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLE63S AMG 4Matic, GLE450 4Matic Coupe and GLE63S AMG 4Matic Coupe, 2015-2016 GL450 4Matic and 2013-2014 GL450 4Matic vehicles equipped with the Active Curve System (ACS). In certain driving conditions, if the oil level in the ACS reservoir is below the minimum level, the oil may foam and leak out of the vent holes in the reservoir cap.

    Risk: The leaking oil in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

    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. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018070015.

See all 4 recalls for the 2014 Mercedes-Benz ML350 →

2014 Mercedes-Benz ML350 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
22 MPG
Combined
19 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,200
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.

2014 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
2012Caution6065319.5
2013Best056420
2014Good4068419
2015Best2052519

All Mercedes-Benz ML350 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Mercedes-Benz ML350 reliable?
Compared to other ML350 years, the 2014 model ranks 4th worst out of 6 with a complaint index of 40, placing it in the "Good" range relative to other years. It logged 68 NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls.
What is the top problem area for the 2014 ML350?
Electrical System complaints make up 32% of reported issues (22 complaints), with a median failure mileage of 43,000. Engine problems follow closely at 29% (20 complaints).
Does the 2014 ML350 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2014 ML350, covering the fuel system (fuel pump control unit water intrusion), an eCall software date/time fault, an oil reservoir sealing cap issue, and an electrical software update.
How does the 2014 ML350 compare to other years?
The 2013 and 2015 ML350 both rank as "Best" with complaint indexes of 0 and 20 respectively, while 2010 and 2011 rank "Avoid" with indexes of 80 and 100. The 2014 model sits in between with an index of 40.

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.