2010 Mercedes-Benz ML350

The defect

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.

The 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.

The 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.

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. · up to 711,159 vehicles across all model years covered

Still open engineering analysis · opened September 17, 2021

the air bags

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

crash · towed · 80,000 miles

TWO ISSUES WITH MY ML350 2010 CAR - 1) ELECTRICAL - GAS GAUGE WENT TO ZERO WHILE DRIVING EVEN WHEN CAR WAS THREE QUARTERS FULL OF GAS. AFTER I STOPPED CAR AND RESTARTED ENGINE, GAS GAUGE WENT IMMEDIATELY BACK UP TO THREE QUARTERS FULL. 2) FAILED BRAKES - I WAS DRIVING INTO A PARKING SPOT SLOWLY USING BRAKES AND WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO COME TO A FULL STOP, THE BRAKES FAILED AND WOULDN'T STOP THE CAR COMPLETELY RESULTING IN ME DRIVING OVER A PARKING METER. IT FELT LIKE THE CAR ACCELERATED AS WELL AFTER HITTING PARKING METER BUT I WAS ABLE TO STOP CAR AFTER PRESSING ON THE BRAKES AGAIN. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS HURT GIVEN SLOW SPEED AND NO ONE BEING ON SIDEWALK AT THE TIME.

NHTSA complaint 11029894. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Steering became increasingly sluggish and difficult to navigate; i took the vehicle into the shop and they said there is metal shards or shavings being worn into the power steering fluid and destroying the pump, clogging up the filter and the rack and pinion steering system is also being compromised making the vehicle unsafe to operate.

NHTSA complaint 11746608. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

crash · towed

Before the incident my Mercedes started to pull away from me each time I attempted to press the brakes. At times the when I would press the brakes nothing would happen at all as if I wasn’t pressing them at all. Well on the night of February 18,2022 I was coming around a curb and when I went to press the brakes, my Mercedes began to sway slightly but the brakes never kicked in. The result of the incident totaled my vehicle, took out two transformers and a light pole, and costed me a careless operation ticket, the storage and towing of the vehicle from the incident, to the tow yard, then back home, as well as paying the ticket and having to pay the dmv. There is still an unknown amount due …

NHTSA complaint 11585228, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Vehicle will not crank/start intermittently key turns in the ignition but nothing happens. Front door on the right and left will not operate and have to push down locks in order for vehicle to lock and prevent vehicle/ property theft.

NHTSA complaint 11582839. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

I have reached out to Mercedes-Benz to have the 2 recalls fixed. They tell me I will receive a letter with instructions. I have not received any letters and it's been more than 6 months.

NHTSA complaint 11511393. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

crash · towed

On February 18, 2022 at approximately 2240 hours I was in a wreck which totalled my 2010 Mercedes ML-350. I was approaching a curb and tried to brake but they didn't work and my vehicle pulled to the right and I totaled it out on an electricity pole. I was not aware of the recall 16V081 until September 04, 2022. My mercedes is currently under a tarp under my shed, and has been for months. Please explain the steps and procedures I need to follow to get my vehicle replaced because the damages to my vehicle as well as the transformers that blew, shutting off power in a 2 miles radius could have been fatal and I have since been without a vehicle.

NHTSA complaint 11482960. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

83,000 miles

The contact owns a 2010 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated while driving at 45-50 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond. The contact depressed the brake pedal harder and the vehicle stopped abruptly. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that no issues were found. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The contact received recall notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). However, the parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact …

NHTSA complaint 11478660, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.