2008 Mercedes Benz ML: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
74,551 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 2 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Engine operation
1
50.0%
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
Engine
1
Trailer Hitches
1
Component breakdown data
Category
Count
Engine
1
Trailer Hitches
1
Engine: 1; Trailer Hitches: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
Category
Count
Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
2009
1
2013
1
Complaints over time data
Category
Count
2009
1
2013
1
2009: 1; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
JP MERCEDES BENZ IN PERU IL REPAIRS ML + GL TRAILER HITCHES ROUTINELY WITH A TOO SMALL WELDER + NON CERTIFIED PERSONNEL PERFORMING THE WELDING. THEY EXHIBIT TOTAL DISREGARD FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMER AND ANYONE FOLLOWING ONE OF THESE "REPAIRED" VEHICLES.I HAVE PERSONALLY WITNESSED THIS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT THE SERVICE MANAGER + ASK HIM TO PRODUCE THE NAME OF THE "CERTIFIED" WELDER WHO PERFORMS THESE BLATANTLY INFERIOR REPAIRS AS THIS WILL CONTINUE INDEFINITELY UNTIL SOMEONE EXPOSES THIS DEALERSHIP AS THE PERPETRATORS OF REPAIR FRA…
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
08V006000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel
Reported: 2008-01-09 (January 9, 2008)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DIESEL ENGINES, THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR COULD FAIL DUE TO SEPARATION OF BOND WIRES FROM THE LEAD FRAME IN THE SENSOR. THIS RESULTS IN AN INTERRUPTION IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IN THE CHIP HOUSING OF THE SENSOR.
Consequence: WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE VEHICLE MAY LOSE POWER RATHER THAN ENTER A LIMP-HOME MODE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE RESTARTED AFTER FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IN THE SENSOR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING 52,740 MY 2006-2008 GL AND ML CLASS VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FLEX-N-GATE TRAILER HITCH. SOME OF THE WELD SEAMS CONNECTING THE TRAILER HITCH RECEIVER TO THE ATTACHMENT BAR USED TO SECURE THE TRAILER HITCH TO THE BODY FRAME DO NOT MEET PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS.
Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN THE TRAILE RHITCH RECEIVER SEPARATING FROM THE ATTACHMENT BAR, CREATING A ROAD HAZARD WHICH MAY LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH. THE TRAILER HITCH MUST NOT BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE UNTIL IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE TRAILER HITCH. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 16, 2008. OWENRS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
2 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
50.0%Usable mileage1 / 2 records
100.0%Valid incident date2 / 2 records
100.0%Valid filing date2 / 2 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates2 / 2 records
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
Component complaint heatmap
Component
2006
2007
2008
2011
Engine
133.3%ODI 10552962 · 40,000 mi
THE ENGINE LIGHT DUE ERROR CODES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH CAM SHAFT AND TRANSMISSION, ALSO THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS ERROR INTERNAL CODES NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED OIL SEAL FROM OIL FILTER HOUSING IS DEFECTIVE, REPAIRS FOR MAIN CAM SHAFT ISSUE EXCEEDS 8000.00 USD THERE SEEMS TO BE NO RECALL FOR THIS DEFECTS. *TR
THE ENGINE LIGHT DUE ERROR CODES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH CAM SHAFT AND TRANSMISSION, ALSO THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS ERROR INTERNAL CODES NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED OIL SEAL FROM OIL FILTER HOUSING IS DEFECTIVE, REPAIRS FOR MAIN CAM SHAFT ISSUE EXCEEDS 8000.00 USD THERE SEEMS TO BE NO RECALL FOR THIS DEFECTS. *TR
JP MERCEDES BENZ IN PERU IL REPAIRS ML + GL TRAILER HITCHES ROUTINELY WITH A TOO SMALL WELDER + NON CERTIFIED PERSONNEL PERFORMING THE WELDING. THEY EXHIBIT TOTAL DISREGARD FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMER AND ANYONE FOLLOWING ONE OF THESE "REPAIRED" VEHICLES.I HAVE PERSONALLY WITNESSED THIS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT THE SERVICE MANAGER + ASK HIM TO PRODUCE THE NAME OF THE "CERTIFIED" WELDER WHO PERFORMS THESE BLATANTLY INFERIOR REPAIRS AS THIS WILL CONTINUE INDEFINITELY UNTIL SOMEONE EXPOSES THIS DEALERSHIP AS THE PERPETRATORS OF REPAIR FRA…
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month
Complaints
Campaigns announced
Examples
2024-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2008: 1 complaints · 2011: 0 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
2008
0
1
1
2011
0
0
0
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
2008
2
0
0
2011
0
0
0
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
Component co-occurrence matrix
Component
Engine
Trailer Hitches
Engine
—
0
Trailer Hitches
0
—
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
2 patterns with matching reports.
Stalling or loss of power
1 mentions · 50.0% of complaints
Median mileage: 74,551 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10534043 · 74,551 mi
CARS STALLS WHILE DRIVING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. CARS DOES NOT START, LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING IT. *TR