Model year record

2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class recalls & problems

The 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class has 2 safety recalls and 14 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (4 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints14filed by owners

Crashes · fires1 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Electrical systemJul 7, 2008

Electrical system

Recall 08V303000404 vehicles

Problem: MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING MY 2006-2008 M-CLASS, R-CLASS, MY 2005-2009 SLK-CLASS, MY 2005-2008 C-CLASS, MY 2003-2004 AND 2006-2008 CLK-CLASS, MY 2003-2008 E-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2008 CL-CLASS, MY 2008 CLS-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2007-2008 S-CLASS, MY 2003 G-CLASS, AND MY 2003-2004, 2006 AND 2009 SL-CLASS VEHICLES. A SOFTWARE CALIBRATION NUMBER (SCN) CODING RECEIVED ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES DURING A RECENT WORKSHOP VISIT WAS INCORRECT. DEPENDING ON THE MODEL YEAR AND MODEL AFFECTED, THE RESULTS OF AN INCORRECT SCN CODING CAN AFFECT A NUMBER OF VEHICLE SAFETY AND EMISSION FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF FUNCTIONS: (1) THE FUEL GAUGE READINGS MAY BE INCORRECT; (2) A STUCK FUEL-LEVEL SENSOR MAY NOT BE DISPLAYED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER; (3) THE OBD SYSTEM MAY CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE INCORRECTLY; AND, (4) THE SPEEDOMETER MAY BE OUT OF TOLERANCE.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE ELECTRICAL FUEL PUMP MAY NOT RECEIVE A CRASH SIGNAL THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THE FUEL PUMP TO DISCONNECT AND PREVENT FUTURE FUEL DELIVERY AS DESIGNED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL RECODE THE SCN FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

SteeringMay 16, 2005

Hydraulic power assist system

Recall 05V2240007,191 vehicles

Problem: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A HOSE CLAMP THAT SECURES THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER MAY NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE FOR THIS CONNECTION.
Risk: A LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID CAN DAMAGE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND MAY RESULT IN DIMINISHED POWER ASSIST FOR STEERING WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING HOSE CLAMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 17, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Typical mileage*
Engine and engine coolingEngine	4	0	3,090 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission	4	0	58,400 mi
SteeringHydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections; Hydraulic power assist system	4	0	—
Electrical system	2	0	—
Vehicle speed control	1	1	—
VisibilityRearview mirrors/devices › Exterior	1	0	—
Seats	1	0	—
Suspension	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Suspension
THE AIRMATIC SYSTEM BEGAN TO FAIL. THE FRONT LEFT STRUT QUIT WORKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THAT TIME THE RIGHT STRUT HAS FAILED AND BOTH REAR AIRMATIC SPRINGS HAVE FAILED. ALL ITEMS HAD TO BE REPLACES AT GREAT COST. NOW THE AIRMATIC COMPRESSOR HAS FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE MILEAGE AT THIS TIME IS AROUND 72000. A DIFFERENCE OF JUST OVER 15000 MILES AND THE WHOLE SYSTEM HAS COMPLETELY BROKEN DOWN. AFTER REVIEWING OTHER ONLINE POSTS ABOUT MERCEDES AIRMATIC SUSPENSION PROBLEMS THERE IS CLEARLY SUBSTANTIAL EXPOSURE TO DANGEROUS CONDITIONS WITH THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM AS WELL AS GREAT COST TO THE OWNERS OF THESE AUTOMOBILES. THE FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM AT ANY TIME CAN MAKE THESE…
Jul 25, 2012 · 56,646 miles
Steering
I HAVE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AND MY MODEL IS NOT EFFECTED WITH THIS RECALL RECALL NUMBER: 05V224000 DATES MANUFACTURED: JAN 0001 TO JAN 0001 NUMBER OF VEHICLES AFFECTED: 7191 DATE OWNERS NOTIFIED ON: JAN 0001 ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A HOSE CLAMP THAT SECURES THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER MAY NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE FOR THIS CONNECTION. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID CAN DAMAGE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND MAY RESULT IN DIMINISHED POWER ASSIST FOR STEERING WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH. CORRECTIVE ACTION: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING HOSE CLAMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 17, 2005.…
Jan 9, 2014 · 70,000 miles
Seats
WHEN THE SEAT HEATER WAS ACTIVATED A BURNING SMELL FILLED THE CABIN. SOME SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE LOWER, LEFT SIDE OF THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE SWITCH TURNED OFF ON ITS OWN. THERE IS A HOLE, APPROXIMATELY 3/4 IN. IN DIAMETER ON THE SEAT. *TR
May 15, 2012 · 150,136 miles
Power train
TWO PROBLEMS - FIRST, TRANSMISSION DO NOT SWITCH HIGHER THAN SECOND SPEED. UPON ENGINE RESTART, VEHICLE DROVE PROPERLY. SECOND, ON ANOTHER OCCASION, I WAS SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PULL OFF, THE VEHICLE STARTED DRIVING VERY SLOW AND ROUGH. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD; TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND WAITED FOR A FEW SECONDS. WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE AWAY, THE VEHICLE DROVE PROPERLY. MERCEDES DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THESE ISSUES, AND ALSO MANY OF PEOPLE I KNOW WHO HAVE MERCEDES WITH SAME TRANSMISSION TYPE - VALVE BODY/ELECTRIC PLATE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IN AUTO TRANSMISSION. *TR
Jul 13, 2011 · 74,600 miles
Power train › Automatic transmission
2006 ML350 TRANSMISSION FAILURE: WHILE EXITING FROM INTERSTATE, I NOTICE THAT THE CAR WAS JERKING/KNOCKING WHEN I WAS SLOWING DOWN. A COUPLE OF MILES ON THE SURFACE STREETS AT 30-40 MPH I NOTICED THAT THE JERKING BECAME WORSE AND FINALLY THE CAR WENT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR WITHOUT ANY POWER DELIVERED TO THE ENGINE. THE CAR STOPPED ON THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. LATER THAT EVENING I GOT IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BLOWN OUT AND NEED TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED WITH AN ~$8000 BILL. THE CAR HAS 58K MILES WITH ALL SERVICE RECORDS AND NOT MISSING A SINGLE SERVICE. I AM TOLD THAT THIS IS OUT OF THE WARRANTY ZONE. I FOUND THAT THERE IS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE IN MOST OF…
Jun 2, 2011 · 58,400 miles
Steering › Hydraulic power assist system
THE STEERING PUMP WAS DAMAGED BY A LEAK. I PREVIOUSLY BROUGHT THE CAR IN COMPLAINING THERE WAS A LOUD WHIRRING NOISE. I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. THEN THIS PROBLEM BEGAN AGAIN, I FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS DENIED REPAIR OR THAT THERE WAS ANY RECALL THAT EXISTED. THE RECALL NUMBER IS 05V224000. *TR
Nov 26, 2009
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
AFTER DRIVEN THE NEW 2006 ML350 FOR 3500 MILES, THE LOW ENGINE OIL INDICATOR COME UP. TOOK THE CAR TO SERVICE, AND FOUND THE CAR IS LEAKING ENGINE OIL IN MULTIPLE PLACES. IT TOOK 1 WEEK TO FIX THE LEAK BETWEEN TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE. THEN THEY NEED TO ORDER PARTS TO FIX SECOND LEAK IN OIL PAN. AFTER THE PART ARRIVED, I TOOK THE CAR TO BE FIXED. AFTER 3 DAYS WITHOUT ANY CALL, I CALLED TO FIND OUT THE STATUS. NOW, THEY SAID ONE OF THE ENGINE CYLINDER IS LEAKING ENGINE OIL AND NEED SEVERAL MORE DAYS TO FIX. IT IS UNKNOWN TO ME IF THIS ENGINE WILL HAVE OTHER ISSUES OR NOT AFTER FIXING ALL THOSE OIL LEAKS. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SOMETIME SUDDENLY DOWN-SHIFT AT LOW…
Dec 2, 2005 · 3,500 miles
Electrical system
WHILE DRIVING A BRAND NEW 2006 ML-350, THE CAR SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. IT DISPLAYED THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE: ESP MALFUNCTION, HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION, SPEEDTRONIC INOPERATIVE. TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR, WITH NO LUCK. HAD TO WAIT FOR 20 - 25 MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR CAN BE RESTARTED. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES TO ME. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY SITTING AT A MB DEALERSHIP FOR 2 DAYS, AND THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OIUT THE PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT ESP MALFUNCTION CAUSES THE NEW ML-350 TO STOP WHILE DRIVING, WHICH IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THIS IS BRAND NEW CAR WITH ONLY 500 MILES. *JB
Nov 27, 2005 · 502 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.