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2006 Mercedes-Benz ML500Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 37 owner complaints about the 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML500, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 24V-298 the manufacturer reports only 3% of affected cars repaired.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls2Lowest repair rate 3%Owner complaints3712 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage115kElectrical system, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 17, 2025. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML500 has problems

37 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system82
Power train70
Steering50
Service brakes, hydraulic52
Air bags41
Vehicle speed control41
Seats33
Service brakes21
Exterior lighting21
6 other systems61

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

2006 Mercedes-Benz ML500 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

3%repaired · 2026 Q1

Power assist: vacuum

Do not drive

Recall 24V-298 · Apr 26, 2024 · 15,604 vehicles · 439 repaired

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

Problem, fix and repair progress →

43%repaired · 2025 Q4

Power assist: vacuum

Do not drive

Recall 22V-315 · May 9, 2022 · 350,294 vehicles · 149,456 repaired

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

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Mercedes-Benz.

Best & worst years

2006 vs. every other ML500 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the ML500 median. How we score

'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'11
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
In owners' words

What ML500 owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the passenger's side rear door glass had independently fallen into the door. The contact stated a burning odor was on the interior of the vehicle. The contact stated that after inspecting the vehicle,…
Complaint 11580508 · Apr 1, 2024 · 200,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power whenever the ignition was bumped. No warning light was illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure…
Complaint 11491372 · Oct 28, 2022 · 132,000 miles
Car is extremely hard to turn/loss of power steering. Noticed that there was a recall on these vehicles but my vin was not included. Mechanic said Power steering rack is bad. This has been an ongoing issue with this car since purchased with only 70,000 miles - not sure why this VIN was not included…
Complaint 11450281 · Feb 3, 2022

Own a 2006 ML500?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.