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Mercedes-Benz ML-Class Best and Worst Years

Recalls and crash-test ratings for every model year from 2002 to 2015, from official NHTSA data.

Model yearsData retrieved By Sources & methodology

Short answer

Among Mercedes-Benz ML-Class model years through 2024, 2003, 2004 and 2005 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2015 has the most (5). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.

Quick read

Mercedes-Benz ML-Class: Key Facts

Model years with data
14 (2002–2015)
Distinct recall campaigns
10
Fewest recalls
2003, 2004 and 2005 (0)
Most recalls
2015 (5)
Most recalled system
Service brakes, hydraulic (12)
5-star overall rating
2013, 2014 and 2015

Mercedes-Benz ML-Class Recalls and Ratings by Model Year

Mercedes-Benz ML-Class — NHTSA recall campaigns and overall crash rating, model years 2002–2015
Model yearRecall campaignsOverall crash ratingMost recalled systems
2015 5 5 stars Communication, Fuel system, gasoline, Power train
2014 4 5 stars Communication, Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline
2013 4 5 stars Communication, Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline
2012 3 Not rated Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline, Suspension
2011 3 Not rated Service brakes, hydraulic, Air bags
2010 3 Not rated Service brakes, hydraulic, Air bags
2009 3 Not rated Service brakes, hydraulic, Air bags
2008 2 Not rated Service brakes, hydraulic
2007 2 Not rated Service brakes, hydraulic
2006 2 Not rated Service brakes, hydraulic
2005 0 Not rated None on record
2004 0 Not rated None on record
2003 0 Not rated None on record
2002 1 Not rated Suspension

The scale of the difference

Recall Campaigns by Model Year

Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.

  1. 20155 recalls
  2. 20144 recalls
  3. 20134 recalls
  4. 20123 recalls
  5. 20113 recalls
  6. 20103 recalls
  7. 20093 recalls
  8. 20082 recalls
  9. 20072 recalls
  10. 20062 recalls
  11. 20050 recalls
  12. 20040 recalls
  13. 20030 recalls
  14. 20021 recall

Mercedes-Benz ML-Class: Analysis

How to read recall counts

A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.

What the recalls were about

Across all model years, the systems named most often in Mercedes-Benz ML-Class recalls are service brakes, hydraulic (12), suspension (5), fuel system, gasoline (4), air bags (3) and communication (3). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.

Crash-test ratings

NHTSA has an overall star rating for 3 of these 14 model years, and 2013, 2014 and 2015 earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.

FAQ: Mercedes-Benz ML-Class Best and Worst Years

What are the best years for the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class?

By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2003, 2004 and 2005 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.

Which Mercedes-Benz ML-Class model years have the most recalls?

2015 has the most, with 5 recall campaigns each.

Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?

No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.

Sources & methodology

Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "ML-Class", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.

NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by . Editorial policy