There are 9 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML-Classin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
When reviewing the vehicle for purchase I noticed the SRS light on. I brought it to the dealerships attention. They instructed me to bring it back in the morning after signing paperwork so they could fix it. After I brought it back they let me know that they didn't see any SRS lights and would not be servicing the vehicle. There has been multiple mechanical issues with the vehicle including but not limited to the transmission going out, break recalls, engine leaks and now I'm being informed that my passenger air bag is deactivated. I just want a safe vehicle.
The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML500. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the SRS warning light would remain illuminated and a whining noise was present coming from the steering wheel. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.
MY CAR WAS PARKED AND HADN'T MOVED SINCE THE DAY BEFORE. I WAS JUST SITTING IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, OPENED DOOR TO EXIT WHEN SAB DEPLOYED HITTING ME SQUARE ON MY FRONTAL LOBE ANEURISM COIL.AMBULANCE TOOK ME TO HOSPITAL. JUST HAD FULLY SERVICED BY MERCEDES 2 WKS PRIOR. SUDDEN DRASTIC EYESIGHT DECLINE
I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT REAR ENDING ANOTHER CAR (STRAIGHT ON- NOSE TO TAIL OF OTHER CAR) AT FREEWAY SPEED (55-60) AND THE BREAKS SEEMED LIKE THEY WERE SPONGY/SOFT (MY BEST DESCRIPTION) AND AT THAT SPEED AND DIRECT HIT MY AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE WENT OFF, IT WAS A PRETTY SOLID IMPACT SO MUCH MY FRONT END AND HOOD, FRAME BENT.
WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASH. SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SDS) MALFUNCTION. TOOK CAR TO NEAREST MERCEDES DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG IGNITION SWITCH WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND CONTACT FAULT IN DRIVER FRONT SEAT HARNESS.SUGGESTED IFILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA AND MERCEDES BENZ USA TO GET REPAIRED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WITH THE HEATED SEAT IN ACTIVATION. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT, IN WHICH THE HEATER OVERHEATED AND CAUSED A BURNED HOLE IN THE CUSHION AND PADDING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A MINOR BURN TO THE LEFT HIP AS A RESULT OF THE EXCESSIVE HEAT PENETRATION. THERE WERE NO FLAMES PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE HEATED SEAT WIRE WAS DISENGAGED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SRS LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT WHENEVER ONE AIR BAG WAS MALFUNCTIONING, IT WOULD PREVENT ALL OF THE AIR BAGS FROM FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, STATING THAT THE WARRANTY ON THE AIR BAG HARNESS WOULD BE EXTENDED TO 100,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO DO ANY REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES ML350. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE DEALER NEEDED TO REPAIR IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY RECALIBRATED THE SYSTEM BUT THE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE AIR BAG LIGHT FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,593.
LEASED VEHICLE FROM MERCEDES BENZ OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, ON FRIDAY 10/13/06 SRS SYSTEM LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED IN RED, AND WOULDN'T GO OFF. CONTACTED DEALERS SERVICE ON 10/13/06, FRIDAY, SAME STATED, UPON MY INQUIRY, VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, AND TO BRING IT IN ON TUESDAY 10/17/06, FOR ITS' SCHEDULED FIRST APPOINTMENT AT 8:00 A.M.. UPON REVIEWING THE OPERATOR'S MANUAL FOR THE ML350, SAME DISCLOSED ON PAGE 407, "IN THE EVENT A MALFUNCTION OF THE SRS IS INDICATED AS OUTLINED ABOVE, THE SRS MAY NOT BE OPERATIONAL. FOR YOUR SAFETY, WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU VISIT AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES-BENZ LIGHT TRUCK CENTER IMMEDIATELY TO HAVE THE SYSTEM CHECKED, OTHERWISE THE SRS MAY NOT BE ACTIVATED WHEN NEEDED IN AN ACCIDENT, WHICH COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS OR FATAL INJURY, OR IT MIGHT DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY AND UNNECESSARILY WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT/OR INJURY TO YOU OR TO OTHERS." *NM
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026