Going north on I-95 in mass at 65 MPH in a driving rain the car suddenly lost ability to accelerate. The RPM and speedometer both went to 0, and the nothing happened when pressing the accelerator. All other systems (including brake, lights, radio, wipers, etc) appeared to work fine. Was able to get to shoulder, put car in park, and restart car. Everything was fine afterwards, but obviously a…
2013 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class powertrain problems
moderate 7 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
7
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
When does it fail?
Of the 7 powertrain complaints filed for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-benz ml350. While parking the vehicle with the brake pedal depressed and the gear shifter in the reverse position, the vehicle accelerated backwards on its own. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was driven to the dealer, but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2013 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2013 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 7 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 7 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 70,700 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Mercedes-Benz/ML-Class.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.