A genuinely capable, comfortable mid-size luxury SUV paired with Mercedes's newer M276 V6 — a meaningfully different engine from the troubled M272 found in older models, with air suspension worth checking on its own terms.
The ML350's substantial SUV body is a comfortable, unstressed load for this newer-generation V6 — genuinely refined power delivery that handles the vehicle's weight without strain.
Air suspension was offered on this generation — worth checking specifically, since it's a separate consideration from the engine's own, generally reasonable, reliability profile and a known weak point across much of Mercedes's larger SUV and sedan lineup.
This is about the car itself — for engine-specific failure points, see the dedicated engine page below.
This ML350 is paired with the newer-generation M276 V6, a meaningfully different design from the older M272 covered elsewhere on this site. There is relatively little documented concern specific to this engine beyond general maintenance practices.
FULL ENGINE BREAKDOWNMercedes-Benz OM642 3.0L Diesel — Reliable or Not →If the SUV has air suspension, cycle it through its settings and confirm it holds height overnight, a known weak point worth checking regardless of the engine's own condition.
Beyond the air suspension check, there's relatively little engine-specific risk to flag on this newer-generation V6.
Test all comfort and convenience electronics during a viewing, since module faults become more common with age.