Why Your Mercedes ML350 Might Roll Away Even When It Says Park

Steve from Boca Raton has a problem that would make any driver’s stomach drop. His 2013 Mercedes-Benz ML350 sometimes shows “Park” on the dashboard display, but the vehicle doesn’t actually engage the parking pawl. He’s watched his SUV start rolling four separate times after he stepped out, saved only by the parking brake.

” he wrote. His temporary fix? Restart the engine, shift to Drive, then back to Park until it sticks. But that’s no solution for a safety issue that could injure someone or damage property.

Steve isn’t alone. Mercedes-Benz has acknowledged a known issue in certain ML, GL, and R-Class models from the early 2010s. The culprit is often a faulty shift-by-wire control module or a worn transmission selector mechanism. When the system fails to send the correct signal, the transmission stays in Neutral even though the dashboard says Park.

Mercedes has issued technical service bulletins and, in some cases, goodwill repairs for owners who complain about this defect. But coverage varies by dealer and vehicle history.

If you own a similar Mercedes and notice your car creeping after you park, don’t ignore it. Always set the parking brake as a backup. Then get the transmission control module inspected by a shop that knows these systems inside out. The fix might involve a software update, a new shifter assembly, or a replacement module.

Either way, a rolling car is a crash waiting to happen. Take it from Steve: that parking brake isn’t optional.