2000 Mercedes Benz 320

Routine

Owners filed 17 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System2
011
Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear1
100
Tires1
000
Suspension › Front1
000
Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist › Hose, Piping, and Connections1
000
Steering › Gear Box (other Than Rack and Pinion)1
000
Steering1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Steering
Filed Mar 27, 2014145,000 milesNY

WHILE DRIVING ALONG THE MAIN STREET SUDDENLY THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN. PULLED OVER AND HAD CAR TOWED BACK TO THE HOUSE. *TR

Electrical SystemFire1 injured
Filed Aug 28, 2013167,000 milesNV

WE BOUGHT OUR ML 320 NEW. I HAVE HAD IT FOR 13 YEARS. NO ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. A WEEK AGO I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT & SMOKE FILLED THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. WITHIN MINUTES MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE INTERIOR WAS IN FLAMES & THE HENDERSON FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. MY CAR WAS BURNED & COULDN'T BE REPAIRED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW. I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED MY ML & WAS GOING TO PURCHASE ANOTHER UNTIL MY CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES LAST WEEK. I AM NOW HEARING STORIES FROM OTHER ACQUAINTANCES THAT THEY TOO EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. NOW, I SEE THAT MERCEDES HAS NOT OWNED UP TO THEIR VEHICLE DEFECTS AND HAS NOT HAD A SAFETY RECALL. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE CAR LASTED THIS LONG & VERY BLESSED MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT IN THE CAR WITH ME. *TT

Air Bags
Filed Nov 28, 2009105,000 milesLA

SRS LIGHT STAYS ON , DEFECTIVE AIR BAG. *TR

Suspension › Front
Filed Dec 12, 2008101,000 milesMA

IN NOVEMBER 2008 I HEARD A BANG AND MY FRONT END DROPPED, I PULLED OVER AND DROVE HOME SLOWLY AND THEN HEARD ANOTHER BANG AS I PULLED INTO DRIVE WAY. THE TWO FRONT PERCHES THAT HOLD THE SPRINGS IN PLACE FAILED DUE TO MFG DEFECT. I DID RESEARCH ON INTERNET AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO E320 SINCE 1999. DEALERS SAID THEY ARE FIXING IT FOR 8 YEARS AND THEN FOUND OUT 8 YEARS FROM MFG DATE NOT MODEL YEAR. A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE AND NO DATE WOULD BE USED. MFG WON'T PAY FOR REPAIRS. *TR

Service Brakes, Electric
Filed Aug 12, 200892,000 milesNJ

I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 60 MPH WHEN THE CARS BRAKE SYSTEM WENT ON WITH ANY COMMAND. THE YAW SENSOR ON THE BRAKES SYSTEM ARE DEFECTIVE AND THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD REPLACE THEM. I ALMOST GOT INTO ANY ACCIDENT. *TR

Electrical System › Ignition › Module
Filed Feb 11, 2008MD

MY 2000 MERCEDEZ ML 320 IGNITION IS STARTING BUT NOT FAIL TO START THE ENGINE. A COMPUTER TEST CONDUCTED SHOWS THAT THE ML320 COMPUTER IS DEFECTED. PRIOR TO THIS PROBLEM, THE SAME VEHICLE HAS A HOSE POWER STEERING WHICH I HAD REPAIRED NOT KNOWING THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HOSE POWER STEERING. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANY RECALL EXIST FOR 2000 MERCEDEZ ML 320 REFERENCE TO THE COMPUTER. THANKS. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Mar 5, 200746,000 milesMO

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2000 MERCEDES ML 320 WITH 46000 FAILURE MILEAGE AT 45 MPH THE BRAKES ENGAGED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE BRAKES REMAINED ENGAGED, THEREFORE THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MERCEDES DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE YAW SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE ONGOING INVESTIGATION, PE07-007. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55000.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Jan 22, 200782,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CLK 320 MERCEDES BENZ. WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAS A VACCUM LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE, WHICH CAUSED BRAKE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS PRESENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
Filed Dec 12, 200546,000 milesOH

THIS CAR HAS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RELATED DESIGN DEFECT. THE CAR JERKED TO A SUDDEN STOP AFTER WATER WAS SPILLED FROM THE CUP HOLDER ONTO THE SHIFT CONSOLE. I WAS LUCKILY DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED(LESS THAN 25 MPH). THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKED. I PULLED OVER AND COULDN'T SHIFT THE CAR OUT OF GEAR. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF, AND THEN I COULD GET TO NEUTRAL (LUCKILY ON A FLAT STREET OR THE CAR WOULD HAVE ROLLED AWAY FROM ME). AFTER TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF I GOT THE GEAR SHIFT INTO PARK. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MERCEDES DEALER, WHO TOLD ME THIS HAPPENS A LOT AND THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY BE $800 TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONICS THAT HAD SHORTED OUT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT DESIGN FLAW TO HAVE A CUP HOLDER NEXT TO AN AREA PRONE TO SHORTING OUT WITH WATER EXPOSURE. THIS WAS A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER. ALSO I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY.. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEED, I'M FEARFUL I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. THIS INCIDENT APPEARS TO BE SIMILAR TO DP 05-007 DATED 11/07/2005 WHICH I FOUND ON YOUR WEB SITE. STEVE CHAN IS LISTED AS THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR. *JB

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist › Hose, Piping, and Connections
Filed Oct 13, 2005PA

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML 320 RECEIVED RECALL 03V121000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL MB 2003-040005, AND WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH DEALERSHIP. THE RECALL IS ON NHTSA # 03V121000 AND MB # 2003-040005 THE DEALERSHIP WAS TELLING HER THAT THEY COULD NOT GET THE PARTS FOR RECALL REPAIRS, AND THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO GET THEM. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN WAITING ON PARTS FOR TWO WEEKS. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT TAKE THE CONTACT'S TELEPHONE CALLS. THE CONTACT CALLED NUMEROUS TIMES, AND THE SALESMAN WILL NOT RESPOND. SHE WAS GETTING VERY FRUSTRATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR RECALL WORK ON MB 2003-040005 CONCERNING THE HARMONIC BALANCER. THE DEALERSHIP THEN CHECKED THE CAR ON 9-29-05. THE DEALERSHIP WAS TELLING HER THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS. MERCEDES BENZ WAS NOT GOING TO SUPPLY HER WITH A RENTAL CAR. THE CONTACT CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ, AND THEY TOLD HER TO GO THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP.*AK

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control ModuleCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 5, 200455,000 milesCA

CONSUMER 'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO SENT OUT A TEAM OF TECHNICIANS TO INVESTIGATE THE CRASH, AND THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT HIT IN THE RIGHT SPOT. THUS, NOT ALLOWING THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY AS DESIGNED. *AK

Electrical System
Filed Apr 15, 2004GA

VEHICLE HAD ENCOUNTERED NUMEROUS MECHANICAL AND CONTROL ISSUES FROM THE OUTSET. *PH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL PUMP, ACCELERATOR PEDAL, POWER STEERING, WINDOWS, AND AIR BAG LIGHTS. *CB

Tires
Filed Oct 26, 2003333,959 milesNJ

TIRE TORE APART ALL AROUND, REELED OFF MY M.BENZ E 320. *LA

Seats › Front Assembly › Seat Heater/CoolerFire1 injured
Filed Sep 3, 200333,230 milesMA

THE SEAT HEATER IN MY MERCEDES BENZ 320ML GAVE ME SECOND DEGREE BURNS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT PULLS TOO MANY AMPS. THEY HAVE BEEN EVASIVE IN ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RETURN OF MY VEHICLE, THERE HAVE BEEN OTHERS ON THE OWNERS' WEB SITE WHO HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM LEADING ME TO BELIEVE I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO SUFFER FROM AN OVER HEATED CAR SEAT. *AK

Visibility › Glass, Side/RearCrash
Filed Jun 9, 2003CA

NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH 2000 MERCEDES BENZ...REAR GLASS EXPLODED AND CONCERNS ABOUT BRAKE EQUIPMENT. *MR THE BRAKES DIDN'T FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE PEDAL FELT SOFT AND IT TOOK EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR GLASS IMPLOLDED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP FROM THE WINDOW REPAIR, IT IMPLODED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REFUND OF PURCHASE OR A REPLACEMENT. *SCC. THE CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED, HOWEVER DID NOT STATE IN DEFECTS. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Sep 28, 2002CA

MY WIFE WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CAR WAS MAKING A NOISE. THE CAR HAD SUDDENLY LEAKED ITS POWER STEERING FLUID! THANK GOD IT HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT VERSUS ON SOME WINDING ROAD. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO FLETCHER JONES AND KEN DENAULT, A SERVICE SPECIALIST, CALLED TO CONFIRM THEY HAD THE CAR. MY WIFE TOOK THE CALL AND TOLD HIM THAT ALL THE POWER STEERING FLUID HAD RUN OUT OF THE CAR. HIS REPLY WAS THAT HE HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE, "IF A CLAMP ON THE HOSE COMES LOOSE THEN THE FLUID COULD LEAK OUT". HE TOLD HER THEY WOULD PUT A NEWER TYPE CLAMP ON THE HOSE. LATER IN THE SAME DAY DURING A CONVERSATION I HAD WITH KEN DENAULT, HE TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD SEEN THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THEY WOULD PUT A BETTER CLAMP ON THE HOSE. MY REPLY WAS THAT THIS COULD BE AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND HE AGEED. I ASKED HIM WHY THEY WERE LETTING ME DRIVE AROUND WITH A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS AND HE TOLD ME THAT IT WASN'T FLETCHER JONES' RESPONSIBLITY FOR A RECALL, IT WAS MERCEDES' RESPONSIBLITY. THE NET OF ALL THIS, ALONG WITH OTHER UNRELATED INCIDENTS IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS THAT WERE ALSO POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. MY WIFE REFUSES TO DRIVE THE CAR AND BOTH OF US WILL NOT TAKE THE CAR ON ANY TRIPS. I FEEL UNEASY DRIVING THE CAR AND HAVE ANOTHER YEAR LEFT ON THE LEASE. CAN YOUR AGENCY ASSIST IN MAKING OTHERS AWARE THEY ARE DRIVING IN A CAR THAT THE STEERING COULD FAIL? FLETCHER JONES IS AWARE OF THIS BUT APPARENTLY HAS DONE

Steering › Gear Box (other Than Rack and Pinion)
Filed Sep 19, 2001NY

CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH STEERING. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER HAD STEERING BOX REPLACED. AND ALSO BUSHING IN THE STEERING BOX HAS BEEN REPLACED. WHEN MAKING A TURN STEERING WILL MAKE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE.*AK

17 of 17 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1994
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200211000Routine
200117000Routine
2000 — this page17020Routine
199930010Routine
199839010Routine
199719010Routine
199614010Routine
199529023Fatalities reported
199449120Routine

Compare every 320 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.