1999 Mercedes Benz ML320

Routine

Owners filed 125 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling › engine › gasoline › belts and associated pulleys. No safety recall has been issued.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
72,000 milesMedian miles at failure

72 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,00075,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and Associated Pulleys13
000
Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist › Hose, Piping, and Connections10
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission10
202
Steering7
207
Vehicle Speed Control6
200
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine6
100
Service Brakes5
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump5
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline5
000
Engine and Engine Cooling4
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Steering
Filed Aug 2, 2023220,000 milesNM

The contact owns a 1999 Mercedes-Benz ML320. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH and other various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that she refilled the power steering reservoir several times and noted that there was a stain underneath her vehicle after parking overnight. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed and had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact related the failure to a closed NHTSA Action Number: PE3006 (Steering). The failure mileage was approximately 220,000.

Steering
Filed Jul 23, 2022NM

There was a recall on the steering on my 1999 Mercedes Benz . The Manufacturer said its closed . The steering is leaking and hard to drive and I fear the power steering pump will go out while I am driving the Vehicle. I fear for my safety. How can I get this recall opened and my vehicle fixed .

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 16, 2021CA

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT A WEEK AGO MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNDER SERIOUS IMPACTS MY CAR ROLLED SERVERAL TIMES BEFORE COMMING TO A STOP ON ITS SIDE NOT ONE AIRBAG WENT OFF ALSO THERE WAS A WARNING LIGHT LIT UP ABOUT THE BAS SYSTEM AND SOME OTHER MALFUNCTION THE TWO WARNING LIGHTS NEVER WENT OFF THEY STAYED ON CONSTANT WHILE DRIVING I HAVE SERIOUS INJURIES DUE TO NO AIRBAGS GOING OFF IM VERY DISSAPPOINTED IN THE FACT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN FIXED AND PREVENTED ANOTHER FRIEND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS I DO AND WILL FILE THEIR OWN COMPL;AINT NOW I DONT HAVE A VEHICAL PERIOD WHAT AM I SUSPOSED TO DO? IF MY KIDS WERE WITH ME I WOULD SUE FOR SURE THANK GOD THEY WERE NOT WITH ME !!! COME ON MERCEDES FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE MORE PEOPLE GET HURT YOUR WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM ALREADY DO SOMETHING!!

Service Brakes
Filed Sep 13, 202035 milesNV

THE YAW RATE SENSOR IS CAUSING THE CAR TO UNINTENDED BREAKING. IT STARTED THE BREAKING SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN JUNE, HOWEVER OVER A WEEK AGO THE ACTUAL CAR WILL BREAK WHILE IM DRIVE AND BRING THE CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP AND WILL NOT GO UNTIL I CUT THE CAR COMPLETELY OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT 10-15 MIN AND TURN IT BACK ON AND THEN IT WILL DRIVE AGAIN.

Service Brakes
Filed Mar 7, 2019175,000 milesVA

DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED 65MPH, THE ML320 SLAMMED ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE BREAK CAUSING TRUCK TO SWERVE RIGHT NEARLY OUT OF CONTROL. WHEN STOPPING AND CHECKING THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE, HUB AND BRAKE PAD WERE SMOKING AND VERY HOT

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 15, 2017212,000 milesOR

THIS IS IN REGARD TO NHTSA ID #10033607, ALSO MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE CAMPAIGN #2009100002 DATED JAN 2010, FOR MODEL 163. MY VEHICLE ISN'T COVERED BY ABOVE MERCEDES SERVICE CAMPAIGN BECAUSE IT'S V-6 MODEL, BUT SHOWING EXACTLY THE SAME SAFETY PROBLEM. I'VE TAKEN AND ATTACHED A FEW PHOTOS OF THE PROBLEM AREA SHOWING SEVERE DAMAGE TO FUEL LINE AND LESS SO TO BRAKE LINE. THE PHOTOS SHOWING SEVERE CHAFING BETWEEN FUEL LINE & BRAKE LINE JUST BELOW MASTER CYLINDER. THE SERVICE CAMPAIGN ONLY COVERS 8 CYLINDER MODELS, BUT MY 6 CYLINDER MODEL IS SHOWING EXACTLY THE SAME CHAFING AT THE SAME AREA. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEM, BUT JUST NOTICED THIS ISSUE LAST FEW DAYS.

Service Brakes
Filed Sep 8, 201495,540 milesNC

UNCOMMANDED BREAKING OF FRONT WHEELS RESULTED IN DECELERATION AND SEVERE OVERHEATING OF FRONT BRAKES. THIS OCCURRED WITHIN ONE MILE OF DESTINATION. HIGH ENGINE REVS AND DOWNSHIFTING OF THE TRANSMISSION WERE REQUIRED TO OVERCOME THE UNCOMMANDED BREAKING FORCE AND REACH THE DESTINATION. A SIMILAR SECOND OCCURRENCE EFFECTED ONLY THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE. *TR

Steering
Filed Jul 29, 201499,000 milesIL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. DJR

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 23, 201413,700 milesHI

99 MERCEDES ML320 FRONT RIGHT BRAKE OVERHEATED TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH. *TR

Air BagsCrash
Filed Jun 7, 2014138,000 milesNJ

MY 1999 MERCEDES ML-320 WAS TRAVELING ON A THROUGH HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN IT WAS BROADSIDED AT THE INTERSECTION BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHICH APPARENTLY DIDN'T STOP AT THE STOP SIGN. AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT, MY VEHICLE ROLLED OVER TWICE. THE SIDE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. I AM CONCERNED THAT THEY WERE DEFECTIVE; THEREFORE, I AM REQUESTING A SAFETY INVESTIGATION REGARDING POSSIBLE DEFECTS IN THE AIRBAGS OR DEVICES CONTROLLING SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR

Power TrainCrash
Filed Jun 17, 2013130,000 milesFL

WENT TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND IT SEEM TO SHIFT INTO A LOWER GEAR AN ACCELERATING, CAUSING IT TO LUNGE FORWARD INTO A LIGHT POLE. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 1, 2012100,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCERDES BENZ ML320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 55 MPH. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL CONTINUOUSLY BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND APPLIED BOTH FEET TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Oct 6, 201172,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. UPDATED 10/31/11 *BF UPDATED 12/08/11

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Sep 9, 2011144,000 milesOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING A CORNER, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO THE BRAKES AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL CRASHING INTO A BOULDER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES FROM THE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 30, 2011160,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFTER FROM PARK BUT THE SHIFTER REMAINED STUCK IN PARK. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES, THE CONTACT WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

Structure
Filed Mar 13, 2011120,000 milesCA

CONTINUING PROBLEMS WITH POWER STEERING. TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INQUIRY OVER 3 YEARS AGO; NO RESOLUTION PRESENTED. PROBLEMS HAVE PERSISTED AND GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. ONLY WHEN RESEARCHING, WAS I MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL. NO NOTIFICATION FROM MANUFACTURE OR DEALER. SUBSTANTIAL COSTS INCURRED AND VEHICLE CONTINUES TO LEAK AFTER NUMEROUS REPAIRS. MOONROOF UNABLE TO CLOSE 100% - TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. ADVISED THE PROBLEM WAS SEEN ROUTINELY WITH THIS PARTICULAR MOONROOF. ADVISED TO FORE-GO REPAIR DUE TO COST. UPON EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE CUSTOMARY AND UNSURE AS TO WHY THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED OR REPAIRS MADE BY THE MANUFACTURER. WOULD LIKE A WRITTEN RESPONSE OUTLINING OPTIONS AND RESOURCES TO REMEDY THESE ISSUES. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 21, 20101 milesNJ

I HAVE 2 COMPLAINTS AGAINST MERCEDES ML320 SUV. 1) WITH IGNITION OFF AND KEY REMOVED, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CAN BE SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND THE TRUCK STARTS TO ROLL. IT POSTS EXTREME DANGER TO PASSENGERS, ESPECIALLY, KIDS LEFT IN A PARKED VEHICLE, AS WELL AS PEDESTRIANS IN FRONT OR BEHIND THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE STANDING IN BETWEEN THIS VEHICLE AND ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE ON A SLOPE. 2) THE WELL KNOWN POWER LOCK FAILURE CAUSES THE MANUALLY LOCKED DOORS (INCLUDING CHILD PROOF REAR DOOR LOCKS) TO BE UNLOCKED AUTOMATICALLY WHENEVER THE VEHICLE STARTS IN MOTION FROM FULL STOP. IT IS DUE TO THE AUTO-LOCK FEATURE WHICH ATTEMPTS TO LOCK ALL DOORS WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTS TO MOVE FROM FULL STOP (E.G STOPPING FOR RED LIGHT). HOWEVER, DUE TO POWER LOCK FAILURE, IT CANNOT LOCK ALL THE DOORS AFTER 4-5 TIMES AND EVENTUALLY UNLOCKS ALL DOORS. THIS LEFT CHILDREN IN THE REAR IN DANGER OF OPENING THE DOORS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED TO ME TWICE; ONE AT 9700 MILES IN 2001 AND AT 70,000 MILES IN 2007. I HAD WRITTEN A LETTER TO MERCEDES BENZ USA TO COMPLAINT ABOUT THE POWER LOCK AND THEY JUST DENIED THAT IT IS A DEFECT. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed May 4, 2009107,000 milesCO

GAS PEDAL STUCK ON THE MERCEDES ML320 AND THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR (NO BRAKES) UNTIL A SECOND AND THIRD TRY. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Apr 29, 200987,000 milesCA

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THE CAR'S IDLE WENT TO ZERO. THIS HAPPENED HALF-WAY HOME. ITS A 30+ MILE DRIVE FROM WORK TO HOME. ESSENTIALLY THE CAR JUST QUIT OPERATING WHILE MERGING ON THE INTERSTATE. POWER STEERING WAS LOST AND THIS LEFT MY 8 MONTH PREGNANT WIFE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MERGING LANE TO THE INTERSTATE WITHOUT THE CAPABILITY TO RESTART THE CAR. SUCCESSIVE TRIES TO START THE CAR FAILED. ONLY AFTER 5 MINUTES THE CAR WAS ABLE TO START AND BE PULLED OVER TO A SAFE PLACE. TRIED A 2ND TIME TO DRIVE IT HOME AND IT LEFT ME STRANDED AGAIN WITHOUT IT BEING ABLE TO RESTART. HAD TO BE TOWED ON A FLATBED TOW TRUCK HOME THE REMAINDER OF THE DRIVE HOME. *TR

Steering
Filed Dec 10, 2008110,000 milesFL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE STEERING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DAMAGED AND THEY WOULD ONLY REPLACE THE POWER STEERING HOSE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE ONLY THE HOSE REPAIRED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

20 of 125 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2000
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20111000Routine
20100100Routine
200928310Do not drive
200821200Do not drive
200716220Do not drive
20061000Routine
20055000Routine
200322040Routine
200288180Routine
2001136070Routine
2000166060Routine
1999 — this page125020Routine
1998133050Routine

Compare every ML320 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.