2000 Mercedes Benz ML320

Routine

Owners filed 166 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the steering. No safety recall has been issued.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

105 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 120,000150,000 miles; the median is 79,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist › Hose, Piping, and Connections16
010
Steering13
110
Service Brakes12
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission10
101
Air Bags9
305
Electrical System8
020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)7
001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic6
000
Engine and Engine Cooling6
000
Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System5
100

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service Brakes
Filed May 10, 2023HI

I was driving full freeway speed when the brake assist system suddenly engaged which slammed on my brakes immediately and sent me skidding all over the freeway trying to maintain control of the vehicle and not crash into anything. All the while the cars behind me had to veer out of the way. Several accidents were almost caused by this incident. This safety feature is now a safety hazard. This should never ever happen. This I'd comparable to an airbag suddenly deploying while driving. An absolutely terrifying experience. The bas fct light came on which is how I learned of the brake assist system. This problem is repeatable because it happened 2 more times as I had to get my vehicle home but luckily I didn't date take the freeway again. Problem just started 5/7/23 without any warning at all.

Service Brakes
Filed Apr 5, 2023OR

Hard braking suddenly activated without driver input, smoke coming from front wheels. YAW SENSOR malfunction indicated by OBD scanner (checked after incident)

Electrical System
Filed Nov 5, 2020220,000 milesWA

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FROM THE AUCTION IN ALGONA NAMED WHITEY'S PUBLIC AUTO AUCTION AND THAT VERY DAY I HAD TO PUT POWER STEERING FLUID IN BECAUSE THERE WAS A LEAK AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. I'VE HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED AND IT CONTINUES TO LEAK. I GOT ON THE INTERNET AND STARTED TO RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jul 14, 2020219,444 milesVA

STEERING IS HARD TO TURN. OVER HEATS AND WILL NOT KEEP COOLINAT DOWN

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jul 4, 2020235,000 milesNJ

THE METHOD IN WHICH A FUEL TANK IS FASTENED TO THE VEHICLE CHASSIS USES A STEEL STRUT TO SUPPORT A SERIES OF STAINLESS STEEL STRAPS. THE DISSIMILARITY IN METALS USED IN FASTENING THE HARDWARE OF BOTH COMBINED WITH EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS WILL CAUSE THE STRUT TO CORRODE WITHOUT WARNING AND THE FUEL TANK TO DROP ONTO THE ROADWAY WITHOUT PRIOR SYMPTOMS OR WARNING. THE CORROSION AT THE CRITICAL FASTING POINTS IS NOT OBVIOUS WITH ROUTINE INSPECTION. WITH MANY OF THESE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM 1998 THROUGH 2005 STILL ON THE ROAD TODAY, OWNERS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE.

Air Bags
Filed Jun 3, 2020195,000 milesCA

SRS. ETS. ABA LIGHTS ON. BUZZING. *TR

Electronic Stability Control (esc)1 injured
Filed Dec 10, 201925 milesCA

AS I NOTICED IN OTHER COMPLAINTS THEY ALL FOCUS IN THE POWER STEERING ISSUES, FUEL / OIL LEAKS AND LOSS, ESP OPTION , ELECTRICAL MAIL FUNCTIONS THAT RELATE WITH THE ECU, PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFTER. ALL THESE ARE SAFETY CONCERNS SINCE ALL THE ABOVE PROBLEMS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT . I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS IN MY CAR AND IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING AS THE CAR IS NOT IN SPEED MOTION UNLESS YOU USE STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL , THE ESP IS NOT WORKING AT ALL , THE SHIFTER IS NOT CHANGING TO DRIVE UNLESS YOU OVERRIDE IT AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO START IT AND THE FUEL ALONG WITH THE OIL IS LEAKING AND ALL THE FLUIDS ARE DISAPPEARING IN NO TIME . ALL THESE ARE SAFETY HAZARDS AND NOT JUST A SIMPLE PROBLEM . THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A REPAIR FOR ALL OF THESE ISSUES ASAP FREE OF CHARGE FROM MERCEDES FOR THE OWNERS OF THE PARTICULAR DEFECTIVE VEHICLES . THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

Engine
Filed May 13, 2019136,700 milesCA

ONGOING ISSUE THAT IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO REPLICATE. VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY DIE WHILE DRIVING OR IDLING, WITHOUT WARNING, AND TAKE APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES TO RESTART. IGNITION WILL SOMETIMES STICK AND NOT START. VEHICLE ALMOST CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE IN ONE INSTANCE WHERE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED WHILE APPROACHING STOP LIGHT.

Steering
Filed Nov 27, 2018CA

MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT ALOT AND AS WELL LEAK ONTO THE GROUND I FIND IT VERY HARD TO STEER MY CAR AT TIMES . THE POWER STEERING FLUID DOESN'T LAST VERY LONG IT'S BEEN FIXED 1 AND THE PROBLEM PERSIST .

Steering
Filed Jul 26, 2018178,888 milesTX

DIFFICULT TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. USES LOT OF FORCE TO MOVE THE STELRING

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Jul 12, 2018169,780 milesFL

TAKATA RECALL I JUST BOUGHT A 2000 MERCEDES ML 320. MY AC STOPPED WORKING AND TOOK IT TO A MERCEDES CERTIFIED MECHANIC. TOLD ME IT WAS A PRESSURE SENSOR. HE THEN CALLED ME BACK AND TOLD ME THAT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD FALLEN APART AND ALL WIRES WERE TOUCHING EACH OTHER MAKING SHORTS THRU OUT THE CAR. HE TOLD ME THAT THE SHORTS HAD FRIED MY COMPUTER AND THE ONLY WAY TO FIX ALL THIS WAS TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS. AT ALMOST $2000.00 FOR THE REPAIR IT SEEMS THAT MERCEDES INTENTIONALLY DID THIS TO MAKE MONEY. THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE AS THEY DID IT SO THE WIRING HARNESS WOULD BIO DEGRADE WHEN THE CAR WAS JUNKED. NOT A GOOD PRACTICE TO SELL CARS IN THE UNITED STATES.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Catalytic Convertor
Filed Jul 20, 2017NJ

2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CRACKED EXHAUST SYSTEM AND CRACKED CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS VISUALLY INSPECTED AND DOCUMENTED THAT RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. *JS

Structure › Body
Filed Jun 28, 2016155,000 milesAR

ON APRIL 21, 2016 WE PURCHASED TWO USED TIRES FROM A LOCAL COMPANY CALLED TIRE TRACKS FOR OUR SON'S CAR. THEY WERE GENERAL TIRES CALLED "GRABBERS", P255/65R16. THE REAR TIRES WERE MOVED TO THE FRONT AND THE TIRES THAT WE PURCHASED WERE PUT ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. A "COURTESY INSPECTION" WAS PERFORMED. ON MAY 12, 2016 OUR SON HAD A LEFT REAR BLOWOUT AS HE WAS EXITING I-49 SOUTH. HE WAS NOT INJURED BUT THERE WAS DAMAGE TO HIS CAR WHERE THE STEEL BELT HAD REPEATEDLY HIT HIS CAR UNTIL HE COULD PULL OVER SAFELY. THE COMPANY REPLACED THE TIRE. THEN ON JUNE 15, 2016 I WAS FOLLOWING MY SON HOME FROM LITTLE ROCK. WE WERE TRAVELING NORTH ON I-49. HE WAS IN THE LEFT LANE TRAVELING 70-75 MPH AND HAD ANOTHER BLOWOUT WITH THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. THANKFULLY, HE WAS NOT INJURED AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER. DAMAGE TO HIS CAR WAS MORE SEVERE. HIS RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT WAS BUSTED AS WELL AS HIS BUMPER. AGAIN, THE RIGHT REAR FENDER SUSTAINED DAMAGE BECAUSE OF THE STEEL BELT REPEATEDLY HITTING HIS CAR. THE COMPANY

Service Brakes
Filed Apr 29, 20168 milesPA

SUDDEN AND COMPLETE FAILURE OF FRONT BRAKES DUE TO BREAKAGE OF FRONT STEEL BRAKE LINES, LOST ALL FLUID, FORTUNATELY HAPPENED IN THE PARKING LOT AND NOT DURING A RECENT TRIP TO MASS AND NEW YORK CITY

Visibility
Filed Mar 1, 2016200,000 milesNV

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ROLL DOWN BOTH PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS, THEY FAILED TO ROLL DOWN. THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE ABS, BRAKE FAILURE SWITCH, AND ESP WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WHEN USING THE POWER STEERING TO ATTEMPT TO TURN THE VEHICLE, THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION OF THE POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE COMPLETING THE TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

Service Brakes
Filed Jul 28, 2015160,020 milesMN

WAS DRIVING TRUCK AT HIGHWAY, WHEN BRAKES ACTIVATED BY ITSELF, ABS, TRACTION LIGHT, BRAKE LAMP AND HAZARDS FLASHED. HAD TO IMMEDIATELY MOVE TO SIDE OF ROAD, WHILE BRAKES WHERE ACTIVATING. FELT AS IF ABS WAS ACTIVATING AS IF I WAS SLIDING ON AND ICY ROAD. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED AS I WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE MORE THAT 5 FEET

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 3, 201516,000 milesCA

BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY SUDDENLY WHEN MY MECHANIC WAS MOVING AUTO FROM HIS GARAGE AFTER SERVICING MY TRANSMISSION I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT HAD I PICKED UP MY CAR WITHOUT THAT HAPPENING TO HIM NEVER EXPECTED A BRAKE LINE TO RUST AND CAUSE BRAKES TO SUDDENLY BE GONE I AM SO WORRIED ANOTHER CAR WILL CAUSE DEATHS IF THIS DEFECT IS NOT KNOWN TO OWNER

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 3, 2015150,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TEST DRIVEN BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED AND FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

Service Brakes
Filed Mar 13, 201596,000 milesNY

I HAVE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF A SITUATION WHERE THE ABS, ESP, AND ETS LIGHTS COME ON AND A NOISE OCCURS WHEN DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AT LOW SPEEDS. THE NOISE STOPS ONLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH. THERE IS ALSO A VIBRATION THAT OCCURS THAT CAN BE FELT BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE NOISE CONTINUES AS SOON AS THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. THE CAR BECOMES DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN DOES NOT CLEAR THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF, A NOISE CAN BE HEARD COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD THAT SOUNDS LIKE A MOTOR OR A FAN THAT IS RUNNING. THIS CONTINUES FOR HOURS. THE HOOD OF THE CAR BECOMES WARM TO HOT TO THE TOUCH. AT SOME POINT THE FAN OR MOTOR STOPS RUNNING. IF THE CAR BATTERY HAS NOT BEEN DRAINED, THE CAR FUNCTIONS NORMALLY--UNTIL THE NEXT TIME THAT THE PROBLEM OCCURS. AFTER A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH, I FOUND MANY SIMILAR REPORTS OF THESE SYMPTOMS BY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE OF THE SAME OR SIMILAR YEAR OF MANUFACTURE. THE VEHICLE OWNERS HAVE RECEIVED DIAGNOSES OF A BAD ABS CONTROL MODULE, A BAD ABS PUMP, BAD SOLDER JOINTS ON THE ABS PUMP ASSEMBLY'S CIRCUIT BOARD, OR BAD RELAYS IN THE FUSE BOX. REPAIRS HAVE COST IN THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR WHAT IS APPARENTLY, A KNOWN DEFECT. DRIVERS OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO FRIGHTENING INCIDENTS WHERE THEIR SAFETY HAS BEEN COMPROMISED BY THEIR VEHICLES. I REALIZE THAT THE LAW GOVERNS SAFETY DEFECTS IN CARS MANUFACTURED WITHIN THE LAST 10

Service Brakes
Filed Jan 23, 2015130,000 milesCA

VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHES OFF ITS ANTI-LOCK-BRAKE AND ELECTRONIC-STABILITY-CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR UNKNOWN REASON, THEREBY ENDANGERING ITS DRIVER AND PASSENGERS, AS WELL AS OTHER VEHICLE'S DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS, EVERY TIME IT'S DRIVEN. *TR

20 of 166 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
2000 — this page166060Routine
1999125020Routine
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.