RoadVitals

2000 Mercedes-Benz 320 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
Latest Mar 27, 2014
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
12
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
4

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2000 Mercedes-Benz 320, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Brakes520.8%
  • Steering416.7%
  • Electrical312.5%
  • Airbags312.5%
  • Visibility28.3%
  • Engine14.2%
  • Fuel system14.2%
  • Driver assistance14.2%
  • Suspension14.2%
  • Tires & wheels14.2%
  • Transmission14.2%
  • Heating & air conditioning14.2%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 10237893 · filed Aug 12, 2008

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

NHTSA ID 10184217 · filed Mar 5, 2007

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 10575096 · filed Mar 27, 2014

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

NHTSA ID 10139548 · filed Oct 13, 2005

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 10537615 · filed Aug 28, 2013

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

NHTSA ID 10217654 · filed Feb 11, 2008

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

SRS LIGHT STAYS ON , DEFECTIVE AIR BAG. *TR

NHTSA ID 10293788 · filed Nov 28, 2009

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

NHTSA ID 10099524 · filed Nov 5, 2004

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 10067469 · filed Apr 15, 2004

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

NHTSA ID 10022740 · filed Jun 9, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 10139548 · filed Oct 13, 2005

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 10067469 · filed Apr 15, 2004

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 10067469 · filed Apr 15, 2004

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 10251609 · filed Dec 12, 2008

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 10043599 · filed Oct 26, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 10144946 · filed Dec 12, 2005

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Heating & air conditioning

Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 10037183 · filed Sep 3, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .