RoadVitals

1998 Mercedes-Benz M Class 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.
5
Latest Oct 18, 2009
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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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.
1

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1998 Mercedes-Benz M Class, 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

  • Body & structure233.3%
  • Engine233.3%
  • Powertrain (other)116.7%
  • Steering116.7%

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

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

ON DECEMBER 29TH WHILE TRAVELING WITH MY FAMILY ON I-77 NORTH IN VIRGINIA THE METAL SUNROOF WIND DEFLECTOR ON MY 1998 MERCEDES ML320 COMPLETELY AND WITHOUT WARNING BROKE OFF AND FLEW INTO THE PATH OF SEVERAL AUTOMOBILES. A MAJOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED. MY ML320 IS WELL MAINTAINED AND ONLY SERVICED BY THE DEALER WHOM SOLD ME THE CAR.

NHTSA ID 10000688 · filed Jan 2, 2003

REAR DOOR LOCK FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID 606535 · filed Feb 1, 1999

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

NO POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING WHICH IS HARD TO STEER THAT MIGHT CAUSE INTO AN ACCIDENT. THE HARMONIC BALANCER FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID 10089062 · filed Sep 3, 2004

THE CRANKSHAFT HARMONIC BALANCER PULLEY OF MY MERCEDES ML 320 GAVE OUT ON ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE BELT STARTED TO BURN. I CALLED THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER IN HONOLULU, HI AND THE SERVICE MANAGER, DAN TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE PULLEY TO DATE AND THAT I SHOULD BRING MY ML 320 IN TO GET REPAIRED. DAN STATED THAT THE PULLEY MAY NOT BE THE ONLY PART THAT IS DAMAGED AND THAT THE COST COULD PROBABLY GO UP IN PRICE. I STATED THAT I HAD A MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THAT NOTHING ELSE WAS DAMAGED. DAN INSISTED THAT THERE WERE PROBABLY INTERNAL DAMAGES. AT THAT POINT, I DECIDED TO JUST PURCHASE THE PART AND HAVE MY MECHANIC FIX MY CAR BECAUSE MY MECHANIC LOOKED AT MY CAR THOROUGHY AND I FELT THAT THE MANAGER JUST WANTED TO HAVE ME BRING IN MY CAR IN FOR THE REPAIR(S) WHICH WOULD HAVE PROBABLY COST ME A LOT OF MONEY. *AK

NHTSA ID 10062287 · filed Mar 15, 2004

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

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT IN A SHOPPING CENTER AND GOING ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR, SUDDENLY THE ACCELERATOR WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I CRASHED INTO 2 CARS. LUCKILY, I WAS NOT HURT AND THE DAMAGE TO THE 3 CARS WAS SLIGHT BUMPER DAMAGE. I CALLED THE POLICE AND MADE A REPORT. I BROUGHT IT TO THE GARAGE THE NEXT DAY TO HAVE THE CHECKED AND NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. THE NEXT DAY I WENT ON THE INTERNET THE CHECK FOR SIMILAR OCCURRENCES AND FOUND SEVERAL. MY CAR WAS A MERCEDES BENZ ML320 SUV. *TR

NHTSA ID 10288856 · filed Oct 18, 2009

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

NO POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING WHICH IS HARD TO STEER THAT MIGHT CAUSE INTO AN ACCIDENT. THE HARMONIC BALANCER FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID 10089062 · filed Sep 3, 2004

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 .