1998 Mercedes-Benz ML320 Electrical Problems

MY BATTERY WAS LOW AND UNKNOWN TO ME THE ML320 FOR THIS YEAR LOSES ITS TRANSPONDER CODES IN THE DAS SECURITY MODULE WHEN YOU TRY TO START THE VEHICLE WITH A LOW BATTERY. THIS IS EVIDENTALLY THE THIRD KEY THAT HAS LOST ITS PROGRAMMING ON MY VEHICLE DUE TO LOW BATTERY VOLTAGE. COST SO FAR IS 499 FOR A KEY, WEEKS WAITING FOR THE KEY FROM GERMANY, AND 300 TO PROGRAM IT ONCE THEY RECIEVE THE KEY. ITS A DEALERSHIP ONLY ITEM SO ITS VERY VERY COSTLY. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MERCADES AND CHECKING THE FORUMS IT SEEMS THAT EVERYONE THAT HAS 1998-2000 MODEL MERCADES ALL LOSE THEIR TRANSPONDER CODES BETWEEN 129,000 AND 132,000 MILES NO MATTER WHAT.THIS IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND A KNOWN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY MERCADES. I NEVER HAD THESE ISSUES WITH MY TWO 2002 ML500'S BUT I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER BENZ IN MY LIFE. *JS

NHTSA ID

10669353

Incident

Dec 27, 2014

Mileage

131,459 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR UNRELATED ISSUES WHEN SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION KEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INFORMED AS TO WHY THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE KEY WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT IN ORDER TO REMEDY THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED AN ENTIRE NEW IGNITION SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED DURING RESEARCH THAT MERCEDS BENZ INSTALLED AN INADEQUATE COMPUTER SYSTEM IN HER VEHICLE. THE SYSTEM WOULD ONLY ALLOW EIGHT KEYS TO BE MADE FOR THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER FELT IT WAS A SCAM BY MB TO FORCE THEIR CUSTOMERS TO PURCHASE A NEW COMPUTER, IGNITION, ETC, FOR THE VEHICLE AFTER THE 8TH KEY HAD BEEN MADE. THEY CLAIMED IT WAS MADE THAT WAY FOR SECURITY REASON. THE CONSUMER CALLED TWO DEALERSHIPS AND WAS GIVEN A PRICE OF $4,000 TO $5,000. THE CONSUMER FINALLY HAD THE KEY, COMPUTER AND OTHER PARTS REPLACED BY A LOCKSMITH FOR $1,400. THE RADIATOR, AIR CONDITION AND TWO MIRROR ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 07/11/12

NHTSA ID

10458322

Incident

May 9, 2012

Mileage

180,000 mi

CAR FAILS TO START. WE HAD THIS CAR TOWED TO A DEALER 40 MILES AWAY FROM OUR DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL IN MI. NEEDS NEW KEY SYSTEM AS CHIP NOT RECOGNIZED AND IGNITION SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE RE-KEYED. 8 KEYS HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO THIS CAR,(WE BOUGHT IT USED). WE ONLY RECEIVED 1 WITH OUR PURCHASE! EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS A KEY HAS TO BE CHANGED. COST ESTIMATED AT $4000. WE SEE THIS AS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW, NOT A SECURITY BENEFIT. ESPECIALLLY SINCE THEIR KEYS JUST QUIT WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10390550

Incident

Mar 6, 2011

Mileage

71,000 mi

ON MY MERCEDES ML320, 1998 THE KEY REFUSE TO START THE ENGINE. I WAS TOLD AT PLAZA MOTORS IN ST,. LOUIS MO. THAT THE CAR DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY ANY MORE. UPON MY RESEARCH I FOUND THAT IT IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ML320 SERIES WHICH IS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM ON THE PART OF THE MANUFACTURER ESPECIALLY THE EARLIER ONCE 1998-2000 AND IT WILL CAUSE $6700.00 TO FIX. I WILL APPRECIATE AN INVESTIGATION, IT'S SO COMMON THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SELLING THEIR CARS BECAUSE OF THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10236339

Incident

Jul 18, 2008

Mileage

125,000 mi

INSTRUMENT LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT UP. INSTRUMENTS CANNOT BE SEEN AT NIGHT INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAGE. POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES ARE RUNNING OUT OF FUEL OR EXCEEDING THE SAFE SPEED LIMITS BECAUSE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT VISIBLE. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORST WITH TIME. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW AND DEALERS BLAME THE PROBLEM ON LIGHT BULB PROBLEMS. SOMETIME RAPPING THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAUSE THE LIGHTS TO COME BACK ON INDICATING THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CONNECTION AND NOT THE BULBS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT WITH THE BULB CONNECTIONS AS THE PROBLEM IS RECURRING AND THE DEALERS ARE NOT TRULY FIXING THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10156906

Incident

Apr 26, 2006

CAR FAILED TO START AS KEY SECURITY CHIP NOT RECONIZED. NEEDS NEW KEY. TOWED TO DEALER WHO SAID 8 KEYS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ISSUED TO THIS CAR, MUST REPLACE ALL LOCKS, ENGINE MODULES, ETC COST $3600.00. CONSIDER THIS MAJOR DESIGN FLAW. *JB

NHTSA ID

10147106

Incident

Jan 6, 2006

Mileage

80,000 mi

OUR 1998 MERCEDES M320 HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO UNEXPECTED STALLING FOR SOME TIME. MORE RECENTLY THIS HAS INCREASED IN FREQUENCY AND WE HAVE PERIODS OF LOSS (REDUCTION) OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER ADVISES THAT WE HAVE DETERIORATION OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON NEWER MODELS OF THE M CLASS - BUT NOT OUR YEAR. WE HAVE THE CAR AT THE DEALER WAITING FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS. WE ARE TOLD IT WILL BE A NUMBER OF WEEKS SINCE THE PARTS ARE IN GREAT DEMAND. REPAIRS WILL COST OVER $2,000 - BUT THE CAR IS CLEARLY UNSAFE. MOST FREQUENT STALLS ARE STARTING AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. ONE CONCERN IS KNOWING THIS PROBLEM WITH MODEL YEARS JUST NEWER THAN OURS ARE SUBJECT TO RECALL WHILE OUR YEAR ISN'T. THE OTHER ISSUE IS HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS FOR THE DEALER TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM UNTIL IT BECAME VERY SEVERE (OR THEY LEARNED OF THE SOLUTION DUE TO THE RECALL OF OTHER YEARS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10141589

Incident

Oct 10, 2005

Mileage

145,000 mi

LAUNDRY LIST OF FAILURES. JACK HAS ALMOST KILLED ME WHILE CHANGING TIRE. VEHICLE FELL, ALMOST HITTING ME BUT CATCHING SIDE OF VEHICLE BEFORE LANDING ON ME! HOOD LATCH HAS FAILED ON A FEW OCCASIONS, CAUSING HOOD TO OPEN WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. AIR MASS METER FAILED. HAS REQUIRED 5 (FIVE!) ALIGNMENTS IN TWO YEARS. WHEN BROUGHT TO DEALER'S ATTENTION, WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. A MONTH LATER REQUIRES ANOTHER ALIGNMENT. ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS CAUSES WEAR ON TIRES, WHICH HAS CAUSED HYDROPLANING AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE SWERVES UNCONTROLLABLY WHEN HITS ANYTHING OTHER THAN FLAT ROAD. TRANSFER CASE MOTOR FIXED BY DEALER WITHOUT CONSULTING. AFTER REPAIR, TRANSFER CASE MOTOR FAILED. DEALER STATES OWNER RESPONSIBLE FOR COSTS. HAS HAD REPAIR OF HARMONIC BALANCER ON FRONT OF ENGINE DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILDUP LEADING TO OIL LEAK AND FAILURE OF BELT TENSIONER. WINDOW SWITCHES HAVE FAILED TWICE AND FIXED AT EXPENSE OF OWNER. SIX DIFFERENT KEYS HAVE FAILED @ THE COST OF $220/KEY. REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER CAUSES LOSS OF STEREO RECEPTION. REAR WINDOW WIPER MOTOR HAS FAILED. FRONT END MAKES NOISE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10068171

Incident

May 1, 2004

Mileage

97,615 mi

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. DEALER STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE CAR WAS BAD. *AK

NHTSA ID

10032177

IGNITION LOCK FAILED, ENABLING KEY TO BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION WHILE IN DRIVE GEAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10026774

Mileage

77,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 55 MPH BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD, AND SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8015246

THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD BROKEN WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT AFTER THE INVESTIGATION PER GARRETT ENGINEERING, THE VEHICLE WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE A CRANK SHAFT PULLEY FAILURE WHICH CAUSED THE OTHER SYSTEMS TO FAIL. THE BELTS, ALTENATOR, AND THE COOLING SYSTEMS FAILED AS A RESULT OF THE PULLEY FAILURE. THIS PART WAS SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED UNDER THE 80K WARRANTY, BUT HAS NOT BEEN HONORED. *SCC

NHTSA ID

8014522

Incident

Jul 17, 2002

DRIVESHAFT BROKE. ASSOCIATED CABLE BROKE ACTIVATING SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR. MINOR CONTUSIONS.*AK

NHTSA ID

753250

Incident

Aug 4, 2001

IGNITION KEY DID NOT WORK. HAD TO USE SPARE KEY IN ORDER TO TURN VEHICLE ON.*AK CONSUMER STATES WITHOUT WARNING, AT STARTUP, WHILE STOPPED, OR MOVING, VEHICLE WILL STALL, CONSUMER STATES IF YOU HAVE A SPARE KEY, SOMETIMES IT WILL WORK. *SLC

NHTSA ID

892167

Incident

Jun 11, 2001

VEHICLE WAS IN GARAGE AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO GARAGE. DEALER SAID FIRE WAS DUE TO DEFECT IN BATTERY. *AK THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR/ALTERNATOR, THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE AND DAMAGED THE DRIVEWAY AND GARAGE. *SLC

NHTSA ID

875683

Incident

Jun 25, 2000

WAS DRIVING 70 MPH ON CALIFORNIA FREEWAY AND VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. EMERGENCY FLASHERS FAILED TO WORK & HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. RADIO WAS STILL WORKING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER & MECHANIC INDICATED THAT RELAY SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HAVING AN ENGINEER CHECK VEHICLE OVER FOR CAUSE OF STALLING.*AK THE DEALER CHANGED VARIETY OF SWITCHES AND THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. *YH

NHTSA ID

874963

Incident

Sep 21, 2000

KEY LOCK PROBLEMS, WOULD NOT START DUE TO KEY PROBLEMS, WOULD NOT START BECAUSE OF FUEL PUMP FAILURES, WOULD NOT START DUE TO GAS TANK PROBLEMS, DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLIES MOVE UP AND DOWN BY THEMSELVES, LATCH ON HATCH DOOR RATTLED, REAR SEAT BELTS RATTLE, OIL OUT LIGHT CAME ON AT RANDOM TIMES, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON, LAST THE FLY-BY WIRE GAS PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSING AN ACCIDENT OF THE VEHICLE WITH $14,000 DAMAGE. *AK

NHTSA ID

718787

Incident

Oct 1, 1999

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE REAR UNDER THE WHEEL WELL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

853843

KEYLESS ENTERY FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID

609342

ANTENNA AMPL. FAILURE, CAUSING STATIC (NOISE) IN RADIO. *YC

NHTSA ID

607076

Incident

Oct 1, 1998

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER/POWER WINDOWS/POWER SEATS/POWER LOCKS/SIGNAL LIGHTS AND HAZARD LIGHTS WOULD NOT FUNCTION. RIGHT AFTER THAT DRIVER TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETECT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE SUV IS BEING HELD AT THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

NHTSA ID

833921

Incident

Jan 21, 1999