Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Mercedes-Benz ML320 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 29 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 29, in the owner's own words
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.
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
I WAS ON THE FREEWAY, I WAS USING MY CRUISE CONTROL (LUCKILY JUST AFTER HEAVY TRAFFIC HOURS) JUST LIKE ANY OTHER DAY. A CAR SLOWED IN FRONT OF ME, SO I WENT TO APPLY MY BRAKES. AS SOON AS I HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKES NOT ONLY DID NOT DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT THE BRAKES GOT STIFF AND WOULD NOT WORK NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESSED THEM. AT THE SAME TIME THE ACCELERATOR WAS FLOORED AND THE CAR WAS TRYING TO GO WHAT SEEMS LIKE 130-140 MPH. IT TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO TRY AND KEEP IT AT AN APPROPRIATE SPEED. LUCKILY MY PASSENGER TOLD ME TO STAY CALM AND TRIED TO HELP ME DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. I HAD TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO THE SLOWEST LANE AND SHIFT IT INTO NEUTRAL. THAT WAS THE ONLY OPTION I HAD BESIDES CRASHING INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I AM EXTREMELY SHAKEN FROM THIS EVENT, I HAVE ANXIETY/PANIC ATTACKS WHENEVER I DRIVE ANY VEHICLE NOW. I AM CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR A PHYSICIAN TO HELP ME WORK OUT SOME KIND OF TREATMENT/THERAPY.
AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE FOR TEN MINUTES, IT WAS PARKED AND ENGINE SECURED. WHEN TRYING TO RESTART VEHICLE, STARTER ENGAGED BUT ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. STARTER CONTINUED TO RUN FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE SECONDS AFTER RELEASING THE KEY. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TOLD ME TO LET THE VEHICLE REST FOR FIFTEEN MINUTES AND THEN RESTART. VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY AFTER FIFTEEN MINUTE REST. DIAGNOSIS DID NOR RESULT IN ANY COMPUTER CODES. MECHANIC SAID THE YEAR VEHICLES 1998-2002 WERE EXPERIENCING CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILURES. SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND VEHICLE IS OPERATING NORMALLY. *TR
I HAVE BEEN THE OWNER OF A 2000 MERCEDES ML320 FOR ABOUT 6 YEARS. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER WITH APPROX. 30,000 MILES. TODAY IT HAS APPROX 73,000 MILES. SINCE OWNING IT, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WHICH WERE ALL OUT OF WARRANTY AND WHICH I FEEL WERE UNWARRANTED AND WERE NOT SERIOUSLY ATTENDED TO BY MB OR THE DEALER: THIS COMPLAINT FORM WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO COMPLETE ACCORDING TO THE FIELDS PROVIDED. THE EQUIPMENT INFORMATION INCLUDED IS NOT CORRECT AND WAS INCLUDED JUST TO GET TO THE FORM. I FELT THAT THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SHOULD BE REPORTED SPECIFICALLY THE ESP LIGHT AND THE AIR BAG PROBLEMS AT ABOUT 51,000 MILES, THE AIRBAG BECAME INOPERATIVE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST ABOUT $2000 TO REPAIR AND CORRECT. DEALER OFFERED A SMALL ADJUSTMENT. I CHOSE NOT TO MAKE THE INVESTMENT. AT ABOUT 65,000 MILES, I BEGAN HAVING VERY LOUD NOISES THAT SEEMED TO COME FROM THE CRANKSHAFT AND APPEARED TO BE A BRAKE PROBLEM. DEALER DID TRY TO DETERMINE WHAT IT WAS, BUT COULDN'T ISOLATE THE PROBLEM UNLESS "HE HAD TO TAKE THE WHOLE CAR APART" THERE WAS A RELATED PROBLEM BECAUSE THE ESP LIGHT WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY THAT THE DEALER ADVISED COULD NOT BE ISOLATED UNLESS I DID THE WORK ON THE BRAKE AND THE CRANKSHAFT:" AT ABOUT 72,000 MILES, THE CAR DEVELOPED OIL LEAKS FROM THE MOTOR. EST. COST OF REPAIR WAS $2000. WE ARE WATCHING AND WAITING. IN MAY, I WAS ADVISED THAT THERE IS A RECALL NOTICE ON THE CRUISE CONTROL OF THE CAR. NO WORD ON THAT ISSUE SINCE. BECAUSE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL NOTICE I RECEIVED, I WAS PROMPTED TO WRITE YOU ABOUT THESE OTHER ISSUES AND BECAME FURTHER CONCERNED ABOUT THE ESP LIGHT AND THE FAULTY AIR BAG THE CARE HAS HAD., CAR IS DRIVEN AN AVERAGE OF 150 MILES A WEEK IN MOSTLY CITY DRIVING. CAR IS SERVICED BUT NOT BY THE DEALER BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST AND RELATIVE DISSATISFACTION FROM THE SERVICE PROVIDED. UPDATED 07/27/11 *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER UNTIL STALLING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.
I AM THE OWNER IF A 2000 MERCEDES ML320. THIS MORNING AS I CAME HOME ON THIS CAR AND SUDDENLY IT SPED UP AND LOST CONTROL WHEN IT CAME TO THE DRIVEWAY. I LEG WAS ON THE BRAKE WHEN I CAME TO THE DRIVEWAY NO WAY I COULD HAVE PUT MY LEG ON THE ACCELERATOR. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT IN ITS DESIGN AND CAUSE IT TO SUDDENLY SPEED UP. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SINCE IT CAN BE A SERIOUS MATTER. MY OTHER 2 CARS IN THE GARAGE WERE BADLY DAMAGED IN ADDITION TO THE THIS ML320.*TR
I WAS DRIVING UP HILL IN SLOW TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT 5 TO 10 MILES PER HOUR FOR A FEW MILES THEN ALL THE SUDDEN LEARNED CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO THE GAS PEDAL I PUT PRESSURE ON. THE CAR JERK A LITTLE BID AND WON'T MOVE MUCH ONLY BY THE INCHES. THEN I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND WAITED FOR FEW MINUTES AND STARTED AGAIN, TURNED AROUND AND CANCELLED MY TRIP. A SIMILAR INSTANCE HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V121000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS) AND HAD THE NECESSARY REPAIRS PERFORMED BY THE DEALER. HOWEVER, SHE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE FAILURES WITH THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME MORE DIFFICULT TO TURN OVER TIME. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, SHE RECEIVED A SECOND RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V465000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HOSE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1,200. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WOULD BE POINTLESS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO THE RECALL WHEN ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS WERE AFFECTED AS A RESULT OF THE STEERING FAILURE. THE INITIAL RECALL STATED THAT CONSUMERS WHO HAD REPAIRS MADE BEFORE NOVEMBER 23, 2003 COULD POSSIBLY HAVE THE HOSE REPLACED, IF FOUND DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT HAD REPAIRS MADE PRIOR TO THAT DATE. SHE ALSO EXPERIENCED FAILURES WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT IT WAS NOT RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,582 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED BY DIAGNOSTIC TESTING THE AIR MASS SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO OWNS AN E320 WHICH HAD THE SAME FAILURE LAST YEAR. IF THE AIR MASS SENSOR IS NOT REPLACED, FURTHER DAMAGE CAN RESULT TO THE ENGINE.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65-70MPH THE ENGINE STALLED. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED FROM THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. THERE WAS A 30 MINUTE DELAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTARTED. THE ENGINE STALLING FAILURE OCCURRED FIVE TIMES AND OCCURRED MORE OFTEN DURING HOT WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WERE FAULTY. SINCE THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN OPERATING PROPERLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED WHO EXPLAINED THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE PROBLEM.
OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM. OIL LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON BETWEEN 200-600 MILES OF DRIVING. TRANSMISSION IS FAILING AND ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. VERY POOR. *NM
MY MERCEDES YEAR MODEL 2000 ML320 ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING; MOST OFTEN IT COMES AS A SURPRISE WHEN I AM CRUISING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND SLIGHTLY BACK OFF ON THE THROTTLE. THE ENGINE TOTALLY SHUTS DOWN AND WILL RESTART AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES. IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE A FUEL PUMP PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CAR WILL RUN FINE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AFTERWARD WITHOUT SHUTTING DOWN. *JB
CAUSED BY A RE-CALL CATALYTIC CONVERTERS HAVE BEEN ON ORDER SINCE OCTOBER 17, 2005. MY VEHICLE IS HAS NOT BEEN LEGALLY DRIVABLE FOR NOW TWO WEEKS. THE ONE OF THE CATS IS TOTALLY OPEN CAUSING UN-MUFFLED EXHAUSTION. AFTER ATTEMPTS FROM BOTH THE DEALER AND THE IMPORTER, MERCEDES BENZ USA TO BLAME THE OTHER PART OR THEIR SUPPLIER AND AFTER SEVERAL PROMISES, I HOPE THIS COMPLAINT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT. I NEED THE USE OF THE VEHICLE. *JB
THIS VEHICLE IS UNDER A FEDERAL RECALL FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. ACCORDING TO A SERVICE TECHNICIAN, THIS PART IS ON BACK ORDER AND THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN OUT OF STOCK OF THE PART FOR MORE THAN A MONTH. NO ONE CAN SEEM TO GIVE ME AND OTHER OWNERS A DELIVERY DATE ON THE PART. MEANWHILE, I AM DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE AND LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO FALL APART! I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM FOR MORE THAN A MONTH AND IT GETS WORSE EVERY WEEK THAT I CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PARK MY VEHICLE AT THE DEALER AS OTHER OWNERS OF ML320S HAVE DONE. HOW CAN A FEDERAL RECALL BE ISSUED AND THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOT BE PREPARED? *JB
DT: THERE IS A CRACK IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. IT WAS LEAKING CARBON MONOXIDE. WHEN DRIVING WITH THE WINDOWS CLOSED THE CONSUMER WAS GETTING CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED IN JUNE OF 2005. THE CRACK OCCURRED SOMETIME BEFORE THIS. THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2005, AND ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2005 THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED A LEAK IN THE RIGHT ONE. BOTH CATALYTIC CONVERTERS CRACKED. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE CONCERNING CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT SHE WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. *AK *JB THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED NAUSEA, DIZZINESS AND SLEEPINESS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN JULY, AUGUST AND SEPT 2005. AFTER THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED ALL OF THE CONSUMER'S SYMPTOMS DISAPPEARED. A CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE ON 9/15/05. *NM
DT: THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN STAYING ON SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE ON MARCH 20, 2004. THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY SINCE MARCH OF 2005. IT HAPPENED WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE FROM A COLD START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT RUNNING FOR FIVE TO TEN MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL START. ALSO, IT WILL STALL WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. HAD A DIAGNOSTICS TEST RUN ON THE VEHICLE AND IT SHOWED A PROBLEM WITH THE MASS OXYGEN SENSORS, MASS AIR FLOW SENSORS, AND SOMETHING ELSE THAT HE WAS NOT SURE OFF. THEY REPLACED THE MASS OXYGEN SENSORS. THIS HELPED THE PROBLEM A LITTLE, BUT, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. . ALSO, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDOW SWITCH CONSOLE. IT STARTED IN FEBRUARY 2005, AND HAD IT REPLACED. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WELD COMPLETELY SEPARATED. THE PROBLEM STARTED IN DECEMBER 2004. COMPLETE SEPARATION HAPPENED IN APRIL OF 2005. THE CONTACT HAD THEM WELDED BACK TOGETHER. *AK
THE CONSUMER'S MERCEDES BENZ M L 320 SLOWED DOWN ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTARTED IT. *BF AFTER THIS INCIDENT THE CONSUMER PARKED IN A MALL PARKING LOT. WHEN SHE RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE THE SHIFT LEVER WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP FROM THE DEALER IT WENT INTO STICK MODE AGAIN. THE SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATE ON THE DASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER AND WHEN IT WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER THE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE FRONT END VIBRATED. *NM
WITHIN SIX MONTHS, BOTH STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST PIPES CRACKED AT THE WELDS, JUST AHEAD OF THE CAT. CONVERTER. IN THE FIRST CASE, THE PIPE WAS REPLACED. IN THE SECOND INSTANCE THE PIPE WAS WELDED (HOPEFULLY WILL LAST LONGER). WITH THE SECOND FAILURE, WHILE THE NOISE INCREASE WAS BARELY NOTICABLE, EXHAUST GASSES LEAKED INTO THE PASSANGER COMPARTMENT. AS A PROFESSIONAL PILOT, I KNOW THE CONSEQUENCES OF CO POISINING.*AK
AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED4 YEARS AGO WITHIN 2-6 MONTHS, AND UP TO 40,539 MILES THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS WERE NECESSARY IN A MERCEDES ML 320: BRAKE STOP LAMP SWITCH ASSEMBLY, LATCHING MECHANISM RT. FRONT DOOR, OXYGEN SENSOR, -POWER STEERING RACK AND TWO TIE RODSFROM 2/17/04 TO 6/18/04. *AK
VARIOUS PROBLEMS INVOLVING 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML320 / ALSO AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*MR CONSUMER WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. ALL THE DOORS WERE SMASHED IN YET NONE OF THE SIX AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE MECHANIC MANY TIMES FOR REPAIRS BUT TO NO AVAIL. CONSUMER FELT VEHICLE MAY BE DEFECTIVE AND WOULD LIKE TO EXCHANGE OR GET MONEY BACK. *PH
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ENGINE OVERHEATED AND STARTED TO SMOKE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO FOUND HARMONIC BALANCER DEFECTIVE. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE OIL PAN, RESULTING IN AN OIL LEAK AND SMOKE. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN CONSUMER NOTICED OIL ON THE GROUND. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES. *AK ENGINE CUT COMPLETELY OFF TWICE. ALL THE TIRES AND HUB CAPS ARE BLACK FROM THE BRAKE FLUID SPLATTERING. THE SUNROOF MAKES A LOT OF NOISE WHILE DRIVING ESPECIALLY WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. *PH
THE VEHICLE BURNED 2 QUARTS OF OIL OR MORE, AND THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF LEAKING OF GASOLINE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. *AK
I OWN A 2000 MERCEDES ML320. THE CAR RECENTLY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THERE WAS NO POWER. ONCE YOU STOP THE CAR, PLACE IT IN PARK, IT WILL RE-START.
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.
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