RoadVitals

2001 Mercedes-Benz ML320 Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints 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.
48
Latest Mar 14, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
35%
of 136 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Mercedes-Benz ML320 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 48 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.

Owner reports naming brake

The 25 most recent of 48, in the owner's own words

AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Mar 14, 2020

AIR BAG OFF, PEDAL CONTROL SISTEM IS IN RECALL FROM MARCH 31 2011, SMOKE PASS BELONG TO NISSAN MENDOZA AUTO GROUP SOLD THIS CAR IN CA CAR IN RECALL DON'T PASS SMOKE, THEY SAID YES...PASS, PLEASE INVESTIGATION

NHTSA ID
11317979
Incident
Mar 13, 2020
Brakes
Filed Jan 8, 2020

THE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM ON MERCEDES BENZ ML320 LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
11297969
Incident
Dec 23, 2019
Mileage
213,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 19, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. ON TWO OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN INDEPENDENTLY AND CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THERE WAS NO CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE YAW RATE SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

NHTSA ID
11245008
Incident
Aug 7, 2019
Mileage
220,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed May 24, 2019

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THE CAR BRAKES COME ON AUTOMATICALLY WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BRAKES, IT HAPPENED FEW TIMES, THE CAR HAS TO COME TO STOP, VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION

NHTSA ID
11209613
Incident
May 14, 2019
Mileage
15 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Mar 27, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELT AS ID THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE 'BAS ESP" (BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM) WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
11081603
Incident
Aug 20, 2016
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Nov 2, 2017

WHILE DRIVING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP RELEASE AND LOCK UP AGAIN.THE BAS/ESP LIGHT CAME ON.

NHTSA ID
11042721
Incident
Oct 7, 2017
Mileage
10 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Aug 15, 2016

ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, MY 2001 MERC BENZ ML320 CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND DRAMATICALLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED AS I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN FROM A STAND STILL. THE SECOND TIME HAPPENED AS I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH. FINALLY, THE LAST TWO TIMES OCCURRED WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH. IN ALL INSTANCES, THE FRONT BRAKES ABSOLUTELY LOCKED AND MY VEHICLE CAME TO AN APPROXIMATELY COMPLETE STOP WHILE PULLING THE STEERING TO THE RIGHT. EACH EVENT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING EPISODE. ALTHOUGH I KEPT TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ALLOW IT. I HAD JUST ENOUGH MOMENTUM SO THAT I COULD VEER TO THE SAFETY OF THE SAFETY LANE. THE EVENTS ALL HAPPENED WITHIN A TWO (2) WEEK PERIOD...FAR, FAR TOO FREQUENT FOR COMFORT. IN ALL OCCASIONS, I WAS FORTUNATE TO NOT GET RAMMED BY THE VEHICLES TRAVELING BEHIND ME. NOW THAT I HAVE DONE A LITTLE RESEARCH I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT MERCEDES SEEMS TO BE AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT HAS NOT TAKEN THIS ISSUE MORE SERIOUSLY AS IT SEEMS TO NOT HAVE BEEN AN ISOLATED ISSUE BUT RATHER ONE THAT HAS BEEN CONSISTENT AMONG FELLOW ML 320 VEHICLE OWNERS. LASTLY, I'VE ONLY OWNED THIS TRUCK FOR A TWO WEEK PERIOD, AND IT HAS TERRIFIED ME IN THIS SHORT TIME.

NHTSA ID
10896133
Incident
Aug 15, 2016
Mileage
150,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Jul 30, 2016

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH UNINTENDED BRAKE APPLICATION CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES UNDER DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND CONDITION. IT HAS HAPPENED ON CURVES AND STRAIGHT ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE MAY 2016 AT LEAST 15 TO 20 TIMES.

NHTSA ID
10891779
Incident
Jul 29, 2016
Mileage
130,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 25, 2016

DURING BRAKING THE BAS/ESP WILL COME ON CAUSING NO ACCELERATION WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 7 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 DAYS. ALMOST RESULTING IN 2 ACCIDENTS. ONLY TUNING OFF AND THE THE VEHICLE WILL TEMPORALLY FIX THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
10888285
Incident
Jul 22, 2016
Mileage
163,230 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Apr 9, 2016

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, VEHICLE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING (WARNING FOR ESP AND ABS) AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DRAMATICALLY AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT... I GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ASSUMED I HAD A BLOW OUT... BUT ALL TIRES WERE FINE AND NO ISSUES... TURNED OFF VEHICLE AND DROVE ABOUT 13 MILES THEN TURNED VEHICLE OFF FOR 10 -15 MINUTES CAME OUT AND GOT IN VEHICLE... WHEN I STARTED TO GO... ORANGE TRIANGLE WAS STILL ON AND IF I EVEN TOUCHED BRAKES THEY ALL LOCKED UP AND WOULD EVEN SQUEAL WHEN EVEN TOUCHING BRAKE PETAL. IT WAS 79 DEGREES, DRY ON A HIGHWAY THAT WAS A SMOOTH ROAD, IN TRAFFIC AND WAS ALMOST HIT. UPDATED 05/11/16*LJ

NHTSA ID
10854595
Incident
Apr 8, 2016
Mileage
112,750 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 1, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKES APPLIED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. UPDATED 05/11/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID
10852989
Incident
Feb 1, 2016
Mileage
150,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 28, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKES SEIZED AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000. UPDATED 04/06/16*LJ UPDATED 04/12/16.*JB

NHTSA ID
10822813
Incident
Jan 21, 2016
Mileage
165,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 29, 2015

WHILE DRIVING TODAY AT APPROX 20-25 MPH BRAKES SUDDENLY APPLIED ON THEIR OWN AND MY VEHICLE SWERVED AND CAME TO A HALT. WAITED SEVERAL MINUTES AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. DROVE ON THE 101 AND 405 FREEWAYS WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. DROVE LATER ON THE SAME DAY, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. WHAT IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY? I REFUSE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AGAIN. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS? I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS ONLINE.

NHTSA ID
10787153
Incident
Oct 29, 2015
Mileage
181,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 23, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10775458
Incident
Jun 12, 2015
Mileage
170,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jun 1, 2015

SAME STORY AS I'VE SEEN THOUSANDS OF TIMES ON THE INTERNET AND YOU CLAIM NOT ENOUGH OCCURRENCES! I'M ON THE INTERSTATE, GOING 70 MPH. WEATHER IS GOOD, TRAFFIC IS LIGHT (THANK GOD!) AND MY BREAKS SLAM ON. THE ABS SYSTEM KICKS IN, SO I'M ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER BEFORE BEING REAR ENDED. THE TRIANGLE WARNING LAMP IS LIT AND THE BAS / ESP LAMP IS LIT. I TRY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, LIGHTS GO OUT, I MOVE FORWARD, GET UP TO ABOUT 20 MPH AND THE BREAKS SLAM ON AGAIN. I SHUT THE CAR OFF FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES WHILE I GOT OUT AND WAS INVESTIGATING THE TIRES AND BREAKS. GET BACK IN, START THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE ANOTHER 45 MINUTES. GET INTO TOWN, DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH AND THEY SLAM ON AGAIN. I'M ABLE TO LIMP HOME WITH THE ABS GOING ON AND OFF. I PARK IT FOR THE NIGHT. NEXT DAY I DO SOME RESEARCH AND SEE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. FOLLOW ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS AND DISCONNECT MY BATTERY. FIXED THE ISSUE FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS BEFORE IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE GOING AROUND AN 18 WHEELER WITH TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. ME AND MY 8 YEAR OLD WAS ALMOST KILLED ALONG WITH OTHER DRIVERS. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING ISSUE THAT YOU CAN'T IGNORE. IT HAS HAPPENED 4 OR 5 TIMES IN THE TWO YEARS I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
10722792
Incident
Jun 2, 2014
Mileage
185,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 6, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKES SEIZED AND THE ESB WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,557.

NHTSA ID
10692618
Incident
Mar 6, 2015
Mileage
180,557 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Dec 20, 2014

THIS IS A SEQUEL REPORT TO MY ODI 10664733 OF 12/16/2014. TWO INCIDENTS ARE IDENTICAL. THE EARLIER INCIDENT HAPPENED AT ODOMETER READING 118,714; THIS SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED AT 118,832, 118 MILES LATER. I WAS ON I-280 SOUTHBOUND APPROX. 53 MILES SOUTH OF SF. AROUND 1PM, A SUDDEN EXTRAORDINARILY FORCEFUL BRAKING ? THE MERCEDES OWNER?S MANUAL CALLS THIS MAXIMUM BRAKING CAPABILITY POWER BOOST WHICH EXCEEDS DRIVER?S MANUAL BRAKING STYLE ? THE ?BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM BAS? HAPPENED AGAIN WITHOUT DRIVER?S COMMAND. I WAS GOING STEADY AT 65 MPH, ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKING. THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND THE ROAD WAS DRY. THE CAR SWERVED SLIGHTLY WITH A LARGE BRAKING NOISE AND CAME DOWN TO NEAR HOLT. I COULD STEER THE CAR TO THE RIGHT SIDE EMERGENCY AREA BY TRAVELING PERHAPS 15 FEET WHILE THE BAS WAS FIRMLY IN FORCE. THIS IS COUNTER TO THE NHTSA ACTION PE07007 REFERENCE ATTRIBUTED TO MERCEDES AS THE ESP ELECTRICAL FAULTS DURATION BEING 0.3 SECONDS OR LESS. MY EXPERIENCE INDICATES THIS IS INCORRECT. IT LASTED AS LONG AS I WAS TRYING TO MOVE THE CAR. WHEN THE BAS ACTIVATED, THE ESP ALARM SIGNAL AND THE BAS/ESP LIGHT CAME ON. TURNED OFF THE ENGINE FOR A FEW MINUTES AND RESTARTED. THE BAS/EPS LIGHT CAME BACK ON BUT THE CAR BEHAVED NORMALLY OTHERWISE. DROVE BACK TO SF WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENCE. WERE THE TRAFFIC HEAVY AND THE ROAD WERE WET AND SLIPPERY, MY MERCEDES ML320 WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL ON THE WET ROAD. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE MERCEDES MUST ADDRESS WITH THE DEFINITIVE SOLUTION. I AM WILLING TO AVAIL MY VEHICLE FOR FIELD TESTING. PE07007 CITES ?THE LOW COMPLAINT RATE? THROUGH 2007 LED TO CLOSING ODI INVESTIGATION. A QUICK WEBSITE RESEARCH INDICATES THERE ARE A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF BAS INCIDENTS POSTED SINCE 2007 ON VARIOUS PRIVATE FORUMS AND BLOGS BUT THESE DRIVERS MAY NOT HAVE REPORTED TO NHTSA. *DT

NHTSA ID
10667458
Incident
Dec 17, 2014
Mileage
118,832 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Dec 16, 2014

I WAS ON CALIF HWY1 NORTHBOUND APPROX 20 MILES SOUTH OF SF, DOING 45MPH, AROUND 1:00PM. ALL OF A SUDDEN, BRAKES WERE ACTIVATED IN A FIERCE FORCE, WHICH BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHIN A SECOND OR TWO TRAVELING TWO TO THREE FEET. I FELT ALL THE FOUR WHEELS WERE LOCKED FIRM. I DID NOT EVEN TOUCH THE BRAKES. MY CAR SWERVED SLIGHTLY BUT DID NOT LOSE CONTROL. THE ROAD WAS DRY. THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AND NO VEHICLE BEHIND ME OR TO MY SIDES. AS I STEERED THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER AREA OF THE HIGHWAY, I NOTICED THE ESP/BAS LAMP WAS ON. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED A MINUTE LATER. THE ESP/BAS LAMP CAME BACK ON. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND THE ROAD WAS DRY. DROVE BACK HOME WITHOUT ANOTHER INCIDENCE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10664733
Incident
Dec 16, 2014
Mileage
118,714 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Nov 4, 2014

WHEN DRIVING ON A LOCAL STREET BETWEEN 25 AND 30 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY APPLIED STRONG BRAKING FORCE BY ITSELF (MY FOOT WAS NOT EVEN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AT THAT TIME). DURING THAT INSTANCE, THE CAR ALSO WENT OUT OF STEER. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS ABLE TO AVOID ME WITHOUT REAR ENDED INTO MY CAR. I WAS THINKING IF THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON A FREEWAY, ME AND MY FAMILY COULD HAVE GOT KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10652565
Incident
Nov 2, 2014
Mileage
78,500 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 15, 2014

RIGHT SIDE BRAKE LOCKING UP WHEN I'M DRIVING AND MAKE THE CAR SLOW DOWN REAL FAST .I ALMOST GOT HIT FROM BEHIND . I HAVE TO TRAVEL ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HWY SO WHEN IT LOCKS UP I CAN TRY TO GET OFF ROAD. I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL LOCK UP. ITS SCARY. *JS

NHTSA ID
10598396
Incident
Jun 2, 2014
Mileage
60,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 7, 2014

THEN ON DEC 28, 2012 I WAS DRIVING BACK FROM SACRAMENTO, CA TO MY HOME IN SAN LEANDRO, CA. I WAS ON THE 580 FREEWAY IN LIVERMORE GOING AROUND 75 MILES IN THE FAST LANE AND THE CAR SUDDENLY BRAKE ON ITS OWN. THIS TIME IT WAS A SUDDEN AND SEVERE BRAKING ACTION. IT CAUSED THE TIRES AND BRAKES TO SMOKE. MY TWO CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME.WHAT I NOTICED THIS TIME WAS THE UPSIDE DOWN EXCLAMATION LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON RIGHT AS THE CAR WAS BRAKING. THE BAS/ESP LIGHT CAME ON. I DROVE ABOUT 40 MPH TO GET MY FAMILY HOME. I DIDN'T DRIVE THE CAR FOR THE REST OF THE WEEKEND. MY ADVISOR AT MB OF PLEASANTON. HE TOLD ME IT WAS THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE CAR HAS BEEN DOING THIS ON AND OFF SINCE NOV 2012. IT WILL GO SEVERAL MONTHS WITHOUT THIS "SELF-BRAKING" ACTION THEN IT WILL DO IT ON AND OFF FOR WEEKS.I AM SO SCARED TO DRIVE IT AND EVEN MORE AFRAID WHEN I HAVE MY KIDS IN THE CAR. RECENTLY (APRIL 2014) I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY A BIG RIG ON THE FREEWAY AS A RESULT OF THE SUDDEN BRAKING. I TOOK IT TO SMYTHE EUROPEAN IN SAN JOSE. THEY SAID IT WAS THE YAW SENSOR AND THAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED. MY THIS TIME I HAVE REPLACED BRAKES AND TIRES AS A RESULT OF THE WEAR FROM THE BRAKING. I WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED BACK TIRES TOO. THE YAW SENSOR WAS REPLACED. I GOT MY CAR BACK ON A FRIDAY (APRIL 25TH) AND IT DROVE FINE. ON MONDAY(APRIL 28TH) I WAS GOING TO LUNCH AND THE CAR BRAKED ON ITS OWN. FORTUNATELY I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 5 MPH BC I WAS AT THE LIGHT. I CALLED MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT IF ITS STILL BRAKING IT MUST BE THE AAM AND THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL $1000 REPAIR. MERCEDES BENZ IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT SINCE NO ONE HAS DIED YET, IT IS NOT BEING HANDLED PROPERLY. I NEED HELP AND RESOLUTION BEFORE THE FATALITY IS ME, MY FAMILY OR SOMEONE ELSE'S FAMILY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10587074
Incident
Nov 30, 2012
Mileage
145,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Dec 15, 2013

I AM HAVING SAFETY ISSUES WITH MY 2001 MERCEDES BENZ ML 320 WITH A ESP BAS LIGHT COMING ON AND LOCKING FRONT BRAKE CAUSING THE ABS TO COME ON AND STOP SUV. TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND ALMOST GETTING REAR ENDED WITH MY KIDS IN CAR. CONTACTED MERCEDES DEALER AND CANT GUARANTEE WHAT PROBLEM IS ALREADY CHANGED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH 2 TIMES SAID IT COULD BE ABS PUMP {800} OR WHEEL SPEED SENSORS {1200} OR YAW SENSOR, IGNITION SWITCH, MAYBE EVEN COMPUTER BUT SAID THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS SOME ONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. SPOKE TO BENZ AT CORPORATE AND THEY ONLY SAY BRING IT TO THE DEALER WHO DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. HOPE I CAN GET A ANSWER TO THIS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10556140
Incident
Dec 6, 2013
Mileage
134,850 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 4, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND AN EXCLAMATION POINT ICON ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL GRINDING WHEN BRAKING FROM VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE BRAKES WOULD ALSO SEIZE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID
10554846
Incident
Jun 15, 2013
Mileage
150,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Sep 3, 2013

I ALMOST GOT KILLED TODAY!!! I WAS DRIVING MY MERZ ML320 WHEN I FELT THE CAR VIBRATE, HEARD A NOISE AS IF SOMETHING WAS STUCK, THE CAR SLOWED DOWN ALL BY ITSELF AND THEN FELT THE CAR PULL TO THE RIGHT VIOLENTLY AND INTO THE RIGHT LANE OF A BIG TRUCK BARELY MISSING HIM. THE DRIVER OF THAT TRUCK BLEW HIS HORN AT ME AND THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO. MY ABS/ESP LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE TRIANGLE BRAKE LIGHT. AT FIRST, IT SOUNDED AS IF I BLEW A RIGHT FRONT TIRE BECAUSE THAT IS HOW IT SOUNDED. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE WHEEL OR BRAKES. THE CAR JUST SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED RIGHT. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND HAD BOTH MY SONS WITH ME. THE PULLING OF THE CAR INTO THE NEXT LANE IS VERY DANGEROUS. I SAT THERE FOR 10 MINS IN SHOCK BEFORE TRYING TO START THE CAR. THE ABS/ESP LIGHT IS STILL ON. I DROVE VERY SLOWLY HOME AVOIDING THE FREEWAY. I AM CALLING MERCEDES TOMORROW. WHAT JUST HAPPENED? SOMEONE COULD BE KILLED WHEN A CAR LOCKS UP AND DRIVER HAS NO CONTROL. *JB

NHTSA ID
10541732
Incident
Sep 3, 2013
Mileage
120,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Aug 8, 2013

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY BRAKES SEEMED TO LOCK UP. MY VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY AND I HEARD THIS AWFUL GRINDING NOISE. I WAS NARROWLY MISSED BY THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME AS THE JERK SLAMMED MY VEHICLE TO A HALT AND TURNED MY WHEELS CAUSING MY STEERING WHEEL TO JERK AS WELL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SAT THERE FOR A WHILE AND ONCE AGAIN TRIED TO PROCEED AHEAD AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THE SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MERCEDES DEALER WHO KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR THREE DAYS AND COULD NOT RECREATE THE ISSUE HOWEVER THEY STATED THAT THE YAW SENSOR CAME UP AS FAULTY DURING THE DIAGNOSTIC. I WENT TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE AND AS THE TECH DROVE IT UP IT AGAIN STARTED JERKING. $1000 LATER THE YAW SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED BUT I FEEL LIKE THIS ISSUE IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD. I AM JUST THANKFUL THAT MY 18 MONTH OLD SON WASN'T IN THE CAR WITH ME AT THE TIME AS HAD HE BEEN AND SOMEONE HIT US FROM BEHIND BECAUSE OF THE ABRUPT STOP, HE SURELY WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO IMMEDIATELY AND RECALLED AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I BELIEVE THAT MERCEDES SHOULD DEEM THIS A RECALL, FIXING THE ISSUE FOR THOSE OUT THERE WHO HAVE NOT YET EXPERIENCED IT AND REIMBURSING THOSE OF US WHO HAVE HAD TO SPEND $1000 REPLACING WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SYSTEM PUT IN PLACE FOR SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10534293
Incident
Jul 31, 2013
Mileage
125,000 mi

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