2001 Mercedes-Benz ML320 Owner Complaints

The failed component is the YAW rate sensor, original part number A1635426340 (ATE part number 10.0980-0454.2), manufactured by ATE. I have experienced multiple incidents of sudden, unintended braking at highway speeds. These events occurred without warning and created an immediate and significant risk of a serious collision, endangering not only myself and my family but also other motorists sharing the roadway. While the defect has not been reproduced or confirmed by either a Mercedes-Benz dealer or an independent repair facility, the absence of a successful diagnosis does not diminish the seriousness of the safety hazard. In fact, your agency opened an investigation into this issue in 2007, yet no corrective action was ultimately taken despite reports indicating that more than 100,000 vehicles may have been affected. According to publicly available information, Mercedes-Benz inspected and evaluated the YAW rate sensor in May 2007 as part of its review of this issue. The continued occurrence of sudden, unintended braking events raises concerns that the underlying defect may not have been fully addressed. Most concerning is that there were no warning lamps, fault messages, or other observable symptoms prior to the braking events. The vehicle operated normally until the moment the unintended braking occurred, leaving the driver with no opportunity to anticipate or prevent a potentially catastrophic situation.

NHTSA ID

11745171

Incident

May 18, 2026

The contact owns a 2001 Mercedes-Benz ML320. The contact stated that the front passenger’s door failed to open more than 6 inches. The contact stated that no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11633252

Incident

Dec 27, 2024

The contact owns a 2001 Mercedes Benz ML320. The contact stated that when they entered their vehicle and turned it on, the vehicle's passenger front door air bag made a sudden boom sound and then deployed. The contact stated that there were no warning lights. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 132,000.

NHTSA ID

11417737

Incident

May 15, 2021

Mileage

132,000 mi

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

ECM IS MALFUNCTIONING AND NOT CONTROLLING FUEL INJECTION AND GIVING RANDOM MISFIRE ON CYLINDERS 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON . CODES 0300, 0302,0303,0304,0305,0306.

NHTSA ID

11301012

Incident

Sep 1, 2019

Mileage

200,000 mi

MY CAT BRAKE WOULD STOP CAR ROLL OVER

NHTSA ID

11300274

Incident

Dec 30, 2019

Mileage

120,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11297969

Incident

Dec 23, 2019

Mileage

213,000 mi

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

STEERING FLUID LEEKS.THERE IS A HOLE IN THE TANK.THE STEERING IS VERY HARD.

NHTSA ID

11235329

Incident

Jul 17, 2019

Mileage

210,000 mi

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

THIS IS THE 4TH OR 5TH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. THE FIRST TIME (JAN 2017) HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON DC. LUCKILY I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. BUT BEFORE DOING SO I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. I SAT ON SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR 15 MINUTES WITH CAR OFF. WHEN I STARTED UP THE CAR, I WAS ABLE TO FINISH MY DRIVE HOME TO SOUTH CAROLINA BUT STAYED IN THE RIGHT LANE ALL THE WAY HOME. 2ND TIME WAS IN APRIL OF 2017 WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY FROM SOUTH CAROLINA TO GEORGIA. PULLED OVER AND LET IT SET FOR AWHILE. FINISHED RIDE TO ATLANTA AIRPORT. WEEK LATER I DRIVE HOME FROM ATLANTA AND IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I BRING IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE CANT FIND ANYTHING DIAGNOSTICALLY. 3RD TIME WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM MYRTLE BEACH. I BROUGHT IT TO MECHANIC AND HE KEEPS IT FOR A WEEK. HERE IS THE DESCRIPTION OF MY LAST OCCURENCE; I AM DRIVING TO WORK ON ROUTE 327 AND THIS TIME IT IS THE WORSE OCCURENCE YET; DOING 45 MPH AND BRAKES LOCK UP LIKE AS IF I HAD SLAMMED THEM ON. CAR BEHIND ME SWERVES AROUND ME AND GIVES ME THE 'ONE FINGER' HELLO.....THANK GOD HE WAS PAYING ATTENTION AND NOT TEXTING. CAR IS NOW AT THE MECHANIC AND HE IS LOOKING AT REPLACING A $800 SENSOR. EVEN THEN I WILL NOT LET MY FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE WITH ME EVER AGAIN. SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET REARENDED (KILLED) EVENTUALLY IF YOU DONT GET MERCEDES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LOCKED UP FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 SECONDS, IT RELEASED FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS THEN LOCKED UP AGAIN FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS. THE ESP LIGHT (EXCLAMATION LIGHT ON THE CONSOLE LIGHTS UP AS WELL) I NEVER TOUCHED THE BRAKES!! THE SUV LEFT SKID MARKS ON THE STREET. I PROCEEDED ON AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I NEVER TOUCHED THE BRAKES! THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON WHEN IT HAPPENS.

NHTSA ID

11187418

Incident

Mar 11, 2019

Mileage

160,000 mi

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED, AND THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT AND HEAT BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT'S BROTHER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ELECTRICAL RELATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210.

NHTSA ID

11005328

Incident

Jul 13, 2017

Mileage

210 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER A FEW MINUTES. ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID

10930296

Incident

Nov 10, 2016

Mileage

200,000 mi

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

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

VEHICLE CAME TO A DEAD STOP WHEN BRAKES SUDDENLY APPLIED AUTOMATICALLY WHILE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE AT 40MPH IN HEAVY FREEWAY TRAFFIC. VERY DIFFICULT TO GET VEHICLE OFF ROAD ONTO SHOULDER. ESP/BAS LIGHT CAME AND REMAINED ON UNTIL IGNITION TURNED OFF. NOW NO WARNING LIGHT NOR DIAGNOSTIC CODE DETECTED. BRAKE PEDAL SENSOR REPLACED BY MB DEALER ON MONTH AGO. AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NHTSA ID

10891674

Incident

Jul 28, 2016

Mileage

81,755 mi

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

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

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

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

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

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

SHE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND SHE BURNED RUBBER ON THE ROAD BEFORE SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP, HOWEVER SHE WAS IN THE OTHER LANE. I WAS JUST THANKING GOD ANOTHER CAR WAS NOT COMING THE OTHER WAY. I WON'T LET HER DRIVE IT AND ORDERED A YAW SENSOR FOR IT BECAUSE WHEN I WENT ONLINE TO READ WAY THIS WOULD HAPPEN IT SEEMS LIKE IT HAPPENS A LOT TO THE 2001 AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE YAW SENSOR. WHEN WE GET IT IN WE WILL TRY TO DRIVE IT IN AND GET THE CODES BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU HAVE NOT DONE A RECALL ON THIS PART. I ALMOST LOST MY DAUGHTER BECAUSE OF THIS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS, IT'S AND EASY FIX BUT THE PART IS EXPENSE. THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB

NHTSA ID

10723864

Incident

Jun 3, 2015

Mileage

120,000 mi