2002 Mercedes-Benz ML320 Brakes Problems

The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes-Benz ML320. The contact stated while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the driver’s side front wheel independently braked. The contact stated he had not depressed the brake pedal but heard an abnormal sound from the tire screeching as the wheel had stopped rolling. The contact stated that the ESP traction warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled the vehicle over, turned off, restarted the vehicle, and was able to continue driving. The contact stated that the failure occurred several minutes later. The contact stated that the failure occurred one other time and had not happened again. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent. The vehicle had not been diagnosed and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 198,000.

NHTSA ID

11586737

Incident

Apr 30, 2024

Mileage

198,000 mi

The car brakes suddenly by itself just after the ESB/ABS lights come on along with an exclamation point (!). This has happened randomly at least 4 times since we purchased the car. Once at high speeds on the highway. It appears this problem is common with other owners of Mercedes 2001-2002 ML's. According to the forums below, the problem seems to be a "YAW RATE SENSOR" malfunction or defect. My Mercedes mechanic saw no error codes for this component and it seem extremely expensive (forum states part is $3000) to replace. The https://mbworld.org/forums/m-class-w163/233486-big-problems-ml320-pls-help-2.html

NHTSA ID

11462862

Incident

Apr 7, 2022

FUSE BOX SOME HAS POWER SOME NOT. FRONT LEFT WHEEL MAKING THIS NOISE AND STOPS AFTER 25 MILES PER HOUR RADIO VOLUME LOW WHEN IGNITION KEY IS ON POSITION 3 WHEN KEY IT'S IN THE POSITION 2 LAUD VOLUME WHEN KEY IS NOT IN I CAN TURN ON THE STEREO

NHTSA ID

11298583

Incident

Jan 6, 2020

Mileage

203,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY INTERSECTION IN MY 2002 MERCEDES BENZ ML320 WHEN DRIVING THE YELLOW TRIANGLE IN THE SPEEDOMETER STARTS TO FLASH AND ALL THE BREAKS LOCK UP, THIS IS FOLLOWED BY A STALL, THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT BEING HIT. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I DISCOVERED THAT MANY MERCEDES ML320 OWNERS WERE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. SPECIFICALLY THE YAW RATE SENSOR. THIS IS A SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING ISSUE THAT CAN INJURE OR WORSE YET KILL SOMEONE. YOU GUYS NEED TO DO A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE DIES!

NHTSA ID

11057753

Incident

Dec 30, 2017

Mileage

106,500 mi

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OCCURRING IN DIFFERENT CONDITIONS REGARDING SPEED, WEATHER, ROAD CONDITIONS, ETC., I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE PULL HARD TO THE RIGHT WHILE ENGAGING THE FRONT BRAKES, BOTH WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE AND ON STRAIGHTAWAYS. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE TRIANGLE HAZARD LIGHT AND ESP LIGHTS START FLASHING. MOST OFTEN I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THANKFULLY SAFELY, OR ON ONE OCCASION STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AS THE CAR WOULDN'T ALLOW ME TO CONTINUE DRIVING WHICH WAS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND SCARY. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE SENSORS, WHICH DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM, AND RETURNED TO HAVE THEM AGAIN DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE AND DECLINED THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS SUCH AS REPLACING THE BACK BRAKE SENSORS, UNTIL I CAME UPON THE REPEATED ISSUES OF THE STABILITY SENSORS FAILING (SPECIFICALLY THE YAW SENSOR). I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT, TO DATE, THIS HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ISSUE AND NO ONE HAS BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM (I FILED A PREVIOUS CLAIM, BUT THE WEBSITE WENT UNDER MAINTENANCE AND CLOSED MY COMPLAINT AS I WAS FILING AND WAS GIVEN ID #10923983, BUT THERE IS NO INFORMATION FILED IN ASSOCIATION THAT I COULD FIND HENCE THE RE-FILING). *TR

NHTSA ID

10923995

Incident

Sep 1, 2016

Mileage

135,000 mi

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND NUMEROUS DIFFERENT SPEEDS, WEATHER, BOTH DRIVING ON A STRAIGHTAWAY OR TURNING, AND OTHER ROAD CONDITIONS, THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE LOCKED UP ON THE CAR CAUSING IT TO VEER RIGHT WHILE ENGAGING THE BRAKES. MOST OFTEN I HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER, THANKFULLY SAFELY, OR ON ONE OCCASION, STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING WHICH IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND SCARY. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD ME REPLACE THE BRAKE SENSORS WHICH WERE OBVIOUSLY NOT THE PROBLEM AND THEN RECOMMENDED OTHER REPLACEMENTS, SINCE THE PROBLEM CONTINUED, THAT I DECLINED UNTIL I FOUND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE STABILITY SENSORS IN THIS VEHICLE (SPECIFICALLY THE YAW SENSOR). I'M AMAZED THIS IS NOT A RECALL SITUATION AND THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10923983

Incident

Sep 1, 2016

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE BRAKES INDEPENDENTLY ENGAGED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THEN THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V208000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

NHTSA ID

10894297

Incident

Aug 4, 2016

Mileage

144,000 mi

BRAKES APPLIED ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT PEDAL PRESSURE WHILE CAR WAS MOVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. FRONT BRAKES WERE SMOKING BY THE TIME I FOUND A SAFE PLACE TO STOP OFF THE 4-LANE ROAD ON A SIDE ROAD. REAR BRAKES SEEMED HOT, BUT NOT SMOKING. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THIS HIGHWAY EVENT, CAR HAD JUST BEEN TRAVELING AROUND 35 MPH ON HILLY SIDE ROADS WITH STEEP ASCENTS AND DESCENTS. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME BRAKES HAVE SELF-APPLIED IN A SIMILAR MANNER. AFTER SECOND EVENT, DEALER EXAMINED CAR BUT COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM OR FIND ANY FAULTS ON COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS. WHEN BRAKES COOL, CAR RESTARTS WITHOUT BRAKES COMING ON. BRAKE PADS AND SENSORS WERE REPLACED 6,000 MILES EARLIER; SIGNIFICANT BRAKE DRAG WAS PRESENT FOR AROUND TWO HUNDRED MILES AFTER THAT REPAIR; DEALER SAID BRAKES WERE SELF-ADJUSTING AND DECLINED TO EXAMINE CAR AT THAT TIME. IT WAS ABOUT 4,000 MILES AFTER BRAKE PAD/SENSOR REPLACEMENT THAT THE SELF-BRAKING PROBLEM STARTED.

NHTSA ID

10888170

Incident

Jul 18, 2016

Mileage

600,014 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES WITHOUT THE CONTACT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EBS AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD SCREECHING SOUND WHEN BEING DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE IT COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 175,000.

NHTSA ID

10839233

Incident

Feb 27, 2016

Mileage

175,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE FRONT BRAKES ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS WERE RED AND HOT. THE ESP WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE ESP CABLE AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000. UPDATED 7/21/15*CN UPDATED 10/18/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10723025

Incident

Jan 27, 2015

Mileage

139,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKES WOULD ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATE AND ABRUPTLY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS THE BAS/ESP SENSOR LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,000.

NHTSA ID

10714724

Incident

Apr 28, 2015

Mileage

210,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

NHTSA ID

10682608

Incident

Nov 29, 2014

Mileage

67,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THE BRAKES STARTED ENGAGING ON THEIR OWN PULLING THE CAR TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT AND NEARLY BRINGING THE CAR TO A SUDDEN STOP. IT TOOK A LOT OF EFFORT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM PULLING INTO THE OTHER LANES AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE BAS/ESP LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH AND HAS STAYED ON NOW. THIS ALL LASTED FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS. I WAS IN THE 3RD LANE OF A 4 LANE HIGHWAY DURING MODERATE TRAFFIC. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY TWO DIFFERENT VEHICLES. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE AND FOUND MANY OTHER DRIVERS WITH THE SAME THING. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH FOR A SUDDEN CHANGE IN DIRECTION AND SPEED TO CAUSE A SEVERE ACCIDENT WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND KNOWING THAT THIS VEHICLE IS CAPABLE AND KNOW FOR DOING THIS MAKES IT VERY DANGEROUS. IT MAKES ME WONDER HOW MANY FATAL ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, BUT NO ONE KNEW BECAUSE IT WAS JUST ASSUMED THE TO BE DRIVER ERROR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10587996

Incident

May 12, 2014

Mileage

149,000 mi

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD ENGAGE WITHOUT DRIVER ACTIVATION. THE BAS/ESP LIGHT WOULD COME ON WITHOUT ANY REASON EITHER. ONE DAY I WAS ON THE FREEWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED AND SUDDENLY THE BREAKS WERE ENGAGED AT 73 MPH WHEN I WAS ON THE FAST LANE AND OTHER VEHICLES FOLLOWING AT ABOUT THE SAME SPEED. MY LEG WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR GASSING TO CONTINUE, BUT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FORCED THE CAR TO ALMOST A STOP - ABOUT 10MPH, BEFORE THE BREAKS DISENGAGED AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE (THAT IS ACCELERATE AGAIN). I ALMOST GOT RAMMED BY THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME. I TOOK IT TO MECERDES BENZ DEALERSHIP IN GEORGE TOWN TX. THEY SAID IT WAS UNEQUAL SIZE TIRES THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. I CHANGED THE TIRES TO ALL NEW AND THE SAME SIZE TRIES AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE GEORGETOWN DEALERSHIP AGAIN. THIS TIME THEIR DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE LATERAL ACCELERATION AND YAW SENSORS WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $1250.00. WHAT I DESCRIBED ABOVE WAS JUST AN EPISODE. IT HAPPEN FIRST WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL OTHER TIMES BEFORE I FINALLY TOOK IT FOR REPAIRS. I HAVE PACKED THE CAR FOR NOW BECAUSE I HAVE OTHER CARS TO USE AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT STILL BEEN FIXED. NHTSA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10502267

Incident

Jul 15, 2010

Mileage

69,000 mi

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BRAKE ON IT'S OWN, PULLING ME OFF TO THE LEFT OF THE ROAD VEHICLE BRAKE (RIGHT SIDE) STAYED ENGAGED UNTIL VEHICLE SPEED WAS DOWN TO ABOUT 20 MPH. DEALER SAID A BAD YAW RATE SENSOR WAS THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10483756

Incident

Nov 6, 2012

Mileage

129,000 mi

I RECENTLY TOOK MY 2002 ML320 INTO MY LOCAL MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP (FAIRFIELD, CT) TO HAVE SOME WORK DONE. WHEN I COLLECTED THE VEHICLE AND AS I WAS LEAVING, THE ESP/BAS, ETS AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. THIS HAD HAPPENED ON MANY PREVIOUS OCCASIONS OVER THE YEARS AND EVERY TIME I HAD MENTIONED IT TO THE MERCEDES SERVICE PEOPLE THEY HAVE SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAULT AND THAT I SHOULD TURN OFF THE ENGINE, WAIT AND THEN RE-START AND THIS SHOULD CLEAR THE ISSUE. THIS HAD MOSTLY WORKED UNTIL THIS RECENT OCCASION. INSTEAD IT THE LIGHTS REMAINED ON AND SO I IMMEDIATELY DROVE THE CAR BACK INTO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS TRYING TO ISOLATE THE CAUSE. EVENTUALLY THEY FOUND SOME SERIOUS CORROSION IN THE ESP/HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT. THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS RELATED TO AN ACCIDENT THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AND SUGGESTED I CONTACT MY INSURER. THE INSURANCE ASSESSOR EXAMINED THE CAR IN DETAIL AND CONCLUDED THAT THE FAULT WAS ENTIRELY UNRELATED AND THEIR DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE DESIGN OF THE UNIT WAS FLAWED. IN OTHER WORDS THIS IS A DESIGN FAULT. THEY SAID THAT GIVEN THAT THIS UNIT CONTROLS THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM, ANY FAILURE COULD BE CATASTROPHIC. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR. HOWEVER, I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THE UNIT HAS BEEN REPLACED AT A COST OF NEARLY $2,400 BUT IF AS THE GEICO INSURANCE ASSESSOR BELIEVES, THIS IS A DESIGN FAULT THEN THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. ADDITIONALLY, IT SEEMS THAT THE UNIT HAD BEEN CORRODED FOR SOME TIME AND COULD HAVE FAILED AT ANY TIME BUT BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR THESE WARNING LIGHTS TO COME ON, NO-ONE INVESTIGATED THE ISSUE WITH THE UNIT UNTIL RECENTLY. MY RELATED CONCERN IS THAT THE UNIT COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME AND THIS POSSIBILITY PLACES ME AND MY FAMILY IN POTENTIAL DANGER. MERCEDES DECLINED TO TAKE ANY ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10453913

Incident

Jan 11, 2012

2002 ML 320 FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP BY THEMSELVES NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. BURNING SMELL DETECTED FROM FRONT WHEELS. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER WHO CLAIMED SENSORS HAD FAILED AND THAT THIS WAS A RARE PROBLEM; CONSUMER CHARGED TO REPLACE SENSORS. LESS THAN ONE MONTH LATER THE SAME THING OCCURRED, DEALER NOW STATES IT IS A PRESSURE ISSUE BUT WANTS TO KEEP VEHICLE OVERNIGHT TO DUPLICATE STATED PROBLEM. OWNER INITIALLY NOTICED THIS PROBLEM OVER 1 YEAR AGO, TAKING IT TO THE DEALER THINKING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS STICKING, CAUSING THE BURNING SMELL AND SLUGGISHNESS. DURING THAT VISIT THE DEALER STATED IT FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. OWNER PAID TO HAVE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED DUE TO PITTING AND GROVING CAUSED BY THE FRONT BRAKES SELF-ENGAGING; THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND THE DEALER IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING A PRESSURE ISSUE. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 24K MILES ON IT AND WAS PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER BRAND NEW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10336836

Incident

Jun 1, 2009

Mileage

22,000 mi

[MERCEDES BENZ ML 320 2002] WHILE DRIVING EAST ON ROUTE 80 AT 65 MPH AND APPROACHING THE TOLL BOOTHS OF THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE, I TAPPED MY BRAKES TO DISENGAGE MY SPEED CONTROL. THE SPEED CONTROL DID NOT SHUT DOWN. I HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL MORE TIMES HARDER AND HARDER, BUT THE SPEED CONTROL STAYED IN CONTROL. I PUSHED DOWN VERY HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET AND ALTHOUGH THE CAR SLOWED A LITTLE, THE SPEED CONTROL DRAMATICALLY SPEEDED UP THE ENGINE WITH THE TACHOMETER GOING ALMOST FULL SCALE. I WAS ABLE TO REDUCE THE CAR'S SPEED FROM ABOUT 65 TO UNDER 50 MPH, BUT WAS STILL PRETTY SCARED. THIS WAS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE AND AS AN ENGINEER I REALIZED MY OPTIONS AND TIME TO REACT WERE VERY LIMITED! I FIGURED MY CHOICES WERE FEW: 1) BRAKE UNTIL THE CAR EITHER STOPPED OR I HAD HIT THE STOPPED CARS AT THE TOLL BOOTHS (MAYBE DAMAGE THE TRANSMISSION FURTHER), 2) SHIFT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL HOPING THAT EITHER THE SPEED CONTROL WOULD DISENGAGE OR AT LEAST I COULD STOP THE CAR (ENGINE RPMS MIGHT RUN AWAY AND DESTROY THE ENGINE), OR 3) TRY TO SHUT OFF THE SPEED CONTROL WITH THE CONTROL STALK ON THE LEFT OF THE STEERING COLUMN (WHICH I OBVIOUSLY COULD NOT READ CLOSELY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE STOP MIGHT BE). FORTUNATELY, WITH SEVERAL TRIES I WAS ABLE TO FIND THE STOP POSITION ON THE SPEED CONTROL STALK AND DISENGAGE THE CONTROL. I BRAKED VERY HARD TO STOP SHORT OF A COLLISION..... AND GOT HARSH WORDS AND LOOKS FROM THE ADJACENT TOLL COLLECTORS. I SUSPECTED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS NOT WORKING AND THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY MY MECHANIC (EDDIE RODRIGUEZ OF EDDY'S TOTAL AUTO CARE). THE MECHANIC ALSO HAS TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PRESSURE SENSOR. MY WIFE IS INSISTING THAT I GET RID OF THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AND BUY A NEW CAR. I LOVE MY ML 320..... BUT I LOVE MY WIFE TOO! *TR

NHTSA ID

10330616

Incident

May 13, 2010

Mileage

118,206 mi

I PURCHASED A USED 2002 ML320. ONCE THE VEHICLE CAME OF THE LOT IT WAS FINE IN THE BEGINNING; HOWEVER, THE BAS/ESP CONTINUES TO COME ON EVERY TWO TO THREE MONTHS. THIS PREVENTS ME FROM MOVING THE GEAR SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE ALSO THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING (ON OR OFF WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PAD)AND WHEN IT DOES COME ON WHEN I AM DRIVING AT NIGHT OTHER DRIVERS CANNOT SEE ANY BRAKE LIGHTS AT ALL WHICH PUTS MY FAMILY AND I IN A SAFETY SITUATION OR SAFETY HAZARD WHICH HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES WHILE DRIVING. AT FIRST, I TOOK IT TO NAPA ON METRO PARKWAY IN FORT MYERS WHICH THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND THEN TWO MONTHS TO THREE MONTHS LATER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK FOR THE SAME SITUATION. THEY REPLACED THE SWITCH AND SAID THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH THEY RECEIVED WAS FROM MERCEDES BENZ. IN THE SPRING 2007 THE SAME SITUATION OCCURRED AND TOOK IT TO MERCEDES BENZ OF FORT MYERS AND THEY ALSO REPLACED THE SWITCH AS WELL. HOWEVER, MERCEDES OF FORT MYERS CHANGED AND FOLLOWED ORDERS FROM CORPORATE ON WHAT TO DO BUT TO NO AVAIL. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE SINCE THE PURCHASED OF THE ML320. CURRENTLY, OCTOBER 1, 2009 THE VEHICLE IS AT MERCEDES AT FORT MYERS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. MY WIFE AND I HAVE CONTACTED MERCEDES CUSTOMER COMPLAINT WITH THIS ISSUE BUT WE FEEL ENOUGH IS NOT BEING DONE TO RESOLVE. THE SITUATION BEGAN IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 9, 2006 AND CONTINUES PRESENTLY WHICH I HAVE INDICATED. OTHER DRIVERS CAME CLOSE TO CRASHING INTO ME DUE TO NO BRAKES LIGHTS. MY WIFE AND I FEEL THAT WE PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE THAT IS CONSIDERED TO BE A LEMON THAT HAD ABOUT SEVENTY TWO PLUS THOUSAND MILES ON IT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND MY WIFE AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU CAN INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION. PLEASE RESPOND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *TR UPDATED IVOQ 10/11/11. *JB UPDATED IVOQ 10/18/11. *JB

NHTSA ID

10286007

Incident

Oct 8, 2006

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 70 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LOCKED UP AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE INTO A MEDIAN. THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AT THE SAME TIME THE BRAKES LOCKED. THE CONTACT NEVER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL NOR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FOR THE BRAKES TO LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE YAW RATE SENSOR FAILED. THE REPAIRS WERE SCHEDULED UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 63,000. UPDATED 02/05/09 *BF THE BAS/ESP LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS CRACKED AND THE TRANSMISSION ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WAS LEAKING.. UPDATED 02/06/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10254094

Incident

Jan 3, 2009

Mileage

63,000 mi

TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE ON ALL FOUR WHEELS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF APOLLA HIGH SCHOOL DURING SCHOOL HOURS. MERCEDES SAYS MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10154644

Incident

Apr 4, 2006

Mileage

49,970 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE ASSISTANCE SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM PRESENTED ITSELF BY THE ILLUMINATION OF THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN SEVEN TIMES FOR SERVICE ON THE BRAKE ASSISTANCE SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SHUT OFF, AND RESTARTED LATER, THE GEARSHIFT BECAME STUCK IN THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, AND THE DEALER TEMPORARILY REPAIRED BOTH ISSUES. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE TWO PROBLEMS WERE RELATED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10153332

Incident

Jun 20, 2005

Mileage

2,000 mi

MY CONCERN IS ABOUT SAFETY. ON TWO OCCASIONS I HAVE SENT MY CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 TO THE DEALER WITH SPONGY BRAKES. IN FACT, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. I'M TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL. I BELIEVE IT TO BE UNSAFE. WHAT SHOULD I DO? *JB

NHTSA ID

10143527

Incident

Jan 1, 1976

DASH BOARD BRAKE LIGHT WENT ON AND THE BRAKES FAILED. *LA

NHTSA ID

10047273

Incident

Nov 20, 2003

Mileage

19,000 mi

EMERGENCY BRAKES FAILED TO RELEASE UNLESS STEPPED ON GAS TO FORWARD OR REVERSE. A DAY LATER AFTER WHEELS WERE WASHED AND DRIED UP, EMERGENCY BRAKES WOULD NOT RELEASE TOTALLY UNTIL STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL. YOU CAN HEAR A LOUD NOISE(FEEL LIKE HITTING YOUR BUMPER TO SOMETHING) WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL DURING THE RELEASE OF THE BRAKES. LOCAL DEALER SAID THEIR REGIONAL TECHNICIAN TOLD THEM THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. IT'S MY REPSONSIBILITY TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE BRAKE PADS ARE DRIED UP, THEN PARK THE CAR. I TOLD THEM IT IS DANGEROUS FOR SOMEONE WHO MAY NOT KNOW AND THOUGHT THE CAR WON'T MOVE AND STEP ON THE GAS EXCESSIVELY. THEY DID NOT SEEM CARE. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY TOLD ME THE PADS HAVE TO BE DRIED UP BEFORE PARKING. I TOLD THEM SERVERAL TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM UNTIL I CALLED THEIR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND CAME TO MY HOUSE TO VERIFY IT. THEY EVENTUALLY CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM AND REPRODUCED THE PROBLEM AT THEIR SHOP. HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT SEEM TO COMEUP WITH A SOLUTION EXCEPT TO TELL ME THAT IT'S MY REPSONSIBILITY TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE PADS ARE DRIED UP BEFORE I PARK THE CAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

10033499

Incident

Aug 25, 2003

Mileage

100 mi