RoadVitals

2002 Mercedes-Benz ML320 Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
88
Latest May 3, 2024
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
12
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Feb 17, 2003

What this page shows

Our database holds 88 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Mercedes-Benz ML320. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 88 · page 1 of 4

BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed May 3, 2024

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
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Apr 30, 2022

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
BrakesElectricalOther / unspecified
Filed Jan 11, 2020

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
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Jan 8, 2019
Crash reported1 injury reported

FRONT END COLLISION - AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.

NHTSA ID
11165069
Incident
Dec 8, 2018
Body & structureExterior lightingOther / unspecified
Filed Sep 8, 2018
Crash reportedFire reported1 injury reported

YES THIS [XXX] COMING TO YOU TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I WAS AND A CAR ACCIDENT I WAS STRUCK BY AND VEHICLE MADE BY OLDSMOBILE YEAR 1998 PLATE NO. STATE [XXX] I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM DOWN TOWN FEDERAL COURT I WAS RIDING DOWN [XXX] CRASH DATE 08/21/2018. I WAS AT THE RED LIGHT I ALSO HAD MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON ALSO NOW I WAS SITTING AT THE RED LIGHT WAITING FOR THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TO TURN GREEN NEXT THING I KNOW THE SENIOR CITIZEN THE GUY WHO HIT ME FROM BEHIND. NEXT THING I KNOW MY 2002 ML320 MERCEDES BENZ DID A WHOLE 360 DEGREE SPIN AROUND I DIDN'T PANIC I WAS JUST AND TOTAL SHOCK I GOT OUT THE CAR AND WALK TO THE CAR TO CHECK IN SEE WAS THE PERSON OKAY OR NOT BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHO WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN I LOOK IN REALIZE IT WAS A SENIOR CITIZEN I ASK HIM ARE YOU OKAY HE SAID YES BUT HE WAS KIND OF DAZE I NOTICE THE CAR WAS LEAKING REAL BAD SO I STOOD ALL THE WAY BACK FOR MY SAFETY REASON BECAUSE THE PERSON WHO HIT ME WHICH IS THE SENIOR CITIZEN STARED TO SMOKE SO I STOOD ALL THE WAY BACK CAUSE I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS GO BLOW UP BUT I THANK GOD IT DIDN'T. SO THE AMBULANCE ARRIVE ON THE CAR ACCIDENT. THEY TOOK THE PERSON WHO HIT ME TO THE HOSPITAL. WHICH HE LIVED THEN ALL THE POLICE FORCES CAME I MEAN EVERY TOP LAW CAME PACE BY PACE TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS OKAY. LONG STORY SHORT. MY CAR WAS INVOLVE IN A CAR ACCIDENT OH YEAR I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON TOO SAFETY FIRST. GOD BLESS YOU ALL ALWAYS BUCKLE UP AND CHECK ALL YOU MIRROR. HAVE A NICE DAY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
11128295
Incident
Aug 21, 2018
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jun 19, 2018

"TAKATS RECALL" 1ST ISSUE I NOTICED IS WHEN I GAVE SOMEONE A JUMP OFF A DEAD CAR BATTERY. AS I WAS DRIVEN I NOTICED MY CAR BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON MEANING MY BATTERY WAS DECREASING POWER AND IT DID I WAS ON MY WAY HOME DRIVEN I NOTICED MY CAR LOSING POWER IN THE CAR SHUT COMPLETELY OFF SO I PULLED TO THE SIDE AND I CALLED SOMEONE TO GIVE ME A JUMP THE CAR STARTED BACK UP DROVE ABOUT 3, BLOCKS AND THE CAR SHUT COMPLETELY OFF AGAIN SO I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW BATTERY REPLACING THE OLD BATTERY WITH AN NEW ONE. GOT ANOTHER JUMP TO GIVE THE THE BATTERY SOME EXTRA JUICE. AFTER I RECEIVED THE JUMP I'M BACK ON THE ROAD. IN THE ANCIENT OCCUR AGAIN SO I CALLED SOMEONE TO GIVE ME A JUMP. THIS TIME THE CAR DIDN'T START. SO I HAD TO GET IT TOW HOME. GOT HOME DID SOME RESEARCH IN FOUND OUT IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR. REPLACE THE OLD ALTERNATOR WITH A NEW ONE. 2ND ISSUE I NOTICED AFTER I REPLACED THE OLD ALTERNATOR WITH THE NEW ONE I NOTICED MY TWO FANS BLOWER WILL CONTINUOUSLY RUN FOR HOURS WHEN I TAKE MY CAR KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION. AND DUE TO THAT THAT CAUSE MY DRAINED MY BATTERY CAUSING ME TO LOSE POWER AND MY CAR WON'T BE ABLE TO START WHEN I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION I DON'T KNO IF THEY CONNECTED A WIRE TO KEEP RUNNING IF SO HE WAS TO SUPPOSED TO TELL ME THAT WHICH HE DIDN'T. 3RD ISSUE I NOTICED I RECENTLY ADDED NEW FRONT PADS AND ROTOR'S NEW REAR PADS AND ROTORS 1 NEW REAR PASSSGER SIDE BRAKE CALIPER. MY BRAKE LIGHTS STILL APPEARED TO POP UP I TOLD THE MERCHANT HE TOLD ME IT COULD BE A SENSOR FAILURE AND GET CHECK OUT AT A MERCEDES BENZ DEALER. 4TH ISSUE THE TRIANGLE LIGHT LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF DASH FLASHES OCCASIONALLY CAUSING UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, TAPPING THE BRAKE PEDAL MAY NOT AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL AS EXPECTED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR RECALL SUBJECT: SUSPENSION: FRONT CONTROL ARM UPPER ARM .RECALL: 6/SERVICE BULLETINS: 2

NHTSA ID
11102558
Incident
Jun 18, 2018
Engine
Filed Jun 18, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO TURN OFF WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO START. THE CONTACT PURCHASED AND INSTALLED A NEW ALTERNATOR; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE BATTERY WAS ALSO REPLACED, BUT THE ENGINE STILL TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH PRIME TIME NISSAN OF SCHERERVILLE (1301 INDIANAPOLIS BLVD, SCHERERVILLE, IN 46375) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
11102413
Incident
Jun 12, 2018
Suspension
Filed Mar 1, 2018

MAJOR STEERING PROBLEMS

NHTSA ID
11075564
Incident
Mar 1, 2018
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Dec 31, 2017

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
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jun 20, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BAS AND ESP WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED EXTREME DIFFICULTY TURNING LEFT AND RIGHT AND HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THE FAILURES. THE UNKNOWN DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11000157
Incident
Jun 18, 2017
EngineSteering
Filed Mar 16, 2017

I WAS PULLING AWAY FROM THE CURB, STEERING WHEEL STARTED MAKING WHINING NOISES AND HARDER TO TURN. I CONTINUED ON CITY STREETS THEN TO A FREEWAY WHERE MY CAR BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. I PULLED OVER AT A GAS STATION OPENED THE HOOD AND COULD SEE FLUID ALL OVER RIGHT LOWER DRIVER SIDE. IT SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM A HOSE BY THE POWER STEERING CAP AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RADIATOR. UNDER THE CAR SAME SPOT RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE I COULD SEE POWER STEERING AND RADIATOR COOLANT LEAKING FROM THAT AREA.

NHTSA ID
10966233
Incident
Mar 10, 2017
Mileage
200,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 1, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RIDING EXTREMELY ROUGH AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE PART WAS NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION AND THAT THE CONTACT MAY REPLACE THE PART WITH AN AFTERMARKET CATALYTIC CONVERTER; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT PASS AN EMISSIONS INSPECTION. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN OF WHO WOULD BE ABLE TO REPLACE THE PART WITH AN OEM CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR THEM TO DETERMINE A SOLUTION TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID
10957858
Incident
Mar 1, 2017
Mileage
150,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Nov 3, 2016

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
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Nov 3, 2016

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
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Aug 9, 2016

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
Filed Jul 25, 2016

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
Driver assistanceElectricalSteering
Filed Jun 19, 2016

I HAVE A 2002 ML320, THE RADIO IS OUT AND THE HOLE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID DOES NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING CAUSING A LEAK, ESP/BAS STAYS ON CAUSING LOW TRACTION AND THE DOOR LOCK. THESE ITEMS WERE RECALLED ON THE M-CLASS 320, WHAT HAPPENED TO THES RECALLS.

NHTSA ID
10875060
Incident
Jan 11, 2016
Mileage
180 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed Mar 1, 2016

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
Steering
Filed Jan 19, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS FRACTURED AND FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER MANUFACTURER SAFETY CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 2003-040005. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

NHTSA ID
10820893
Incident
Jan 18, 2016
Mileage
154,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jun 2, 2015

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
Brakes
Filed May 5, 2015

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
Brakes
Filed Feb 10, 2015

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
Steering
Filed Nov 22, 2014

I BOUGHT THIS CAR YESTERDAY FROM AN INDIVIDUAL OFF CRAIGSLIST AND THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT 5 TIMES. SO FAR ONLY AT VERY LOW SPEEDS, BUT I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND SEEN NUMBERS COMPLAINTS WITH POWER STEERING FAILURE AT FASTER SPEEDS TOO. VERY UNSETTLING. THERE WERE A COUPLE OF RECALLS REGARDING THE CLAMPS AND HOSES, BUT UPON RESEARCH I FOUND THAT Y CAR HAS NO OPEN CAMPAIGNS. I GUESS THAT MEANS THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM STILL AND I NEED IT FIXED OR I NEED A NEW CAR. THIS IS NOT SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10660267
Incident
Nov 21, 2014
Mileage
143,340 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed May 13, 2014

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
EngineSteering
Filed Apr 22, 2013

DRIVING HOME ON A LOCAL STREET AT ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR, APPROACHING INTERSECTION, TRYING TO TURN, ALL THE SUDDEN, STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN, WITH NO ASSISTING POWER, CAR RUN OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD, ALMOST CRASH INTO CURB. IT IS VERY LUCKY, THERE IS NO INCOMING CARS, WOULD HAVE CRASH HEAD ON OTHERWISE. CAR TOWED TO DEALER, FOUND STEERING HOSE FROM RADIATOR TO STEERING RACK BROKEN OFF, STEERING FLUID SPLATTING ALL OVER ENGINE. DEALER STATED NO RECALL FOR STEERING HOSE COMING OUT OF RADIATOR, BUT THERE WAS RECALL ON STEERING HOSE COMING OUT OF PUMP. SO THIS DEFECT WAS NOT COVERED. I URGE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT IMMEDIATELY, AND ISSUE RECALL TO SAVE LIVES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10509207
Incident
Apr 1, 2013
Mileage
98,224 mi

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.

Narrow this down by component

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .