RoadVitals

2002 Mercedes-Benz ML320 Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance 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.
20
Latest Apr 30, 2022
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.
23%
of 88 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.
1
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 forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Mercedes-Benz ML320 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 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 driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Mar 17, 2013

MY 2002 ML320 CLUSTER DISPLAY LIGHTS ON MY DASH ALL LIGHT UP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, THE SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING ACTUALLY GOES TO ZERO. ONCE THE CAR COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP IT ACCELERATES VERY SLOWLY AND WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. THIS IS VERY FRIGHTENING FOR SOMEONE IN TRAFFIC AND THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE IS REAR ENDED AND DIES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10503370
Incident
Dec 31, 2012
Mileage
120,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Nov 8, 2012

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
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 14, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED UP TO 90 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL ALTHOUGH SHE WAS DEPRESSING THE BREAK PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACCELERATOR, CRUISE CONTROL AND THE ELECTRIC KIT WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,367 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

NHTSA ID
10406806
Incident
Mar 13, 2009
Mileage
83,367 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed May 23, 2011

RUN OVER THE ANY PUMP ON THE ROAD THAT CAUSE THE GAS PEDAL PUSH DOWN TO THE BOTTOM, STILL DIDN'T ACCELERATE CAUSE THE CAR SLOWLY DOWN, THIS CAUSE EVERYTIME DRIVER OVER THE PUMP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10402400
Incident
May 23, 2011
Mileage
115,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 9, 2011

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I HAD A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE WHILE DRIVING ONE OF YOUR VEHICLES. I AM THE OWNER OF A MERCEDES 2002 ML320, WHICH WAS PURCHASED AT A PHILLIPS MERCEDES DEALERSHIP IN VIRGINIA BEACH VA. I NEED TO ADDRESS A VERY SERIOUS INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED OVER THE WEEKEND (DECEMBER 18, 2010). I WAS DRIVING BACK FROM RICHMOND GOING TOWARD VIRGINIA BEACH, I WAS DRIVING 70 MPH ON I-64 AND HAD IT ON CRUISE CONTROL, AHEAD I SAW THAT TRAFFIC SLOWING DOWN SO I STEPPED ON THE BREAK; I THEN REALIZED THAT MY BRAKES WEREN'T WORKING AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP OR SLOW THE CAR DOWN. I ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE BREAK PEDAL DOWN AND IT WOULDN'T NUDGE EVEN THOUGH I APPLIED ALL OF MY WEIGHT TO IT, THE SPEED DID NOT DIMINISH AT ALL, I THEN TRIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THAT ALSO FAILED TO SLOW ME DOWN, MY FRIEND SUGGESTED THAT I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THEN TRY THE BRAKE, FORTUNATELY THAT WORKED AND WAS FINALLY ABLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT WAS ONE OF THE SCARIEST EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE. YOUR PRODUCT PUT MY FRIEND'S AND MY LIFE IN JEOPARDY. I HAD THE BAS/ESP LIGHT COME ON IN THE PASS AND HAVE BROUGHT IT IN FOR REPAIRS 3 TIMES ALREADY: 07/27/2005, 12/01/2009 AND IN 10/19/2010. I AM STUNNED THAT A COMPANY WHO HAS SUCH A GREAT REPUTATION AND SEEMS TO THRIVE ON CUSTOMER SATISFACTION DROPPED THE BALL. AT NO POINT IN TIME DID ANY OF THE TECHNICIANS WHO PERFORMED THE REPAIRS ON MY CAR ADVISE ME OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10375310
Incident
Dec 18, 2009
Mileage
112,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 21, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 60MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED TO SPEEDS OF 70 MPH WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT TO NO AVAIL. SHE THEN APPLIED ABRUPT PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL USING BOTH FEET AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOWLY DECREASE IN SPEED. SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY ENGAGING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE SHE WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 88,000.

NHTSA ID
10339356
Incident
Jun 19, 2010
Mileage
88,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed May 16, 2010

[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
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 31, 2008

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY AT 75 MPH SET SPEED IN CRUISE CONTROL AND STEPPED ON BRAKE AS I APPROACHED TRAFFIC CONGESTION. VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND CONTINUED TO MAINTAIN SET SPEED REGARDLESS HOW HARD I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE. EVENTUALLY, I DECIDED TO TRY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED BACK UNDER CONTROL OF THE FOOTBRAKE. THANKFULLY, THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWED DOWN WITHOUT INCIDENT BUT IT WAS A VERY SCARY MOMENT. NOTICED, AT THIS TIME, THE BAS/ESP MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP WAS DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD. DROVE VEHICLE DIRECTLY TO A MERCEDES DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. DEALER ADVISED STOP LAMP SWITCH SHORTED. REPLACED LAMP SWITCH. ALTHOUGH, THIS WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT WHILE IN CRUISE CONTROL THE VEHICLE DID HAVE SIMILAR PAST PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM (IE-BRAKE SWITCH AND SHIFTER CONTROL MODULE WERE REPLACED) THAT PREVENTED SHIFTING OUT OF PARK INTO ANY OTHER POSITION. VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE SAFETY DEVICE TO OVERRIDE "CRUISE CONTROL" OR PREVENT "CRUISE CONTROL" OPERATION WITH ANY MALFUNCTION IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM OR ACTIVATION OF THE BRAKING INDICATOR LAMP. WHAT ASSURANCES ARE THERE TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN? *TR

NHTSA ID
10247405
Incident
Oct 30, 2008
Mileage
105,003 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jul 27, 2008

THIS CAR HAS BEEN INTO SERVICE OV 27 TIME IN THE LAST 2 1/2 YEARS REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM/ ALL OF THE LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD TURN ON. MY LASTEST ISSUE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY MY CAR JUST COMPLETELY TURN OFF ON ME WILL ON THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN I TURNED THE KEY AGAIN THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THIS CAR HAS BEEN FIX NUMEROUS TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM COMES BACK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10235901
Incident
Jul 24, 2008
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 12, 2007

DRIVING ON RT 30 IN CAMDEN NJ WHEN MY VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATING AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED (I WAS TRAVELING AT 50MPH AND VEHICLE SPED UP TO ABOUT 80 AND I COULD NOT STOP IT). I HAD TO PUT EMERGENCY BRAKES AND ULTIMATELY PUT VEHICLE INTO PARK TO GET IT TO STOP. NOTHING IN VEHICLE CAUSED VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND NEARLY CAUSED ME TO DRIVE INTO TRAFFIC. MERCEDES DENIES HAVING ANY PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLES AND BLAMED ME FOR OPERATION. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD AS A POLICE OFFICER FOR 14 YEARS AND KNOW THAT IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH VEHICLE THAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM

NHTSA ID
10192995
Incident
Jun 11, 2007
Mileage
102,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 10, 2006
Crash reported1 injury reported

MB ML 320 CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WHILE EXITING A PARKING RAMP WHILE NOT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR AND WITH BRAKING HAVING NO EFFECT ON REDUCING SPEED UNTIL CAR IMPACTED WALL. *JB

NHTSA ID
10167781
Incident
Sep 8, 2006
Mileage
35,000 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.

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