2005 Mercedes-Benz ML320 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2005 Mercedes-Benz ML320, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags116.7%
- Fuel system116.7%
- Interior & seats116.7%
- Other / unspecified116.7%
- Steering116.7%
- Transmission116.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
DURING ACCIDENT WHERE ML 320 WAS BROAD SIDED ON DRIVERS DOOR, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER OF OTHER CAR WHICH STRUCK MERCEDES ADMITTED TO TRAVELING AT 35 MPH. FURTHERMORE, AUTO CRASH NOTIFY SYSTEM FAILED; THESE ARE STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES FOR THIS VEHICLE. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
1)ML350 WAS PURCHASED W/10MILES ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 12 THAT SAME DAY THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING WHEN REACHING 45 AND 75 MILES PER HOUR AND ON NOVEMBER 14, SUNDAY 4 TIMES WHILE STOP THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WAS GOING TO SHUT OFF. *AK ON NOVEMBER 15, MONDAY MORNING WHILE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP THE VEHICLE STALLED TWO MORE TIMES. EVERYDAY THEREAFTER THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE AND STALL. ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 27, 2004 WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE CUT OFF. 2)ON TUES DECEMBER 7 MY VEHICLE WAS IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT DUE TO STALLING. THE VEHICLE HAS BODY AND UNDERNEATH DAMAGE. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE. IVE COMPLAINED TO STEVE ROGERS, TIM SERVICE REP, LOVENCE AND ASHER BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE. I REPEATEDLY ASKED FOR A NEW VEHICLE. 3)I'VE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 3 TO 4 DAYS. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THE SYSTEM COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
CHILD WAS ON THE BACK SEAT IN A CAR SEAT BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED WHILE DRIVING, THE BACK SEAT CAME FORWARD HITTING HER LEGS ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
DURING ACCIDENT WHERE ML 320 WAS BROAD SIDED ON DRIVERS DOOR, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER OF OTHER CAR WHICH STRUCK MERCEDES ADMITTED TO TRAVELING AT 35 MPH. FURTHERMORE, AUTO CRASH NOTIFY SYSTEM FAILED; THESE ARE STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES FOR THIS VEHICLE. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER LOST POWER ALMOST STRIKING A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DISCOVERED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED (2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML320).*AK *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO FIRST OR SECOND GEAR. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .