2008 Mercedes-Benz ML320 Owner Complaints

Right rear brake light inoperative even with new bulb. Dash warning light shows this light not working .08

NHTSA ID

11610621

Incident

Aug 2, 2024

THE REAR TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKES LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, EVEN WITH NEW BULBS AND REPLACEMENT OF THE BULBS BASE CASE THE TURN SIGNAL STILL BLINKING AS IF THE BULB IS BURNED AND THE BRAKE LIGHT DOESN'T WORK SIMULTANEOUSLY IT WORK WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS NOT USED. THE CAR WAS TOOK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUE THE SAME.

NHTSA ID

11455484

Incident

Aug 24, 2018

8/1/2021 accident involving 2008 Mercedes ML320 CDI >recall faulty tow hitch< Mercedes has refused to conduct an investigation and resolve these damages. While injured (both myself and 9 yr old son w/ a heart condition), no serious injuries or fatalities happened during the accident. It resulted in totaling the vehicle and our camper. Recall doc's show that Mercedes of New Orleans completed the recall; however, they either falsified disclosing they did the repair or conduct poor workmanship when repairing the hitch. While driving the hitch broke/cracked resulting the camper flipping over and slamming into the truck. I have photos along w/ consulted w/ certified welder confirming the weld was not properly done. More photos if needed.

NHTSA ID

11431324

Incident

Aug 1, 2021

Tow hitch weld broke resulting in vehicle accident. Interstate wreck, could have killed myself, my 9 yr old and 4 dogs along w/ any other vehicles that could have struck us.

NHTSA ID

11428004

Incident

Aug 1, 2021

WHILE DRIVING THE MERCEDES ML320 AT NIGHT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY POSTED THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE "BATTERY VOLTAGE IS TOO LOW. PLEASE START THE ENGINE. OTHERWISE, COMAND WILL SHUT OFF IN 3 MINUTES." THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AT THIS TIME AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. A SHORT TIME LATER THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT OUT. I TURNED ON THE FLASHERS AND THEY ALSO WENT OUT IN A SHORT TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WOULD NOT RE-START. ABOUT 15 MINUTES WENT BY AND THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND FULLY FUNCTIONAL. NO SIGNS OF CODES OR REDUCED LIGHTING PERFORMANCE. ALSO, NO SIGNS OR REDUCED BATTERY PERFOMANCE WAS OBSERVED.

NHTSA ID

11164312

Incident

Dec 30, 2018

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE FAILED TO OPEN. IN ADDITION, THE REAR MIDDLE BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF FORT LAUDERDALE AT (954) 949-0623 (LOCATED AT 2411 S FEDERAL HWY, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33316) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

NHTSA ID

11067323

Incident

Jan 31, 2018

Mileage

108,000 mi

MY 2008 IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS THIS 2009. MERCEDES BENZ IS RECALLING 16,130 MY 2009 M-CLASS W164 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE OPTIONAL POWER LIFT GATE. AS A RESULT OF A FAULTY SEAL AROUND THE REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY, WATER MAY ENTER THE REAR COMPARTMENT CONTAINING THE SPARE TIRE. WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE CONTROL UNIT FOR THE POWER LIFT GATE CAN RESULT IN DISABLING OF THE POWER LIFT GATE MOTOR. HAZARD:WATER WILL CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT WHICH COULD LEAD TO A FIRE. REMEDY:DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAL OF THE REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY WITH A THICKER ONE AND REPOSITION THE AFFECTED POWER LIFT GATE CONTROL UNIT INSIDE THE CHASSIS. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372. ADDITIONAL INFO:MERCEDES BENZ RECALL NO. 2009030003.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S

NHTSA ID

11067316

Incident

Feb 1, 2018

Mileage

107,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE SECOND TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HORN SOUNDED WITHOUT BEING PROMPTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000.

NHTSA ID

10850680

Incident

Mar 12, 2016

Mileage

89,000 mi

WATER ENTERED THE VEHICLE (RAIN) STANDING WATER IN THE SPARE TIRE AREA OF THE CAR. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER QUIT WORKING. GOT ERROR MESSAGES ON THE DASH REAR HATCH OPEN, CHECKED REAR HATCH WAS CLOSED AND IT WOULD NOT OPEN EITHER MANUALLY OR USING THE REMOTE OPENER OR THE BUTTON IN THE CAR, MULTIPLE ERROR MESSAGES REAR BRAKE LIGHTS LEFT RIGHT SIDE AND TRAILER, ERROR MESSAGE SRS FAILURE, FUEL GAUGE QUIT WORKING, LOCKS NOT WORKING..... PARKED THE CAR IT WAS RAINING UNABLE TO DRIVE, THE NEXT DAY DROVE IT TO A MECHANIC WHO FOUND 1" OF STANDING WATER IN THE SPARE TIRE WELL. THE LIFT GATE CONTROLLER IS IN THE WELL AND WAS WET AND NOT FUNCTIONING IN ALSO TOOK OUT ANOTHER CONTROLLER PART COST $978.61 LABOR 474.50 I DID NOT HAVE TIME FOR THE MECHANIC TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK HE HAD THE CAR 4 DAYS BEFORE THE NEW YEARS DAY WEEKEND (OUT OF TOWN 250 MILES FROM HOME) TOOK IT TO THE MERCEDES DEALER THEY SAID THE 2009 YEAR MODEL HAD A LEAKY SEAL AT THE TURN SIGNALS THAT HAD A RECALL BUT IT DID NOT INCLUDE MY MODEL YEAR ALTHOUGH IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN IN THE RAIN I DID NOT ENCOUNTER FLOODED ROADS JUST RAINFALL. MERCEDES WAS UNWILLING TO HELP IN ANY WAY.

NHTSA ID

10817760

Incident

Dec 27, 2015

Mileage

127,555 mi

A SEAL FOR THE ENGINE OIL COOLER FAILED. THE COOLER LEAKED OIL ONTO THE UNDER-ENGINE PAN AND WAS NOT DETECTED AS A LEAK ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. HAD THE COOLER FAILED COMPLETELY IT WOULD HAVE CREATED A SAFETY ISSUE IN TRAFFIC. THE SEAL FAILURE APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM BUT SHOULD NOT OCCUR UNDER NORMAL USE, WHICH IS HOW THIS VEHICLE IS USED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10683293

Incident

Feb 3, 2015

Mileage

125,781 mi

WHILE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING BEGAN TO GROWL AND CONTINUED TO GET WORSE UNTIL REPLACED AT A DEALER. IT SEEMS IT IS PREMATURE FOR A BEARING TO FAIL, THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED AT ABOUT 121000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10683289

Incident

Jan 27, 2015

Mileage

125,500 mi

RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING BROKEN. REAR OF VEHICLE HAS UNEVEN LEVEL. COULD AFFECT HANDLING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10683287

Incident

Feb 3, 2015

Mileage

125,781 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING THROUGH THE AUTOMATED CAR WASH CONVEYOR AT APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10669655

Incident

Dec 21, 2014

Mileage

100,000 mi

AT 57,000 THE RACK AND PINION SEALS WENT OUT ON THE STEERING MAKING THE CAR EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. REAR SEAT BELTS HAD NEVER BEEN USED UNTIL 12/1/14 AT WHICH TIME I FOUND THEY WERE NOT USABLE. THEY WERE LOCKED INTO POSITION. THE SERVICE WRITER AT THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP SAID HE OWNED THE SAME MODEL AND HAD TO REPLACE HIS TWICE. DEALER AND FACTORY BOTH REFUSED TO REPAIR EITHER ITEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10664708

Incident

Dec 4, 2014

Mileage

57,000 mi

MERCEDES HAS MANUFACTURED A DEFECTIVE ENGINE OIL COOLER SEAL. IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ON EVERY DIESEL ENGINE AT A COST OF AROUND 4000$. *TR

NHTSA ID

10593131

Incident

Apr 3, 2013

Mileage

50,000 mi

MY WIFE NOTICED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. IT WOULD NOT "CATCH" OR RETRACT AFTER BEING PULLED OUT. TOOK TO DEALER. THEY VERIFIED THE TENSIONER WAS BAD AND HAD TO REPLACE THE TENSIONER & SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE ORIGINAL OR EXTENDED WARRANTY. I HAD TO PAY $551. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING ON THIS LOW OF MILES. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT BASIC SAFETY DEVICE. THEY HAD THE PARTS IN STOCK WHICH MADE ME THINK THIS COULD BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10557376

Incident

Dec 27, 2013

Mileage

82,700 mi

2008 MERCEDES ML320. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STEERING WHEEL ISSUES. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED BEFORE THE VEHICLE REACHED 50,000 MILES, HE BEGAN TO HEAR AN UNUSUAL SOUND WHEN SHE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER'S HUSBAND ADDED POWER STEERING FLUID, BUT THE NOISE WOULD SOON RETURN. THE CONSUMER LEARNED OF A RECALL. HOWEVER, HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE POWER STEERING RACK.

NHTSA ID

10491302

Incident

Oct 19, 2012

TRANSMISSION IS HAVING PROBLEMS ACCELERATING AND SHIFTING GEARS. WOULD "REV" UP THEN NOT SHIFT AND NOT ALLOW MY CAR TO ACCELERATE WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, CAUSING CARS TO BACK UP BEHIND ME AND PUTTING ME IN DANGER. AT OTHER TIMES IT WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO EVEN ACCELERATE. HAVE TO CONSISTENTLY RESTART MY CAR IN DANGEROUS PLACES ON THE ROAD TO GET IT TO EVENTUALLY WORK. WENT BY BODY SHOP AND TURNS OUT TO BE A SPEED SENSOR CODE ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. NEEDS SOME FORM OF A VALVE BODY REPAIR, BUT UNSURE TO WHAT EXTENT. THIS IS ONE OF MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10486587

Incident

Nov 19, 2012

Mileage

75,000 mi

BOTH REAR BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES HAVE FAILED. THESE FAILURES INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF A REAR END COLLISION. WHEN THE LEFT ASSEMBLY FAILED IN 2011, I ATTRIBUTED IT TO BAD LUCK. WHEN THE RIGHT ASSEMBLY FAILED AT 66000 MILES IN 2012, IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT MERCEDES MAY HAVE A PROBLEM THAT DESERVES A RECALL ACTION. INSTEAD OF COSTING ABOUT $5 TO $10 FOR LIGHT BULBS THESE ASSEMBLIES COST ABOUT $300 EACH TO REPLACE AND INSTALL. $600 IS ENOUGH TO CAUSE SOME PEOPLE TO NOT REPAIR THEM AND THUS CREATE A SAFETY HAZARD. AT 65000 MILES I ALSO ENCOUNTERED SOME VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR OIL LEAKS THAT MAKE MESSES ON MY DRIVEWAY AND CAUSE WATER POLLUTION WHEN THE OIL RUNS OFF. HAVE YOU HAD ANY REPORTS OF REAR SEAL LEAKS, OIL PAN LEAKS OR OIL COOLER LEAKS ON THIS VEHICLE?

NHTSA ID

10455203

Incident

Jun 30, 2011

Mileage

55,000 mi

BOTH SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS), OR AIRBAG SYSTEMS MALFUNCTIONED WITH 15 MINUTES OF EACH OTHER DURING AN ORDINARY DRIVE TO MY BUSINESS LOCATION DURING A BUSINESS TRIP WITH MY MANAGEMENT. THE HEADREST ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED TO THE "CRASH" CONFIGURATION, THE CABIN FILLED WITH ACRID, BURNT ELECTRONICS SMELL AND THE RED SRS DASH LIGHT LIT. TEN MINUTES LATER, THE CABIN ONCE-AGAIN WAS FILLED WITH THE ACRID BURNT ELECTRONICS SMELL AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF SMOKE. THE SECOND TIME THE DRIVER SIDE MALFUNCTIONED. THERE WAS NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND NO CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10336023

Incident

Jun 11, 2010

Mileage

70,658 mi

THE OIL LEVEL LOW MESSAGE COMES ON EVEN WHEN THE OIL LEVEL IS FULL. THIS OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES ARE HIGH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10219662

Incident

Feb 28, 2008

Mileage

2,800 mi