2009 Mercedes-Benz ML320 Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML320. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11477647

Incident

Aug 1, 2022

Rear coil springs rusted through and broke resulting in greatly diminished vehicle stability, especially in emergency maneuvers. Have had numerous repair facilities evaluate, including the dealer. All have refused to replace rear springs due to safety risk

NHTSA ID

11468404

Incident

Jan 1, 2021

OUR VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. MY WIFE AND I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF OF THE INTERSTATE WHEN WE STARTED TO SMELL AN ODD SMELL. WE PULLED INTO A HOTEL PARKING LOT WHERE WE STARTED TO SEE SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE IN A HOTEL DRIVEWAY, PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. WE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND SAW FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. WE CALLED 911 AND HOTEL STAFF TRIED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BUT IT CONTINUED TO GROW. THE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. PHOTOS ARE ATTACHED.

NHTSA ID

11308022

Incident

Feb 8, 2020

Mileage

89,000 mi

ISSUES WITH SUNROOF MB HAS DONE A RECALL ON ALL MODELS OTHER THAN "M" CLASS I'M HAVING ISSUES WITH MY 2009 ML 320

NHTSA ID

11298653

Incident

Jan 1, 2020

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER (COURTESY AUTOMOTIVE CENTER, (530) 345-9444) WAS CALLED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11100618

Incident

Jun 8, 2018

TAKATA RECALL - ALL THE MERCEDES BENZ LOCATIONS I CALLED (PORTLAND, BEAVERTON, TIGARD, HILLSBOROUGH AND WILSONVILLE), ARE NOT ACCEPTING TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT AS THEY CLAIM THEY DO NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED PARTS TO DO IT.

NHTSA ID

11044698

Incident

Nov 8, 2017

CPSC:2009 MERCEDES BENZ ML320 WITH APPROVED, DEALER INSTALLED TRAILER TOW HITCH PURCHASED USED ON 9/05/2017. RATED CAPACITY IS 7200 LBS. ON MONDAY, 9/11/2017, ATTACHED AN 2005 AIRSTREAM TRAILER, WEIGHING 5240 LBS. , MOVING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, HEARD A LOUD "POP" SOUND. .ON 9/22/2017, AND CONFIRMED AS FAULTY, DUE TO LACK OF PENETRATION AT THE POINT OF WELDS. *BF...UPDATED 11/14/17 *BF UPDATED 10/16/2017*JS UPDATED 7/27/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11033689

Incident

Sep 11, 2017

Mileage

84,251 mi

DEALER INSTALLED FLEX-N-GATE TRAILER HITCH, NOT CURRENTLY INCLUDED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 08V242000. HAVE EXPERIENCED IDENTICAL WELD FAILURE, AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL INFORMATION. WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST EXPANSION OF RECALL TO INCLUDE 2009 MODELS.

NHTSA ID

11025129

Incident

Sep 11, 2017

Mileage

94,542 mi

I WAS SOLD THIS VEHICLE ON FEBRUARY 27, 2016, AFTER THE RECALL NOTICE WAS RELEASED. THE DEALER DID NOT MENTION A RECALL, AND I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF A RECALL UNTIL SEARCHING TODAY. SHOULDN'T THE DEALERSHIP HAVE INFORMED ME OF THE RECALL? DO THEY HAVE ANY CULPABILITY FOR NOT SHARING THIS INFORMATION.

NHTSA ID

10929745

Incident

Feb 27, 2016

Mileage

99,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. AFTER FUELING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL BADLY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REMOVED SOME OF THE FUEL BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SENDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ID

10851411

Incident

Sep 9, 2014

Mileage

58,000 mi

ENGINE COOLER SEAL LEAKING MASSIVELY AND LEAKING OIL IN TURBO.

NHTSA ID

10824460

Incident

Jan 20, 2016

ENGINE LIGHT CODE RELATED TO DEFECTIVE HEATER ELEMENT IN BLUETEC FLUID TANK. MERCEDES STATES IT IS AN EMISSIONS SYSTEM BUT IS NOT COVERED UNDER EMISSIONS WARRANTY. NO CHANGE IN VEHICLE PERFORMANCE, 35,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

10788461

Incident

Oct 1, 2015

Mileage

35,000 mi

OIL LEAKING FROM COIL COOLER, 1-2OZ OVERNIGHT ON GROUND + OIL LOSS AT SPEED.

NHTSA ID

10763385

Incident

Sep 11, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

WHEEL SPEED SENSOR (L/F) FAILED ON HIGHWAY AT 50MPH. ALL BRAKES LOCKED UP AND CAR SKIDDED TO A HALT! LUCKILY NO TRAFFIC OR SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A LOCAL MB DEALER. MERCEDES IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE ... THEY HAVE UPDATED THESE SENSORS BUT ARE NOT REPLACING THEM UNDER WARRANTY (AND OF COURSE THEY ARE GETTING ABOUT $450 PER SENSOR)! MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE! MERCEDES SHOULD RECALL AND REPLACE THESE SENSORS!

NHTSA ID

10733262

Incident

Jun 12, 2015

Mileage

45,520 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 4/30/15*CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE GLOW PLUG CONTROL UNIT, HEAT ELEMENT AND DOOR LOCK FAILED. UPDATED 05/07/15*JB

NHTSA ID

10683919

Incident

Feb 1, 2015

Mileage

60,000 mi

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WARNING WITH CODE #20BE1B. REPAIR INDICATES NEED OF DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID (DEF) HEATER REPAIR KIT. DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID SYSTEM IS PART OF EMISSIONS SYSTEM. MB DEALERSHIP SAYS NO WARRANTY FOR REPAIR. INTERNET RESEARCH WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH DEF SYSTEM AROUND 50,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10672030

Incident

Jan 2, 2015

Mileage

58,331 mi

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES. TOWED TO LOCAL MB DEALER, DIAGNOSTICS INDICATED FUEL PUMP FAILURE. FUEL PUMP REPLACED. APPROXIMATE MILEAGE 64000. VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON 4 OTHER OCCASIONS OVER COURSE OF NEXT 8 MONTHS. TWICE THE VEHICLE STARTED THE NEXT DAY. ONCE THE FUEL PUMP RELAY WAS REPLACED. VEHICLE FAILED TO START AGAIN 10/10/14 AND WAS TOWED TO AREA MB DEALER. DIAGNOSTICS INDICATED FUEL PUMP FAILURE AGAIN. FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED AGAIN! APPROXIMATE MILEAGE 145000. WAITING FOR IT TO LEAVE ME STRANDED AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10667306

Incident

Sep 13, 2012

Mileage

64,000 mi

CLEAR HEADLIGHT LENS COVER GETS WET ON INSIDE EVEN THOUGH THERE HAS BEEN NO RAIN CAUSING LIGHT FROM HEADLAMP TO BE DIFFUSED AND RESTRICTING REACH OF BEAM. MANUFACTURER SAYS LEAVE HEADLIGHT ON DISSIPATE MOISTURE, HOWEVER SEEMS UNSAFE WHILE MOISTURE PRESENT. THE DEALER REFUSED TO CONTACT MERCEDES BENZ. *TR

NHTSA ID

10621031

Incident

Jul 1, 2014

Mileage

50,000 mi

ML320 BLUETEC, RANDOMLY LOSES POWER. THE POWER WILL BE RESTORED ONCE THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN. CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 7 TIMES FOR REPAIR OF THIS ONE ISSUE, INCLUDING TWICE IN A STATE WITH LIMITED POWER. DEALER HAS DONE MULTIPLE SOFTWARE UPDATES, TURBO REPLACEMENT, EXHAUST VALVES REPLACEMENT AND THE ISSUE IS STILL PRESENT. ON ONE OF THE LAST OCCASIONS THIS HAPPENED, THE CAR LOST POWER WHEN TRYING TO MERGE ON TO THE HWY. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN ME BEING REAR ENDED BY A BIG RIG. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER BEFORE I WAS REAR ENDED. THIS IS SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND RECTIFIED. AS OF 02/17/2014 THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10565170

Incident

Apr 15, 2012

Mileage

24,000 mi

THIS CAR SHOULD QUALIFY AS A LEMON. WE SPENT OVER $65K ON IT NEW IN JANUARY OF 2009 AND IT HAS EASILY COSTS US $65K TO KEEP IT RUNNING SINCE. SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT BREAKS ON IT EVERY 60 DAYS SINCE OWNING IT. THE TURBO WENT OUT MOST RECENTLY AFTER A BAD OIL SEAL LET OIL INTO IT. $6500! THE CAR MAY HAVE SADLY BEEN CURSED SINCE DAY ONE. OUR SALES PERSON AT MERCEDES BENZ OF SF DIED RIGHT AFTER WE BOUGHT IT. THINGS STARTED TO BREAK IMMEDIATELY AFTER. PEOPLE RAN INTO IT, ETC. IT HAS BEEN THE WORST CAR OWNER EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10561052

Incident

Jan 15, 2009

LETTER FROM REGARDING NUMEROUS ISSUES AND TROUBLES HE HAS FACED SINCE THE PURCHASE OF HIS MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLE, A 2009 ML320 BLUE TEC DIESEL ENGINE SUV; SEEKING ASSISTANCE-HE WOULD LIKE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT OF THIS COMPLAINT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST PROBLEM HE ENCOUNTERED WITH THE VEHICLE WAS IN MAY OF 2010, WITHIN LESS THAN A YEAR OF PURCHASE, WHILE DRIVING, THE GAS GAUGE ALL OF A SUDDEN WENT FROM A HALF TANK OF FUEL, TO READING EMPTY, WHERE AT THAT POINT THE FUEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. EVEN THOUGH HE KNEW THE TANK WAS NOT EMPTY, HE STOPPED TO THE GAS STATION AND RE-FUELED. HOWEVER, THE TANK CONTINUED TO READ EMPTY. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, THE NEEDLE MOVED TO THE FULL POSITION. FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, ALONG WITH A BLUE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND TO BE WRONG. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION AS THE CONSUMER WAS ATTEMPTING TO GO UPHILL ON AN INCLINE. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN IN SPEED. EVEN TRYING TO PUMP THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DID NOT HELP AND EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE, SEVERAL MORE TIMES AFTER THAT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED SEVERAL OTHER TIMES AS WELL. THE DEALER CHANGED THE ENTIRE COMPUTER MODULE. SOON AFTER, THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ONCE THE TIRES WERE CHECKED, THE LIGHT NO LONGER APPEARED.

NHTSA ID

10481822

Incident

May 1, 2010

IN FEBRUARY OF 2012 WE HAD A TIRE FAILURE-TREAD SEPARATION. THE TIRES WE WERE SOLD AS 'RUN FLAT' WERE IN FACT MOEXTENDED BY BRIGDESTONE. THIS TIRE HAS A VERY LIMITED RUN LOW ABILITY THAT ALLOWS 18-30 MILES AT 30 MPH AND 10 PSI. WE WERE TOLD WE HAD RUN FLATS THAT ALLOWED OPERATION AT 50MPH FOR 50 MILES AT ZERO PSI. MERCEDES AND BRIDGESTONE DENIED ANY LIABILITY. THIS FRAUD WILL PUT SOMEONE ELSE IN DANGER AND THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE WARNED. WE HAVE SINCE REPLACED PSEUDO RUN FLATS W REAL RUN FLATS AND WILL DO NO FURTHER BUSINESS WITH MERCEDES BENZ. *TR

NHTSA ID

10474338

Incident

Feb 15, 2012

Mileage

22,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE GOING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE ENGINE WOULD REV AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT THEN SHIFTED INTO GEAR AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES LATER AND THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR ANOTHER INSPECTION WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION MODULE SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ID

10461896

Incident

Jun 6, 2012

Mileage

45,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL BEGAN TO LEAK FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE WHILE REFUELING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ITS FUEL FILTER REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER PRIOR TO REFUELING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER AND A FUEL GASKET WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ID

10446581

Incident

Oct 1, 2011

Mileage

30,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES ML 320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRAILER HITCH FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AT THE SEAMS WHILE GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY RUST OF THE HITCH. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONTACT USE A DIFFERENT AND LARGER VEHICLE TO HAUL A TRAILER. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE HE WAS ADHERING TO THE HAILING SPECIFICATIONS LISTED FOR HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE CONTACT STATED REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V242000 (TRAILER HITCHES). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 38,000.

NHTSA ID

10418183

Incident

Aug 4, 2011

Mileage

38,000 mi