FaultScore

Worst years for a Mercedes Benz ML320

Owners have filed 1,087 complaints about the Mercedes Benz ML320 with NHTSA across model years 1998 to 2009. More of them are about the brakes than anything else.

Avoid

2000 Mercedes Benz ML320

258 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly steering.

Cleanest on record

2009 Mercedes Benz ML320

42 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Mercedes Benz ML320 year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2009 B 42 0 3 58,331 Engine & Cooling
2008 B 30 3 0 94,500 Lights
2007 B 20 0 2 43,000 Engine & Cooling
2006 1 0 0 Transmission & Drivetrain
2005 6 3 0 Transmission & Drivetrain
2003 C 31 2 4 70,750 Steering
2002 D 139 8 10 104,000 Brakes
2001 D 196 19 7 92,485 Brakes
2000 F 258 26 6 77,000 Steering
1999 D 164 17 2 71,500 Engine & Cooling
1998 D 200 15 5 97,615 Engine & Cooling

What breaks on a Mercedes Benz ML320

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Brakes 151 13.9%

Worst in 2001

Steering 150 13.8%

Worst in 2000

Engine & Cooling 133 12.2%

Worst in 1999

Worst in 1998

Worst in 1998

Worst in 2001

Worst in 1999

Worst in 2001

Worst in 1998

Airbags 44 4.0%

Worst in 2000

Worst in 1998

Lights 28 2.6%

Worst in 1998

Seats 27 2.5%

Worst in 2002

Suspension 26 2.4%

Worst in 1998

Exactly what failed on a Mercedes Benz ML320

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Hose, Piping, AND Connections 50 22.3%
Automatic Transmission 31 13.8%
Engine 24 10.7%
Belts AND Associated Pulleys 20 8.9%
Hydraulic Power Assist System 19 8.5%
Catalytic Convertor 18 8.0%
Fuel Pump 18 8.0%
Power Window Devices AND Controls 15 6.7%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 15 6.7%
Gasoline 14 6.3%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Mercedes Benz ML320, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Jun 1998 peak 32 Jun 2026

Mercedes Benz ML320 problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the Mercedes Benz ML320

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.