28 of the 1,087 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz ML320 are about the lighting — 3% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1998.
28
Complaints
3%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Right rear brake light inoperative even with new bulb. Dash warning light shows this light not working .08
NHTSA complaint #11610621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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 complaint #11455484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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 complaint #11164312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
YES THIS [XXX] COMING TO YOU TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I WAS AND A CAR ACCIDENT I WAS STRUCK BY AND VEHICLE MADE BY OLDSMOBILE YEAR 1998 PLATE NO. STATE [XXX] I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM DOWN TOWN FEDERAL COURT I WAS RIDING DOWN [XXX] CRASH DATE 08/21/2018. I WAS AT THE RED LIGHT I ALSO HAD MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON ALSO NOW I WAS SITTING AT THE RED LIGHT WAITING FOR THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TO TURN GREEN NEXT THING I KNOW THE SENIOR CITIZEN THE GUY WHO HIT ME FROM BEHIND. NEXT THING I KNOW MY 2002 ML320 MERCEDES BENZ DID A WHOLE 360 DEGREE SPIN AROUND I DIDN'T PANIC I WAS JUST AND TOTAL SHOCK I GOT OUT THE CAR AND WALK TO THE CAR TO CHECK IN SEE WAS THE PERSON OKAY OR NOT BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHO WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN I LOOK IN REALIZE IT WAS A SENIOR CITIZEN I ASK HIM ARE YOU OKAY HE SAID YES BUT HE WAS KIND OF DAZE I NOTICE THE CAR WAS LEAKING REAL BAD SO I STOOD ALL THE WAY BACK FOR MY SAFETY REASON BECAUSE THE PERSON WHO HIT ME WHICH IS THE SENIOR CITIZEN STARED TO SMOKE SO I STOOD ALL THE WAY BACK CAUSE I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS GO BLOW UP BUT I THANK GOD IT DIDN'T. SO THE AMBULANCE ARRIVE ON THE CAR ACCIDENT. THEY TOOK THE PERSON WHO HIT ME TO THE HOSPITAL. WHICH HE LIVED THEN ALL THE POLICE FORCES CAME I MEAN EVERY TOP LAW CAME PACE BY PACE TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS OKAY. LONG STORY SHORT. MY CAR WAS INVOLVE IN A CAR ACCIDENT OH YEAR I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON TOO SAFETY FIRST. GOD BLESS YOU ALL ALWAYS BUCKLE UP AND CHECK ALL YOU MIRROR. HAVE A NICE DAY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11128295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
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 complaint #11067323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ON APRIL 21, 2016 WE PURCHASED TWO USED TIRES FROM A LOCAL COMPANY CALLED TIRE TRACKS FOR OUR SON'S CAR. THEY WERE GENERAL TIRES CALLED "GRABBERS", P255/65R16. THE REAR TIRES WERE MOVED TO THE FRONT AND THE TIRES THAT WE PURCHASED WERE PUT ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. A "COURTESY INSPECTION" WAS PERFORMED. ON MAY 12, 2016 OUR SON HAD A LEFT REAR BLOWOUT AS HE WAS EXITING I-49 SOUTH. HE WAS NOT INJURED BUT THERE WAS DAMAGE TO HIS CAR WHERE THE STEEL BELT HAD REPEATEDLY HIT HIS CAR UNTIL HE COULD PULL OVER SAFELY. THE COMPANY REPLACED THE TIRE. THEN ON JUNE 15, 2016 I WAS FOLLOWING MY SON HOME FROM LITTLE ROCK. WE WERE TRAVELING NORTH ON I-49. HE WAS IN THE LEFT LANE TRAVELING 70-75 MPH AND HAD ANOTHER BLOWOUT WITH THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. THANKFULLY, HE WAS NOT INJURED AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER. DAMAGE TO HIS CAR WAS MORE SEVERE. HIS RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT WAS BUSTED AS WELL AS HIS BUMPER. AGAIN, THE RIGHT REAR FENDER SUSTAINED DAMAGE BECAUSE OF THE STEEL BELT REPEATEDLY HITTING HIS CAR. THE COMPANY
NHTSA complaint #10877132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ROLL DOWN BOTH PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS, THEY FAILED TO ROLL DOWN. THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE ABS, BRAKE FAILURE SWITCH, AND ESP WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WHEN USING THE POWER STEERING TO ATTEMPT TO TURN THE VEHICLE, THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION OF THE POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE COMPLETING THE TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
NHTSA complaint #10839162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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 complaint #10817760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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.
NHTSA complaint #10621031 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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 complaint #10455203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED AND WHEN SHE TAPPED ON THE BRAKES TO DISENGAGE THE COMPONENT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY AS OPPOSED TO DECELERATING. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING ANY FURTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES AND EACH TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE IDENTICAL, DIAGNOSIS WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE, STATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10404383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE BREAK LAMP SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES AS THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAYED ON WHILE DRIVING ALTHOUGH THE BRAKES WERE NOT APPLIED. ALSO, WHEN THE SWITCH WENT OUT SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO SWITCH GEARS AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED A FAULTY BREAK LAMP SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 360,000.
NHTSA complaint #10379700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
I PURCHASED A USED 2002 ML320. ONCE THE VEHICLE CAME OF THE LOT IT WAS FINE IN THE BEGINNING; HOWEVER, THE BAS/ESP CONTINUES TO COME ON EVERY TWO TO THREE MONTHS. THIS PREVENTS ME FROM MOVING THE GEAR SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE ALSO THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING (ON OR OFF WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PAD)AND WHEN IT DOES COME ON WHEN I AM DRIVING AT NIGHT OTHER DRIVERS CANNOT SEE ANY BRAKE LIGHTS AT ALL WHICH PUTS MY FAMILY AND I IN A SAFETY SITUATION OR SAFETY HAZARD WHICH HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES WHILE DRIVING. AT FIRST, I TOOK IT TO NAPA ON METRO PARKWAY IN FORT MYERS WHICH THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND THEN TWO MONTHS TO THREE MONTHS LATER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK FOR THE SAME SITUATION. THEY REPLACED THE SWITCH AND SAID THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH THEY RECEIVED WAS FROM MERCEDES BENZ. IN THE SPRING 2007 THE SAME SITUATION OCCURRED AND TOOK IT TO MERCEDES BENZ OF FORT MYERS AND THEY ALSO REPLACED THE SWITCH AS WELL. HOWEVER, MERCEDES OF FORT MYERS CHANGED AND FOLLOWED ORDERS FROM CORPORATE ON WHAT TO DO BUT TO NO AVAIL. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE SINCE THE PURCHASED OF THE ML320. CURRENTLY, OCTOBER 1, 2009 THE VEHICLE IS AT MERCEDES AT FORT MYERS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. MY WIFE AND I HAVE CONTACTED MERCEDES CUSTOMER COMPLAINT WITH THIS ISSUE BUT WE FEEL ENOUGH IS NOT BEING DONE TO RESOLVE. THE SITUATION BEGAN IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 9, 2006 AND CONTINUES PRESENTLY WHICH I HAVE INDICATED. OTHER DRIVERS CAME CLOSE TO CRASHING INTO ME DUE TO NO BRAKES LIGHTS. MY WIFE AND I FEEL THAT WE PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE THAT IS CONSIDERED TO BE A LEMON THAT HAD ABOUT SEVENTY TWO PLUS THOUSAND MILES ON IT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND MY WIFE AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU CAN INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION. PLEASE RESPOND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *TR UPDATED IVOQ 10/11/11. *JB UPDATED IVOQ 10/18/11.
NHTSA complaint #10286007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPAIRED. WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED, THE ESP AND ABS INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP AND THE GEAR WOULD HAVE TO BE PLACED INTO PARK TO MANUALLY OVERRIDE THE WARNINGS. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO PARK, IT WOULD NOT MOVE. THE BRAKES LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE, WHICH IS A HAZARD TO THE VEHICLES IN THE REAR OF THE CONTACT. THE SWITCH HAS BEEN CHANGED AT LEAST EIGHT TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE STILL OCCURS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY SENT AN EMAIL TO THE MERCEDES BENZ MANUFACTURER AT LEAST TWICE, BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REGIONAL MANAGER WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE, BUT THIS HAS NOT YET TAKEN PLACE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
NHTSA complaint #10250821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLAMPS TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT OCCURS ON A NIGHTLY BASIS. OTHER CARS CANNOT SEE ME. ALMOST HIT SOMEONE CROSSING THE STREET BEFORE I NOTICED THE LIGHTS WERE OFF. SOMETIMES CYCLING THE LIGHTS ON AN OFF TEMPORARILY FIXES THE PROBLEM. OTHER TIMES I DRIVE WITH MY FOGLAMPS ON. I'VE CHECKED THE FUSE AND WILL BE TAKING THE CAR INTO THE DEALER NEXT WEEK. PREVIOUSLY, IN 2006 THE HEADLAMPS WOULDN'T TURN OFF. THE DEALER FIXED THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10248088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS ON OUR MERCEDES ML 320E HAVE BECOME VERY CLOUDY AND ROUGH TO THE TOUCH. THIS IS NOW A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY DO NOT EMIT ENOUGH LIGHT TO SAFELY DRIVE AT NIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #10230956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE. LIGHTS FAIL TO ILLUMINATE AT NIGHT WHEN KNOB IS TURN TO HEADLIGHT POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #10168649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
INSTRUMENT LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT UP. INSTRUMENTS CANNOT BE SEEN AT NIGHT INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAGE. POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES ARE RUNNING OUT OF FUEL OR EXCEEDING THE SAFE SPEED LIMITS BECAUSE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT VISIBLE. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORST WITH TIME. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW AND DEALERS BLAME THE PROBLEM ON LIGHT BULB PROBLEMS. SOMETIME RAPPING THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAUSE THE LIGHTS TO COME BACK ON INDICATING THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CONNECTION AND NOT THE BULBS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT WITH THE BULB CONNECTIONS AS THE PROBLEM IS RECURRING AND THE DEALERS ARE NOT TRULY FIXING THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10156906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTING. MOST IMPORTANTLY THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL CONTINUALLY GOES OUT WITHOUT NOTICE. SOMETIME THE INTERIOR LEFT TURN LIGHTS UP AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. OTHER TIMES THE INTERIOR LEFT TURN LIGHT GOES COMPLETELY OUT PLACING ME AND MY CHILDREN IN GREAT DANGER. ALSO I MADE A LEFT TURN AND THE STEERING WENT OUT JUST AS I ENTERED THE BELTWAY AND WAS UNABLE STEER THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10136498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTING. MOST IMPORTANTLY THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL CONTINUALLY GOES OUT WITHOUT NOTICE. SOMETIME THE INTERIOR LEFT TURN LIGHTS UP AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. OTHER TIMES THE INTERIOR LEFT TURN LIGHT GOES COMPLETELY OUT PLACING ME AND MY CHILDREN IN GREAT DANGER. ALSO I MADE A LEFT TURN AND THE STEERING WENT OUT JUST AS I ENTERED THE BELTWAY AND WAS UNABLE STEER THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10136498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.