FaultScore

Mercedes Benz ML320 steering problems

150 of the 1,087 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz ML320 are about the steering — 14% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2000.

150

Complaints

14%

Share of all complaints

9

Crashes

2

Fires

Steering complaints by model year

1998 ML320 6 4.0%

Median failure at 139,000 miles

1999 ML320 33 22.0%

Median failure at 62,365 miles

2000 ML320 49 32.7%

Median failure at 68,000 miles

2001 ML320 25 16.7%

Median failure at 60,012 miles

2002 ML320 24 16.0%

Median failure at 82,000 miles

2003 ML320 7 4.7%

Median failure at 70,750 miles

2005 ML320 1 0.7%

Median failure at 2,000 miles

2007 ML320 1 0.7%

Median failure at 36,000 miles

2008 ML320 4 2.7%

Median failure at 91,250 miles

What owners said

1999 Mercedes Benz ML320 at 220,000 miles Deming, NM

STEERING

The contact owns a 1999 Mercedes-Benz ML320. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH and other various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that she refilled the power steering reservoir several times and noted that there was a stain underneath her vehicle after parking overnight. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed and had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact related the failure to a closed NHTSA Action Number: PE3006 (Steering). The failure mileage was approximately 220,000.

NHTSA complaint #11536152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mercedes Benz ML320 Deming, NM

STEERING

There was a recall on the steering on my 1999 Mercedes Benz . The Manufacturer said its closed . The steering is leaking and hard to drive and I fear the power steering pump will go out while I am driving the Vehicle. I fear for my safety. How can I get this recall opened and my vehicle fixed .

NHTSA complaint #11475424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mercedes Benz ML320 at 220,000 miles Burien, WA

STEERING

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FROM THE AUCTION IN ALGONA NAMED WHITEY'S PUBLIC AUTO AUCTION AND THAT VERY DAY I HAD TO PUT POWER STEERING FLUID IN BECAUSE THERE WAS A LEAK AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. I'VE HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED AND IT CONTINUES TO LEAK. I GOT ON THE INTERNET AND STARTED TO RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #11373106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mercedes Benz ML320 at 219,444 miles Virginia Beach, VA

STEERING

STEERING IS HARD TO TURN. OVER HEATS AND WILL NOT KEEP COOLINAT DOWN

NHTSA complaint #11339320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Mercedes Benz ML320 at 120,000 miles HA, CA Crash

STEERING

MY CAT BRAKE WOULD STOP CAR ROLL OVER

NHTSA complaint #11300274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mercedes Benz ML320 at 25 miles LOS Angeles, CA 1 injured

STEERING

AS I NOTICED IN OTHER COMPLAINTS THEY ALL FOCUS IN THE POWER STEERING ISSUES, FUEL / OIL LEAKS AND LOSS, ESP OPTION , ELECTRICAL MAIL FUNCTIONS THAT RELATE WITH THE ECU, PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFTER. ALL THESE ARE SAFETY CONCERNS SINCE ALL THE ABOVE PROBLEMS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT . I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS IN MY CAR AND IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING AS THE CAR IS NOT IN SPEED MOTION UNLESS YOU USE STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL , THE ESP IS NOT WORKING AT ALL , THE SHIFTER IS NOT CHANGING TO DRIVE UNLESS YOU OVERRIDE IT AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO START IT AND THE FUEL ALONG WITH THE OIL IS LEAKING AND ALL THE FLUIDS ARE DISAPPEARING IN NO TIME . ALL THESE ARE SAFETY HAZARDS AND NOT JUST A SIMPLE PROBLEM . THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A REPAIR FOR ALL OF THESE ISSUES ASAP FREE OF CHARGE FROM MERCEDES FOR THE OWNERS OF THE PARTICULAR DEFECTIVE VEHICLES . THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

NHTSA complaint #11288070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Mercedes Benz ML320 at 210,000 miles Gaithersburg, MD

STEERING

STEERING FLUID LEEKS.THERE IS A HOLE IN THE TANK.THE STEERING IS VERY HARD.

NHTSA complaint #11235329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mercedes Benz ML320 SAN Bernardino, CA

STEERING

MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT ALOT AND AS WELL LEAK ONTO THE GROUND I FIND IT VERY HARD TO STEER MY CAR AT TIMES . THE POWER STEERING FLUID DOESN'T LAST VERY LONG IT'S BEEN FIXED 1 AND THE PROBLEM PERSIST .

NHTSA complaint #11154148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mercedes Benz ML320 at 178,888 miles Plano, TX

STEERING

DIFFICULT TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. USES LOT OF FORCE TO MOVE THE STELRING

NHTSA complaint #11114009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Mercedes Benz ML320 at 79,500 miles Pittsburgh, PA

STEERING

LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID, IT APPEARS TO BE FROM THE HOSE CONNECTION TO THE RADIATOR DURING DRIVING AND WHILE STATIONERY. THIS ISSUE WAS PREVIOUSLY RECALLED, I BELIEVE TWICE. DEALER REQUESTED $125 DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE. MB USA INFORMED IN A PHONE CONVERSATION, THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS ALREADY FIXED OCTOBER 2008 UNDER RECALL, AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND I SHOULD FIX ON MY OWN COST.

NHTSA complaint #11060855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mercedes Benz ML320 Jamaica, NY

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BAS AND ESP WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED EXTREME DIFFICULTY TURNING LEFT AND RIGHT AND HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THE FAILURES. THE UNKNOWN DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11000157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mercedes Benz ML320 at 200,000 miles Salinas, CA

STEERING

I WAS PULLING AWAY FROM THE CURB, STEERING WHEEL STARTED MAKING WHINING NOISES AND HARDER TO TURN. I CONTINUED ON CITY STREETS THEN TO A FREEWAY WHERE MY CAR BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. I PULLED OVER AT A GAS STATION OPENED THE HOOD AND COULD SEE FLUID ALL OVER RIGHT LOWER DRIVER SIDE. IT SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM A HOSE BY THE POWER STEERING CAP AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RADIATOR. UNDER THE CAR SAME SPOT RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE I COULD SEE POWER STEERING AND RADIATOR COOLANT LEAKING FROM THAT AREA.

NHTSA complaint #10966233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Mercedes Benz ML320 at 130,000 miles Bethesda, MD

STEERING

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH UNINTENDED BRAKE APPLICATION CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES UNDER DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND CONDITION. IT HAS HAPPENED ON CURVES AND STRAIGHT ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE MAY 2016 AT LEAST 15 TO 20 TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #10891779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mercedes Benz ML320 at 180 miles Washington, DC

STEERING

I HAVE A 2002 ML320, THE RADIO IS OUT AND THE HOLE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID DOES NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING CAUSING A LEAK, ESP/BAS STAYS ON CAUSING LOW TRACTION AND THE DOOR LOCK. THESE ITEMS WERE RECALLED ON THE M-CLASS 320, WHAT HAPPENED TO THES RECALLS.

NHTSA complaint #10875060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Mercedes Benz ML320 at 200,000 miles Stagecoach, NV

STEERING

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.

2002 Mercedes Benz ML320 at 154,000 miles Zionsville, IN

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS FRACTURED AND FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER MANUFACTURER SAFETY CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 2003-040005. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

NHTSA complaint #10820893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Mercedes Benz ML320 at 125,500 miles Chippewa Falls, WI

STEERING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10683289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Mercedes Benz ML320 at 57,000 miles Santa FE, NM

STEERING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10664708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Mercedes Benz ML320 at 143,340 miles SUN Valley, ID

STEERING

I BOUGHT THIS CAR YESTERDAY FROM AN INDIVIDUAL OFF CRAIGSLIST AND THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT 5 TIMES. SO FAR ONLY AT VERY LOW SPEEDS, BUT I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND SEEN NUMBERS COMPLAINTS WITH POWER STEERING FAILURE AT FASTER SPEEDS TOO. VERY UNSETTLING. THERE WERE A COUPLE OF RECALLS REGARDING THE CLAMPS AND HOSES, BUT UPON RESEARCH I FOUND THAT Y CAR HAS NO OPEN CAMPAIGNS. I GUESS THAT MEANS THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM STILL AND I NEED IT FIXED OR I NEED A NEW CAR. THIS IS NOT SAFE.

NHTSA complaint #10660267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Mercedes Benz ML320 at 99,000 miles Homer Glen, IL

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. DJR

NHTSA complaint #10617245 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Mercedes Benz ML320 problems