59 of the 1,087 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz ML320 are about the transmission — 5% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1999.
59
Complaints
5%
Share of all complaints
6
Crashes
0
Fires
POWER TRAIN
The vehicle would suddenly stop shifting or shift into neutral. This could happen at freeway speeds, where it would suddenly not have any power and just coast or it could be stuck in 4th at a stoplight and not be able to move.
NHTSA complaint #11490692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
2006 ML350 WITH ONLY 112,000 MILES ON IT THE VEHICLE, WENT INTO LIMP MODE WHILE ENTERING A MAJOR INTERSTATE HIGHWAY NEARLY CAUSING A TERRIFYING ACCIDENT. MB USA RESTRICTS THE REPAIR OF THIS "MFG DEFECT" AND IT MUST BE REPAIRED AT AN MB DEALERSHIP ONLY, TYPICALLY AT A COST OVER $2,000. THE PROBLEM WILL NOT GO AWAY UNLESS REPAIRED. I MADE MB USA AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND THEY DENIED THAT ANY ISSUE EXISTS. I AM AWARE THOUGH, OF A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT OVER THE DEFECT IN THE 722-9-7GTRONIC-AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE LIMP MODE PREVENTS THE TRANSMISSION FROM UPSHIFTING OR DOWNSHIFTING. WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, IF THE TRANSMISSION GOES INTO LIMP MODE, THE ENGINE WILL RACE BUT THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE. I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF, TAKE THE KEY OUT OF IGNITION, PUT BACK IN, AND START CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME MANY TIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WITH OTHER CARS BLOWING THEIR HORN AT ME. THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO OTHER THAN SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART, THEN PUTTING IN GEAR. THIS IS HAPPENING TYPICALLY ABOUT 2-4 TIMES A DAY. THE PROBLEM TYPICALLY HAPPENS WHILE THE CAR IS DRIVING, BUT NOT NOTICED UNTIL I SLOW DOWN AND ULTIMATELY COME TO A STOP (WITH EXPERIENCE I NOW AM AWARE THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT DOWNSHIFTING AND I KNOW THAT IT IS IN LIMP MODE, AND IF I HAVE TO STOP, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT HAVING TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING THE CAR). AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THIS STARTED HAPPENING ONLY OCCASIONALLY, BUT IS NOW HAPPENING 3-4 TIMES A DAY WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN.
NHTSA complaint #11024119 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
DURING BRAKING THE BAS/ESP WILL COME ON CAUSING NO ACCELERATION WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 7 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 DAYS. ALMOST RESULTING IN 2 ACCIDENTS. ONLY TUNING OFF AND THE THE VEHICLE WILL TEMPORALLY FIX THE ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10888285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
ENGINE COOLER SEAL LEAKING MASSIVELY AND LEAKING OIL IN TURBO.
NHTSA complaint #10824460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
YEARS AGO, WHILE DRIVING THROUGH NEW MEXICO, MY DASH AND COMMAND CENTER FLASHED OFF AND REBOOTED. IT WAS A LITTLE CONCERNING BECAUSE WE WERE USING THE GPS EXCLUSIVELY FOR OUR DIRECTIONS. THERE WAS ALSO A TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT THAT CAME ON WARNING US TO GET TO THE NEAREST DEALER, WITHOUT SHIFTING GEARS. THIS HAPPENED PERHAPS 10-15 TIMES UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO DETOUR TO THE MB DEALER IN ALBUQUERQUE - ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL PEOPLE. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD SOUND STRANGE BUT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY GLOW PLUG SENSOR OR MODULE - WHICH THEY DIDN'T HAVE IN STOCK. SINCE OUR DESTINATION WAS L.A., THEY CALLED AHEAD TO MB OF BEVERLY HILLS (BH), (ALSO WONDERFUL PEOPLE) TO CHECK IF THEY HAD ONE. THEY (MB OF BH) COULDN'T FIND ANY OTHER TROUBLE CODES EXCEPT A FEW POWER SPIKES SO THEY REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, UNDER WARRANTY. THEY EVEN RUSHED IT DUE TO A FAMILY EMERGENCY BACK HOME. IT HAPPENED ON THE WAY BACK SEVERAL TIMES, THEN DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL I DROVE TO COLORADO IN 2013. IT HAPPENED REPEATEDLY WHILE THERE. I CALLED THE MB DEALER IN DENVER WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CALL ME BACK - THEY NEVER DID. I WONDER IF IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH A CHANGE IN ALTITUDE OR LOWER HUMIDITY (ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGES)- PERHAPS EXTENDED DRIVING AS I DROVE 1,200 + MILES TO CO IN 20 HOURS STOPPING ONLY TWICE FOR FUEL AND ONCE FOR A HOTEL. ANY IDEAS FOLKS?
NHTSA complaint #10579606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
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.
NHTSA complaint #10565170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
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.
NHTSA complaint #10561052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
WENT TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND IT SEEM TO SHIFT INTO A LOWER GEAR AN ACCELERATING, CAUSING IT TO LUNGE FORWARD INTO A LIGHT POLE.
NHTSA complaint #10520325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
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.
NHTSA complaint #10486587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
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 complaint #10461896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFTER FROM PARK BUT THE SHIFTER REMAINED STUCK IN PARK. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES, THE CONTACT WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
NHTSA complaint #10422566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY ML 320 YEAR 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ STOPPED SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS GOING 30 MILES AND HOUR. NO SIGN OF ANY PROBLEM (THAN ENGINE STALLED). THIS IS SCARY AND MUST BE INVESTIGATED. I ALMOST HIT A CAR. IT DID NOT START FOR 20 MINUTES AND THEN IT STARTED. IT WILL CRANK-START FOR 20 SECONDS AND ENGINE WILL STOP AGAIN. CAR STARTED WORKING FINE AFTER 45 MINUTES WAIT.
NHTSA complaint #10419401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING A MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 ON AUGUST 02, 2011. THE CAR ENGINE SUDDENLY AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I GOT STUCK ON THE INNER LANE OF HOMESTEAD RD, CUPERTINO, CA. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT ON A HIGHWAY, OTHERWISE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME. I GOT MY CAR TOWED TO THE MERCEDES SERVICE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CRANK SENSOR DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THIS COSTS ME ALMOST MY LIFE AND $500. I THINK IT'S VERY DANGEROUS TO PASSENGERS IF A CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. MERCEDES-BENZ SHOULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. TO MY POINT OF VIEW, THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. I WANT TO SHARE THIS EXPERIENCE TO ALL DRIVERS WITH THE SAME MODEL AND HAVE THEM WATCH OUT THE SAME SITUATION MAY HAPPEN.
NHTSA complaint #10419409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
2003 ML 320 ROLLS BACK IN DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10351178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320. CONSUMER IS HAVING SOME WARRANTY REPAIR PROBLEMS WITH MERCEDES-BENZ. HE ALSO STATES THAT MERCEDES-BENZ IS REFUSING TO PAY FOR ANY RECALL REPAIRS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED NOISES AND LACK OF POWER FROM THE VEHICLE WERE REPORTED TO THE DEALER. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOUND DIRTY SOLID METAL RESIDUE IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, THERE WERE MISSING PARTS IN THE PLANETARY GEAR. THE CAUSE OF DAMAGE WAS FAULTY ASSEMBLY OF THE PINS/PLUGS IN THE GEARS, WHICH RESULTED IN THE PARTS BECOMING LOOSE AND BREAKING THE TEETH, WHICH CAUSED EXCESSIVE NOISE AND LOSS OF POWER, ULTIMATELY THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE POWER STEERING WAS LEAKING, THE BRAKE AND ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED SEVERAL TIMES, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED, THE DOOR LOCKS HAD TO BE REPAIRED, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND THE SWAY BAR LINK BUSHING WERE REPLACED AS WELL. *JB UPDATED 06/01/10.*JB UPDATED 06/04/10.*JB UPDATED 10/18/10*JB UPDATED 10/29/10
NHTSA complaint #10323089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE 2 COMPLAINTS AGAINST MERCEDES ML320 SUV. 1) WITH IGNITION OFF AND KEY REMOVED, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CAN BE SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND THE TRUCK STARTS TO ROLL. IT POSTS EXTREME DANGER TO PASSENGERS, ESPECIALLY, KIDS LEFT IN A PARKED VEHICLE, AS WELL AS PEDESTRIANS IN FRONT OR BEHIND THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE STANDING IN BETWEEN THIS VEHICLE AND ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE ON A SLOPE. 2) THE WELL KNOWN POWER LOCK FAILURE CAUSES THE MANUALLY LOCKED DOORS (INCLUDING CHILD PROOF REAR DOOR LOCKS) TO BE UNLOCKED AUTOMATICALLY WHENEVER THE VEHICLE STARTS IN MOTION FROM FULL STOP. IT IS DUE TO THE AUTO-LOCK FEATURE WHICH ATTEMPTS TO LOCK ALL DOORS WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTS TO MOVE FROM FULL STOP (E.G STOPPING FOR RED LIGHT). HOWEVER, DUE TO POWER LOCK FAILURE, IT CANNOT LOCK ALL THE DOORS AFTER 4-5 TIMES AND EVENTUALLY UNLOCKS ALL DOORS. THIS LEFT CHILDREN IN THE REAR IN DANGER OF OPENING THE DOORS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED TO ME TWICE; ONE AT 9700 MILES IN 2001 AND AT 70,000 MILES IN 2007. I HAD WRITTEN A LETTER TO MERCEDES BENZ USA TO COMPLAINT ABOUT THE POWER LOCK AND THEY JUST DENIED THAT IT IS A DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #10312487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ ML320 SUV. THIS VEHICLE SHIFTS AUTOMATICALLY FROM DRIVE TO FIRST GEAR WHEN GOING AT LAWFUL HIGH SPEED AND SOMETIMES LOW SPEEDS, DANGEROUSLY SLOWING THE VEHICLE PUTTING MY FAMILY'S LIVES AND OTHER DRIVERS IN PERIL ON THE ROAD. THE ABOVE INCIDENT OCCURRED EIGHT TIMES WITHIN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10239777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
FAILURE OF TRANSFER CASE FIRST DETECTED.
NHTSA complaint #10226974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 MERCEDES BENZ ML320 DEFECTS WITH TRANSMISSION AND COMPUTER UNIT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BROKEN DOWN TWICE BECAUSE OF THESE DEFECTS AND THINKS THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A LEMON.
NHTSA complaint #10210503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
REFERENCE: VEHICLE COMPLAINT - 47046 IN SEPTEMBER 1999, WE PURCHASED A NEW MERCEDES-BENZ, ML-320. IN 2003, THE VEHICLE WAS PART OF A RECALL CONCERNING A LOWER POWER STEERING HOSE AND CLAMP AT THE RADIATOR FITTING. ON AUGUST 7, 2007, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE LOWER POWER STEERING HOSE BLEW OFF LOSING ALL HYDRAULIC FLUID. WE LOST THE POWER STEERING AND HAD EXTREME DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WITH A FAMILY MEMBER'S ML-320. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION HAS FROZEN FOUR TIMES IN FIRST GEAR. THE MERCEDES DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE HOSE; HOWEVER, WE HAVE NOT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER BECAUSE WE ARE FEARFUL ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE DUE TO THESE RECURRING PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10199666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.