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2001 Mercedes Benz 320

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
17Owner complaints

Model-year median: 19

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2001 Mercedes Benz 320

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 17 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Electrical System: 6 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 4 reports
  • Steering: 4 reports
  • Exterior Lighting: 3 reports
  • Visibility: 3 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    39
    1998    30
    1999    17
    2000    17
    2001    11
    2002
    Compare all 320 years →

    Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

    What owners reported most

    Electrical System
    6    Engine And Engine Cooling
    4    Steering
    4    Exterior Lighting
    3    Visibility
    3
    All reported categories
    Air Bags
    2    Seats
    2    Fuel System, Gasoline
    1    Fuel System, Other
    1    Interior Lighting
    1    Latches/locks/linkages
    1    Parking Brake
    1    Power Train
    1    Seat Belts
    1    Service Brakes, Air
    1    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    1    Suspension
    1    Tires
    1    Vehicle Speed Control
    1

    Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

    When problems were reported

    Mileage at the reported incident

    Limited mileage data: 5 of 17 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

    NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

    What to inspect

    Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

    • Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Steering. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

    NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

    1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

    What owners actually said

    17 reports
    Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2003
    Steering

    VEHICLE HOSE CLAMP BROKE WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THERE WAS A RECALL ON A ML320 BECAUSE THE HOSE CLAMPS WEREN'T SAFE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED HOSE CLAMP. 2 DAYS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN, THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP BY ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE. THE MECHANIC STATED THE CLAMPS THAT WERE REPLACED WERE NO BETTER THAN …

    Read full complaint

    VEHICLE HOSE CLAMP BROKE WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THERE WAS A RECALL ON A ML320 BECAUSE THE HOSE CLAMPS WEREN'T SAFE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED HOSE CLAMP. 2 DAYS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN, THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP BY ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE. THE MECHANIC STATED THE CLAMPS THAT WERE REPLACED WERE NO BETTER THAN THE ONES BEFORE. SERVICE DEALER FIXED IT. *MR *CB *JB

    NHTSA ODI #10032406

    Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2003
    Steering

    THE POWER STEERING HOSE BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING TO WANDER TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. *JB

    NHTSA ODI #10009574

    Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2003
    Steering

    THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN.*JB

    NHTSA ODI #10009566

    Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 2001
    Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingVisibility

    FUMES/GASSES COMING FROM INTERIOR DASH CAUSED WINDSHIELD TO FOG UP IN EXCESSIVE HEAT. DEALERSHIP REPLACED WINDSHIELD FIVE TIMES AND REPLACED DASHBOARD, BUT COULD NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #890461

    Mileage unknown · May 17, 2001
    Latches/locks/linkages

    WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, I WAS TOLD IT WAS HELD UP AT THE PORT BECAUSE CUSTOMS WOULD NOT CLEAR IT UNTIL THE REAR DOOR LOCKS WERE REPLACED AND MADE TO WORK INDEPENDENLTY. NEITHER WORKS INDEPENDENTLY. DOOR MUST BE UNLOCKED IN ORDER FOR LATCH TO WORK (LIKE WHEN CHILD SAFETY SWITCH IS ON). FURTHER, IF PASSENGER TRIES TO OPEN THE LA…

    Read full complaint

    WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, I WAS TOLD IT WAS HELD UP AT THE PORT BECAUSE CUSTOMS WOULD NOT CLEAR IT UNTIL THE REAR DOOR LOCKS WERE REPLACED AND MADE TO WORK INDEPENDENLTY. NEITHER WORKS INDEPENDENTLY. DOOR MUST BE UNLOCKED IN ORDER FOR LATCH TO WORK (LIKE WHEN CHILD SAFETY SWITCH IS ON). FURTHER, IF PASSENGER TRIES TO OPEN THE LATCH AT THE SAME TIME THE DRIVER IS UNLOCKING THE DOOR WITH THE BUTTON ON THE DASH, THE LATCH WILL NOT RELEASE. IF THE DOORS ARE RELOCKED AND UNLOCKED, SOMETIMES THE LATCH WILL REENGAGE. OTHER TIMES THE DOOR MUST BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. I AM A DOT EMPLOYEE AND DRIVE A CARPOOL ON OCCASION SO CAN MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO SHOW IT TO YOU. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #745465

    Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2001
    Vehicle Speed Control

    WHILE MAKING A STOP OR RETURING TO NORMAL TRAVEL NOTICED VEHICLE WAS SURGING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

    NHTSA ODI #885692

    Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2001
    Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

    CONSUMER WAS BRAKING AND VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE. HAD JUMPED A CURB AND HIT A HOME. MERCEDES REPRESENTATIVE CHECKED OUT VEHICLE AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH BRAKES.*AK

    NHTSA ODI #884038

    Recall campaigns

    0

    No recalls in this snapshot.

    Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.