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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.

About this comparison →
17Owner complaints

Model-year median: 19

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
39
199830
199917
200017
200111
2002
Compare all 320 years →

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

What owners reported most

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

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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

Official recalls

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.