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1998 Mercedes Benz ML320

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most ML320 years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Mercedes Benz ML320 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 28.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

43 reports with mileage · 90 unknown

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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports5 fire reports10 injury reports

What owners actually said

133 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2018
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrash

1998 MERCEDES BENZ ML-320. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE MAKING A TURN AND RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND HIT A CONCRETE COLUMN. THIS DAMAGED THE MAIN METAL FRAME BEHIND THE FRONT BUMPER. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10692464

15,000 miles · Mar 26, 2016
Wheels

MICHELIN LATTITUDE TOUR 255/65R16 TIRES ARE PREMATURELY COMING APART. I HAVE LESS THAN 15K MILES ON THESE TIRES AND THE TREAD IS RIPPING AWAY FROM THE SIDE WALLS. THERE IS NO RECALL FROM MICHELIN FOR THIS SIZE OF TIRE AND IT HAS THE SAME DEFECT AS THE OTHER SIZES IN THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL TIRE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! 164 DOLLARS A…

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MICHELIN LATTITUDE TOUR 255/65R16 TIRES ARE PREMATURELY COMING APART. I HAVE LESS THAN 15K MILES ON THESE TIRES AND THE TREAD IS RIPPING AWAY FROM THE SIDE WALLS. THERE IS NO RECALL FROM MICHELIN FOR THIS SIZE OF TIRE AND IT HAS THE SAME DEFECT AS THE OTHER SIZES IN THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL TIRE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! 164 DOLLARS A TIRE AND I COULD HAVE DIED DRIVING ON THESE THINGS. THESE NEED A RECALL NOW! PEOPLES LIVES ARE AT RICK DRIVING WITH THESE TIRES!

NHTSA ODI #10851726

170,549 miles · May 17, 2015
Seat BeltsFire

WENT TO START MY CAR SEAT BELT BLEW UP ,SMOKE COMING OUT NOW WILL NOT WORK WILL NOT RETRACT .HOW CAN MERCEDES MAKE SUCH A DANGEROUS PRODUCT AND NOT BE BE SUED FOR SUCH A CRAPPY DANGEROUS PRODUCT.THIS NOT A ISOLATED OR FREAK OCCURANCE HAVE READ NUMEROUS SIMILAR ON LINE.

NHTSA ODI #10716921

131,459 miles · Dec 31, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

MY BATTERY WAS LOW AND UNKNOWN TO ME THE ML320 FOR THIS YEAR LOSES ITS TRANSPONDER CODES IN THE DAS SECURITY MODULE WHEN YOU TRY TO START THE VEHICLE WITH A LOW BATTERY. THIS IS EVIDENTALLY THE THIRD KEY THAT HAS LOST ITS PROGRAMMING ON MY VEHICLE DUE TO LOW BATTERY VOLTAGE. COST SO FAR IS 499 FOR A KEY, WEEKS WAITING FOR THE K…

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MY BATTERY WAS LOW AND UNKNOWN TO ME THE ML320 FOR THIS YEAR LOSES ITS TRANSPONDER CODES IN THE DAS SECURITY MODULE WHEN YOU TRY TO START THE VEHICLE WITH A LOW BATTERY. THIS IS EVIDENTALLY THE THIRD KEY THAT HAS LOST ITS PROGRAMMING ON MY VEHICLE DUE TO LOW BATTERY VOLTAGE. COST SO FAR IS 499 FOR A KEY, WEEKS WAITING FOR THE KEY FROM GERMANY, AND 300 TO PROGRAM IT ONCE THEY RECIEVE THE KEY. ITS A DEALERSHIP ONLY ITEM SO ITS VERY VERY COSTLY. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MERCADES AND CHECKING THE FORUMS IT SEEMS THAT EVERYONE THAT HAS 1998-2000 MODEL MERCADES ALL LOSE THEIR TRANSPONDER CODES BETWEEN 129,000 AND 132,000 MILES NO MATTER WHAT.THIS IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND A KNOWN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY MERCADES. I NEVER HAD THESE ISSUES WITH MY TWO 2002 ML500'S BUT I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER BENZ IN MY LIFE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10669353

98,000 miles · Jul 28, 2014
Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlWheels

SUDDENLY I COULD NOT GAIN OR GET ANY MORE SPEED. I WAS JUST COASTING ALONG, I THEN ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION AND GOT OUT AND SMELLED BURNING SMELL FROM FRONT WHEELS. I COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE GEAR I WAS IN. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10616862

98,275 miles · Jul 23, 2014
Service Brakes

MESSAGE DISPLAY INDICATES LEFT BRAKE LIGHT NOT WORKING. REPLACED BULB AND MESSAGE DISAPPEARED FOR ONE DAY AND THEN REAPPEARED. REMOVED BULB AND BULB WAS OK. WENT ONLINE AND FOUND WHERE MERCEDES HAD A BRAKE LIGHT REPAIR KIT FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THIS REPAIR KIT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY …

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MESSAGE DISPLAY INDICATES LEFT BRAKE LIGHT NOT WORKING. REPLACED BULB AND MESSAGE DISAPPEARED FOR ONE DAY AND THEN REAPPEARED. REMOVED BULB AND BULB WAS OK. WENT ONLINE AND FOUND WHERE MERCEDES HAD A BRAKE LIGHT REPAIR KIT FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THIS REPAIR KIT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL. I CONTACTED A LOCAL EUROPEAN CAR REPAIR SHOP WHO HAD THE REPAIR KIT IN STOCK GOING BACK TO 2010 MERCEDES HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT NEVER NOTIFIED ME OR FIXED THE PROBLEM WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR NORMAL SERVICE. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN MERCEDES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615645

157,000 miles · Nov 5, 2012
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE DOOR LOCKS ON ALL FOUR DOORS INDEPENDENTLY LOCK AND UNLOCK CONTINUOUSLY. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK FROM THE OUTSIDE AND THE CONTACT HAD TO ENTER FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIME…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE DOOR LOCKS ON ALL FOUR DOORS INDEPENDENTLY LOCK AND UNLOCK CONTINUOUSLY. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK FROM THE OUTSIDE AND THE CONTACT HAD TO ENTER FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT WHILE THERE WERE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS THERE WAS NO RECALLS AT THAT TIME. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 157,000.

NHTSA ODI #10483353

50,567 miles · Sep 9, 2012
Service BrakesFire

THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED AND WORKED AGAIN AFTER SOME PUMPING AND COASTING TO AVOID COLLISION. THE CAR THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10474364

180,000 miles · May 14, 2012
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR UNRELATED ISSUES WHEN SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION KEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INFORMED AS TO WHY THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE KEY W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ ML320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR UNRELATED ISSUES WHEN SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION KEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INFORMED AS TO WHY THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE KEY WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT IN ORDER TO REMEDY THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED AN ENTIRE NEW IGNITION SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED DURING RESEARCH THAT MERCEDS BENZ INSTALLED AN INADEQUATE COMPUTER SYSTEM IN HER VEHICLE. THE SYSTEM WOULD ONLY ALLOW EIGHT KEYS TO BE MADE FOR THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER FELT IT WAS A SCAM BY MB TO FORCE THEIR CUSTOMERS TO PURCHASE A NEW COMPUTER, IGNITION, ETC, FOR THE VEHICLE AFTER THE 8TH KEY HAD BEEN MADE. THEY CLAIMED IT WAS MADE THAT WAY FOR SECURITY REASON. THE CONSUMER CALLED TWO DEALERSHIPS AND WAS GIVEN A PRICE OF $4,000 TO $5,000. THE CONSUMER FINALLY HAD THE KEY, COMPUTER AND OTHER PARTS REPLACED BY A LOCKSMITH FOR $1,400. THE RADIATOR, AIR CONDITION AND TWO MIRROR ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 07/11/12

NHTSA ODI #10458322

71,000 miles · Mar 17, 2011
Electrical System

CAR FAILS TO START. WE HAD THIS CAR TOWED TO A DEALER 40 MILES AWAY FROM OUR DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL IN MI. NEEDS NEW KEY SYSTEM AS CHIP NOT RECOGNIZED AND IGNITION SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE RE-KEYED. 8 KEYS HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO THIS CAR,(WE BOUGHT IT USED). WE ONLY RECEIVED 1 WITH OUR PURCHASE! EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS A KEY HAS TO BE CHANGED. …

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CAR FAILS TO START. WE HAD THIS CAR TOWED TO A DEALER 40 MILES AWAY FROM OUR DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL IN MI. NEEDS NEW KEY SYSTEM AS CHIP NOT RECOGNIZED AND IGNITION SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE RE-KEYED. 8 KEYS HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO THIS CAR,(WE BOUGHT IT USED). WE ONLY RECEIVED 1 WITH OUR PURCHASE! EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS A KEY HAS TO BE CHANGED. COST ESTIMATED AT $4000. WE SEE THIS AS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW, NOT A SECURITY BENEFIT. ESPECIALLLY SINCE THEIR KEYS JUST QUIT WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10390550

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

1

PE03058 · Engine Crankshaft Pulley Failure

Opened Dec 17, 2003 · Closed Apr 22, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:belts And Associated Pulleys

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER-STEERING ASSIST.ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 546 NON-DUPLICATIVE REPORTS THAT ALLEGE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE ON ALL MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES USING THE SUBJECT COMPONENT.THE SUBJECT COMPONENT FAILURES ARE PROGRESSIVE IN NATURE AND ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINTS AND WARRANT CLAIMS INVOLVED A FAILURE THAT HAD PROGRESSED FAR ENOUGH TO EFFECT POWER STEERING PERFORMANCE (6 OF 55 ODI COMPLAINTS REFERENCE INCREASED STEERING EFFORT).THERE HAVE BEEN NO CRASHES OR INJURIES RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE SUMMARY REPORT ATTACHED FOR FURTHER DETAIL.